Saturday, May 19, 2007
Free Jewelry??
Yes, sign up for our news letter to be entered into our Summer Solstice giveaway. Three people will win artisan crafted jewelry and gifts - just for signing up.
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
What's So Great About MAY - Emerald!
Ahhh, Emerald - gem of eternal Spring!
Emerald is the birthstone of May, the anniversary gemstone for the 20th and 35th years of marriage and the birthstone for the Zodiac signs of Taurus and Cancer.
The emerald has been a highly prized gem in many cultures for over six thousand years. Carat for carat, a fine emerald may be two or three times as valuable as a diamond. Unfortunately, this lovely gem has had a violent history. In Columbian region, it began with the murder of local Indians by the Spanish conquistadors trying to force them to reveal the location of emerald mines. The murder of over 900 people in 1972 was due to disputes over the control of emerald bearing regions. Many corporations, groups and government agencies have controlled the emerald mines over the years, and each of them had their share of theft, murder and corruption. After the violence of 1972 the Colombian government closed down the mines and gave private businessmen leases to run the mines. Although this has stabilized the region and reduced the violence, a good percentage of emeralds are mined illegally, or have strong connections to the drug cartels.
Emerald mining in the US has had it's share of tragedy, including a lawsuit in the mid 1980's. An emerald crystal of record size was discovered in North Carolina. The dispute was resolved when one of the parties cut the 14 inch crystal in half, destroying the value of this priceless gem.
Emeralds are found in many countries, but Columbia and Brazil are the major producers and Columbia is recognized as the source for the finest stones. They are also found in Pakistan, Russia, Australia, South Africa, India, Norway and the United States.
Lore:
Green is considered Nature's most soothing color, and early doctors had their patients look through pieces of emerald to treat eye diseases. Medicine made from powdered emeralds was used to "cure" diseases such as epilepsy. Many people believed that placing an emerald under the tongue enabled them to see the future. Legends tell of a Spanish settler who discovered a beautiful emerald stuck in the hoof of his lame horse. When it was backtracked, it led to the now famous Muzo mine.
Emerald is a stone of love and romance. It brings joy, enhances intuition, faith and promotes truthfulness. Another legend says that if an emerald is given by one sweetheart to another, it will pale and grow dull when the love between them fades.
My personal favorite is the legend of Emerald City . . . follow the Yellow Brick Road!
by Jill Quisenberry
Emerald is the birthstone of May, the anniversary gemstone for the 20th and 35th years of marriage and the birthstone for the Zodiac signs of Taurus and Cancer.
The emerald has been a highly prized gem in many cultures for over six thousand years. Carat for carat, a fine emerald may be two or three times as valuable as a diamond. Unfortunately, this lovely gem has had a violent history. In Columbian region, it began with the murder of local Indians by the Spanish conquistadors trying to force them to reveal the location of emerald mines. The murder of over 900 people in 1972 was due to disputes over the control of emerald bearing regions. Many corporations, groups and government agencies have controlled the emerald mines over the years, and each of them had their share of theft, murder and corruption. After the violence of 1972 the Colombian government closed down the mines and gave private businessmen leases to run the mines. Although this has stabilized the region and reduced the violence, a good percentage of emeralds are mined illegally, or have strong connections to the drug cartels.
Emerald mining in the US has had it's share of tragedy, including a lawsuit in the mid 1980's. An emerald crystal of record size was discovered in North Carolina. The dispute was resolved when one of the parties cut the 14 inch crystal in half, destroying the value of this priceless gem.
Emeralds are found in many countries, but Columbia and Brazil are the major producers and Columbia is recognized as the source for the finest stones. They are also found in Pakistan, Russia, Australia, South Africa, India, Norway and the United States.
Lore:
Green is considered Nature's most soothing color, and early doctors had their patients look through pieces of emerald to treat eye diseases. Medicine made from powdered emeralds was used to "cure" diseases such as epilepsy. Many people believed that placing an emerald under the tongue enabled them to see the future. Legends tell of a Spanish settler who discovered a beautiful emerald stuck in the hoof of his lame horse. When it was backtracked, it led to the now famous Muzo mine.
Emerald is a stone of love and romance. It brings joy, enhances intuition, faith and promotes truthfulness. Another legend says that if an emerald is given by one sweetheart to another, it will pale and grow dull when the love between them fades.
My personal favorite is the legend of Emerald City . . . follow the Yellow Brick Road!
by Jill Quisenberry
Monday, April 30, 2007
Nurturing the Creative Process by MandalaJewels.Etsy.com
Picasso said, “All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” As a child, I can remember lying face up in my bed with a slight smile on my face, appreciating the initial indications of a bright summer morning. The steady stream of fresh air filled my tiny nostrils, sunshine illuminated every surface, and I could hear the faint sounds of giddy laughter and chatter from children playing down by the water brook. I slowly emerged from my sweet slumber, while simultaneously calculating the possibilities of the day, all before my feet even touched the hardwood floors. I was excited about what the day had in store for me, never doubting it would be brilliant.
I was not intimidated by the box of 64 Crayola colors, nor did I worry about what I would sculpt with my play dough, and good lord, as soon as I could get outside to greet the day there was no need for Parker Brothers to facilitate my game playing adventures. I made up my own games and more importantly, my own rules. There were instances when this unbridled creativity led to my downfall, such as the famous, “Toilet Paper Parade”. I don’t know why I thought it would be a good idea to tie toilet paper on sticks, and encourage a host of friends to do likewise. The inspiration for the parade quickly pursued and we all jump on our bikes, held our handmade flags proudly in the air and took our procession to the streets, unfortunately to the horror and dismay of my poor mother. Needless to say we never made those flags again, but it was a delicious idea at the time. I was not in survival mode back then, life was easy… life was fun.
The creative spirit resides deep within and even as a young child I would lay still in the grass, look up at the bluest sky, and for a fleeting moment realize there was something much bigger than myself at work in the universe. As adults we tend to forget how important it is to just be still, to be quiet and know without any uncertainty that anything is possible. This simple act gives birth to the seeds of greatness.
However, what happens when our creative juices suddenly and unexpectedly run dry? As a jewelry designer, I ponder this dilemma, albeit only momentarily. I have several quick fixes under my belt. Here are some suggestions to help you through those unproductive periods that haunt us all.
• Commit to taking time out of your day, preferably very early in the morning before anyone else is awake, to be quiet and at peace, even meditate if the spirit moves you to do so.
• The space in which you work needs to be comfortable as well as inspirational. Hang pictures of images that kindle the imagination, paint the walls your favorite color, and place your special pieces in prominent locations throughout the space.
• Go for nature works, they are refreshing and you will be surprised by the things that inspire you along the way.
• Engage in artistic pursuits other than your chosen medium. Even though I am passionate about jewelry design, I also write, paint, sew, and dabble in mixed media.
• Go with the flow. Creativity is an ellusive process that ignites unexpectedly and if you allow it, will flow continually until you cease to be no more. When an extraordinary idea explodes let it overtake you, yield immediately, and remove any egotistical leanings. It is not about you, it is about the process. Creating really is a form of surrender. For me, it often takes place in the wee hours of the morn, while I am putting a bead on, taking a bead off, until I am no longer thinking, just doing, and that’s when something genuine becomes form. Once the trance is broken I may as well walk away until the next providential urge to slip back into my studio takes over. I live for those moments.
It is nice to remember the days of my carefree childhood and how much easier it was to be true to my spirit, but I certainly would like to believe it is possible to live that way each and everyday of our lives. So, even though the restrictiveness of our daily schedules try to crowd out our precious play time, it is important to take the time to nourish our spirit, continually engage in creative pursuits, and courageously conceive the impossible!
I was not intimidated by the box of 64 Crayola colors, nor did I worry about what I would sculpt with my play dough, and good lord, as soon as I could get outside to greet the day there was no need for Parker Brothers to facilitate my game playing adventures. I made up my own games and more importantly, my own rules. There were instances when this unbridled creativity led to my downfall, such as the famous, “Toilet Paper Parade”. I don’t know why I thought it would be a good idea to tie toilet paper on sticks, and encourage a host of friends to do likewise. The inspiration for the parade quickly pursued and we all jump on our bikes, held our handmade flags proudly in the air and took our procession to the streets, unfortunately to the horror and dismay of my poor mother. Needless to say we never made those flags again, but it was a delicious idea at the time. I was not in survival mode back then, life was easy… life was fun.
The creative spirit resides deep within and even as a young child I would lay still in the grass, look up at the bluest sky, and for a fleeting moment realize there was something much bigger than myself at work in the universe. As adults we tend to forget how important it is to just be still, to be quiet and know without any uncertainty that anything is possible. This simple act gives birth to the seeds of greatness.
However, what happens when our creative juices suddenly and unexpectedly run dry? As a jewelry designer, I ponder this dilemma, albeit only momentarily. I have several quick fixes under my belt. Here are some suggestions to help you through those unproductive periods that haunt us all.
• Commit to taking time out of your day, preferably very early in the morning before anyone else is awake, to be quiet and at peace, even meditate if the spirit moves you to do so.
• The space in which you work needs to be comfortable as well as inspirational. Hang pictures of images that kindle the imagination, paint the walls your favorite color, and place your special pieces in prominent locations throughout the space.
• Go for nature works, they are refreshing and you will be surprised by the things that inspire you along the way.
• Engage in artistic pursuits other than your chosen medium. Even though I am passionate about jewelry design, I also write, paint, sew, and dabble in mixed media.
• Go with the flow. Creativity is an ellusive process that ignites unexpectedly and if you allow it, will flow continually until you cease to be no more. When an extraordinary idea explodes let it overtake you, yield immediately, and remove any egotistical leanings. It is not about you, it is about the process. Creating really is a form of surrender. For me, it often takes place in the wee hours of the morn, while I am putting a bead on, taking a bead off, until I am no longer thinking, just doing, and that’s when something genuine becomes form. Once the trance is broken I may as well walk away until the next providential urge to slip back into my studio takes over. I live for those moments.
It is nice to remember the days of my carefree childhood and how much easier it was to be true to my spirit, but I certainly would like to believe it is possible to live that way each and everyday of our lives. So, even though the restrictiveness of our daily schedules try to crowd out our precious play time, it is important to take the time to nourish our spirit, continually engage in creative pursuits, and courageously conceive the impossible!
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Sunday, April 1, 2007
EJA Events
Diana of Cubicle Boutique is our featured jewelry artist for April. http://eeja.org
EJA has an article written by Rena Klingenberg at:
http://beadbugle.com/html/rena_s_current_month_tips.html
EJA has an article written by Rena Klingenberg at:
http://beadbugle.com/html/rena_s_current_month_tips.html
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