Category Archives: Colour

Knitting – Dollies

It’s been a while since I posted about the amigurumi knitting I did, so I thought I’d share a bit more of my crafty world with you. Knowing how I like to knit, my lovely London sister sent me a copy of “Knit Your Own Royal Wedding” by Fiona Goble. (This was back in 2011, as a tribute to the wedding of Kate and Will.)

I have gorgeous twin nieces, and I thought they might love to have a dolly each with a wardrobe of clothes!

The need for decoration on these tiny clothes saw me feverishly collecting sequins, buttons, ribbons and all manner of other embellishments – I love a good excuse to make a new stash!

Fiona’s book is beautiful, her instructions are clear and concise, and shoes, hats and handbags abound.

I adored creating these girls for my pair of sweeties. Who knows, one day I may just get busy and make them little dolly husbands – and corgis! 🙂

Mookaite

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!

Haematite

Hematite with Quartz (photo credit Rob Lavinsky)

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!

Pantone – 2015 Spring Colours

Pantone have released their gorgeous palette for Spring 2015, and because spring is here already in the Southern Hemisphere, we can get in early. Lucky us! I love a bit of Pantone colour, as you can see from my previous blog posts here, here, here and here.

Divine soft colours seem to rule this time! As always, I’ve looked through my gemstone collection and matched these spring tone gemstones for you. If any of these gemstones appeal, let me know and I can create you something beautiful to go with your latest Spring wardrobe.

I was quite taken with this colourful Pantone iconic cartoon character guessing game recently created by Y&R, Shanghai. It’s called “There can be only one”. Who can you pick out?

Gemstone of the Month – Labradorite

Labradorite is a type of feldspar consisting of between 30-50% Albite and 50-70% Anorthite. It was named after peninsula of Labrador in Canada, where it was first found.

{Labradorite – Image Mike Beauregard}

Labradorite shows labradorescence – a schiller effect in lustrous metallic tints, often blue and green, and sometimes the complete spectrum. This effect is also found in moonstone.

Labradorite is believed to stimulate imagination, help develop enthusiasm and to see more clearly in meditation. it is thought to assist with disorders of the eyes and brain and to relieve anxiety.

It is supposed to balance hormones and relieve menstrual tension; and regulate metabolism. Labradorite is used to treat colds, gout, and rheumatism, lower blood pressure, and aid in digestion.

I have some gorgeous labradorite cabochons just waiting to be turned into beautiful jewellery for you – you can find them in my gemstone collection. Let me know what you’d like created!

Chrysocolla

According to Wikipedia, Chrysocolla is a hydrated copper cyclosilicate mineral with the formula (Cu,Al)2H2Si2O5(OH)4·nH2O. Hehehe, such a convoluted scientific string! I guess that just means it’s a compound, which is apparent from the many wonderful blue/green colourways that can be seen in various pieces.

Chrysocolla (photo credit Great Rough)

Chrysocolla is a minor ore of copper, and like malachite, has a high copper content, which is what gives it that fabulous blue/green colouring.

Chrysocolla – Botryoidal (photo credit MinDat)

The name Chrysocolla derives from the Greek chrysos (gold) and kolla (glue), referring to its use as a flux in soldering gold. The term has been used since antiquity.

Chrysocolla Stalagtite (photo credit MinDat)

It is believed to have a calming influence, and also to attract love. It is supposed to help heal burns, fever, and detoxify the liver.

Chrysocolla (photo credit Mineral Miners)

I have some lovely chrysocolla cabochons just waiting to be turned into beautiful jewellery for you – you can find them in my gemstone collection. Let me know what you’d like created!

Pantone – 2014 Autumn Colours

Autumn is on its way, and Pantone have released the next round of the latest colour trends! I’ve raved about Pantone colour in some previous blog posts here, here and here. And as you can see, I’m still loving the concept. I’m not sure how many of these colours I’ll be wearing this autumn, but you never know!

I’ve browsed my gemstone collection and matched these autumn colours – if any of these gemstones appeal to you, let me know and I can create you something beautiful to go with your latest Autumn fashion choices. And you can always go with Phosphosiderite for that Radiant Orchid splash!

Because Autumn brings the need for more cups of tea, I found these mugs which are Pantone inspired:

(available from Suck UK)

Hehehe – mine’s somewhere between Classic British and Builder’s Brew, thanks! 🙂

Puddingstone

Puddingstone (photo credit Andrea Jaeger Miehls)

Puddingstone is the popular name for an agate conglomerate, so called because of the plum pudding-like appearance of the rounded pebbles whose colours contrast with the matrix which surrounds them.

Puddingstone Slice (photo credit East Herts Geology Club)

There are different types of puddingstone, with different composition, origin, and geographical distribution. Examples of different types of puddingstones include the Hertfordshire, Schunemunk, Roxbury and St. Joseph Island puddingstones.

Remains of a stone circle of pudding stone incorporated into the structure of St Mary’s Church, Chesham, Buckinghamshire (Photo credit Iridescent)

Puddingstone has been used since at least Roman times as a building material, and also for grinding corn shaped into a device called a quern.

Puddingstone Quern (Photo credit St Albans Museums)

Puddingstone is believed to be useful in assisting with anxiety or stress.

Large Puddingstone (photo credit DI Showshoe)

Puddingstone is used to prevent tissue deterioration of internal organs and muscles, to strengthen immune system and to promote body balance. It is supposed to help alleviate any pain or disorder.

Puddinstone Sphere (Phot0 credit The Rock Shed)

This gorgeous Puddingstone cabochon at the top of this post, which comes from Agate Creek right here in Queensland, Australia, was snapped up by a lovely client of mine. I made this ring for her.

Contact me if you’d like me to create a custom piece for you!

Rhyolite

Rhyolite – Closeup (photo credit Outback Mining)

Rhyolite is a volcanic rock, and is known as the volcanic equivalent of granite. It is sometimes known as Rainforest Jasper. Its occurrence is quite widespread throughout the world.

Flow-banded Rhyolite (photo credit Angela Walker)

Pre-historic quarries of rhyolite have been discovered in the location of east Pennsylvania, USA. Rhyolite was given its name by the German traveller and geologist Ferdinand von Richthofen after his explorations in the Rocky Mountains in the 1860s.

Rhyolite – Slab (photo credit GemrockAuctions)

Rhyolite is supposed to spark creativity in individuals who are ready to move forward and make things happen in their life. It apparently helps to break through the mental barriers.

Rhyolite – Polished Stone (photo credit GreenEarthStones)

This stone is used for meditation, progression in life, focusing on the present moment and resolving issues not yet complete.

Rhyolite – Sphere (photo credit Crystalarium)

I had the lovely piece of rhyolite in cab form shown at the top of this post,which I made into a pendant. If you’d like a pendant of your own, just contact me and let me know!

Pantone – 2014 Spring Colours

Spring has sprung.. and with it, the release of the latest Pantone colour trends! Some of you will recall my longstanding love of the whole idea of Pantone colour from my previous blog posts here and here. The ambitious and slightly crazy idea that you could catalogue and name the entire universe’s colours is pretty cool!

You’ll see I’ve taken some small liberties with colour matching my gemstone collection here (poor Freesia, I totally love the smell of you, but don’t have a gemstone to completely match that colour – nor for you, Sand!), but on the whole I think I’ve got Spring 2014 pretty well covered. If any of these lovelies appeal to you, and you’d like a custom ring or pendant, let me know and I can create you something beautiful!

By the way, I think I need one of these:

‘The Rubitone’ (credit ~ and kudos ~ to Ignacio Pilotto)

Surely this cube belongs in Geek paradise!

the silver forge

jewellery handcrafted by ruthie gray