Bold, Chunky Black and White Necklace for the Sassy Gal in You

One of the popular looks in jewelry today, especially in Texas, is the big, bold look, sometimes referred to as Cowgirl Bling.  I designed and fashioned a necklace along these lines in black and white, using big white pearls, black onyx faceted rondelles, larger decorative silver beads, flat zebra beads, and silvery black crystal rondelles.  I finished it off with a bold toggle clasp with a hammered, oxydized look.  Matching earrings are available.  Both are in my Etsy shop.

Gemstone Information - Amazonite

Amazonite makes your married life happier. 

Stone's names: Amazonite, Amazonstone.

Amazonite varies in color from yellow-green to blue-green and may also exhibit fine white streaks.

Amazonite is a gemstone variety of green microcline, a feldspar mineral. It is usually opaque and therefore is cut en cabochon (with a rounded and convex polished surface).

Although its name is derived from the Amazon River, no deposits have been found there.

As with all gemstones, care should be taken to protect amazonite from scratches and sharp blows. Store amazonites in separate boxes.

Articles made of amazonite were found in Ancient Egypt.  The Pikes Peak district of Colorado, U.S., became the most important source of amazonite after 1876. When samples were unveiled at the Centennial Exhibition, their impressive purity and size eventually forced competing Russian mineral dealers out of business.

Amazonite is frequently confused with jade .

Amazonite makes your skin better. Releases fear and anxiety.

Amazonite makes your married life happier.

Amazonite has been mined in Minas Gerais (Brazil), Colorado (U.S.), Ontario and Quebec (Canada), Baveno (Italy) and the Ural Mountains of Russia. 

Handmade Spark - Nancy's Crystal Fantasies Jewelry - handmade jewelry and gemstones

Handmade Spark - Nancy's Crystal Fantasies Jewelry - handmade jewelry and gemstones

Gemstone Information - Agates

Want to know about gemstones?  I am going to introduce some common gemstones and tell about their properties, care and use, and beliefs.

Agate brings stability to your life.

Agate comes in most colors, ranging from transparent to opaque in a variety of beautiful colors. It presents various tints in the same specimen. The stones can be artificially stained to produce combinations of color more vivid than those found in the natural state.

Agate is a semi-translucent crystallized quartz, consisting of banded or with branching inclusions chalcedony . Physical properties of agate are the same as those of quartz. Agate has irregular, sometimes circular bands of color and often replaces fossil wood. The colorful, banded rocks are used as a semiprecious gemstone and for making mortars and pestles. One will often see these in beads, agate pendants and necklaces.

The name "agate" comes from the Greek "Agate" - happy.
According to another theory the word Agate comes from the Greek name of a stone found in the Achates River in Sicily, now known as the Drillo River, which still remains a major source of this stone.

Agate is the birthstone of Taurus (Bull): April 20 - May 20 and the anniversary gemstone for the 12th year of marriage. Moss Agate is the anniversary gemstone for the 14th year of marriage.

There are several types of agate. Varieties include Blue, Blue Lace, Crazy Lace, Green, Indian, Moss, Tree and Wood. The Moss agate or mocha stone contains visible impurities in the form that resemble moss.

Agate will chip and crack rather easily though it has a hardness rating of 7. As with all gems, protect agate from scratches and sharp blows. Avoid sudden temperature changes and household chemicals.

Agate guards against danger. Wearers become temperate, continent and cautious. It helps one view themselves with more clarity and see the world through a broader viewpoint. Wearing Agate is believed to cure insomnia and to insure pleasant dreams.
Important sources of agate are Russia (Ural mountains), Brazil, Eygpt, Germany, India, Italy, Madagascar, Mexico, Uruguay and the USA (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana ).

More New Jewelry

Summer is here!

Just when we thought spring would never come and temperatures would never warm up, summer came blustering in with hot, dry days in Texas.  We are going through one of the worst droughts ever!  So I've been staying in the cool house being creative and making jewelry.  Lots of things.  Key chains, book marks, necklaces, patriotic jewelry, etc. Whew!  But things are picking up and there are lots of events to make jewelry for.  Stephenville is now having a Farmer's Market and Artisan Fair on the first and third Saturdays of the month throughout the summer.  This is the first time in a long time we have had anything like this.  So I've set up a table to sell my wares.  Only got to attend one so far and will be out of town for the next one, but starting in July I hope to make them all.  Lots of good produce, too.  One vendor even had fresh, raw goat's milk for sale.  Yum!  I had never had any before and was very surprised at how delicious it is!  So if you are in the Stephenville area and reading this, b e sure  to come by.  It's at the Stephenville Historical Museum, and the next one is June 18, the day before Father's Day.  And speaking of Father's Day, I have some key chains that the guys might like.  They have a glass tile on the end of the beaded part with the logo of a favorite team.  I'll post pictures of the ones I've made, but anyone can special order one for a favorite team--college, high school, or professional.  I also did some bookmarks with team logos.  Anyway, I'll put up the pictures of everything I've been doing lately.  Everything is in my Etsy shop.  Thanks for stopping by and reading this.  As always, I welcome comments from my fans.

Happy Birthday, Noah!

Today is a big day in the Russell family--our grandson's first birthday!  It doesn't seem possible that a year has already passed since his birth, but what a glorious, fun year it has been.  We will be going to Lubbock to help him celebrate at his party this Saturday, and that will be a fun time.  It's going to be a cowboy theme.  Now, you need to know that I am not a cowgirl, even though I'm a native Texan, so I simply didn't have a thing in my wardrobe that could be considered western or cowgirl.  I managed to find a shirt and some blinged-up flip-flops and made myself a real Texas cowgirl bling necklace, bracelet and earrings set.  And it did turn out pretty, if I do say so myself.  And it's one of my favorite color combinations--purple and green.  I'm looking forward to wearing it and playing cowgirl for a day.  Who knows?  I may even decide I like it.  Anyway, here is a picture of the whole set.