A day late (for the solstice) but still beautiful. May you find your light this holiday season and keep it burning throughout the new year.

Enjoy discounted prices on all jewelry in my Etsy shop now through Sunday, January 1st! Plus, free upgrade to Priority Mail Shipping on orders over $40 shipped to addresses in the USA. Prices are already marked down thanks to Etsy On Sale’s lovely application. Shop now

Save 15% off any purchase from my Etsy shop now through Monday, November 28th. I’ll be adding new pieces all weekend.

Just a quick heads up to let you know the lovely Intergalactic Bead Show vendors will be at Metrolina Expo this Saturday and Sunday. The show runs both days from 10 AM – 5 PM. There is usually a $5 admission charge on Saturday and a $4 admission charge on Sunday. For more information and a $2.00 off admission coupon, check the official Intergalactic Site.

I purchased ten geode slices quite a while back but couldn’t figure out the best way to mount them. I didn’t want to interfere with the beauty of the stone because they are gorgeous. I think this setting solves that problem. I soldered a sterling silver frame and added half round prongs to hold the stone. It’s simple, clean and allows light to pass through the stone. I’ve mounted three of the geode slices this way so far.

Look for this piece and a few others in my Etsy shop soon!

Rings & Things is running a cleverly named jewelry design contest. Check out their Rock ‘N’ Rollo Challenge! Here are the details:

• You must include either some of their Rainbow Amazonite beads and/or Larvikite beads
• You must also include one or more types of their bulk rollo chain
• You can use any other components you want (handmade, store-bought, new, vintage, found objects, etc)
• Entries don’t have to be jewelry.
• Limit: 3 entries per person or design team

Prizes are $250-$75 Rings & Things gift certificates plus lots of bragging rights. And best of all, there’s plenty of time to enter. You have until January 31st, 2012 to get you design in!

It’s Beadaholics roundtable time again! The Charlotte Beadaholics are a monthly meetup group for local jewelry artists. We meet at On A String Bead Shop in Myers Park. Our roundtable meetups include a demo or discussion. This month, Nolan from On A String will be showing us how to create a knotted silk strand.

The silk knotting technique can be used to create necklaces or bracelets (or even earrings if you want to). Traditionally, most people think of knotting as a method to string pearls. One sign of a “good” strand of pearls has always been their strong, hand knotted silk. The silk knots protect the pearl nacre by preventing individual pearls from rubbing. They also give the strand a liquid or fluid feel that allows them to lay perfectly around the neckline. And should that string of pearls catch on something and break, only one pearl will roll off. Anne, at On A String, mentioned that you can experiment with the color of the silk used to knot crystals or transparent stones for unique and beautiful effects.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been seeing lots of higher end gemstone necklaces knotted lately. It’s a gorgeous, luxurious look. Hope you can make it!