Making Jewelry that Encourages Positivity & Purpose

Author: Jennifer Thompson Gunn; Published: May 20, 2010; Category: Art and Joy, Stories-in-Stone Jewelry; Tags: Jewelry; One Comment

I have always enjoyed making jewelry, whether the materials are precious stones, silver, hand-wrought materials or found objects.

Long ago, my grandfather taught me about the many secrets inside dirt-encrusted rocks that we found strewn around the family property in Tucson, Arizona. He would pick up a stone and say” This is Malachite.” Then, he would see another and say” This is Jasper.” I did not really understand until he showed me how to cut and polish stones in his workshop. The malachite became a gorgeous deep green and the jasper was transformed into shades of rose and terracotta.

From these early beginnings, I have collected stones wherever I have traveled. I continue to add to my collection, focusing on semi-precious stones and sterling silver beads and clasps. Most recently, I have started to sculpt in Precious Metal Clay. This clay allows me to use my sculpting skills to create one-of-a kind pendants and beads that when fired become a high-quality hardened silver.

Stones come from deep in the earth and have been here a lot longer than man. Thus, many people believe that certain stones have properties that they can use to help them focus on goals, maintain a positive attitude or heal themselves.

My goal is to create jewelry that has special meaning to the wearer. Wearing a necklace with stones that are each selected for a certain goal helps the wearer focus on that purpose. Each piece of jewelry is different. I use high-quality stones and silver to create life-long treasures. I do not skimp: I believe that the bright flash of just the right stone and bead; in concert with just the right clasp, makes the jewelry just that much more special to the wearer.

As an example, I created one necklace for a clinical hypnotherapist who works with people who have serious health issues. The necklace was combined with a series of stones that represented each of the chakras, sterling silver beads, and a snake as a pendant. The snake is a symbol of healing. (No mystery that the symbol for physicians for over a hundred years has been the caduceus which consists of a staff intertwined with a snake.) The hypnotherapist loves the necklace. She wears it regularly, particularly when she sees clients.

Another necklace that I created had Labradorite and Sunstone as the main components. Labradorite is a bit of a chameleon. It can flash purple, green, blue or look gray – depending on the stone and the light. It is a stone with magical protection. It works well with the orange-gold, saucer-shaped stone, Sunstone. Sunstone has a story that includes leadership, personal power, creativity and a heightened ability to positively address any self-doubt that you might have. It was given as a gift. I was told that as soon as the recipient put it on, he felt wonderful…and that, to me, is the ultimate compliment.

Another of my jewelry commissions was for a woman who was a university professor: After years of hard work, she received tenure at her university. Her family gave her the necklace as a gift. I created it based on what I knew of her personality, her preferences and achievements. It was created for “Continued Realization of Her Goals and Dreams”. One of her favorite colors is purple so I picked the purple stone, Sugilite, for the key stone. Sugilite is a gorgeous stone that conveys the properties of spirituality and enlightenment to help people achieve their dreams. Other stones that I included were Labradorite, mixed beryl (Amethyst, Aquamarine) and Sunstone. Amethyst increases Sugilite’s protective qualities and offers protection from negative influences and helps the wearer maintain balance and clarity. The cool blue Aquamarine has soothing and cooling properties. It is also a stone of good luck and clarity of communication. It is described by experts as the stone of “empowerment.” With this combination of stones and silver accents, it is a power-packed necklace. The professor loved the necklace and immediately wore it to her next presentation.

I give special thanks to The Book of Stones: Who They Are & What They Teach, by Robert Simmons and Naisha Ahsian. I use this comprehensive book as a reference guide for insight into the properties of the stones that I use for jewelry.

I look forward to making jewelry for you or for you to give as a gift.

One Response to “Making Jewelry that Encourages Positivity & Purpose”

1. Angela Gulick says:

   June 3, 2010 at 3:41 pm

   That is some great background information on your necklaces and yourself. I own one of your beautiful pieces, and I love wearing it. People always notice and ask about it. Beautiful work!