The lovely flower jasper gemstone cabochon shown here is 38mm long.
Jasper is believed to encourage personal bravery and help people gain independence. It is thought to help cure gynecological problems and to strengthen the stomach. Some believe it can help bring rain, and it has been used as a protection against evil spirits and snake and spider bites.
I used this cabochon to create this custom piece:
The stunning sparkly cream oval drusy agate gemstone cabochon shown here is 30mm long. You can read more about what drusy agate is here.
Agate is traditionally believed to help you to discern truth, improve memory and concentration, increase stamina, prevent insomnia and ensure pleasant dreams, enhance personal courage, protect you against danger, and provide a calming influence.
I used this cabochon to create this custom piece:
The fabulous onyx gemstone cabochon shown here is 35mm long, and is available to be handcrafted into a custom made ring or pendant for you.
Onyx is a variety of chalcedony, which has been in use for carved objects and jewellery since ancient times.
Onyx is thought to help release negative emotions such as sorrow and grief. It is believed to assist with ending unhappy or bothersome relationships. Onyx is sometimes worn with the belief that it can defend against negativity that is directed at you.
The stunning black and grey oval Picasso marble gemstone cabochon shown here is 30mm long.
Picasso marble is a combination of magma and limestone which was formed millions of years ago, creating colours and patterns which are similar in appearance to Picasso’s art, hence the name.
Picasso marble is believed to strengthen self-control, clarity, stablilty; give total recall of dreams and assist in meditation. It apparently helps expand the mind, and aids in the manifestation of physical and material goals. It is believed to help to heal viral infection.
I used this cabochon to create this custom piece:
The wonderful black oval drusy agate gemstone cabochon shown here is 26mm long. You can read more about what drusy agate is here.
Agate is traditionally believed to help you to discern truth, improve memory and concentration, increase stamina, prevent insomnia and ensure pleasant dreams, enhance personal courage, protect you against danger, and provide a calming influence.
I used this cabochon to create this custom piece:
I made these domed earrings for Gracie for her 18th birthday last month.
Happy birthday, sweetheart!
The very last piece that I made in my training course last year was this sterling silver and garnet crown set ring. It’s a bit of a departure from my normal style, but I like it!
I specifically chose a garnet because my lovely sister who lives on the other side of the world has just turned 50, and she likes garnets.
Happiest of birthdays, dearest Christina! xxx
Ahhh, my love affair with Pantone continues. It’s one-sided, sure, but who wouldn’t want a never ending set of Pantone storage boxes to make your life complete?
The recent release of the 2013 Pantone ‘Fall’ colours is a bit exciting!! Emerald is the Pantone colour of the year, and I’m loving those more muted but still funky autumn tones. There’s not one I wouldn’t wear!!
I’ve looked through my gemstone collection, and here’s a few suggestions for having your own unique piece made, and being on trend this autumn. Contact me if you love one of these stones and want it for your very own!
Contented sigh…. I love colour. Still! 🙂
As I mentioned in my previous post on Flipside Circus, I was happy to donate a custom made handcrafted sterling silver and drusy agate ring for the recent Flipside Fiesta fundraising raffle.
John was the lucky winner, and he unveiled the prize for his wife Robby at Christmas time. I recently visited them both in their lovely home, and Robby chose her favourite gemstone from my collection – it wasn’t drusy after all, but I didn’t mind a bit!
This gorgeous stone is Unakite – I’ll do an in-depth post about that later. For now, it’s a natural stone, and isn’t it pretty!!!
Congratulations, John and Robby, well done on supporting such a great and worthy cause; and Robby, I hope you enjoy wearing your ring!!
Czech Glass beads (also known as Bohemian Glass or Druk beads) were created in Bohemia as early as 250 BC. Handmade glass beads have been found in graves excavated from the 10th century. In the 13th century, glass factories were opened in the northern mountains. In the 16th century, a cottage industry of glassmakers providing glass beads to the larger jewelry factories began in the Bohemian cities of Jablonec, Stanovsko and Bedrichov.
In the 19th century, no doubt spurred on by the industrial revolution, manufacturers developed special molds and machines to produce pressed-glass beads. Czech bead-making suffered setbacks because of the two World Wars, the Great Depression and Communist rule. Today, the industry has been revived, and Czech bead makers are again among the world leaders in bead manufacturing and exports.
Czech glass beads are available in a variety of colors and finishes. They come in opaque and solids, transparent, metallic and two-tone.
How are these beads are made today? Well, glass cane rods are heated to a molten level and put into a pressing machine. The hot glass is then pressed into molds. A needle is inserted at the same time to produce the thread hole of the bead. After the pressed glass is molded it slowly cools. At this point, the beads are connected by excess glass around the edges. The pressed glass beads are placed into a tumbling cycle that will break off the excess glass. The beads will then be sent through another tumbling process that will smooth out imperfections and polish the beads.
I love working with Czech Glass beads, not only because of the never-ending array of beautiful colours, shapes, sizes and opacities, but because of their fabulous history! I also love that they are glass, which as a natural substance has an elegance and timelessness about it.
At the moment, I’m having to restrain myself from buying a stack more Czech Glass beads to add to my already sizeable stash… willpower!!
Which is your favourite of the Czech glass beads in these pictures? Do you wish The Silver Forge had other colours available? (Encouragement to fulfill my shopping dreams will always be appreciated! 🙂 )