Early Spring

It happened so suddenly; one day it was still winter, dull and grey, and the next morning everything was turning green. Leaves unfurled before the sun rose, and forsythia and daffodils trumpeted bright yellow notes under blue, blue skies.

Spring green is like no other; it has a freshness that no other season can duplicate. The world looks scrubbed clean and freshly painted. Later in the year, the garden will be thicker and very, very lush; but never again will it be such a wonderful shade of green.

Winter is finally over.

© 2008 Cynthia Newcomer Daniel

Vintage glass chatons, seed beads, 14k gold-filled accents. Hand fabricated princess length necklace.

In the private collection of Claudia Newcomer

If Life Was Only Black And White

So naturally colored diamonds are generally extremely, incredibly, OMG how much, expensive. A pretty little (and I mean little - just one carat) fancy colored red diamond would, more or less, set you back a cool million. Pinks are more affordable - any A-lister Hollywood heavyweight can afford a three-plus carater pink, and any average Wall-Street Hedge Funding Joe can afford a nice fancy yellow.

For the remaining 95% of us fancy colored diamonds are considered a day-dream material, along with a yacht in the South of France and cellulite-free thighs. But, a few know a secret - that is how almost anyone can own their fancy colored gem. Black and champagne diamonds are not only much less expensive than their pink/red and blue counterparts - they're also one of the hot-hit trends of the year.

Kat De Luna was seen sporting a rather cute black and white diamond necklace at the Latin Music awards a couple of weeks ago.

If you want to start off simple, then JCPenney might just be the place to start at. Black, white and champagne diamonds in a ring that's good enough to drink.

Gucci Discovers The Dane

Gucci has just announced the new 'face' of the jewelry campaign. That means they're laying down some serious money on one of young Hollywood's best in the hope she'll attract some new Gucci followers. Eschewing Britney and Lindsey for some strange reason, they've instead chosen Clare Danes as the symbol of what Gucci jewelry represents.

(If you're curious, which I was, apparently Gucci is all about being passionate, independent and having a strong character. They forgot to mention it's all about having money.)

Gucci ain't the only company that has a famous face as the 'muse' for their gems. British rock-maker Stephen Webster recently zeroed in on Christina Aguilera as his muse. Me wonders who's next - any thoughts?

Diamonds 4 Peace

Any beauty queen worth her (meant 'my') weight in salt knows that all she really wants after winning Ms Galaxy et al, is to look after children and bring about world peace. Not that I'm going to start disparaging those more beautiful than myself, ok I am (why break a habit of a lifetime?) but please beautiful people - it's much easier and more realistic if you just buy a piece of peace.

I may have a inherent dislike for those genetically-gifted in the looks department but I spotted one former uber-model wearing a rather chic peace pendant and promptly decided that in this case I"ll make an exception - and follow in a model's footsteps.

Found this diamond peace for $99. (Well, I do get out of bed for less than $10,000) - at Jewelry.com for Zales.

Got Cash To Spare?

Ever wondered how much the super-rich are prepared to pay for their diamonds? Well, they're ready to lay down some serious cash for chance to out-bling the Jones' on Billionaires Row.

A rare and flawless blue diamond recently set a record as the most expensive jewel of its kind ever sold. The gem, which is 6.04 carats and sparkles with an unusual blue hue, is almost as breathtaking as the price it fetched at auction in Hong Kong. It went for a whopping $7.98 million, or about $1.32 million per carat. Because blue diamonds are so rare, they sell for around ten times comparable regular white diamonds sell for.

But, if you prefer your diamonds big and colorless, an upcoming auction in Hong Kong may have that special something. A 101.27-carat stone, the largest white diamond to appear at auction for 20 years will go under the hammer in late May and is expected to fetch in excess of six million dollars.

If you think those two diamonds are, well, somewhat exorbitant, then you obviously weren’t at the 1990 auction in which a 101.84-carat pear-shaped diamond, sold for $12.7 million dollars. The diamond was bought by famed diamond house Mouawad and named the Mouawad Splendor. The gem resurfaced in 2005 hanging between the ‘assets’ of supermodel Gisele Bundchen. Mouawad had teamed up with Victoria’s Secret to create their 2005 Fantasy Bra – aptly named the ‘Sexy Splendor’.

Gemalicious Colors

Daffodil, Mango, Blue Lagoon and Daiquiri Green – I don’t mean flowers, fruit, sea and a cocktail – these are the colors for spring/summer 2008. Forget the dusty shades or subdued pastels, color this summer means bright, bold and blaring.

The fashion world is showering summer-time shoppers with two distinct color palettes this season: juicy, fruity brights that are eye-popping and peppy, or natural neutrals that aim to tap into our eco-consciousness. After all, what's hotter than being GREEN.

There’s no room in the middle Mary.

According to designer Michael Kors, this rush to color-up is a reflection of the nightly news. He explained to reporters at his candy-colored Spring/Summer 2008 show, that his prescription for a population fretting over the war, the economy and the election was to put them in something 'delicious.'

Most of us though, aren’t going to be too confident leaving the house dressed head-to-toe in daffodil yellow or hot-pink and according to the experts, we shouldn’t run to buy neon green burqa any time soon. Mixing colors with neutrals is the way to go, adding strong splashes of the neon lights to tan-hued prints.

For fail-safe splash of color, simply dress up a print or floral blocked shift dress or skirt with a colorful necklace and ring.

Now that’s what I call Gemalicious.

Dawning of a New Hope

Hope went to the window and looked out, not seeing the garden or the new leaves unfurling; lost in her own thoughts and memories. Her lessons had been hard and painfully learned; she understood the consequences, though they were very nearly more than she could bear.

"Just one more chance," she prayed, "please, Lord, just one more chance."

"Trust Me."

© 2008 Cynthia Newcomer Daniel

14 carat gold-filled, modern and vintage glass beads, wooden Purpleheart cabochon by Joan Jensen of TazWood Finely Turned Creations. Hand fabricated, bead weaving and chain maille princess-length necklace.

*Available for purchase through TazWood Creations*

A Ribbon of Faith

Marti never gave up. She might look small and delicate; she might act demure and easily led, but she clung to her ideals as tightly as any vine that climbed towards the sun. Marti was a determined young woman. She would have been surprised to learn that the rest of the world mistook her agreeability for compliance; she would have laughed at the fact that her soft smiles and gentle ways allowed others to think that she followed their lead.

Marti went where she wanted to go. True, she nearly always went secretly; she didn't often share her thoughts or desires with others. She let them think what they would; she didn't really believe they would do otherwise, and saw no point in making waves.

Her quiet determination would see her through.

© 2008 Cynthia Newcomer Daniel

Sterling silver, seed beads, Swarovski crystals, petal pearls, labradorite. Hand fabricated choker length necklace of bead weaving and chain maille.

Empress Emilie

Emilie smiled her favorite smile: calm and sophisticated, with just a touch of warmth. It was the smile she reserved for people she liked; the smile she used when she actually felt like smiling. She hadn't always been so calculating; there had actually been a time when her face did what it wanted to do, and almost everyone called her Emmy.

But now she was Emilie through and through. The people who had known Emmy were long gone; she had almost forgotten how to live that way, and she didn't miss it. Emmy had felt too much; Emmy had no defenses against cruelty. It had hurt too much to be Emmy; she'd had to give her up. It was the right thing to do.

No sadness. Not ever again. Her face automatically arranged itself into Emilie's cheerful smile number seven.

© 2008 Cynthia Newcomer Daniel

Vintage glass cabochons, Swarovski crystals, seed beads, gold filled chain maille. Hand fabricated bracelet.

Not another girly-girl

Her hair was black with a few licks of purple and blue, and her makeup was applied as carefully and precisely as the strokes of a renaissance painter. Her cosmetics comprised every shade of her favorite colors; she selected each one deliberately and applied it carefully; mixing and shading them one into the other, wielding her brush with the grace and speed of a true artist.

She selected her clothing with the same careful eye for detail; nothing, but nothing, was left to chance or unconsidered. Her palette was not simply black; she incorporated undertones of color with the unexpected sparkle of gold.

No cold, hard, contrast of silver for her; she loved the incongruity of warmth inside her darkness.

© 2008 Cynthia Newcomer Daniel

Vintage glass cabochons, Swarovski crystals, Czech crystals, seed beads. Hand fabricated choker length necklace.

In private collection