Author Archives: Susan

Amethyst is one of the most popular varieties of the quartz family… there are many ancient legends about these lovely stones. [ click on images to enlarge .... photos by: RP (Bob) Birt ] “Formerly it was believed that amethyst protected drinkers from becoming drunk…worn as an amulet, amethyst was used as a charm against [...]

This is probably the most dramatic string of beads in the ‘bead blog series’ that I am writing… the green is so strong that many people assume they are jade … but they are serpentine, a softer stone than jade, so it is easier to hollow out the stones. [ click on images to enlarge [...]

I am very excited to announce that I have been accepted to show my bead work on the 2011 Northumberland Hills Studio Tour, September 10th and 11th …a tour filled with great artists in some of the prettiest towns in Ontario … Please visit my new bead page www.susandods.com/beads …with its link to the tour [...]

We have featured a number of these necklaces on the blog over the years … there is something very special and compelling about them. One can only imagine the history that they have witnessed …the stories that they could tell! [ click on images to enlarge .... photos by: RP (Bob) Birt ] Lately, there [...]

Our Best Chinese Silver Dragon Bracelet! Over the years we have owned many silver dragon bracelets and I always believed that the large repoussé silver dragon (10-05-11) was the most dramatic… over the years we have acquired three of them and seen 4-5 others. [ click on images to enlarge .... photos by: RP (Bob) [...]

Our blogs have always used two terms to describe Chinese enamels: cloisonné and Canton enamel …but there is a third type of Chinese Enamel … [ click on images to enlarge .... photos by: RP (Bob) Birt ] The French call it "Ronde-bosse" and have used the technique since the 14th century. These are three [...]

Another interesting design by #23 …These two bracelets were also made by the same designer as the pieces in my last blog. Again the construction of the bracelets is very different. [ click on images to enlarge .... photos by: RP (Bob) Birt ] High grade silver (tests 900) and carved teak …with a clasp [...]

This is another one of a kind example…a large bracelet featuring Immortal Woman He or He Xiangu (Named Hé Qióng (何瓊 Hé Qióng),  (何仙姑 Hé Xiān Gū in pinyin) …the only female of the 8 Immortals… depicted on 3 panels of silver vermeil. [click on images to enlarge .... photos by: RP (Bob) Birt] The [...]