New Retail Location!!
We are very excited to announce that you can now find Chrissi Harmon Jewelry at the Tigerlily’s Emporium in Broken Arrow, OK!!!!
The Tigerlily’s Emporium is located in the downtown Rose District of Broken Arrow and the store will be open Tuesday-Saturday each week! We are so excited to have a retail location available for our local customers and can’t wait to meet new friends!
We will be sharing more details as we get closer to the grand opening on September 3rd, 2022. If you are in the Broken Arrow, OK area, please stop by and visit the store!
Upcoming Fall Events
Fall is here, and we are gearing up for 2 exciting events that are just around the corner! The first is the 44th Annual Brush Creek Bazaar! As you all know, this is our favorite show of the year! Not only does it support a great cause, but the venue is one of my favorites, and this year is going to be better than ever!
The music line-up is looking great, and our jewelry is some of the best I’ve ever made! I have some exciting new gemstones this year, and very elegant and chic designs! Also…for the first time ever, we will be doing a giveaway both days for anyone that stops by our booth and signs up for our email list!
Our second big event is going to be a new one for us. We will be set-up at the Bixby Holiday Show on December 4th from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. This show will take place at the Bixby Community Center and should be a great show as well! It will be our first time for this event, so I’m very excited to see what the show has to offer!
***Please note…this is the flyer from last year’s event. The date this year is December 4th, 2021.
In addition to our big shows, I have been adding a lot of new items to the website. I have been working with a fantastic grouping of Red Creek Jasper stones, along with some gorgeous rhodochrosite slices, and some beautiful mini-geodes. Since my class in Tennessee, I have been experimenting with some new techniques and designs and I can’t wait to get those out and available to all of you! So, check back often to see the latest offerings!
We are excited for the Fall season! It’s my absolute favorite time of year, and I’m glad the weather is cooling off and I’m looking forward all the fun events that happen this time of year!
I wish you all well and good health!
All the best!
Chrissi
Hello 2021!!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
Wow…2021 is a welcomed sight! It seems like 2020 held on forever. But, you know what?!?…we have the gift of hindsight being 2020 (LOL!!!! I saw that on a Facebook post recently, and thought it was hilarious!)
While, 2020 definitely had it’s challenges, it was a really exciting year for me and Chrissi Harmon Jewelry. This past year, I decided to put a more serious focus on turning my hobby of jewelry making into a full-fledged business. While I didn’t expect a pandemic to occur…it did offer me some much needed time to focus on what I wanted, and gave me more time than I’ve ever had to create new work. For that, I’m grateful.
This year, my jewelry was noticed by Conde Nast publications, and for the first time ever, I advertised my jewelry…and in such a big way!! We were in 6 British publications!! (Tatler magazine, Vanity Fair, British GQ, House & Garden, Conde Nast Traveller and Glamour magazine!) To say the least…I am so proud of this accomplishment! Ever since I was young, I have dreamed of having my jewelry in a magazine, and to have them featured in major international publications has been nothing short of an amazing experience!!!!!
I completed the first set of qualifications for my Graduate Gemology Degree through the Gemological Institute of America. I’m now an Applied Jewelry Professional through the GIA.
I also continued my commitment to give back to charity and community organizations. 2020 saw me donate jewelry to Vizavance of Oklahoma for their Sip for Sight Gala, The Griffin Center for Autism, GYNCA and we supported the Teen Challenge of Oklahoma by participating in their Annual Brush Creek Bazaar. Sadly, many of the events we wanted to support through donations were canceled due to the pandemic, but my commitment to support our community will continue for 2021. I hope to extend this reach in 2021, by doubling the number of donations this coming year.
When I look back at all that was accomplished in 2020, I’m nothing short of excited for 2021! I have renewed energy going into the New Year, and I’m really excited for the opportunities that are on the horizon!
So…what do I have in store for 2021?
I’m continuing my commitment to education. I am making metalsmithing and gemology classes a priority this year. I feel very strongly that in order to implement the designs that I have in mind, I need more education to improve my skills! My first class for the new year, is set to take place on January 8th! (nothing like getting right to it!!!).
I will be communicating more through email than I have in the past. I want all of you, my friends, to know what’s going on first! As much as I love social media…it moves very quickly, and I feel that I don’t have the opportunity to share with you the personal side of what makes my jewelry so special. I want to share my love of gems, my struggles, and my vision. I love sharing what I learn…so look for educational emails on gem knowledge or jewelry making techniques. I want to make this fun and inspiring. If you have any ideas or suggestions on what you would like to learn more about, please leave me a comment below. I would love to hear your suggestions!
Finally…I am working on a new Youtube channel that will highlight some jewelry making videos, fun facts, inspirations, videos featuring snippets of my life outside of jewelry and much more. The details are still in the works. I’m a one-woman show…so this will be a work in progress as I try to manage this around my other projects.
Most of all….I’m grateful for all of YOU!!! The support and the love all of you have shown me this year, has been amazing! I’m honored you’re here. THANK YOU! I can’t wait to travel into 2021 with all of you by my side. Let’s make it the best year ever!!
Much love!
Chrissi
November News
November is one of my favorite months! Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and the month of November also marks the beginning of the official holiday season!
Here at Chrissi Harmon Jewelry, we have a lot going on for the month of November that we wanted to let you know about…and let our loyal subscribers be the first to know about these upcoming events and specials.
We will be doing our first ever Black Friday sale that will begin on November 10th for email subscribers, and open to the rest of our followers on November 15th (coupon code will be sent out on November 9th for email subscribers). I wanted to let our email subscribers get first choice for this very special promotion…with 25% off site wide! I rarely do sales, and I rarely discount any of our products since all of our work is one-of-a-kind. If you know of anyone that loves our jewelry and hasn’t subscribed to our newsletter, please share and have them sign up!!
We are excited to announce that we have added an additional show to our Fall line up!!! We will be set up on December 5th at the Holiday Craft Show in Stillwater, Oklahoma! The event will be located at the Payne County Expo Center. This is an event that highlights handmade arts and crafts and we are very excited to be able to add this show this year!!
If you have made. a purchase from us online, we would love a Google or Facebook Review. This will help us a lot in the rankings for our website. Not to mention, we would love your feedback on how we’re doing!
I’m wishing everyone a very safe and happy November! We hope to see you soon!
Much love,
Chrissi
Autumn is Here!
Autumn has arrived and with it I’ve been enjoying the beautiful fall foliage and the much more livable temperatures! Oklahoma gets very hot in the summer and Autumn is always a welcome respite before the cold winter sets in!
Autumn is also my favorite time for fashion! I love the return of boots, sweaters, jackets and all things fall attire! Of course, that also means it’s time for beautiful Autumn inspired jewelry!
Sterling Silver with 14kt gold dots, garnets and citrine are the perfect fall combination!
My favorite autumn gemstones are agates with the rich browns, reds and yellows, citrine, tourmaline in the darker colors (deep greens, browns) and garnets. Although, I’m partial to just about any gemstone.
Agatized dinosaur bone in sterling silver
Whatever your fancy or favorite Autumn color combination, we have a great selection to choose from! I hope you will get a chance to check out all of our new and beautiful jewelry.
Garnet and agate
Rutilated quartz and sterling silver
Sterling Silver on Sterling Silver with a dark patina
Sapphires for September
Sapphires are one of my favorite stones, and they are the birth stone for the month of September One of the most amazing things about sapphires is the range of colors they can be found in! Anything from colorless to blue to pink and even yellow and green!
Sapphires are ideal for jewelry because they are very hard and durable as a gemstone. Second only in hardness to diamonds, sapphires can be set in just about any type of setting without worry, however, it’s important to know, especially for cleaning purposes, if your sapphire has been exposed to any treatments, like heat.
It’s interesting to know, that clear sapphires are occasionally cut as microscopic lens, mainly because they are very hard and highly refractive. Gem-quality colorless sapphires are not common though. Rough colorless sapphires are usually light brown or grey when mined, and then heated to make them clear.
The most desirable blue sapphires are those with the cornflower blue color, which is commonly referred to as “Kashmir blue”. The word sapphire comes from the Latin word, sapphirus, meaning blue.
Sapphires belong to the category of gemstones called Corundum. Corundum gemstones all contain the crystalized composition aluminum oxide. What color a sapphire becomes depends on what other minerals color the stone during the development process. Red stones are typically colored with chromium, blue stones, typically colored with iron and titanium, and yellow sapphires get their color from iron.
The value of a sapphire depends on how rich the color of the natural stone is, along with it’s transparency. The most valuable stones have the best transparency and the richest natural color.
The most common treatments for sapphires is heat-treatments to enhance or change their color. Sometimes radiation is used to enhance a stone’s color, although this process is not very stable to light and another treatment called beryllium diffusion is also sometimes used.
In the United States, Montana is the largest producer of natural sapphires called “Montana” sapphires. These are typically small sapphires, and they come in a range of colors, but are primarily found in blue and yellow.
Chrissi
Looking Great for Your Next Virtual Meeting
Lately, I’ve had to attend a few more virtual meetings than I have in the past, and as COVID-19 is still here and still a part of our lives, I suspect virtual meetings will become a more normal way of doing business.
So, how do you dress and accessorize for your virtual meeting where you still want to look professional but yet, have a casual comfortable appearance?
The one thing I’ve noticed in particular when it comes to doing meetings online, is that our face and torso are front and center. Because of this, color, lighting and background are very important.
The type of call is also really important. Is this an interview for a new career or position? Board meeting for your favorite interest group? Meeting with your boss or business colleagues? All of these things are considerations when picking out what to wear for that next video call.
Here are a few things that I’ve noticed on my video chats that may help you standout and look your best on your next video chat.
Lighting is very important. Too dark, and you look hidden and unengaged. Too light, and you look washed out and pale. Most of the meetings I’ve attended where the lighting is too dark, it makes the participant appear uninterested or not engaged in the meeting. Too light, and the participant appears washed out and maybe a little sickly. It’s a subtle factor in how you appear to show up to your meeting.
I recently learned, that the best lighting is placed in front of you. For photographs, think standing in the doorway with the sun shining on you (not so bright that you squint), and you want to apply that same concept to your video meetings. For a reasonable fee, there are round LED lights that are perfect for this! Here is a great article on lighting for videos: https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/best-led-video-light/. Natural lighting is definitely the best, but that is not always available.
Dressing for your virtual meeting is also really important, as it will convey the right message you are trying to send.
Pick out a color that is complementary to your background, and also flattering with your skin tone. For me, black is a great choice because my background is yellow and the black color usually absorbs some of the background color without making my skin tone appear too yellow. White makes me look too washed out. Dark navy is another one of my favorites, but go with what colors look best for you. If the meeting is a formal one, dress as if you were attending the meeting in person. That means a business suit, nice blouse or shirt, tie, etc.
For accessories, I’ve noticed that statement earrings are great because they bring attention up to your face and the eyes of the viewer in line with your eyes. You will notice that a lot of newscasters and talk show hosts wear bolder earrings during their interviews.
These beautiful handmade sterling silver hoop earrings are a great choice, because they are bold, light and easy to wear, but make a subtle statement:
A short statement necklace is also great, because it also brings the eyes of the viewer to the center of your face and neck. I would avoid anything too long, as it brings the focus down towards the end of the necklace and towards the bottom of the screen, which takes the focus away from you, and places it down below.
Do you use your hands a lot when you talk or for emphasis? Then think about a nice statement ring that will show up on video. The idea is to have your jewelry help enhance your virtual image, not detract from it.
Colorful jewelry is also great. Brightly colored gemstones such as turquoise, amazonite, amethyst, carnelian, to name a few, and bold statement pieces in silver or gold are great attention grabbers.
The idea is to look put together, confident, and your best!
Now go rock that next meeting!!!
All the best!
Chrissi
GYNCA organization donation
We are honored and thrilled to be able to donate this beautiful leopardskin jasper and faceted citrine pendant to the Gyn Cancers Alliance for their upcoming silent auction event.
The mission of GYNCA is to provide education, support and resources to women in Southwest Missouri with gynecological cancer and to raise awareness about early warning signs and symptoms of gynecological cancers.
This amazing organization has four key programs that support women and their families during this difficult time in their lives. The programs are as follows:
Survivor to survivor mentoring and partnering with Imerman Angels
Education and awareness
Emergency non-medical financial assistance with active chemo or radiation
Monthly/Quarterly member group meetings.
To find out more about this amazing organization, please visit their website at www.gynca.org.
Pearls, the gem of the sea.
The sea evokes a sense of mystery and beauty. it’s calming waters can be stormy at times and provides a sense of passion and wonder to it’s observers. I miss the sea. The sound of the waves crashing in a steady rhythm, lulling one to sleep or to a sense of calm. Hopefully, soon, we can travel back to the ocean’s waters and enjoy the beaches again soon.
Pearls are the gemstone for the month of June. Pearls are one of the only gems that make their origin from the sea. Mother-of-pearl is the other one, and is usually gathered from the same shells we collect pearls from. The beautiful colors of the mother-of-pearl shells are the influence for the color of the pearl.
Pearls are one of a handful of gems that are organic in nature, meaning that they originate from a live organism, rather than inorganic, such as coming from not alive, such as rocks.
Pearls have a fascinating history. They were well regarded for their beauty, and valued much higher than diamonds for many, many years. Marie Antoinette’s famous baroque pearl earrings, recently came up for auction. They are large baroque pearls, and highly unusual and definitely beautiful! I suggest googling them to take a look!
We have a lot of pearl jewelry to choose from in our collections. Pearls have always been one of my favorite gems. They always seem to have a quiet beauty about them to me. They don’t sparkle as much as other gems, but have a rich color and depth of tone that draws you in. The range of colors is also fascinating. I love the dark pearls as much as the bright white. They all have beauty.
Because pearls are a natural gem and are created from the nacre of the mollusk, they do require some considerations when it comes to their wear and care. Pearls are not well suited for rings or bracelets unless the stone is well protected in the setting, such as a bezel setting. They are most ideally suited for necklace, earring and brooches. When it comes to cleaning your pearl jewelry, avoid harsh chemicals such as bleach or ammonia. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners as well. When storing your pearl jewelry, it is best to keep it in a soft cloth bag, away from other jewelry, especially diamonds, or harder gemstones, as they can be damaged when they make contact with those other gems.
All the best!
Chrissi
Rose Stud Earring Winner
Congratulations to VM Young! She won the pair of medium rose stud earrings in our very first giveaway!
I will be shipping them out this week!
Thank. you to everyone who participated! It was fun to give away a little something and spread some cheer!
All the Best!
Chrissi
Happy Memorial Day!
I just wanted to take a moment to wish all of my friends and family a very Happy Memorial Day!
I know this year has felt so different, more revered, more quiet, more contemplative. I hope we can all take a moment to honor those that have worked so hard to protect our country both from enemies we can see, and enemies we can’t. it’s been a strange few months, but a time that has shown me how many people step up, work hard and protect us at the expense of their own health and safety.
THANK YOU to ALL! To those that serve our military, both past and present. To those that have been on the front lines of the Covid-19 pandemic. Your sacrifices have not gone unnoticed and we salute you!
Memorial Day is a day I usually spend in contemplation and remembrance of my loved ones that have passed away. This year, I’ve been really remembering my Dad and Brian’s Dad. Both men made large impacts on my life. Both had wonderful entrepreneurial spirits, and both were wise and hard-working men. They taught me to follow my dreams and work hard. I have been really feeling their presence and guidance the past few months. I feel their guiding, loving spirits and hands. I hope I’m making them proud.
All the Best!
Chrissi
The Fossil Collection
It’s finally finished and I couldn’t be more pleased! The Fossil Collection has been launched and I’m very excited to share this beautiful collection with all of you!
This collection has been in the works for quite some time, and combines my love of fossils with other gemstones to provide some really fascinating and unique designs.
The highlight of the collection is a large, natural trilobite set in solid sterling silver. The top of the piece is graced with peridot and Swiss blue topaz faceted stones, while the bottom dangles and dances with Swiss blue topaz and peridot beads.
Dinosaur bone has always fascinated me as a gemstone. The stone itself is agate that has filled in the cavities of a fossilized dinosaur bone, and each piece is very unique. This piece is exceptional in color and matrix and I couldn’t love it more!
Orthoceras are always fun! This outstanding cuff bracelet combines a beautiful Orthoceras fossil paired with 2 beautiful and faceted Moonstones. The photos for this piece definitely do not do it justice! The Moonstones sparkle, flash and dance in the light!
I have several more pieces available in this wonderful collection, so be sure to click on the link to see them all!
Griffin Center Donation Update
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the organizers of the Griffin Center Gala have informed me that their event has been postponed until June 20th, 2020.
I am pleased to still be able to donate a beautiful piece to their event, and here is what the finished product looks like:
This beautiful heart pendant features blue and white topaz stones to represent the center’s colors, and the heart features the Shattered Heart design with a leaf motif, to help represent the positive change the center instills in families lives.
I hope you will consider donating to the Griffin Center or attending their upcoming Gala on June 20th, 2020.
As always…our thoughts and prayers are with everyone during this time, especially our healthcare workers. Everyone stay home, stay safe and we will see you soon!
All the Best!
Chrissi
29th Annual Sip for Sight Black Tie Gala
Rose Quartz Teardrop set in solid sterling silver and accented with a solid sterling silver rose. 18 inch sterling silver chain.
We are very honored to be donating a beautiful rose quartz and sterling silver necklace to the 29th Annual Sip for Sight Black Tie Gala silent auction that will be held on March 6th, 2020 at the Mayo Hotel in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Sip for Sight is one of two fantastic events that benefits Vizavance of Oklahoma each year.
Vizavance was formerly known as Prevent Blindness Oklahoma and is the only non-profit organization in Oklahoma with the goal of advancing children’s education through better vision. Vizavance provides free vision screenings for children 6 months old to seniors in high school. The organization works with day care centers, Head Start centers and schools in every county in Oklahoma. For more information about the wonderful work they provide, please visit their website: https://vizavance.org/
AAPG Show in Wichita
Thank you to everyone who came out and saw us at the AAPG Mid-Continent Section Meeting in Wichita, KS last week! We had a fantastic show and it was great to see so many familiar faces! The Wichita show is always one of our favorites, and it was great to be back for our 3rd meeting!
Much love!
Chrissi
Brush Creek Bazaar
We are very excited to announce that we will be set up again this year at the Brush Creek Bazaar in Tulsa, OK. October 12-13, 2019.
This event has been a Tulsa staple for over 40 years and features lots of homemade crafts, music and food! It’s a fantastic event. 15% of our sales benefit Adult and Teen Challenge of Oklahoma, along with a portion of our booth fee.
We hope to see you in October!
Hope Harbor "Hearts for Hope" Gala Donation
We are excited to announce that we have donated a spectacular natural ruby and sterling bracelet for the Hope Harbor “Hearts for Hope” Benefit Gala. The Gala will be in Tulsa at the Doubletree Hotel on November 3, 2018. ttps://hopeharborinc.org/
Please visit the Hope Harbor website for more information about this spectacular organization. We are proud to be able to support them this year!
Chrissi
New Work!
I'm finally getting around to photographing the new work I've completed for the shop this summer! I'm looking forward to getting some new items up on the site by the end of this week.
I have been trying to branch out and do more multi-stone pendants and add in more beaded items. I started with beads, and they have always been my first love...and I feel like my vision is coming back to a place where the beads meet the metalwork.
This piece, is a stunning example of Congo Malachite! The stone was hand-cut by an artisan lapidary and she captured the fantastic natural pattern of the stone. I absolutely love this piece! I really wrestled with adding a beaded necklace to the pendant, but the stone is so stunning and beautiful all it's own, I didn't want to detract from it's natural appeal.
