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Color Inspiration - Terrific Tucson Turquoise

by Kristal Wick
I recently returned home after spending a week in Tucson, Arizona enjoying the gem and mineral show extravaganza! It was my 14th year attending (skipping last year due to Covid) and it did not disappoint. Although attendance and vendor booths were down about 1/3 from previous years, there was plenty beady-gemstone-rocky delights that wanted to hop in my car, believe me!

Hundreds of thousands attend these shows every year with a wide range of goals. My main purchases are always supplies to be used in my jewelry designs but the eye-opening vast variety of nature's creations always inform and amaze my brain! I mean, who can pass up a $30K amethyst bathtub for goodness sake, right?! I only hit 7 shows this year (out of 100) and I seriously think all jewelry makers should add this to their bucket list. The experience broadens one's perspective of the beauty in our world and marvels at nature's color selections, shapes and textures. Simply put, unbelievable eye candy at its finest!
Kristal Wick's Color Inspiration - Terrific Tucson Turquoise - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, color inspiration terrific turquoise
Kristal Wick's Color Inspiration - Terrific Tucson Turquoise - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, color inspiration terrific turquoise
Of course, I had to create a piece of jewelry based on my fave colors and this killer shot of turquoise I got at one of the Gem shows. I found these stunning sea glass pendants and thought one would make a great backdrop for the chain and wirework. A fave element of turquoise are the pieces/beads that have many coppery bronze inclusions running through them adding to their depth. So, I selected a 22-gauge antique bronze wire to make the spiral dangles and a small complementary colored chain for the crystal dangle. If this was a larger pendant, you could dangle an actual turquoise bead from the chain but I used a 4mm crystal to add just a tad of blue sparkle. I love how versatile the finished pendant is, you could hang it from a piece of leather, suede or chain to get very different effects.


Creatively,
Kristal
Kristal Wick's Color Inspiration - Terrific Tucson Turquoise - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, color inspiration terrific turquoise

Materials

18 Gauge Square Vintage Bronze Enameled Craft Wire - 21 ft
H5-N18SQ-21FT
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $12.00
  • Gold Club Price: $9.00
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4mm Aquamarine 5328 Bi-Cone Swarovski Crystal Beads - Pack of 10
A13-56A
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $1.97
  • Gold Club Price: $1.48
Out of Stock
20 Gauge Round Vintage Bronze Enameled Craft Wire - 30 ft
H5-N20-30FT
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $6.80
  • Gold Club Price: $5.10
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Tools

5 1/2 Inch Nylon Flat Jaw Pliers with Replacement Jaws
G2-1
  • G2-1
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $9.97
  • Gold Club Price: $7.48
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WireJewelry - Ultimate Wire-Pliers Jewelry Pliers with Case, Set of 5
G15-20
  • G15-20
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $170.72
  • Gold Club Price: $128.04
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Wubbers Small Bail Making Pliers
G2-1301
  • G2-1301
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $24.95
  • Gold Club Price: $18.71
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  • Category: Design
  • Technique(s): Design

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