Gentle Swan Studio artisan jewelry by Carol Stanyon one of a kind silver gemstones fused dichroic art glass lampwork

Artisan Jewelry by Carol Stanyon

Fulgurite

Fulgurite is formed when lightening strikes the earth, often forming tube like structures

or crusts. Most people have never seen fulgurite.

One day a woman named Cara asked me if I could make some jewelry for her using this stone. She told me that lightening had struck in her yard on the day her dad died.

When she later examined the ground closely, she found a collection of beautiful glassy beads of varying shades of green to black. Some were almost perfectly round; others were in clusters and others were classic fulgurite "tube like" structures. They had formed from the intense heat when the lightening struck the ground. Because of the significance of this happening on that sad day, these stones have a great deal of meaning to her, and she decided to preserve some of the stones in pieces of jewelry, that she could give to her children and keep for herself, to remember her father. I felt honored that she asked me to help her with such a meaningful undertaking.

She commissioned the first piece, which was a pendant with a larger stone, to be simply wrapped in sterling silver wire (image not available). Most of her stones were quite delicate and fragile, but the one she selected for wire wrapping seemed denser than most.

The following images show 2 of the pieces that she commissioned for family gifts, and one necklace that I made to keep, as a reminder of her and her family.

Fine Silver , fulgurite cluster, sterling chain w/ patina

Fine Silver, fulgurite cluster, sterling silver chain

Fine Silver, Fulgurite single bead and cluster - NFS

Dragonfly Pendant- A Tribute to Christine

Another very special woman I met, named Mary, asked if I could make her a pendant in memory of her beloved daughter, Christine, who had died recently. Mary told me that Christine loved dragonflies, and together we designed a heart shaped pendant of fine silver and 24 kt gold.

My hope is that whenever Mary wears this pendant, she will be reminded of all the special and happy times with Christine.

In Memory of Christine-NFS

Labradorite

Labradorite is found in Labrador, Canada and has a beautiful, iridescent play of color. Some consider this to be a power stone that helps to reveal your spiritual path. I am drawn to its mesmerizing shimmer when viewed from different angles.

The Journey (Named for the image I perceive in the beautiful Labradorite stone,

of someone taking a journey through the forest.)

Labradorite, Sterling Silver,patina. $280