December Birthstones - What do they say about you?

It is December already! I think December brings out a love/hate relationship with a lot of people:) Love it, because it is your birth month, love it because it is the holiday season, love it because of solstice or hate it because it is your birth month, hate it because it is the holiday season, and you are not ready, hate it because - where has the year gone?!?!!??!?


December is my favorite month because of solstice - that means the days begin to get longer, and I love me some sunshine.

December birth stones are turquoise and blue topaz. These stones represent a happy life that is filled with good fortune. Blue topaz is a symbol of peace and relaxation, which may help with headaches - poor December babies seem to be challenged by them.

Ancient practitioners believed that turquoise would actually change color when the wearer was ill or in danger.

I am a huge fan of turquoise, and only recently did this love affair begin. My memories of turquoise were tarnished (for a lack of better words) from the 70's and what I remember of the squash blossom style jewelry craze. It was just too much for me. I never saw turquoise unless it was large and framed in lots of silver. It always looked heavy, a chore to wear. This was my association with turquoise. It wasn't til I started making jewelry and my husband wanting turquoise did I reluctantly start to learn about the stone. I had to get over that turquoise pieces had to be over the top. The turquoise could be an accent to a design, or the core of it. The beads could be small or faceted or square or whatever.

And I fell in love.

Turquoise, beautiful sky blue, or dyed to a royal purple. 

Mixed with other stones for a beautiful compliment of color and properties.


 It has a sweet and gentle energy. It feels like an old friend.

So hats off to you December babies, and your beautiful stones that represent who you are. I am a bit jealous ;)

Carnelian and Rhyolite

I have a selection of jewelry that I call K.I.S.S. - we all know what it stands for :) As much as I love the random, the over the top and the whimsy, there are times where just simple is best. Letting the elements compliment each other simply. That is what I did with this necklace.

I found the carnelian chips at Artbeads.com I love their deep and warm color. It is one of my favorite stones. Who am I kidding, they are all my favorites :)

Looking at the strand, I knew I didn't want to break up the chips and use them as accents. I really wanted them to be the bulk of the design. And when it did come together, it was wonderful!

Small carnelian chips with copper beads and a rhyolite focal.

Carnelian - Creativity, Individuality, Courage
 Rhyolite - Perseverance, Communication

I love how the carnelian accents the ochre colored deposits in the focal stone. Perfect!

It is warm and inviting, making you approachable. It is delicious in every aspect of the word.

  “Whatever you do, you should do it with feeling.” — Yogi Berra

Communication with jewelry

I dropped off some new inventory at The Nature of Art this morning. My stuff has been moving out of there lately and I am pleased. Typically when I bring in new things, I try to 'theme' them. By theme I mean, I create the pieces using a common property from the stones. This month I chose communication.

Here is a smattering of the pieces I took in and their properties.

Chrysocola, lapis, lepidolite, labradorite, larvakite

Chrysocola - gentle stone and its energy works in a gentle, harmonious way.
Labradorite -provides clarity and insight
Lapis - brings truthfulness, openness
Lepidolite - calm, trust, and acceptance.
Larvakite - is associated with the throat chakra where communication comes from









Rhyolite and carnelian

Rhyolite, carnelian, tiger eye
Carnelian - can aid memory.







Lapis, citrine

Lapis - brings truthfulness, openness
Citrine - mental clarity, confidence, happiness and will power





Amazonite, apatite, carnelian

Amazonite - ruth, honor, communication
Apatite - increase intellect, imagination, and intuitive awareness
Carnelian - can aid memory

Trying to keep it together

I have been up since 3:30 pacing with Newd. He has been restless all nite and has a more pronounced limp than usual. I did take him on his first walk yesterday and he may just be sore. He has been kenneled for nearly two weeks now and I am starting to add more exercise back into his routine.

I microwaved towels and made him a heating pad and he settled in for a while.

Now I am pacing. I have an interview in a few hours for the Associate Producer position. A great move up into the company from where I am, and good solid career move. I am nervous. I am always at a loss for words, have a tendency to make jokes and act a clown when I am nervous, and I can't do that today. I have to be on target and give them what they are looking for.

*think* *think*

I need to channel this energy into something, something positive.

*snap*

I am going to give you an inside look at my creative process. How my pieces go together and how my thought processes work when designing a piece.


I grab my books and begin to do some looking - I have it! I am making a new necklace to wear to the interview. I necklace charged with positive energy, creativity, organization, and communication. Just what I need to get me thru the day. I chose moonstone, labradorite, quartz, blue lace agate, jasper, rutilated quartz, and carnelian for my base stones. The bulk of the design in seed beads,crystals, some chain and a few buttons for focals.

I chose -
moonstone, blue lace agate, labradorite and quartz for communication.
jasper for organization.
rutilated quartz and carnelian for creativity.
The buttons are a representation of me.
The chain is to show how each link is needed for the fluidity of the movement. Just like a team has to depend on each other for the outcome.




I was going to document the process but I chose to go with my 'tantrum' style necklace, and it is difficult to do. I chose the tantrum because order has to come from chaos in the position I am applying for. What I can show you is one of the draw backs to making this style of necklace and how you can fix it with no one the wiser.

During the beading of the 'tantrum' you weave the tail of the beading wire in and out of beads randomly. You have to keep the beading wire taunt during the process or you will have gaps in your beads after you anchor it like this -




What do you do? it is a pain to take the crimps off , pull in the slack, and set a new crimp - most times, I end up snipping the cover of the beading wire and have a fray. Not good.

So for a random tantrum style necklace like this, all you can do is go with it. You can create a coil. For this necklace I created a coil in copper, bout the same size as the 'slack'



Once the coil is made - 'screw' it onto the beading wire




Close up of the coil






And the finished product -


Keeping my Thoughts