I love to work with gemstones. It is not the same as working with glass or porcelain beads. If you use natural stones, they are not perfectly shaped and identical to the beads beside them. Stone chips are gorgeous, but they also have unique edges and uneven hole-drilling.
Stringing with chips is a painstaking process. The irregularity of the chips means that they don’t all fit neatly together. You don’t want gaps in your piece, so you search for a similarly shaped chip that will rest nicely with the stone strung before it. You can’t count stones or hope for a strictly perfect piece, no matter the design. And yet, that’s where the beauty is. The pieces you end up with are worth the time, but they do take a little extra effort, if you’re trying to make a perfectly balanced accessory.
Even though the chips are shaped irregularly, they are still tumbled and polished, all sharp edges removed. These gem chips aren’t pokey or stabby on your wrist. The unique colors and shapes create interesting textures and color blends, and no stone is the same, making every beautiful piece one of a kind. I like wearing chip jewelry almost as much as I like making it!
Please let me know if you have any questions about the stones I use or their attributes and energies.