The gorgeous chrysoprase gemstone cabochons shown here are 16mm long. They are available to be handcrafted into a custom made ring or pendant for you.
Tag Archives: Ruthie Gray
Serpentine Oval Cabochon
The lovely serpentine cabochon shown here is 16mm long. It is available to be handcrafted into a custom made ring or pendant for you.
Turquoise Oval Cabochons
The cheery turquoise gemstone cabochons shown here are 11mm long. They are available to be handcrafted into a custom made ring or pendant for you.
Reserved – Stichtite Oval Cabochons
PLEASE NOTE: These stones are reserved for a lovely client.
The amazing stichtite gemstone cabochons shown here are 14mm long. They are available to be handcrafted into a custom made ring or pendant for you.
Copper Azurite Oval Cabochon
The beautiful copper azurite gemstone cabochon shown here is 16mm long. It is available to be handcrafted into a custom made ring or pendant for you.
Small Labradorite Oval Cabochons
The luminescent labradorite gemstone cabochons shown here are 14mm long. They are available to be handcrafted into a custom made ring or pendant for you.
Labradorite is a feldspar, and like moonstone, has what is known as the schiller effect. It is also known as spectrolite, black moonstone, and falcon’s eye. Labradorite is said to bring good luck. It is supposed to aid with healing emotional wounds, calming and reducing negativity.
I used a similar cabochon in creating this custom piece:
Desert Flower Foundation
Red Desert Flower (photo credit to Lily Shih)
I first heard about Waris Dirie when I read her autobiography, ‘Desert Flower’ (published in 1997 by Harper Collins).
Waris was born in 1965 into a nomad family living in the Somali desert near the border to Ethiopia. At the age of five, she was forced to undergo the inhuman procedure of female genital mutilation. This horrible tradition is still practiced in many countries around the world today – by both by Muslims and Christians.
At the age of 13, after being forced to marry a man who was old enough to be her grandfather, Waris fled her homeland. After a daring escape and many tribulations, she arrived in London and initially found employment as a housemaid and later at a McDonald’s.
At the age of 18 she was discovered by one of Britain’s leading fashion photographers, who thought she would be the perfect model. She quickly became an international celebrity. In 1996 the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, appointed Waris a United Nations Special Ambassador for the elimination of female genital mutilation. In 2009 Waris started the Desert Flower Foundation.
Female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. FGM is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women. It reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes, and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against women. It is nearly always carried out on minors and is a violation of the rights of children. The practice also violates a person’s rights to health, security and physical integrity, the right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and the right to life when the procedure results in death.
According to World Health Organisation more than 125 million girls and women alive today have been cut in the 29 countries in Africa and Middle East where female genital mutilation is concentrated. You can read more about FGM here on their website.
The Desert Flower Foundation protects little girls in Africa from female genital mutilation with the Desert Flower Adoption Program.
I will be donating 10% of all The Silver Forge proceeds for this month to this worthy cause. Please head to my online shop now and see if you can help out.
Tool of the Month – Chenier Cutter
A tool that I don’t use very often, but when I need it I’m glad of it, is my chenier cutter.
Chenier is fine hollow tubing, which can used to make various parts such as hinges and bails, or be used decoratively as I have in this ring:
To cut the chenier to the right length, and/or to file the ends of the chenier flat, it’s much easier to clamp it in this cutter.
The cutter has various spaces to cut at both 90 degree and 45 degree angles.
It’s great for cutting wire, too!
Sterling Silver Rose Pendant
One of my lovely clients (for whom I have created a number of pieces including this pendant) asked me to create a pendant for her to give to her mother in memory of her father.
Her dad would give her mum roses all the time when they were dating.
What a gorgeous sentiment. Thank you Lithy!
Fossilized Apple Coral Pear Shaped Cabochon
The amazing pear shaped apple coral cabochon shown here is 37mm long. It is available to be handcrafted into a custom made ring or pendant for you.