Wrapped in Fire Agate

My Dad was a man of simple taste yet boastful. He liked what he liked and one thing he liked was jewelry. His love was Silver and Fire Agate. Sometimes I think he picked certain pieces because they were the flashiest or the largest. He was certainly the center of attention when he wanted to be. That was quite often. When he did something he did it big or he didn't bother. My Dad was such a card. He could make you laugh at a funeral on Christmas morning.

Anyway, he had the most gorgeous bracelet with 5 stunning, fiery fire agates. When he died, I
could not wear it. It was a massive piece. It was wide (which I love but it was large, too large) so
Ron took the 5 stones out for me and put them in a safe place for the day I decide how I want
them set.

One piece of jewelry he did leave behind when he passed on to a better place was a Fire Agate
ring. It isn't particularly well crafted but the stone is just gorgeous. He wore that ring often even
though he had rather unattractive hands. When he was a kid, I think the age of 11 (younger than my son), he was working at the cotton gin with his Dad. His Dad was what I would call an ass. At
least at that time in his life he was. Anyway, my Dad cut a huge chunk out of his thumb with some piece of machinery. His Dad told him to suck it up and keep working. I guess times were different then but again, what an ass. One of the other workers saw my Dad bleeding all over and figued he best get him to the hospital. From that accident he had a skin graph on the thumb. They didn't have a plastic surgeon so of course it stuck out like a sore thumb (I'm sorry. I couldn't resist that one). But back to the ring, the colors go so deep they seem endless. He died on September 7,

1987. I have missed him every day since. This ring I could wear after Ron resized it. Until I decided to write this I had sort of forgotten the ring. It's not that I didn't want to wear it. It's a bit too large for day to day. I seem to get lazy about my jewelry. Daily life can be hectic so sometimes I might

not put ANY on. Stay tuned for what was in that puff of kleenex in my next blog...til then...

Oh, So You're Not a Beader?

It was a warm night on September 12, 1995. I was hanging out with one of my friends at this rock club I NEVER went to. For some reason on that night I was drawn there. At midnight I knew why. In walks this exotic looking, tall guy standing at least 6 feet tall. He had long wavy dark hair. It was love at first sight.

I started talking to this handsome guy and asked him what he did for a living. He said he made jewelry. I'm not sure how many of you know him but he doesn't "make jewelry". He creates art. Anyway I visualized some kind of simple beading they do down on 4th Avenue during the Street Fair. Now I'm not knocking beading because I have a friend, Dini that makes the most incredible bead art I've ever seen (check it here, http://www.beadazzledoforegon.com//).

Since we met two weeks before my birthday, Ron and I decided to go to this local club we both liked for some music and celebration (Back then I could really get my party on..lol). Anyway we got there and Ron pulls out this kleenex wrapped around something small. If you know Ron, you know he always wraps jewelry in kleenex (soft and no scratching). I couldn't believe it when I unwrapped the kleenex only to find the most beautiful piece of jewelry I had ever owned. Part of what made it so beautiful was the fact he made it for me but the other was it was shiny, colorful with the Turquoise, Sugilite and Coral and of course it was stunning.

I have worn this piece almost everyday for the last 14 years. I'll never part with it.

You'll see in the photos its a little dull. That's because I rarely take it off for a good polish.

http://www.tribeazure.com/specialItemlist.asp?Type=Custom+Jewelry&MainGroup=Jewelry

On to Brilliant, Sparkly Things for Mr. Henry

Ron has been designing jewelry since he was 12. His brother, Ernie taught him. Ernie makes entirely different jewelry than Ron but he is responsible for introducing his younger brother into this lovely world of art. Ron comes from a very artistic family. His mother, Lou was a rug weaver. She also made jewelry but she was known for her beautiful Navajo rugs.

In the last year Ron finally gave in to a friend that had wanted him to design a personal pendant for him. The problem was the piece was to be all diamonds and white gold. There would be no turquoise, no reticulation, no silver. It would be an entirely new animal for Ron. Unbeknownst to me Tom had been asking Ron for several years to make this for him. Finally Ron decided to take on the new project. One of the reasons Ron was hesitant I believe is his mother never liked diamonds. She would say they were "uggaalyy" (said in her Navajo accent). Lou passed away a few years ago so Ron was even more reluctant to dabble in these stones his mother so much disliked.

I remember the day we drove to Starr Gem to get a book on pave setting. I think I knew as much about diamond setting as Ron did with all his years of crafting. He was overwhelmed as soon as he opened the book. More than once in the next two hours did he say "I don't know about this". I told him "You can do it. You can do anything". It's true too. For months after meeting him he didn't want me to know just how talented he really was. I think he thought if he let on to me he could do anything from make jewelry, work on cars to rewire a stereo I might never let him rest. Anyway he kept reading and reading.

One day he came home with a deposit for the piece. He knew right then he had to learn the art of diamonds. After a few months of reading and online researching he decided to order the Graver Max. This is the mackdaddy of diamond setting. Apparently its quite indispensible to a diamond setter. You'd think the fact Ron had to order not one, not two but THREE of them before he got one that worked would have maybe deterred him. Maybe made him think this wasn't meant to be but no that is NOT how he works. It was just a fluke they didn't work. It is an excellent product. Most likely they were damaged in shipping but some would have let that keep them from continuing to learn. I must plug Rio Grande in NM here because they sent Ron three machines without question. They are a wonderful company to work with.

I'll continue the diamond story tomorrow. I want you all to know how he came to love diamonds and how they sparkle when they are set just right.

Dragonfly almost done! yay

Today holds the nearing of completion of an awesome pair of dragonfly bracelets Ron is creating for a very special customer. I can't wait to show you all. I'll post pics as soon as they are done. Here's a pic of a butterfly he's done, http://tribeazure.com/showitem.asp?ID=242&MainGroup=Jewelry&SubGroup=Pendants3&CustID. Check it out.