My bead collection is a vital part of my design business. Over these many years I have purchased a variety of gems. In the early years I bought whatever was bright and beautiful and did not give much thought to the type of gem, the quality of the gem or the origin of the gems. Let’s just say I have learned a LOT over the past years. Most of the those early finds are long gone. Now When I attend the gem shows, or search product online, I am more discerning. Like any other business person, I learn from my earlier errors!

Natural Turquoise and Amethyst Collection

The image above shows you my current beads of natural turquoise and amethyst. These are two of my favorite gems to work with. The turquoise is all natural and most of it is from the Sonoran mines in Mexico. I still hang on to a few of the turquoise chips and believe they are from a Chinese mine.

Amethyst beads are labeled as AA, A or B grade quality. Many of mine shown in the image are AA grade. the rest are A grade. The main difference in the quality is the deep color and the clarity. Each of my designs is created to be worn for many years and then passed down to future generations. So I want the best quality gems that will withstand the wear and time.

Other gemstone beads in my collection

I should mention that this box of amethyst and turquoise has companion boxes of other types of beads.

Overall I have 6 such cases comprised of malachite, peridot, azurite, tiger eye, red creek jasper, picture jasper, rhodochrosite, moonstone, rose quartz, coral, amber and cultured pearls.

One whole case is filled with onyx and hematite. I think I might have overdone the purchasing of these particular gems! Many of the hematite gems are heart shaped and are just waiting for my inspiration on how to design with them.

I forgot to mention amber! About a year ago I got the chance to purchase some free-form Baltic amber beads. Not one to pass up on such an opportunity, I now have several hundred amber beads! By now you might wonder if I am obsessed with gems. I am proud to admit that you are right.

Some days I wonder if all these are necessary. Then I will be working on a design and realize that I have so many options to create the perfect pair of earrings or ring. It is all worth it!

Cabochons are for another post

Most of my work uses cabochons in the design process. These are flat backed gems that require a bezel to adhere them to metal. This collection is enormous. Perhaps a future blog will highlight these gems. Stay Tuned!

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It is comforting to have my feline helper. Button often weighs in on my decision about which designs to keep creating. Sometimes she uses her paw to select one that she is especially enamored with. It’s very clear when she is not enthused about a design as well. She just Sits on the jewelry so I cannot move forward. Pretty clear message don’t you think?

Button’s expertise in selecting the right gemstone for a new design is invaluable. She hunkers down and stares at the gem that will be used in my next project. I am one lucky jewelry designer!!

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I shared a lot of turquoise gemstone tips and tidbits with you in the last few posts. Wonder where I found all this juicy information? Books of course! I love to read and learn from books. especially the kind I can hold in my hand and physically turn pages. Would you like to learn more about turquoise? Here are the books I referenced.

The book shown above is a series of articles published in New Mexico. Each one offers fascinating insights into the world of turquoise.

Turquoise Unearthed is another delightful book by Joe Lowry. He is also featured in a YouTube Video about turquoise.

Finally I found lots of information in a variety of books that highlight lots of gemstones. Here is a sampling.

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The post Everything’s Coming Up Turquoise appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.

Here is the 3rd in a series of posts about turquoise gemstones. Today I am going to share many of the legends and lore associated with this gemstone.

Let’s get started! Did you know?

• Turquoise is considered a protective stone. It was used to protect both horse and rider on long journeys.
• In South and Central America, the Aztecs, Incas and the Mayans wore turquoise in ceremonies as a symbol of authority
• In Hindu and Persian lore, seeing a turquoise and the new moon at the same moment would lead to good fortune.
• Navajos used turquoise to bring rain. They threw a stone into the river while praying to the rain god.
• Apache and Pueblo hunters attached a piece of turquoise to a bow to guarantee perfect aim.
• In the Middle Ages turquoise was believed to give women a sense of happiness and contentment.

A fascinating gem with a colorful history !

The post Turquoise Legends and Lore appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.

Here is the 2nd in a series of posts about turquoise. The cuff shown here features a bright blue turquoise gem from the Bisbee, Arizona mine.

I am sure you have seen many types of turquoise stones over the years. The colors vary from blue/green to deeper blue. What is the reason for the different hues? It all depends upon what other minerals are found with the particular deposit. If there is more copper, the colors tend to be deeper blue such as the gem on this copper/silver cuff bracelet.

If the deposit contains more iron, then the colors tend closer to green. This ring gives you an idea of the green hues.

The greener hue is very popular in Tibet, where turquoise is treasured as the national stone. The bluer tones tend to be more popular here in the United States… particularly in the Southwest. Other inclusions found in some mines include Pyrite (which adds luster), quartz and chalcedony. Each of these minerals will alter the turquoise. When you get ready to buy, look for the design and the hue that speaks to you. This way you will wear your individual design with the knowledge that it is truly one of a kind made especially for you.

Stay tuned for my next post and more tidbits on turquoise. You can check out my turquoise designs here. All designs are handmade by me in my Arizona studio.

The post Tantalizing Turquoise appeared first on Alene's Adornments Blog.

Turquoise Gemstones are one of my favorites. The gorgeous blue/green hues blend well with silver and copper metals. How much do you really know about this gem?

Over the next several weeks I plan to stimulate your senses with everything turquoise!

First a few facts:

The name turquoise comes from the French words ‘Pierre Turquoise’, meaning literally ‘Turkish Stone’ You see, turquoise made it’s way to Europe though Turkey. Many European merchants bought the stones from Turkish bazaars.

Turquoise is one of the first gemstones to be mined. Archaeologists have actually found turquoise beads dating back 5000BC.

Ancient Egyptians believed that wearing turquoise gives us the power to keep all evil forces from the body and protect us from an unnatural death.

Did this whet your appetite? Stay tuned for more fascinating facts and lore about turquoise. In the meantime, be sure to check my featured turquoise jewelry selections here.

My designs are all handmade using copper and silver sheet or wire. Each design is crafted with passion and love. Rustic Yet Refined Jewelry Design by Alene’s Adornments.

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