Coral and brass tassel earrings from my grandmother formed the inspiration for this five-foot-long, double-stranded lariat. Citrine, labradorite, garnet, carnelian, tourmaline, hessianite, aventurine, yellow jade, and freshwater pearls.

Murano glass, labradorite, wood, abalone, and sterling beads strung together in a five-foot -long lariat; a large amber teardrop and a unicorn pendant dangle from the ends. My father bought me the Murano glass beads when I was four, in Venice; the unicorn pendant was a gift when I was thirteen from my aunt and uncle.

A garden on your wrist. Pink tourmaline, peridot, and Austrian (Swarovski) crystal on laced strands of multi-toned green glass; sterling lobsterclaw clasp.

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Miniature tasseled lariat and earrings; a delicate 30 inches of Swarovski crystal and glass seed beeds with sterling chains.

An unusually responsive creature, the aquatic sensitive plant thrives in both sun and shadow. Here, Neptunia aquatica inspires pale citrine and carnelian blooms on subtly iridescent grey-green labradorite leaves. Like the living plant, each leaf responds to touch, swinging freely around its stem, sensitive to your moves like no other necklace. Scroll down to see a close-up and the complete necklace.

Heavy blooms fall between jade leaves from a trellised vine. Tourmaline, jade, iolite, blue aventurine, labradorite, and even a touch of amethyst; sterling silver.

Freedom of movement adds to the wild beauty of true forget-me-nots, as each bud, leaf, and bloom swings freely on the main stem, creating ever-new, living art. Iolite, labradorite, glass seed beads, and tourmaline on shepherd’s crook earrings.

True forget-me-nots, or Myosotis palustris, bloom on this delicate, unforgettable choker. Peridot, iolite, tourmaline, freshwater pearl, and labradorite petals and leaves swing on four strands of laced glass beads. A lobsterclaw clasp and chain allow a perfect fit for almost any neck.

These stones were being discarded by Shannon Diego, the jewelry company I worked for; I couldn’t bear to let that happen, so I got permission to use them for test pieces. The concept was rejected, but I was allowed to keep this pair.

Ocean waves at twilight. A five-foot strand of iolite, apatite, labradorite, and Czech crystal with blue aventurine teardrops.

Inspired by sea spray, this delicate choker is made of iridescent Indian glass, quartz, and freshwater pearl with a lobsterclaw clasp. Adjustable chain allows this choker to be worn high on the neck, or lower, at the base.

Hematite and freshwater pearl bracelet with copper glass seed beads; sterling finishings with pewter spacers.

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Several basic geometric shapes form the underlying design for not only art, but much of nature. This was an attempt to reflect that concept, using color as well as form. The Promethean fire blossoming from the hollow of the throat outward was a continuation of a theme first seen in the deconstructive evolution necklace. It’s not an accident that this location is the heart of the throat chakra, which holds creative inspiration and communication.

From the Inthegno catalog: “From the depths of time as well as the sea. Orthroceras, a cousin to the modern-day squid and octopus, has waited patiently for over half a billion years—for you. Subtly iridescent labradorite with freshwater pearls and sterling accents provides the perfect setting; fossil shapes vary. Lobsterclaw clasp; choker length.”

An alternate fossil shape:

Early in 2003 I experienced a sudden surge of creativity, which felt as though all my ideas were bursting out from the shells they had hidden inside, all at the same time. This choker was a celebration of that—a flowering of energy breaking free from a very conservative structure piece.

Garnet, freshwater pearl, carnelian, hessianite, sterling, and a touch of gold on a leather cord. This was a rejected design from my lead beading designer days, purchased for me from Shannon Diego by my fiancé.

You walk on the beach, and the sea rushes up over your toes, transforming sand and shells into a rhapsody of light. Freshwater pearl, quartz, and Czech crystal; sterling toggle clasp. Matching bracelet.

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An anklet of amber, glass, found pieces, leather, and silver. 2001

I made four of these choker sets for a bride and her attendants in 2002.