I discovered Kit Carson’s work through a friend who owns one of Kit’s  ’Pirate”  bracelets.  Engraved inside is the saying “Bad to the Bone”.  (see “Looking for Biker Jewelry?”)   I knew his designs would be a perfect fit for my store.                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Kit Carson, the “Wildest Jewelry Engraver in the West”, is known for his original, bold, naturalistic, curvilinear design, extremely fine detail and a subtle sense of humor.

Inspiration rushes through Kit like a desert flash flood slapping the dust out of a dry arroyo.  He observes the rich palette of nature in the desert:  a leaf spiraling over itself, the graduating texture of a weathered stone, the voluptous form of the thunderheads, and the accelerating curves of a sunbleached bone.  As he notices a rabbit bounding by him, framed over a golden cactus against a turquoise sky, he’s back at his bench working madly, a happy guy.  “It is the nostalgic freedom of the western landscape and a return to a natural and simple life that I want to capture in my art”, says Kit.   His themes include ravens, dragonflies, cactus, bones, cowboys and anything else he discovers in the desert.

I designed this Trollbeads bracelet to go with my 105th Anniversary Harley-Davidson, using the classic orange and black with a touch of copper.  Beads used are the Belly Chakra, Black Gold, Dark Leopard, the retired Tiger, Three in One (which stands for you, your bike and the road) and the retired Pig (for every H.O.G member).

What are your colors?  Let me design a bracelet for you!

I’ve found an edgy new artist that has a ‘Bad to the Bone’ collection of jewelry fit for pirates or bikers!  Watch for new pieces to be uploaded soon, just in time for early holiday shopping. 

Shown here is a ‘Pirate’ bracelet with Gaspeite and 14k gold on a sterling cuff, engraved inside with H-D flames and the inscription ‘Bad to the Bone”

My own newest design for the season, 3 strands of serpentine heishiwith a jade-like quality, dotted with a trail of cultured pearls.  Years ago I fell in love and began collecting the fine jewelry from the Santo Domingo Pueblo Indians. This is a design with that inspiration

I just read a blog that came through about a woman that said she had just found a “Cheap Alternative to Trollbeads!!! I found this website that sells trollbead dupes! They are so pretty and cheap“.  Having been a reputable Trollbeads dealer for well over a year, I had to check it out!  The line she spoke of wasn’t even a good imitation of  the authentic Trollbeads line we have come to know and love.  So Beware of the competition for you will never get investment value back for your cheap product, it will never be guaranteed, it probably will not last a lifetime, and they are cheap because they scimp on quality and look like cheap costume jewelry!  There must be hundreds of artists that can do lampwork glass, yet rarely have I seen such a vast selection of gorgeous styles and designs as what Trollbeads offers.  Trollbeads  has been in business since 1976, and they have earned their reputation.  North America has never seen seen a line of this kind.  Detail, design, and originality are what truly sets Trollbeads apart from the competition.  PS.  Those cheap imitations  will never have the ability to sell for over $200 after being retired as so  many of the highly coveted Trollbeads do!

There is no time like now to begin collecting trollbeads.  With the economy in the state it is, Lund Trading, the US distributor for Trollbeads has seen phenomenal growth this last year!  We all know how highly collectible the retired Trollbeads can be.   All of these were once in the line and sold for $21 to $35.  I’ve seen retired Trollbeads hit auction sites and sell from$50 to ove $400!  It has been over a year since any beads were retired and a new retirement list could come out at anytime.  Customers ask what they should buy and I always can offer just this advice:  Buy what you love and what you can afford.  All the retired beads go up in value.  The ones with the most demand seem to be the most hard to find and the most desirable.  Food for thought from the Trollbeads Trail.

Santa Fe Trail Jewelry has been showcasing the designs of Richard Lindsay for over 6 years.  I have made it my mission each year to buy his featured earrings from his spring shows.  This year he designed the “Mountain Chime” earrings which I just had to have and I have added to my gallery.  I hope to add some of his other styles as I get to it but these are just a preview of his best, most outstanding work available.  Each element is hand made, so the wait can be several months.  I have these and 4 other pairs of fabulous Richard Lindsay originals available.   Watch for them to be added soon! 

Richard says “A hallmark is the registered signature of a master gold and silversmith.  I have chosen as part of my hallmark a triangle, the universal symbol of change.  It represents the three main sources of my artistic inspiration:  my love of nature, wildlife and the outdoors, my roots in the American West and the stories and symbols of American peoples past and present.  This hallmark signifies an authentic Richard Lindsay creation and guarantees enjoyment and inspiration.”

The breathtaking shards of glass Angie Olami uses in her jewelry date from 100 BCE to 300 CE. They were unearthed in Israel by archaeologists sifting through the fallen pillars and once magnificent cities of the Roman Empire.

And how do the colors form? The layers of iridescent colors have evolved gradually over the centuries as part of the glass’s chemical reaction to the sun, the water and the mineral rich earth in which it was buried. There has been glass found in England and Northern Europe dating back at least 1700 yrs, but it lacks the opalescence associated with Roman Glass because the natural phenomenon could not occur in their cold, damp climates. Angie Olami’s suppliers of Roman Glass are all licensed by the Israeli Government Antiquities Authority. Whole vessels are carted off to the museums and archaeologists keep whatever they need for research, the fragments are used in the jewelry design - useless rubble to some but magnificent gems to us!

Angie Olami jewelry is made from the hand blown fragments of ancient perfume pots, juglets, lamps, flasks, vases, cups and bowls. Each fragment varies in thickness, age and composition. Each piece underwent its own unique transformation as it became weathered with layers of patina. If a shard doesn’t sit exactly straight in its bezel, remember it is someone’s ancient wineglass you are wanting to wear as a pendant or as earrings.

Do you ever feel that when you wear a favorite piece of jewelry that your whole day seems to be brighter? Whatever the ‘magic’ is, all the designs in my collection seem to have that very presence about them. When worn, they feel as though they have been with you a very long time. They are to be worn and treasured. It’s a pleasure to offer you this outstanding collection from some of the most desirable artists around.

Featured work is primarily from Colorado Artists Darlene Armstrong, Katie Brassell and Sharon Schaffner. All pendant designs are sterling silver. Some pieces have 14K gold accents. The pin/pendant shown here is from Darlene Armstrong. “Ancient Wisdom #1″ includes Aquamarine, Diamond, Sapphire and 14K accents.