Mookaite is a type of silicified porcelanite, which forms in silt-stone from the lower Cretaceous period that is found over much of the Carnarvon Basin in Western Australia.
(photo credit Michelle Pemberton)
The name Mookaite is derived from Mooka Creek, where the rock is mined. According to locals, the Aboriginal word “mooka” means “running waters”.
(photo credit Creative Crystals)
Mookaite is believed to be a healing stone that bestows strength. It is said to shield the wearer from difficult situations and to connect us to loved ones who have passed away. It is thought to assist with assessing problems and making decisions. Mookaite is used to treat glandular or stomach disorders, hernias, ruptures and water retention.
Mookaite comes in many lovely colourways. I have these pieces in my gemstone collection just waiting to be made into something fabulous!
Congratulations to Lithy, who won last month’s newsletter earring giveaway! The prize was a pair of these opaque grey Czech glass and sterling silver earrings.
Lithy is one of my gorgeous repeat customers, and I happen to know that she really loves purple, so I offered her her own choice of Czech glass earrings – she chose these ones.
If you’d like a pair of either of these lovelies, you can get yourself some in The Silver Forge shop.
December’s newsletter giveaway is a your choice of a pair of Czech glass and sterling silver fish earrings from my Aquatic collection. Everyone on my mailing list is entered in every month’s draw, so all you have to do to win is make sure you’re subscribed to my newsletter! If you can’t wait, and you want some of these earrings right now, you can find them here.
I love seeing other people’s processes, and I thought it was time to give you all another look into what goes on in my workshop. I have blogged before about how I create one of my signature big chunky rings, and I thought it was time to examine that process again. Here’s how I do it!
Firstly, an appropriate width strip of sterling silver sheet .6mm thick is selected.
This is curved by hand using a pair of half round pliers to fit the gemstone.
Next, the strip is cut to approximately the right length on my bench peg using my jeweller’s saw, leaving a small extension for soldering against.
In this video, you see me prepare and apply the borax, position the solder (not usually quite so fumbly, I had a bit of stage fright!) and solder the bezel together.
Once the metal is cool, it goes into the pickle to be cleaned. An explanation of pickle can be found in my previous blog post.
I trim the excess bezel metal away from the solder join.
I check to make sure the bezel is a good fit.
I emery the bottom of the bezel so that it is completely flat and will make a good join with the base plate.
I select a piece of 1mm thick sterling silver sheet to fit the bezel.
I solder the bezel to the backing plate. Here you see me applying the paillons of solder with borax, and soldering the join. Then it’s back to the pickle.
After rinsing and drying, a bit of a check to see how it’s looking!
Now, I saw the excess metal from around the bezel setting.
After filing the edges of the bezel setting, I start creating the ring shank.
Using the appropriate width of 1.2mm thick sterling silver plate, I bend the shank to the right shape and size.
I trim the shank to the right length.
I hammer the shank with a mallet to get it perfectly round (this shot is for explanation only, I actually have the mandrel hard up against the bench to absorb the force when I’m really hammering the ring!).
Emerying the inside of the shank with my flex drive makes life easier.
After more filing and emerying, I stamp the inside of the shank with my maker’s mark and 925, which marks the metal as being sterling silver (the 92.5% is the fine silver content).
I solder the shank to the bezel setting assembly.
Then it’s time for plenty more filing, and coarse to fine emerying to bring the ring close to it’s finished state. (Zen or tedium, you decide!)
Next, I head over to my trusty engraving ball to set the stone.
Plenty of gentle hammering with my setting hammer later…
And my work, bar some tidying up, is done!
There it is, a beautiful drusy agate ring. I do so love what I do!
I occasionally get around to creating something new for myself, and since I’ve been having a little love affair with faceted cabochons of late, I thought I’d make myself another ring!
I needed a black ring, for everyday wear, and this one is great.
I do have a couple more of similar cabochons coming, so if you’d like one of your own, do let me know!
Congratulations to Alix, who was the winner of last month’s newsletter earring giveaway! She will be receiving a pair of these chocolate brown Czech glass and sterling silver earrings. If you missed out and you’d like a pair, you can get yourself some in The Silver Forge shop.
The giveaway for November is a pair of opaque grey Czech glass and sterling silver earrings. Everyone on my mailing list is entered in every month’s draw, so all you have to do to win is make sure you’re subscribed to my newsletter! If you can’t wait, and you want some of these earrings right now, you can find them here.
Haematite is the mineral form of an iron oxide. It can be black to steel or silver-gray; brown to reddish brown; or red. It is mined as the main ore of iron.
BotryoidalHaematite (photo credit Harvard Museum of Natural History)
Gray hematite is typically found in places where there has been standing water or mineral hot springs. Haematite has also been discovered on Mars!
Haematite on Mars (photo credit NASA)
The name haematite is derived from the Greek word for blood ‘αἷμα haima’ as haematite can be red. It is used by jewellers in powdered form (with grease added) for fine polishing and is called rouge.
Red Haematite (Michigan)
Haematite is believed to have grounding properties. It is thought to help reduce the discomfort of leg cramps and broken bones. It is also thought to cleanse the blood, and help with blood-related diseases such as anaemia.
Haematite Sphere (photo credit Manchester Herbs)
There are some lovely haematite cabochons in my gemstone collection. If you’d like something beautiful made, let me know!
In Australia approximately 44,000 babies each year require the help of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or Special Care Nursery. For families, the experience of having a baby come into the world not as expected or planned is life changing. Without support, this overwhelming experience can have lifelong effects on the emotional well-being of these miracle families. Miracle Babies Foundation is Australia’s leading organisation supporting premature and sick newborns, their families and the hospitals that care for them.
We have some miracle babies in our family, so this cause is one that is very close to my heart, and I’m so happy to be donating 10% of all The Silver Forge proceeds this month in support.
Please do visit my online shop and see if you can find something you love and help this worthy cause today!
The Endeavour Foundation is one of Queensland’s oldest charities, founded in 1951. It is one of the largest non-government disability service providers in Australia. They support more than 3,400 people with a disability, from 230 locations in Queensland and New South Wales. This year, the Endeavour Foundation are holding their Melbourne Cup Day Fundraising Luncheon on 4th November, and they contacted me to see if I would assist with a donation for this fundraising effort.
I’m really pleased to be supporting the Endeavour Foundation again, as I have done before (see here and here).
It is good to know that in our wide and varied community, those who face the challenges in their daily lives that living with a disability presents are able to be supported and nurtured; advocated for and given opportunities to learn and grow and have their varying needs met. I have donated a raffle prize to assist with Endeavour’s fundraising effort, and I look forward to seeing what the prize winner chooses from The Silver Forge shop!
PLEASE NOTE: This cabochon is reserved for one of my lovely clients!
The gorgeous blue chalcedony gemstone cabochon shown here is 32mm long, and is available to be handcrafted into a custom made ring or pendant for you. Chalcedony is a form of silica, comprised of quartz and moganite. It was in use as early as the bronze age.
Blue chalcedony is believed to be an excellent crystal for public speakers and those who speak for a living, such as lawyers, actors and singers. It is thought to generate peace, encourage stillness and calm in the home, and be good for daily journeys to work, or stressful trips involving children.
I was pleased to be invited to the 2014 Mount Eliza Art and Design Show, and I’ve just sent off a parcel of all of these pieces to be displayed and made available for sale.
The show is on from 24th to 26th October in Mount Eliza, Victoria. I’m sure it will be lovely. If you’re in the area, pop in for a visit and do let me know what it’s like!
