What a nice gesture!!!

I just love it when I'm contacted out of the blue, by a wonderful person telling me they have mentioned my blog, on their blog today...and with such kind words...please take a few minuets to take a look at Laura Godsil's blog ... LWGODSIL'S JADIS JEWELRY

Thank you Laura...

"Birthstone of the Month" Emerald...again

***I've decided to re-publishing my previous "Birthstone of the Month" posts...they were, for the most part well received...I've been contemplating doing a series of post regarding the healing properties of semi-precious stones but thought I would begin by re-publishing these...***

Emerald is the most precious member of the beryl family; the name is derived from the Greek “smaragdos”, which means “green stone”.

The wonderful green color is produced by chromium present in the gemstone. The vibrant color won’t fade, as it is stable regarding light and heat. As with many gemstones the color varies depending on the source or the location the gemstone was found. Apparently the most favorable color is a strong slightly bluish green.

Colombian emeralds are a pure green with a slight tint of blue. There are significant deposits, especially in the Muzo mine northwest of Bogotá.

This magnificent emerald was mined in Colombia, set in white gold, with yellow gold claws, encased in diamonds...what more could you ask for ladies!!!

A 60 carat Colombian emerald set with approximately 25 carats of diamonds on yellow gold. Market value US$240,000

Brazilian emeralds are a slightly lighter color of green with more yellow noticeable, often slightly cloudy, but most often without inclusions. Deposits have been found in Bahia, Goias, and Minas Gerais and while relatively new deposits, discovered since the 1980s, Brazil has become one of the most important suppliers of emeralds!

From Northeast Brazil...A fully terminated, semi-gemmy Emerald crystal...Measures about 1/2" across...semi-gemmy means "clear in spots but not completely"

Zambian emeralds have good clarity are are a deep green. Other deposits have been found in Russia, Afghanistan, Australia, Ghana, India, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Tanzania, Vietnam, China and the United States.
These lovely emerald crystals are from Wenshan, near Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
Here is a natural, grass green Emerald (Beryl) crystal from the Lao Cai Province of Vietnam
Famous Emeralds can be found at the British Museum of Natural History in London, England, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, in the treasury of Russian, in the state treasury of Iran, in the Treasury room in Topkapi Palace, Istanbul, Turkey and in the Viennese treasury in a vase is a gem 4 ¾ in (12cm) high, weighing 2205cts, cut from a single emerald crystal.

Most emeralds are not clean, having some imperfections such as cloudy, cracks, inclusions of fiber, tremolite rods, some of which make the emerald sensitive to pressure…hence the emerald cut was designed to maximize the color while the rounded corners help to minimize chipping and breaking of the corners.

These semi-gemmy emerald crystals are from the Jiangsu Prov, in China

It is common for emeralds to be dipped in a specific type of oil or sometimes prepared with an artificial resin in a vacuum if they have hairline fractures or other faults…this is usually done in the country of origin. The FTC in the United
States requires a disclosure of this kind of treatment.

While not my favorite gemstone I have to admit these lovely gems have grown on me…a nice set of emerald earrings or perhaps a bracelet would be nice…what do you think???

Cheers

Natural gem photos courtesy of "Orbital Joe"

Emerald jewelry courtesy of "Swamibu"

I thank both Orbital Joe and Swamibu for allowing me to use their wonderful photographs! More of their amazing work can be found on Flickr.com

Information courtesy of:

Gemstones of the World, Walter Schumann, Third Edition, Sterling Publishing Co. Inc.,

The Jeweler's Directory of Gemstones, Judith Crowe, Firefly Books, 2006


Cheers

"Bloggers Unite for Human Rights"

Human rights issues abound all over the world…violations are everywhere; rape, child abuse, forced labor, murder, induced starvation, false imprisonment, discrimination due to race or gender, lack of freedom of speech, government corruption, war crimes and the list goes on…for all our efforts to be a “humane” world, we are lacking in so many ways.

What is wrong with human nature that allows people to perpetrate such horrendous atrocities to their fellow man/woman/child? What about logic, ethics, kindness, and empathy? So often money, pride, ego, and power get in the way!

It would be so easy to say, “What can we do”? As individuals we do the best we can to help fight for human rights…joining in on days such as “Bloggers Unite for Human Rights” allows the group to speak volumes!

“Do unto others as you would have them do to you”…

I'm in the mood! Will it be "A little bit Simple" A little bit Sassy" or "A little bit Sultry"?

A little bit Simple!

Obsidan and everything sterling silver!

Onyx and everything sterling silver!

Lovely lampwork beads and everything Bali silver!

More lovely lampwork beads by the same artist and everything sterling silver!

A little bit Sassy!

Lab created crystals and sterling silver!

Freshwater pearls and brass everything!

Sterling silver everything!

A little bit Sultry!

Soft, sexy, freshwater pearls and Swarovksi accents!

A stunning necklace! Huge turquoise chunks, gold filled wire, aqua lab created quartz, magnificent!

More Pearls...two stunning rows of Swarovski pearls and Swarovksi crystals!
Pearls look "hot" with anything!

Twin Dee Designs

The woman behind Twin Dee Designs is a mother of a 21-year-old daughter; about to graduate from college with an Engineering degree, a 19-year-old son, and a 16-year-old daughter, in junior high school, she has raised her children alone for the last 13 years.

Her name is Denise and she has been sewing since she was very small, at ten she made an outfit for herself… by hand…can you imagine? After seen this, her mother showed her how to use the sewing machine, and in Denise’s words “that was that…all I did was sew and made most of my clothes”.

She discovered quilting around the age of 18 but didn’t

actually get into it until she was 25, when she developed a love for the process of making a quilt; it was a relaxing pastime …making cloths took a back burner at this point in her life.

Quilting was part of her life for many years, but at 49 she began something new…quite by chance!

She was making book covers for a Harry Potter fair and picked up discontinued upholstery fabric, but she found some of the fabric was just to beautiful for book covers so she decided to make bags!!! She bought books for ideas, and made the bag I purchased from a pattern but added her own touch…the leather. She has since changed the pattern to make smaller ones with zippers instead of a snap flap,all the other bags are her own pattern!

Denise enjoys making her bags, and has five bags presently in the works, along with a few prototypes she wants to change before she lists them. All this in only 8 months, she opened her Etsy shop August of 2007 …time is even more precious to Denise now as her son is recuperating from a terrible accident, and her need to be with him takes precedent…so she does what she can!

What woman doesn’t need another bag, or a change purse? I certainly didn’t “need” the one I purchased but I love it just the same!

Her amazing bags can be found at www.twindee3.etsy.com,stop by and have a look! The quality and craftsmanship of her work is superior, this is a woman who likes what she does and it shows in the pieces she makes!!

I have to show you my wonderful purse Denise made...I love it...the quality of the material and workmanship is superb!

Visit Twin Dee Designs on Etsy for a great shopping experience!

I've Been Featured!!

This lovely bangle "Crazy For You" was featured yesterday on "Friday Findings" on Capitola Girl, where you can find interesting post regarding the latest in jewelry information and Posh Mama, a wonderful site about and for women...stop by the sites are interesting and informative!


The lovely Azure Islands Designs, turquoise, sterling silver wire wrapped earrings, were given away in a contest for the "Friday Findings" contest on Capitola Girl, hope the lucky winner enjoys wearing these beauties! Nothing better than turquoise jewelry in the summer!