Holiday gift of jewelry

The holidays are right around the corner and what could be a better gift than handcrafted jewelry. Unique one-of-a-kind handcrafted jewelry is something that will be treasured always and is surely a gift from the heart. Each piece of my jewelry comes in a box ready for gift giving and if you would like gift wrap or a small gift card included I would be happy to provide this. If you have browsed through my website and just can't decide which jewelry piece to choose I have gift certificates available for purchase. Click here to start your holiday shopping for unique one-of-a-kind handcrafted artisan jewelry.

Birthstone jewelry ~ a holiday gift

A birthstone is the gemstone associated with the date of one's birth. It is commonly thought to bring good luck or health. Birthstone jewelry makes such a wonderful gift that is personal to the wearer. I hope you will take a look at my birthstone jewelry and choose a piece for that special person this holiday season.

October '06 Drawing Winner!

Congratulations to Joyce, winner of the Fourteen Carrots Jewelry October '06 drawing.

If you would like to enter my monthly drawing to win a pair of handcrafted earrings click here for details.

Please visit my website at www.14carrotsjewelry.com for more handcrafted artisan jewelry.

On Vacation

Hello Everyone!

I'm off on a mini vacation and will return Wednesday October 25th. Please feel free to shop on my website while I'm gone and I will process your order promptly upon my return.

Start shopping...... Fourteen Carrots Jewelry

September '06 Drawing Winner

Congratulations to Laura, winner of the Fourteen Carrots Jewelry September '06 drawing.

If you would like to enter my monthly drawing to win a pair of handcrafted earrings click here for details.

Please visit my website at www.14carrotsjewelry.com for more handcrafted artisan jewelry.

New Fall Jewelry

Just wanted to share a couple of my new Fall jewelry designs.

Dragonfly Necklace with African garnet gemstones, pearls, and a sterling silver dragonfly pendant.



Midnight Dream Bracelet with garnet, labradorite, iolite, and sterling silver charms.




Please visit my website at www.14carrotsjewelry.com for more handcrafted artisan jewelry.

August '06 Drawing Winner!

Congratulations to Maggie, winner of the Fourteen Carrots Jewelry August '06 drawing.

If you would like to enter my monthly drawing to win a pair of handcrafted earrings click here for details.

Please visit my website at www.14carrotsjewelry.com for more handcrafted artisan jewelry.

Fall Jewelry

Hello everyone ~ I'm working hard in my studio creating many new pieces for the upcoming Fall season. Be sure to check my site often for great new jewelry designs and colors that will compliment your Fall wardrobe. Please feel free to email me with any ideas, suggestions, or requests. Looking for a certain gemstone or bead color? Let me know...

Please visit my website at www.14carrotsjewelry.com to start shopping for your Fall jewelry.

Lead in Jewelry

Another good reason to buy quality handcrafted artisan jewelry......

"SACRAMENTO – California sued 13 major retailers yesterday, alleging they broke state law by failing to warn customers some of the jewelry they sell contains lead.

Named in the state's suit were Macy's, Target, Wal-Mart, Kmart, J.C. Penney, Mervyn's, Nordstrom, Ross, Sears, Express, Claire's, Toys "R" Us and Burlington Coat Factory, along with some of their affiliates and parent companies.
State tests showed high levels of lead in costume jewelry the retailers market primarily to teenagers and younger children, Attorney General Bill Lockyer alleged in the suit. The levels were "well above" that which requires a warning to consumers under California law, he alleged.

Jeffrey Margulies, a lawyer representing six of the retailers, said his clients are concerned they are the targets of lawsuits aimed at products they don't manufacture and are trying to cooperate with Lockyer to determine which products are a problem and what can be done.

"As retailers, obviously the companies are deeply concerned about the welfare of their customers, but they are not currently aware of any hazard posed by the jewelry," Margulies said.

The jewelry is sold under brand names including Nine West (Macy's), Orion (Burlington), Claire's, Worthington (J.C. Penney), Juststyle (Kmart), Thalia (Kmart), Nadri (Nordstrom), Eitenne V (Nordstrom), Apostrophe (Sears), Mainframe (Sears), No Boundaries (Wal-Mart), French Laundry (Mervyn's) and Xhilaration (Target).

Lockyer's suit was spurred by the Oakland-based Center for Environmental Health, which said it planned to sue 43 retailers for inadequate lead warnings. State law requires the attorney general and county prosecutors must first decline to act before a private lawsuit can be filed.

The jewelry includes necklaces made with plastic cords and metal jewelry made with low-grade tin, both containing lead, the center said. It said lead contamination is a particular concern if women or children chew on the cords or metal parts.

The suit asks a judge to prohibit the stores from selling the jewelry in California without providing the required warning about lead exposure, and asks for civil penalties of up to $2,500 for each violation."

Fourteen Carrots Handcrafted Jewelry

Celebrity Jewelry - Kristin Kreuk

Actress Kristin Kreuk who plays Lana Lang on The WB's television show Smallville is wearing Smokey Quartz Ear Thread Earrings by Fourteen Carrots Jewelry. As seen on TV promotional trailers and in the show's opening credits. Click Here to see pictures of Kristin Kreuk wearing Fourteen Carrots Jewelry.

Celebrity Jewelry - Emily VanCamp

Actress Emily VanCamp who plays Amy Abbott on The WB's television show Everwood is wearing Indian Red Swarovski Crystal Hoop Earrings by Fourteen Carrots Jewelry. As seen in People Magazine and TV Guide Magazine 2005. Click Here to see pictures of Emily VanCamp wearing Fourteen Carrots Jewelry.

July '06 Drawing Winner!

Congratulations to Dani who won this pair of handcrafted earrings in the Fourteen Carrots Jewelry July '06 drawing.



If you would like to enter my monthly drawing to win a pair of handcrafted earrings click here for details.

Please visit my website at www.14carrotsjewelry.com for more handcrafted artisan jewelry.

June '06 Drawing Winner!

Congratulations to Linda who won this pair of handcrafted earrings in the Fourteen Carrots Jewelry June '06 drawing.



If you would like to enter my monthly drawing to win a pair of handcrafted earrings click here for details.

Please visit my website at www.14carrotsjewelry.com for more handcrafted artisan jewelry.

May '06 Drawing Winner!

Congratulations to Sonja who won this pair of handcrafted earrings in the Fourteen Carrots Jewelry May '06 drawing.



If you would like to enter my monthly drawing to win a pair of handcrafted earrings click here for details.

Please visit my website at www.14carrotsjewelry.com for more handcrafted artisan jewelry.

April '06 Drawing Winner!

Congratulations to Kelly who won this pair of handcrafted earrings in the Fourteen Carrots Jewelry April '06 drawing.






Please visit my website at www.14carrotsjewelry.com for more handcrafted artisan jewelry.

Chevrons - African Trade Beads

Venetian Chevron beads are the most beautiful, recognizable and collectable of all of the Venetian "trade beads".

Chevron beads are made using a multi-part process. Starting with the making of the cane, then another color glass is added and then placed into a 12-point star mold. This process is repeated for each additional bead layer. Chevron beads have been made in Venice since the late 1400's and are still in limited production today.

Chevron beads have been traded throughout the world, but most heavily in Africa. They are still being made in Venice today but in a limited quantity. They are also being made now in India and China but with a slighly different process.

Chevrons are very popular beads, and there are many large private collections in Africa, Europe and America. These beads remain in very high regard in Africa and are still worn to show prestige at special ceremonies and are often buried with the dead.


Please visit my website at www.14carrotsjewelry.com for more handcrafted artisan jewelry.

Labradorite Jewelry

Labradorite is truly a fascinating and beautiful mineral whose brilliance may be overlooked if it is not viewed from the proper position. It is a dull and dark looking mineral with no special virtue until the colors are observed glowing on the surface. Labradorite can produce a colorful light across cleavage planes and in sliced sections called labradorescence. The intense colors can range from blues and violets to greens, yellows, and oranges.

Please visit my website at www.14carrotsjewelry.com for more handcrafted artisan jewelry.

Paua Abalone

Paua Abalone is a shell that comes from the shallow coastal waters surrounding New Zealand.

Paua is one of the world's most beautiful shells because of it's incredible and intense variation of color. Typically incorporating blues and deep greens, even the pink material in the shell turns bluish when viewed from varying angles. The Paua shell is made of lustrous layers of hexagonal aragonite crystals of calcium carbonate, which is secreted by the Paua to form the shell.

Paua shells remind us of a kaleidoscope or hologram, with the colors dancing and sparkling as the iridescent patterns of the nacre catch the glints of light when viewed from different angles.

Please visit my website at www.14carrotsjewelry.com for more handcrafted artisan jewelry.

Karen Hilltribe Jewelry

The Karen Hilltribe is the largest Hilltribe in Thailand.

Skilled as farmers, the Karen people often live in bamboo houses built on stilts. They practice crop rotation and use elephants to clear the land. In the early 1960's, the Karen people developed an alternative to growing their traditional cash crop (opium).

As part of a royal project to build a stable economy based on beauty instead of illicit drug crops, silver experts were dispatched to impart their knowledge of jewelry to the farmers of the Karen Hilltribe.

The first generation of Karen silversmiths were taught to carefully handcraft each design from scratch, using high-content silver (more than .925 sterling). They learned to give each design a unique appearance only seen in their own creations.

Today, each handmade ornament is a unique masterpiece that represents centuries of Karen culture and art. Often, the ornament is engraved with plant, animal, or geometric designs, symbolizing their direct connection to their land and water.

Choosing Karen silver work is much more than buying jewelry of rare distinction. Your purchase also helps preserve the timeless culture, art, religion, and language of the Karen people.

Here is a jewelry piece I created using Karen Hilltribe silver.

Golden Triangle Necklace

Please visit my website at www.14carrotsjewelry.com for more handcrafted artisan jewelry.

Season of Charms

I love charms, and for those of you who do too, I designed a beautiful one-of-a-kind necklace called "Charmed Melody".

Charmed Melody Necklace

This season charms can be found dangling from jewelry of all kinds. Necklaces, earrings, bracelets, or as add-ons to your purses, belts, zippers, or cell phones. Your choice of charms may run the gamut, from chunky and ethnic-inspired to delicate or romantic.

Please visit my website at www.14carrotsjewelry.com for more handcrafted artisan jewelry.

Valentine's Day Jewelry

Choose a special gift for yourself, family, or friend and give the gift of handcrafted jewelry this Valentine's Day.

Spiny Oyster Heart Charm Necklace
Blushing Bouquet Bracelet

Please visit my website at www.14carrotsjewelry.com for more handcrafted artisan jewelry.

Happy New Jewelry Year 2006

Today I'm ringing in the new year by working hard creating many new jewelry designs. Please be sure to check out my website for some after holiday sale items, my newest Valentines Day jewelry additions, and my new gift certificates .

For those of you that are familiar with my "what's new" page, I have added a "new designs" list at the bottom of the page for your shopping convenience.

Looking for a specific gemstone, style, color, or size? As always, I would love to hear from you if you are looking for something in particular.

Have a wonderful New Years Day!