Gemstone Series --- Boulder Opal

Opal is most famous for its play of color, a display of rainbow-like hues that change with the lighting or angle of observation. Not every kind of opal displays this unique property, only the opals known as precious opal. Lesser opals, such as common opal and fire opal, have no play of color.

Boulder Opal

The most prized of the precious opals is the black opal of Australia, first discovered at Lightning Ridge in New South Wales in the 1880's. Though Australia produces nearly all the world's opal, 90% of the Australian production is the light colored opal. The rare black opal accounts for only 8% of Australian opal. Black opal is especially valued because its dark body tone gives the play of color an extra vibrancy not seen in the more common white opals.
                The remaining 2% of Australian production is the second most prized form of opal, a unique form known as boulder opal. First discovered in Quilpie, in Western Queensland in about 1870, the boulder opal is found embedded in ironstone boulders. The opal usually forms as thin veins within these boulders, and most stones are cut to include some of the host ironstone matrix.
Boulder opal is sometimes referred to asopal in matrix for this reason.
Boulder opal is especially attractive because, like the black opal, it has a dark body tone which adds vibrancy to the play of color. Boulder opal also has a higher density because of the ironstone content, and can be more durable as well.
Due to the thin nature of the opal veins which form in the ironstone boulders, it is often impossible to cut domed cabochons in most boulder opal stones. The stones are therefore usually cut into free form, irregular shapes to maximize the size of the stone and minimize the loss of opal.
Boulder opal is still fairly new to the market, but has great potential. The area which has the potential to yield boulder opal is much larger than the black opal deposits, and a relatively small proportion of this has been explored. The area stretches along a 200 to 300 kilometer area in Western Queensland.
( picture to the upper left is the Australian Black Opal ) 

Healing Properties:

Aids inner beauty, faithfulness, and eyesight and helps recall past lives.

Out with the Old ---Purple Grace earrings

ahhhh The pair my boyfriend LOVES. I mean he went ape sh*t when i showed him these.....lol  Best pair I ever made he said. 

This beautiful pair of earrings are made with acrylic flowers and purple glass beads. Measures about 2.5 inches

Wordless Wednesday --- Mystic Aquarium, Mystic CT

Gemstone Series --- Blue Opal ( Peruvian )

           Peruvian blue opal is relatively rare and is only found in the Andes mountains near San Patricio, Peru. It is a very translucent stone with color similar to the Caribbean Sea. Depending on how the stone is cut it can be clear, scenic (showing varying degrees of color) or dendritic which has black fern like inclusions.

This is the national stone of Peru and, unfortunately, in recent years dyed stones have been mass marketed by unreputable dealers as Peruvian Blue Opal. If the blue color is uneven you are probably looking at a dyed stone. Dyed stones are quite common and sell very cheaply at gem shows and on internet auctions.

Peruvian opal ranges between 5.5 and 6.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness.

Luster: Vitreous to pearly.
Transparency: Transparent to translucent.
Fracture: Conchoidal.
Streak: White.

Folklore & Legend: 

The Peruvian blue opal has soft relaxing energies. Legend says that it takes the tension out of communication and helps ideas flow freely. It softens the impact of stress from the outside world and can help one to release the trauma of old wounds. It facilitates facing the future with a tranquil healing nature.

This stone is reported to be good for quieting the mind and as an aid to sleep.

Out with the old --- Shell and Crystal Set

This will be hard to part with. 
This beautiful set is made with shell and crystals. The bracelet is 7.5 inches long and the earrings are 2.5 inches and hangs from sterling silver ear hooks. 
Great to wear with any outfit.

This set is for sale in my Etsy and my Zibbett shop

Pop Tab Jewelry -- my new project

I need to make something new. While on YourTube I saw a video for Pop tab Garland ( that can be shortened for bracelets and a choker ) . I thought it was creative. I have seen pop tab bracelets before, I just didnt know how to make it..... now I do :)


I also found some other creations. I dont plan on making these items, this is just a show and tell :)

 

I'd wear it..lol 

Now THIS is Awesome:)

My gosh those are ALOT of can tabs..... WOW.  These people are SOOOOO creative. 

New Item Reveal

I LOVE making hair combs. I am more creative with them.  I recently created a bunch for Autumn , my favorite season. Who can not love the colors fall brings. :) 
let me know what you think :)

Leaves and Berries

Autumn Bliss

Bright Autumn

 

Sweet Browns

Fall Splendor 

 A little Black n White

Made with all Tiger's Eye

These 2 are the Breast Cancer Awareness hair combs

                 

You can check out all the hair combs I have made on my FB Fanpage

Gemstone Series - Aquamarine

   The gemstone Aquamarine is the modern March birthstone as adopted by the American National Association of Jewelers in 1912. It is also the birth stone for the Zodiac sign of Scorpio. 

Aquamarine is a member of the beryl family and ranges in color from an almost colorless pale blue to blue-green or teal. The most prized color is a deep-blue aqua color. It is 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale of hardness and gets its name from Latin words meaning water and sea.

The most valuable aquamarines come from Brazil, but it is also mined in Kenya and Nigeria, Madagascar, Zambia, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Russia. . Aquamarines on the market today are usually faceted, but when cut as a cabochon, they may display a cat's eye effect known as asterism.

Some gemstones are heated to high temperatures to enhance the color and/or clarity of a stone. Aquamarines are often heat treated to change a blue-green or teal colored stone to a pure blue. This results in a permanent color change.

 

Folklore, Legend, and Healing Properties:

Since early times, aquamarine has been believed to endow the wearer with foresight, courage, and happiness. It is said to increase intelligence and make one youthful. As a healing stone, it is said to be effective as a treatment for anxiety and in the Middle Ages it was thought that aquamarine would reduce the effect of poisons.

A legend says that sailors wore aquamarine gemstones to keep them safe and prevent seasickness.


click here to see the next gemstone

Out with the old --- Fossil Leaf Bracelet

This bracelet is made with a fossil bar focal piece with purple and white glass beads. 

with a lobster claw clasp. 

size 7.5 .

just $8.00

To purchase click here .

Gemstone Series - Azurite-Malachite

Azurite is an an intense deep blue color with a Mohs hardness between 3 and 4. Different sources claim the name is derived from the Persian word lazhward or from the Arabic word azul, both of which mean blue.

It often occurs with malachite, chrysocolla or turquoise in areas with copper deposits. A rare form called "Bluebird", has dark red Cuprite mixed with azurite .

Azurite is found in Australia, Chile, France, Mexico, Morocco, Nambia, the southwestern USA, and Zaire.

For thousands of years this stone has been used in jewelry and ornamental objects. During the Middle Ages and Renaissance it was ground into pigment for use in paint and eye shadow .

It is not known widely as a birthstone, but several references indicate it may have been used as a birthstone for the sign of Taurus.

                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                

Folklore, Legend, and Healing Properties:

Azurite was sacred to the Egyptians who believed it was an aid to spiritual communication.

Many believe that this stone helps to reduce anger and to increase psychic awareness. It is also thought to reduce abnormal cell growth, promote wisdom, and is used as an aid to relieve the paid of rheumatism.

Click here to see the next gemstone

Wordless Wednesday - Kitty snuggle

Out with the old --- Passion Red Necklace

This beautiful necklace is made with sterling silver chain, glass beads and glass tube beads with a metal square focal. it has a lobster claw clasp.  measures about 24 inches.  

only $13.00

Click here  to buy

Giant Knitting Nancy

You Tube Video......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpdeWmAMDA4&feature=colike

This looks like a fun project to get my friends into nest summer :)

Gemstone Series: Australasian Tiger's Eye

Australian Tiger's Eye Facts, Information and Description
Tiger's Eye is the Planetary stone for Gemini (May 21-Jun. 20) and the accepted gem for the ninth wedding anniversary. Tiger's eye (tigers eye, tiger eye, tiger iron) is a member of the quartz group of chalcedonies. It is one of the chatoyant gemstones. Chatoyancy exhibits a changeable silky luster as light is reflected within the thin parallel fibrous bands. This effect is due to the fibrous structure of the material. Tiger iron is composed of tiger's eye, red jasper and black hematite. The rippled wavy bands of color often resemble a scenic view. Marra Mamba is a form of tiger iron found in one area of Australia near Mount Brockman. It is a very rare type of tiger iron that contains shades of red, green, yellow, and blue. This area has been mined out for many years so very little of the "true" marra mamba is available today. The exceptional looking piece of marra mamba tiger's iron rough from Australia (seen in third image) looks like the evening sun setting behind a mountain range.  It has a greenish cast with shades of brown, golden yellow, red and blue veining.  Because the minerals in this stone are of varying hardness, it is difficult to polish without under cutting. Tiger's eye is mined in Western Australia, South Africa, USA, Canada, India, Namibia, and Burma. Folklore, Legend, and Healing Properties: Many legends about quartz say that wearing tiger's eye (which is a form of quartz) is beneficial for health and spiritual well being. Legend also  says it is a psychic protector, great for business, and an aid to achieving clarity.                                                             click here to see the next gemstone

BSBP- the reveal

This is my first blog soup blog party... I was terrified that I wouldn't be able to make anything with what my partner sent me... but I did. 

This is the beautiful toggle .. 

I was able to make a pair of earrings.

made with chain, pearl beads and gold hoops with sterling silver ear hooks.

The finished product :) its a "rope" style necklace.  Goes down to my belly button..lol 

It needed 2 pendents.....( light weight )

Thank you Julie for sending me these amazing beads. :)

You can find Julie Jones at Juliery Jones

To check out more of the blog hop,  click here

Making a come back....

I know a few people liked reading about the Gemstones I posted about in the Gemstone Series... well dont worry ,it is coming back...

It takes a while to get some good info and some amazing pictures to go with the info.

The series will be back on Monday with Australian Tiger's Eye......

BSBP- What my partner sent me

My partner is  Julie Jones . She sent me some great beads. The focal is beautiful .


This is what she sent me. 

 Here is what I sent her. I feel bad .... I should of sent more ...

Come back on the 17th when we reveal what we made with our soups :)