What Inspires You?

When applying to most artfairs, iKandies has been asked "What inspires you to create your jewelry?"  As noted on our website www.ikandies.com and our Esty site iKandies Esty shop, we are inspired by many things including places we visit while on vacation. Recently, iKandies took a trip to Scottsdale, Arizona.  Although we weren't able to attend the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, we didn't miss out on inspiring experiences!  We spent a day touring the Petrified Forest and the Painted Desert in northern Arizona. You might wonder how rocks could inspire anyone but these aren't just any rocks!  The "rocks" or petrified wood found in this area were formed when layers of volcanic ash, silt, and mud buried downed trees.  Silica-laden groundwater seeped through the wood and replaced the wood tissue with silica deposits. Eventually, the silica crystallized into quartz and the logs were preserved as petrified wood.  The rocks vary in color due to the type and amount of minerals present in the soil in which the wood is embedded. Here is a picture of a few small pieces of petrified wood iKandies was able to purchase

Petrified Wood

What causes the variety of colors?  Hematite, a form of oxidized iron, results in shades of red and pink. Yellow, brown and orange are produced by the presence of goethite, or hydrated iron oxide. The color green is produced by pure reduced iron or native iron.  This form of iron is rare in terrestrial rocks but common in meteorites. White is produced by pure silica. A black color is the result of organic carbon or pyrite present in the soil. And purple and blue are produced by manganese dioxide. 

iKandies plans to use these pieces of petrified wood in jewelry designs, so we purchased gemstones from a local bead store that we thought would go with them.  We found strands of Impression Jasper, Rainbow Jasper and Chalcedony. When the jewelry designs are completed, we'll post the photos on this blog.

Gemstones and Petrified Wood

New Items for Jewelry Design

It's a new year and time to restock our bead supply!  IKandies has been shopping at some of our favorite shops and look what we found!  This stash includes antique copper, Czech picasso finish glass beads, mushroom button glass beads, Miyuki magatama beads, and African turquoise to name a few.

The design possibilities are endless, but what would you do with these mushroom beads? Or these picasso finish glass beads?                                                                                                                                  IKandies found an interesting bracelet design using magatama beads in a Kumihimo braid.  Never heard of magatamas?  Created by Miyuki the manufacturer of Delica seed beads, these beads have a drop-like shape resembling a small petal, with an off-center hole.  Often used for trim work and embellishment, they sit at a slight angle and add interest to your design. 

When we finish our designs we'll be sure to post them here on our blog and let you decide if we made a good choice!