Sapphire: Birthstone Lore for September

A rainbow of colors, but famous for blue 💙

Sep 19 • 

Odette Lopez

4

2

August 2025

Peridot: Some Birthstone Lore for August

Some background on this sunny but contentious gemstone 💎💚

Aug 22 • 

Odette Lopez

4

4

Finding Magic in Asturias, Spain's Untouched Province

The Shrine of Covadonga, mountains, and lots of Cider 🍏🍻

Aug 6 • 

Odette Lopez

4

June 2025

Crushed Glass/Beautiful Jewels ~ The Art of Enameling

And hello again!

Jun 20 • 

Odette Lopez

6

2

January 2025

Sissi's Stars: the Twinkling Hair Ornaments of Empress Elisabeth of Austria

All about Sissi's diamond stars from Franz Xaver Winterhalter's iconic portrait

Jan 6 • 

Odette Lopez

6

December 2024

Hidden in Plain Sight: the Art of Acrostic Jewelry

The ABC's of this whimsical Victorian trend

Dec 1, 2024 • 

Odette Lopez

10

5

November 2024

Snakes In Jewelry: Serpentine Symbolism

From ancient bracelets to Queen Victoria's engagement ring 🐍

Nov 10, 2024 • 

Odette Lopez

10

7

October 2024

Ouzo, Octopi, & Homer's "Wine Dark Sea"

That Time I went to Greece, Part I

Oct 7, 2024 • 

Odette Lopez

11

4

August 2024

Finding Cameo Jewelry on the Ponte Vecchio in Florence

Tidbits about these precious miniatures & how I bought my first one in the tourist-trap known as the Ponte Vecchio!

Aug 27, 2024 • 

Odette Lopez

12

8

Pearls: the Gem of Gods & Mortals

The tears of the gods, and the obsession of Julius Caesar ~ Join me as we dive into the fascinating (if long) history of pearls.

Aug 14, 2024 • 

Odette Lopez

9

2

July 2024

A Week With No WiFi On A Florida Island In The Sun

A short essay and lots of travel pictures

Jul 27, 2024 • 

Odette Lopez

5

The Bling of Byzantium

Let's dive into the colorful jewelry of the Byzantine Period!

Jul 12, 2024 • 

Odette Lopez

6

10