Rawness in Golden Yellow Citrine

The name Citrine is derived from the Latin word Citrus, meaning “lemon”. Until the Middle Ages this name was used to designate a wide range of yellow stones. Citrine has been highly regarded as a gemstone and healing stone for almost six thousand years.

The soldiers in Caesar’s legions wore citrine on their chest because the stone was believed to have life-saving properties in battle. As befits its color, it is recognized as the stone of light, sun and life. (Did you know…..that the yellow amethyst and smoky quartz can be heated to artificially create citrine?)

Citrine is yellow to brownish quartz (silicon dioxide) and resembles yellow topaz. It is colorless by hydrous iron oxide, and is found in the same hexagonal crystals as the other varieties of crystalline quartz. Natural citrine is much less common than amethyst or smoky quartz, both of which can be heat treated to turn their color to of citrine.

Citrine occurs principally in localities that produce amethyst, and it is sometimes found as a zone of citrine in amethyst, when it is known as ametrine. Gem-quality citrine is found in a few places around the world such as on the Isle of Arran, Scotland; in the Ural Mountains of Russia; near Hyderabad, India; in Dauphine, France; and in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

This new specimen just arrived from the mineral company today and is huge (at least to me it is!); measuring about 18"x 16" in diameter in an irregular shape and 3"-4" thick in some places (and is quite heavy).

The large chunk is still in its raw form; jagged crystal cylinders, rough edges…the stories it could tell. This piece of citrine is from Artigas, Uruguay; rich in colors of the golden yellow sun with the light bands of white around the edges and bottom of gray ground.

The chunks of each crystal cylinder are gorgeous; defiantly add this one to your collection of minerals or just to ‘showcase’ in your den or study.

Tucson Trip Review – Day 2

As a reminder our disclosure/disclaimer: As a reviewer of the products, shows or vendors attended in Tucson is solely that of our experiences and opinions. We were in no way compensated or paid to review or provide feedback, comment or opinions for the Tucson shows we attended. With that out of the way, here’s our review of our recent Tucson trip.

Day 2 started out started out a little warmer, so we headed over to Tucson Electric Park Gem & Mineral Show. What a day, filled with digging through boxes, tents, bins & barrels, a lots of fossils, minerals, beads, jewelry, and much more! The mix of vendors at this show is unlike any other; vendors from all over the US and the globe. Our highlights included finds at Morocco Minerals, Enter the Earth, Sunwest Silver, Village Originals, and a few others. This show is open to the public, but we were able to get some great deals and even bigger finds. There main tent features more in the way of finished jewelry, a large vendor with a hug selection of tools and equipment, and many vendors with beads.

Pros: There is a lot of selection and if you are willing to dig around in barrels, boxes and bins one can find some really unusual and unique items. There are vendors from all over, which give a nice selection; however getting wholesale discounts was not always an option.

Cons: Pricing at Tucson Electric Park was average compared to other shows; not much in the way of discounts unless one is willing to buy in volume. One of the main vendors for raw stock has their own tent, however their prices were higher this year than in past.

Overall: This is still an excellent show that I will continue to attend; different selection, unique items and I love the energy of going from tent to tent on a treasure hunt.

We have already been busy with some of the finds from our Tucson trip - visit our online shop to see our latest custom jewelry designs.

Chic Stylish Designs in Shades of Red

A chic, trendy, elegant, and bold design….that is what’s new at our online shop in artisan crafted custom jewelry featuring the color RED!

Heart of mine in Murano glass deep red pendant with black marks; accented with lots of hand turned crystals of red and black.

Trendy stylish statement in red sponge coral pendant that is accented with cloisonné and lampwork beads, red coral (dyed) and extended with long chain.

Bold elegant red (dyed) coral with all faceted onyx in shapes of square and rounds.

Browse and shop our collections of artisan crafted jewelry, from natures earthy treasures!

Rockhound’s Paradise – Quartzsite

If you are into rocks, minerals, fossils, and just all around rockhound than Quartzsite is the place for you! Every year in January, in a sleepy little town just 20 miles east of the Colorado River on I-10, sits a the town of Quartzsite, Arizona. It has been know since the 1960s as the rockhound’s paradise, coming from far and wide across the globe. It has become the mecca to over a million visitors (mostly in RVs) each year during the January through February months; some would say it’s the pre-show to the epic Tucson Gem & Mineral Show in February.

The show is host to over 2,000 vendors specializing in rocks, gems, minerals, fossils and everything else imaginable; creating one of the world's largest open air flea markets in Quartzsite. Eight major gem and mineral shows as well as vendors of raw and handcrafted merchandise peddle their wares to snowbirds, collectors and enthusiasts, making Quartzsite the place to be the first two months of each year.

Historically, a small mining boom revitalized the town as Quartzsite in 1897 and it remained thus until 1965, when the Pow Wow Rock, Gem & Mineral Show began the rockhound winter migration to Quartzsite each year. These days, the population can swell to almost a million during January and February as rockhounders, jewelers and vendors, mostly in thousands of RVs, attend the eight major gem and mineral shows.

Enjoy and have fun at Quartzsite list of shows below.

Show 2011
January 01 - February 28, 2011 Desert Gardens -Gem & Mineral
January 07 - January 16, 2011 Tyson Wells Rock & Gem Show
January 08 - January 23, 2011 Main Event
January 21 - January 30, 2011 Tyson Wells Sell-A-Rama
January 22 - January 30, 2011 Sports, Vacation & RV Show
February 2 -February 6. 2011 Hobby Craft & Gem Show
February 4 - February 13, 2011 Tyson Wells Arts & Craft Fair


The next stop……the “Big Show” Tucson Gem & Mineral Show!!

Rockhounds & Rock Enthusiasts

Looking for something to do this weekend and get out of the cold? Take a drive up to Fredericksburg for a rockhound experience at the Hill Country Gem & Mineral Show!!

Drop by the Panther Creek Minerals booth; they have brand new shipments of museum quality minerals, fossils, amethyst, citrine, and much more!!

42nd Annual Hill Country Gem & Mineral Show

January 15th – 16th / Sat: 9:00am – 6:00pm & Sun: 10:00am – 5:00pm

At the Pioneer Pavilion – Lady Bird Johnson Park

(off Highway 16 three miles south of Fredericksburg, Texas)

Put on by the Fredricksburg Rockhouds

 

The show is free and so is the parking, with raffle drawings and hourly door prizes!! You can find minerals, fossils, meteorites, gems, jewelry, exhibits, demonstrations, rock experts, panning for gold, and much more!

The Sky Blue Celestite Crystal

Getting it’s name from the Latin ‘caelestis’, meaning “heavenly”; an allusion to its color, celestite or celstine is a very popular mineral because of its typical sky blue or ‘celestial’ color. Often forming beautiful transparent light to medium-blue tabular crystals, celestite can be colorless, white, light red, green, blue, or brown. It is often found in colorful combinations with minerals such as yellow sulphur. Although celestite can look similar to barite, it is actually strontium sulphate, and has long been used as a source of strontium for fireworks, glazes and metal alloys.

It forms in sedimentary rock such as limestones, dolomites, and sandstones. It can also be derived directly from sea water and commonly occurs in evaporate deposits as a minor constituent; occasionally it forms in hydrothermal deposits. The crystals take a wide variety of forms but are typically tablet, prism, or plate shaped. It can also form crusts, nodules, grains and masses. Celestite may also be found in the cavities of fossils. It is known to form, for example, in fossilized ammonites. It can be found in Madagascar, Mexico, Italy, Canada, England, and the US; lesser known specimens have been found in England, Slovakia, Austria, and Germany.

 

Legend & Traditional Properties

In ancient Greece it was believed that the stone only worked if it had been given to its owner by a friend or relative. It would then protect the body from all kinds of evil. The ancient Romans were also familiar with the healing properties of celestite, its calming, fortifying influence on the mind and its ability to drive evil out of a person. The stone encourages the healing of wounds and is said to be effective in alleviating pain caused by tension, anxiety and in solving problems with insomnia. It is connected to both Capricorn and Gemini star signs.

Research from various crystal-mineral-rock websites & books.

An Odd Mix of Old Stones

This necklace is a mix of some odd stones that I would have never thought to put together. At the base is an irregularly shaped Brazilian Oco Agate slice; coloring is beautiful with raw edges and swirling white around. It has been handcrafted in artistic non-tarnish brass wire. The necklace is strung in some old stones of faceted rectangular Antique Jade; colors ranging from an almost clear, olive, mixed coloring and some that are a hint of off mustard color. Between I’ve putt another old stone, smoothly polished elongated barrels of Turquoise; which has been heat treated and stabilized turning it a nice color of brown with deep dark veining. It is a nice dark contrast to the lightness of the antique jade.

Heat Treatment of Stones
Centuries ago, someone stumbled upon the magical effect of applying heat to gemstones. High heat, such as that from a charcoal fire, can make a bland looking gemstone change its color into something spectacular. If this fortunate technique were not discovered, there would be very few affordable gemstones of good color in the market.

This method of treating stone produces dramatic natural changes by the use of heat only, the dramatic changes being, deeper more brilliant colors, smoother texture, richer luster, and easier workability. This method first includes; Providing stone material, then with or without a sand bath, placing the stone material in a heat treating environment, increasing the temperature in specific increments until the effective heat treating temperature is reached, keeping the stone at that temperature until all the desired changes have occurred, the temperature is then decreased in specific increments until the material is at room temperature. Once the stone is treated and cooled, it is ready to be shaped, and or polished.

Treatments of Turquoise
Treated turquoise, frequently used in modern jewelry, has been altered from its original state by a process intended to improve the color and/or durability of the natural stone. There are a number of different ways that turquoise may be treated.

Treated turquoise has existed for centuries. The earliest kinds involved a fine application of oil or wax to the stone, making it shine and deepening the color. This type of treated turquoise tends to "sweat" when exposed to heat or sunlight and can become cloudy over the years; however, the treatment can sometimes be successfully reapplied.

Most American turquoise today is stabilized or bonded with a treatment of plastic, epoxy, or water glass. This type of treated turquoise retains its look and luster better than oil or wax treated turquoise, and the stabilization process can be used on turquoise that is too unstable to benefit from the oil or wax method. Epoxy stabilization was developed in the 1950s by Colbaugh Processing of Arizona.

Native American jewelers in the Southwestern United States strengthen thin pieces of high-grade turquoise through a process termed backing. The turquoise is glued to a stronger material to prevent its cracking. Early turquoise backings were made of car battery casings and records, while modern jewelers usually use epoxy steel resin.

Some turquoise is dyed to improve its color or make it more uniform. Prussian blue is the most common dye used in this treatment. Some people do not like dyed turquoise, as they feel it is artificial, and it sometimes leaves color on the skin or fades.

Helpful Tips for Bead Show Shopping

As jewelry designers, artists, silversmiths, and crafters the season for bead and materials buying is never ending. Though through-out the year most people purchase their materials as needed, sometimes holding out for the big bead shows that come in the fall. How does one keep their budget in check and under control at these bead shows? It’s hard to resist buying from all the national and international vendors that bring direct to you their beads, findings, pendants, wire, tools, and even finished products. So ask yourself what to do, how to be a smart shopper and avoid the ‘impulse buys’ by getting prepared.

Here’s a suggested list of some helpful tips for bead show shopping:

1) So when will bead shows be in your area? Check the sites of your favorite venders or shows for more information or your local bead and lapidary shops for additional shows in your area.

2) Set a budget as to what you will spend; this may be determined by stock you are out of and some left over for purchases of specialty items.

3) Bring a couple of checks, plenty of cash and your credit cards just in case you run into someone who doesn’t take one or the other.

4) Bring a copy of your Tax ID certificate and business cards. Some shows are known as wholesale only and will require these items for entrance and purchase. If it is a public show, don’t be afraid to ask the vendors for a wholesale discount and provide both these items to them to get a discount.

5) Make a list of items you are out of; these will be the first things to look for at the show. If I know that I’ll be buying from previous vendors, I’ll group those items together on the list for ease.

6) I also make a list of items I am looking for and want; it could be stones or pendants I’ve seen online or a combination of colors in another design. This helps to keep the ‘impulse’ buying down by knowing what you are looking for and can afford.

7) Wear comfortable shoes and bring a large bag or rolling suitcase to load all your goodies into.

8) Include in your shopping bag several sizes of zip lock bags; as you find things that go together, put them in the little baggies, this makes it easy to determine why you purchased these little gems when you get home.

9) Paper and pen; I bring paper and pen to mark bead names if they are not already marked. This makes identifying much easier than guessing or having to go through the process to indentify each unknown stone or pendant.

10) If you are looking to match a pendant, beads or color combination you already have; bring a few of these on a string or in a baggie to matchup at the bead show. This takes the guess work out of ‘thinking’ something matched and finding out later it wasn’t even close.

11) Bring baby wipes for easy cleanup; looking through tons of strands of beads and boxes of findings can get a little messy and dusty.

12) Look for suppliers whose ads you’ve seen for products you’re interested in. Bring the ad if possible and look for those products; this is the perfect place to handle these items before purchasing to determine if this is what you really wanted.

13) Take breaks and rest, get something to eat, drink and take time to review your shopping list and bag; typically it takes an entire day to attend a bead show.

14) Last but not least; this takes willpower but walk the entire show first to see what available, check out pricing and watch what others are buying. Many vendors have the same products and offer different discounts; look for the best quality and prices available. Make note as to vendors you want to return to for purchases of those goodies after you have finished walking the whole show.

15) Above all --- be a smart shopper and have fun!

Tumble & Clean To Finish Wire Work & Jewelry

As jewelry designers and makers, silversmiths and wire worker, getting the right shine and cleaning of the jewelry is key to selling. But what is the best way, technique or even equipment to properly clean the jewelry and get it ready for the marketplace. Here are some common techniques and suggestions for tumbling and cleaning your jewelry in order to achieve that ‘perfect’ finished look for the marketplace.

Tumbling jewelry is the most popular and common method used by many people to clean their jewelry and harden wire or metal used in the jewelry. There are many different types on the market and range from side rotary barrels to vibrating bowl tumblers. But with so many different machines on the market, which ones are the best or most effective? I suggest first to ask around and get advice from fellow artisans, jewelry makers, silversmiths, and wire workers. As these individuals use tumblers on a daily and weekly basis and can give first hand experience/knowledge to the pros and cons in the use of their type of tumbler and method. There are many on the market and is just depends on how much and what you are doing as to what is your preference.

By tumbling the jewelry, it accomplishes several things; first it cleans the pieces and second it polishes or hardens the metals. I mentioned that there are two types, vibrating/bowl and rotary/barrel tumblers. They all come in a variety of sizes and capacity levels; depending on how much jewelry you are going to put in, depends on what type of tumbler you plan to buy. Do your research and make sure the capacity of the one you chose will do the job without marring, mangling or even breaking your jewelry.

With either of these methods, you will be using a type of tumbling media. Be sure to check that your tumbler can use water (mix in a drop of dish soap) or uses mixed stainless steel media. With the use of dish soap, this acts as a detergent that is good at lifting oil and grim from the surfaces of stones and gets into the small pockets of metals.

Once you have chosen and purchased your tumbler, use these easy tips with your jewelry.

*Put your jewelry in the bowl or barrel
*Add water to about 1” above the jewelry
*Add a drop of dish soap and put the lid back on, tighten and then turn it on

If using a barrel or tumbler that uses dry mix and no water, and then add a hand full of stainless steel mix or what is best for your tumbler, close and tighten lid, turn on.

I’ve found that many people will tumble their jewelry for different times. This is again your preference and will take some trial and error to determine what is best for you. Most people will suggest from 15 minutes to several hours. Depending on what I’m tumbling, I will do between 15-20 minutes, this has been best for my jewelry and tumbler.

Once complete, then pull your jewelry from the tumbler, rise in warm water and dry with a clean soft towel. I then will lay the jewelry out and allow to fully ‘air’ dry for several hours or over night.

Make sure to clean out and maintain the tumbler which ever kind you purchase. Check with the manufacturer for their cleaning and maintenance tips.

Good luck and happy tumbling!

Get Into The Safety Habit

Safety in the studio, office or even our homes should always be a priority. We often take it for granted and don’t really think about that flying piece of wire or glass, that torch just used for flame work, the squeaky half broken chair, not using the magnifying glasses when needed, and most of all just being aware of our surroundings and keeping track what we are doing and where we are going.

With this in mind I’ve compiled a few ‘rules’ for safety in the studio, office or even in our homes. I’ve heard/learned them in classes and books and put them down as ‘Rules of Safety’.

*Wear Safety Glasses – It is less expensive to replace a pair of safety glasses than it is your own eyes. Safety glasses will protect your eyes from flying objects and wondering wires. Safety glasses come in a variety of styles, colors and prices. Check your local hardwood store for a pair.

*Wear a Mask – If you are working with chemicals or paints of any type, make sure to wear a protective mask. Also, work in a well ventilated area and take breaks to get out of the smell and into fresh air. Check your local hardware store for different kinds.

*Prevent Eye Strain – For those artists working with wire, thread, and small objects, wear or work under a magnifying device to prevent eyestrain. Remember to look away often and rest your eyes, take a break every half hour or so.

*Good Posture – To avoid an aching neck and/or back, use good posture at your workspace. Sit straight, hands resting in an “L” or 90 degrees and feet flat on the floor. This should help with strain to your neck, shoulder and wrists. Also, remember to get up and walk around about every hour to relieve any back and neck tension.

*Stretch – Take time to stretch your hands, fingers, wrists, neck, shoulders, legs, and back every chance you get. Do this every couple of hours to keep circulation flowing and to help from getting cramps or numbness.

*Use Common Sense - Safety is common sense in your workspace. Keep track of what you are doing and don’t work with sharp objects when you are distracted or overly tired.

There are a lot more, but these should get you started on the road to thinking of your own list of 'Safety Rules/Suggestions' in your studio, classroom, office or home!

Marketing Schools of Thought

Business’s today face major challenges and opportunities in marketing, such as globalization and advances in technology. These both play major parts in the marketing strategy of a business. Marketing is not only a social process of how to get your products and services to the consumer, but it is also the process of planning and executing the concepts, pricing, promotion, and distribution of ideas, goods and services to create exchanges that satisfy individual and organizational goals.

While there are many different schools of thought on marketing from old school such as print ads, direct mailings to old fashion trade shows and the new school of the internet, online selling venues, business websites, even blogging and social networking are now considered to be ‘the place to sell your products’ or at least keep in touch with your customer base. But one thing remains the same within the world of getting your product out there and marketing, the four major pieces of marketing: Product, Price, Place and Promotion and the following questions:

1) How can you spot and chose the right target markets?
2) How can you differentiate your products and services from the competition?
3) How far do you go to customize your products and services for each customer?
4) What are the major ways you can grow your business or company?
5) How can you build stronger brands in order to continue to grow your business or company?
6) How do you keep your customers loyal to you, just beyond the first few purchases?
7) How do you measure the payback from advertising, sales promotions, and public relations?

Just thinking about these questions gets the ball rolling about your businesses marketing strategy. It is one of the main reasons a company will ‘make or brake’ it in their industry. Most businesses, unless they are very large, don’t usually consider marketing. But it is one of the most important ‘hats’ a business person will wear.

Marketing your products or services just right will bring back customers and keep your business in front of the consumer. Keep in mind though; too much exposure could ruin your business or product, so try to keep an even marketing plan.

Learn about your competition, their target markets and pricing strategies and capitalize on feeding what works into your business.

Marketing is a challenging concept in any business…from print ads, to internet, to direct-mailings, internet selling or even social networking; no matter what avenue you chose, just keep in mind the 4 major pieces of marketing: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion.

Working with Wire

In a lot of my designs I use different metals, quite often I try to do something with wire; either as links, swirls, or freeform wire on a stone or pendant. When working with wire gives my imagination that little added bit of ‘flare, spice, or spark’ that I’m looking for when working with natural stones, glass, pendants, or crystals. Most often I get asked, “How do you know which is the right size and what material is best?” The answer, you just learn with much time, research and patience.

One of the first things you need to consider when working with wire is to look at durability, malleability, style, color and manufacturer.
Wire is measured in gauges, from 16 all the way to 34; with 16 being the heaviest/thickest and 34 being the smallest/thinnest wires. Typically, the thicker the wire, the sturdier it will become. However, the type of material used for the wire also affects how flexible a particular gauge will be.

Rules of Thumb

*For bracelets, heavy necklace pendants designs or winding wire around very large beads, making charms or creating chain links, a 16 to 18 gauge is suggested.

*Gauges 20 to 24 are considered medium to thin thickness and are good for wire wrapping beads, as well as for constructing findings, headpins, and ear wires. This is typically the gauge used for making earrings and 20 or 22 are the best for ear wires.

*The smallest, skinniest wires are 26 to 34 gauges. They are easily manipulated and flexible, perfectly for use with small beads in embroidery and stitch projects. You can find wire in brass, copper, pewter, or artistic non-tarnish are inexpensive and typically soft wires to work with; while sterling silver and gold filled are more expensive and typically vary in hardness’s from dead-soft to half-hard.

*Sterling Silver is great looking and made soft or hard. The only thing to remember is that silver will tarnish.

*For wire that will not tarnish and will retain its beauty and luster, try working with non-tarnish wires; it is very inexpensive and usually made from a copper core; covered with silver, gold, or colored coating that has been treated so that it will not tarnish.

*While the others run the spectrum of price; the most expensive wire to work with is gold or gold-filled, which does not tarnish. Some wire works will substitute gold-plated wire for cost effective designs.

Whatever your choice, you will find that working with wire brings out the artist and craftsman in every design.

Browse our available to purchase designs combining wire and other metals.

Traveling with Jewelry Tips

As the summer draws near, so do those plans of vacations; rather abroad, here and there or close to home. Whatever the case, everyone will be traveling and doing so with their jewelry. Many people pack their jewelry in their suitcases, rather than as carry-on. While this maybe an ‘ok’ thing, it would not be advised to allow your high-end expensive, heirloom or even your nice costume jewelry to chance in the suitcase, suggest carry-on so that you know it makes it all the way through to your trip, especially if you are flying. A hotel security director recommends to, ““Never take your heirlooms and your favorite jewelry items with you.” Though that would be nice, we all want to take that favorite jewelry piece with us. So from the Travel Safety Tips website here are some suggested tips for traveling with your jewelry.

1) Be sure you are staying in a hotel or resort with a safe in the room or safety deposit boxes at the front desk; most 3-star or higher hotels/resorts are required to have both.2) Once you've checked into the hotel, use the safe or safety deposit box. The hardest part for the hotel is getting people to utilize them. Hotels advertise having them, but then guests don't use them and that's where things can go wrong for the hotel guests.3) Know the hotel polices you are staying in if something should happen to your jewelry. In most U.S. states, a hotel manager is not liable for hotel losses, unless they are the direct result of the hotel's negligence. For example, if a hotel employee is caught stealing it.

An insurance agent suggests if you own fine jewelry, you probably have (or should have) insurance to cover it, especially if it is something of value or an heirloom. Just make sure that your insurance policy covering any jewelry extends to that of traveling. A standard homeowner's policy will not cover jewelry for disappearance and it will only cover theft of jewelry up to $1,000. The key is to purchase a rider to your homeowner's policy or a separate policy to cover just the jewelry. Either one will cover your jewelry for theft, disappearance or other mishaps, including losing a stone from a setting or unfortunate incident.

Make sure to check with your agent to find out what your specific policy rules are for traveling with your jewelry. Most standard policies will cover you for travel anywhere, but some might require that certain items be kept in a safe when you are not wearing them. Sorry to say that most insurance agents will advise that it is best to leave the heirlooms at home and I’m sure you’ll agree so as not to loose that precious piece of family history; but then, we’d never get to show off that great jewelry either if we did.

Lastly, be aware of your surroundings and where you are traveling before wearing that necklace, bracelet or ring you cherish and love so much. Wearing them at a party or special gathering is one thing, but wearing them in public going to and from that ‘big event’ can sometimes lead to trouble when least expected.

Visit our collection for summer designs to add to your jewelry box.
*Travel information from TravelSafetyTips.

Rainbow of Sapphires

When most people hear the word Sapphire they think blue, but sapphires really do come in every color of the rainbow except red; red sapphires are actually Rubies. The rainbow sapphires come in either Intense which are a collection of the deep hue, or Pastel, which are the collection of medium hues. These colors of actual sapphires come in everything from the purest white, often resembling the diamond, to almost solid black which is called midnight blue sapphire. Some of the hottest colors are the pink, canary yellow, orange and the collection of rainbow sapphire colors all together.

When buying a sapphire, including the rainbow combination, ask if the stone has been treated in any way. Some common treatments to enhance gems include irradiation, heat treatment, dyeing and coating. Not all of these treatments will devalue the stone, but always ask so you know what you're getting.

Sapphires can be heated at high temperatures to give them a better color and clarity. It is estimated that 90 percent of the Sapphires on the market have undergone some sort of treatment, which does not affect the value of the stone. However, untreated sapphires do command a higher price.

Sapphires are mined all over the world, including several locations in the United States and the location where the sapphires are mined can have a great effect on the price. All sapphires have a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale and are considered very durable to be worn everyday.

Traditionally the sapphire is believed to bring clarity of mind and disintegrates disharmony with healing properties for rheumatism, colic, and mental illness.

*Resources by ebay review and rainbow sapphires.

Blue Diamonds the New Girls Best Friend

Who doesn’t like diamonds!? Only to be known as ‘the girl’s best friend’, they are widely seen in crisp white, but there are a few rare colored diamonds; pink, yellow and blue. Blue diamond is considered to be one of the most expensive and rarest types of diamonds. This blue gemstone became the hottest must have and was in huge demand after being featured in the Hollywood movie Titanic.

The formation of a blue diamond naturally is very rare and also very expensive, which is why it is now artificially created. It evolves under the same conditions as that of naturally formed diamonds, although the treatment can be done in small quantity involving irradiating the gemstone causing the color change and then followed by a heat treatment to stabilize the color. The blue hue colors of the diamonds represent the color of the sea and that of the sky giving a true picture of life. The appealing shade of the blue diamond comes in deep aquamarine, green tinge, rich deep blue to ice blue. These colors of blue give a soothing and appealing feeling to the individual who wears them.

Cuts of blue diamonds are shaped in a different way that enhances the beauty of the gemstone by illuminating the tranquility and beauty of the stones; variations are the cushion cut, and heart-pear-octagon shapes, and even princess and marquise cuts.

The most famous and largest of blue diamonds is the infamous Hope Diamond (pictured to the left), which is now in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC. It is colored in deep blue and famed to carry a curse to whomever owns it. The largest weighing around 45.02 carats, it is a cushion cut and radiates dark grayish-blue color. It got its name after Henry Philip Hope of London.

Other famous blue diamonds include the Blue Heart, Heart of Eternity (pictured to the right), and Transvaal Blue & Chard Blue.

A new friend to some, but an old friend to others; the blue diamond is definitely an exquisite and stunning gemstone mixture of nature and man.

*Research from various books and websites.

Spring Craft Fair San Antonio

Looking for something to do this weekend in San Antonio, Texas?! Join us for the St. Helena Spring Craft Show this Saturday, May 1st!!

We’ll have a nice selection of our latest designs from among our collections of Southwest Flair, Mystic Artisan, Wiry Legends, and the Rock Yard. Chose from styles using fossils, minerals, and natural gemstones, crystals, dichroic glass and much more!

Don’t forget Mom – mother’s day is just around the corner on May 9th! Or that graduate from High School or College; something for the bridal party too.

Mention you saw this posting on our blog and receive extra ‘savings!

Growing Pains in Studio Storage

There comes a time in every shop, studio, office, or craft room when you just have to stop and stay “I need more space”! In this case, I was the one saying more space was needed to house my inventory. I had really outgrown the drawers in this standup. Practically everything was divided among the drawers and it was making it harder and harder to find anything. I actually during the transition found stones and pendants that I thought I’d used only to find them hidden away under bags of other stones, or worse, miss placed colors (deep blues or dark browns hidden among black).

So, I set out to determine how I was going to change my inventory storage problem with limited studio space. A friend suggested that I should really go ‘up’ rather than expand any other direction in my studio. What I did was look around and research what kind of storage system would allow me the ability to grow as my business grew.

This is what I found, a really nice heavy wire rack shelving unit; the shelves are adjustable and I can add additional shelving units with other types of storage compartments (not just shelves, but hanging compartments!). This really fit the bill for me; with the purchase of clear locking storage boxes (that now need to be labeled), I turned my single storage problem into future growth potential.
What I really like, is that I can actual see the stones and dig through the bins much easier and the lighting just above me makes it much easier to match things up rather than guessing.

We’re every growing and luckily I figured out a system that I can continue to use and grow as the business expands!

To see some of latest creations available for purchase, visit our website.

Spring Fling Beads

This collection of beads is great, provided from Artbeads.com for their Spring Fling. I’ve been trying to figure out different designs, but finding it’s a little harder than first thought. The ceramic beads (yellowish and blue/green tubes and creamy white disks) are great and will probably end up as spacers or earring pieces. I really like how ceramic and porcelain beads can really add to a necklace or earring.

Next up are the two purple pendants and I love the designs in both these, could go either way to look either ethnic, tribal or maybe beach. They may end up in designs with either shells, pearls or maybe even some turquoise. The tiny green oyster shells are really tiny and provide a little challenge for me. I’m looking either use them as spacers or even better earrings and bracelet pieces mixing with other sea gems. The best part is the Swarovski crystals, the Xilion is a new brilliance with colors in Cyclamen Opal, Padparadscha Golden Shadow, and Indicolite Golden Shadow colors new for me and any of these will really add that hint of ‘bling’ to any design. I’m thinking maybe the cyclamen opals will accent some turquoise and coral necklace.

Enjoy wondering through Artbeads.com for a variety of beading supplies, meanwhile I’ll keep working designs with these goodies until I find something that works.

Legal Disclosure/Disclaimer: As a reviewer of products for Artbeads.com, I received the Swarovski crystals, oyster and ceramic beads and pendants products free of charge. I have not been paid nor compensated by Artbeads.com for my endorsement of these said products. I have been asked by Artbeads.com to review these products and provide my own honest feedback, whether it is positive or negative.

Jewelry Fashions & Face Shapes

There are several shapes to our faces and we don't always know how to choose the most flattering jewelry to accent or highlight our features. There are four face shapes; round, oval, square, and heart.

Round: A round face shape should wear jewelry that creates a more slimming, lengthening effect. Chose longer or angular beaded necklaces that draw your attention down and lengthwise; some with a pendant will automatically draw the eye downwards. Also, wear long dangle earrings to also elongate your face.

Oval: If you are lucky enough to have an oval shaped face you can wear almost any type of necklace or earring; mostly because your face is a balanced forehead, chin and proportionate features. Some suggestions would be necklaces with long and short strands; unusual, mixed designs in shapes and textures. For earrings, try bold multiple layer dangle earrings.

Square: Someone with a

square or balanced angular face is most flattered by wearing jewelry that adds or softens the curves of the face. Try to balance a strong chin with necklaces that have round edged beads to narrow your face. If your face is more rectangular than square, you might try to shorter necklaces. Wear round dangle or hoop earrings that will fall to your jawline to accent and flatter your face.

Heart: Or if your face is wider at the forehead and narrow at the chin, you have a heart-shaped face. Suggested jewelry for this type would be one that gives the illusion of width to your jawline. Multi-strand necklaces with horizontal lines will balance out the forehead; with longer single necklaces making the face look narrower. To give a softened look and balance out a point chin, try wearing big, bold round beads in a shorter necklace. For earrings wear something that is just long enough to skim the jawline and moves the eye from side to side to create width.

Whatever your faces shape, you'll find the perfect style for accenting your wardrobe and features. Browse our custom design collection of natural stones to find your style.