Chocolate and Jewelry, What Could be Better?

I am happy to report that after many years of veganism, I have finally found a brownie recipe that is as good as the non-vegan version.* Matt and I are in heaven. Here's the recipe.

(* I feel like that sentence implied that non-vegan versions of most things taste better than vegan versions, which is not the case, but over the years, a few things have been difficult to recapture in vegan form - cheese is one and brownies are another...)

Also, last night I managed to carve out a couple of hours to make jewelry while Matt and I watched a movie, and here's what I came up with.

I have had these spinel beads for a week or so and have been dying to work with them. I made some earrings and a ring. Spinel has always been out of my price range in the past but I lucked out and found a deal recently. Isn't it gorgeous?

I've also been wanting to work with these delicate little citrine cushion briolettes. I don't normally use gold, simply because I don't really feel able to invest in all the supplies it would take to have a fully stocked gold supply section (jump rings, clasps, earwires, all the different gauges of wire, an assortment of chain, etc. etc. etc.), but I recently bought just a small amount of chain, wire, and a few clasps for a custom bridal order and I had some left over. I thought the gold would look pretty with the citrine, what do you think? It's simple, but very delicate and feminine.

And finally, here's a very basic but fun ring, similar to the gemstone rings I've been making, but with Swarovski pearls instead.