Aqua blue Agate, Natural Coral Accents, Sterling Clasp

I've always loved these beads. They look spikey but they're smooth and sexy and really comfortable to wear. I found some natural pink coral that is so tiny and delicate to provide some color contrast along with a few serially spaced silver and Swarovski crystal beads and put it all on a silver clasp. Adorable.

Chinese Turquoise with Cloisonne Beads

I found a very good source for cloisonne beads and have been using them most of the summer. I found an almost exact match for the turquoise in the little gold/turqoise enameled teardrops and made this sweet, single-strand piece. The kind of thing you can wear with anything and probably will never take off.

White Turquoise Slab with Copper Czech Fire-Polish Bead

I've never seen white turquoise quite this beautiful before. Actually, I don't think this is turquoise at all but matrixed howlite or something man-made, however, it looks fabulous on all skin tones, lays flat and feel sexy-sensual as it warm to body temperture. And it's not expensive, $150.

Lively Blue Lapis with gold-filled Beads and Clasp

Three strands of Afghani mystery here -- bright blue (probably dyed) lapis that I strung with my last remaining gold-filled shell clasp. (Reminder to self: Get some more of those). The blue is extraordinarily bright and this is a way to own Lapis Lazuli without breaking the bank. $300.

Citrine Nuggets, Fancy Vermeil Beads

These are very high-quality faceted nuggets in tones that vary from light lemon to sunshine yellow to nearly rust. Surrounding the vermeil fancy beads are faceted citrine nuggets. Like wearing a wreath of sunshine around your neck.

Gem Quality Chrysophrase with 18K Antique Gold Beads

I love the translucence of these beads which are very high quality. The green is exceptional. I paired the beads, which was part of the Karen Riley gift box with faceted 18k gold antique beads. This is a very rare find, indeed. $750.

Gem Qualiaty Labradorite, 14k Gold Stardust Beads

Labradorite is one of my favorite gemstones. There's a lot going on in these seemingly dull gray-green stones. Lightening bolts of iridescent blue flash and gleam. Geologists call the phenomenon "Labradorescence" and it happens only in this stone which is mined in Labrador. I prefer pairing Labradorite with gold because among the colors you'll find in the stone besides blue and flashes of purple is gold. These are subtle, not only because the stone itself is so low key, but because of the laser-surfaced stardust beads which are textured but certainly not flashy. $750.

Massive silver and shell pendant, jasper roundels

I found a series of shell pendants on line that are much prettier and more ornate in person than they appear on-line. I thought about putting this particular pendant on black onyx, but the faint deep rusty red in the shell tracings cried out for recognition, and I had these red jasper beads. . . and that was all she wrote.

Mixed Turquoise, Tiger Eye, Green Apple Turquoise Clasp

This piece and I call it "major," started out with just the variegated turquoise clasp which sat for almost a year before I decided w hat to do with it. I found some lovely apple green turquoise at a show and slid in some tigereye, silver and bright aqua turquoise. I had seen some presentation necklaces by a designer that Neiman Marcus carries and thought: why not. It's a way to be Southwestern without being kitchy.

Giant Faceted Carnelian and Bali Beads

Once in a while, you find really special beads. These carnelian and faceted and beautifully rusty orange. I spaced them with faceted carnelian roundels flanking large silver Bali beads. This necklace measures about 18" and is considered a choker.

Matrix Turquoise Slabs and Coral

I designed this turquoise slab necklace to sit on the neck like Cleopatra's collar. It feels so comfortable and warms with your natural body heat. The coral tube spacers are antique and part of the stash I got from my friend Karen in Santa Fe.

Lavender jade with Mother-of-Pearl pendant

I found this Mother-of-Pearl pendant at a jewelry show. There are two bezel-set faceted amethyst of extraordinary color, all the better set off with lavender jade and tiny faceted amethyst roundels.