[tweet_dis_img][/tweet_dis_img] Howlite is a beautiful white gemstone with black veins or inclusions. I call it the great pretender because some (not so reputable) dealers dye it and sell as turquoise, coral or lapis. It has also been mistakenly marketed as white turquoise. Howlite is a very porous stone. This is one reason these fakes can be created. Mostly the suppliers in … [Read more...]
Turquoise Gemstone: Legends and Fascinating Facts
Turquoise is one of my favorite gemstones. The blues and greens are so vibrant. I design[tweet_dis_img][/tweet_dis_img] in both silver and copper. Did you know? Turquoise is a copper aluminum phosphate mineral. It has a hardness of 5 to 6. This means it can tend to be brittle if not stabilized for strength. You may notice a black backing on some turquoise cabochons. … [Read more...]
I am Crazy About Cabochons!
I know what you are thinking now... What IS a cabochon and why would someone be crazy about them? [tweet_dis_img][/tweet_dis_img]Here's the simple answer to both those questions. A cabochon is a gemstone that is highly polished, raised and rounded but not faceted. It features a flat bottom. The word is derived from the middle French 'caboche' meaning head. Now for the other … [Read more...]
Sagittarius Personality & Gemstones for your sign.
Do you want to be around someone who almost always sees the glass half full? Seek out a Sagittarius. I am intimately knowledgeable about this sign because I happen to BE a Sagittarius.. and from all my studies, I fit the descriptions perfectly! Throughout my entire life I am able to see the positive in any scenario. When I was younger some even compared me to … [Read more...]
What Is Sprinkled Silver?
My signature design process (copyrighted finally!) is called Sprinkled Silver. Which means what exactly? I KNOW this is what you are thinking! Sprinkled Silver is my name for the process of fusing sterling or fine silver into copper. How and Why did I create this process? The basic answer is... because it was fun! I have been playing around with copper and silver since I … [Read more...]