G is for Gemstones and Garnets. ABC of Jewellery.

Oh Goody, we've landed on the letter G in my ABC of jewellery! This is a not-too-comprehensive guide to materials and techniques I use as well as inspirations and design. G is for Gemstones, Glass, Garnets, and let's not forget Green, a colour usually prevalent in my Etsy shop! Again, I am splitting this article into two. The second part will be published on Thursday coming.

rose quartz, own photo

Gemstones are precious and semi precious stones used for decorative jewellery and accessories. Traditionally, the more valuable 'precious' stones have always been diamond, sapphire, emerald and ruby. However, the boundaries between precious and semi precious stones are becoming a little fudged now with very exclusive garnets, for example, crossing the divide while manufactured diamonds slide down the scale in the opposite direction.

selection of semi precious gemstones, own photo

The family of gems generally accepted as semi precious stones encompasses an extensive list of rocks and minerals (here's a list from Wikipedia.) You are most likely familiar with a lot of them. Most have a long tradition as healing stones and have been attributed special properties and/or are tied to certain beliefs. Many are designated birthstones. Born in February, amethyst is my birthday gem, for example.

  

Blue flash  labradorite earrings      Seafoam amazonite earrings

The most widely found category of stone found on the planet is feldspar, covering about 60% of the planet's surface. Feldspar is defined as a rock forming mineral, characteristically made up of pale or clear crystals consisting of aluminoscilicates of sodium, calcium and potassium. That's all the science you will get from me. I promise. The word 'feldspar' means 'field stone' in German. Labradorite is a fine example in this family as is amazonite (pictured above.)  

some varieties of the quartz (own photo)

The second largest family is quartz and this breaks down into another long list of minerals including rose quartz, amethyst, citrine, clear quartz crystal  (aka rock crystal) and more. Quartz is a very hard mineral and it is found all over the globe.

Newgrange (photo sources on Wikimedia Commons)

In Ireland, it is most famously seen glistening in the Neolithic tombs of Newgrange. Click here to read my previous post about this mystical place and the pendant it inspired me to make.

      

Connemara marble  pendant        Cork red marble pendant

Marble is not technically classed as a gemstone. However, the definition fits, so our rare, indigenous Irish stones such as Connemara marble, Cork Red, Kilkenny and Ulster white marbles may be considered as such. All are found only on this island and are in scarce supply. I proudly include these indigenous stones whenever I can get my hands on some decent pieces.

Though we do not have an important gemstone industry and many of the old mines are now closed, Ireland boasts a fair share of minerals. Most famously, a seam of amethyst can be clearly seen in the cliffs at Keem beach, Achill island. Not many Irish people are aware of what other gems lie beneath our feet.  Examples of what can be found include rock crystal in the South West, malachite and smithsonite in the West, beryl and calcite in the North West and pyrite in the midlands.

garnet earrings

Garnets are one of my favourite gemstones. There is something very luxurious about this richly coloured silicate mineral, especially when contrasted with cool silver. It does come in other colours besides claret, green grossular garnet being the most famous after red. 

Garnet is the birthstone for January and like many other gems, has a long tradition as a healing stone and has always been surrounded by myth. Once believed to protect soldiers in battle, the gem is often called 'the warrior stone.' You can read more in my previous post 'Garnets, Birthstone for January.'

Watch this space for part 2 featuring glass and some of it's forms.

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More in this series:

A  B  C  (plus C for Crimping ) D E F  (plus F for Findings)

Inspirations From Nature. Heating It Up Again

sunset over Dublin on Summer Solstice, 21 June 2014 (own photo)

Last week was all about the sea on my blog, and cool blue shades of handmade jewelry with nautical themes. In contrast, this week I've been heating things up again with warm pinks and sizzling reds. I took the above photo on the summer solstice. As far as I recall, the sunset was more red than pink, but this is what my wee camera captured and this is what inspired me to bring in a little warmth to my Etsy shop.

pink crystal angel charm

These European, pink crystals are so highly reflective and sparkly that I find it almost impossible to capture the pink with my humble little Canon. On some monitors is may appear bluish but it is a delicate rose. 

I usually make angel charms like this to give to my friends and family if they have a baby girl. They make wonderful rear view mirror charms or tiny sun catchers for baby's room. The sparkly angel also comes into her own when hung on a Christmas tree amid fairy lights.

Red button butterfly pendant

I've just realised there is a bit of a winged creature theme going on too. 'Flutter' is an affordable, red and black button  pendant with a silver butterfly detail. It's ideal for that summer vacation.  I admit, I've made this button pendant before but I decided to reintroduce it on a new necklace. 

necklace on cotton crochet chord

The cotton cord was crocheted by my good friend and Etsy colleague, Mo of Huggle knits. I am a big fan of these chains as a stronger alternative to cotton or rubber chords, which can lose their clasps too easily. They close with a plastic button and loop so you can throw them on when on the go and they are comfortable and light to wear. They are easy to clean with a quick rinse in soapy water. And they go really well with my sea glass and sea pottery pendants!!  If you buy one, you can use them on any of my pendants so no need to purchase another chain.

red garnet earrings

'Ruby Berries' earrings are made with deep red garnets, which are semi precious gemstones. You can read more about this stone on my previous post: Garnets, January Birthstone. 

Irish, Cork red marble pendant

I always like to use local materials in my collection and one of my favourites is Cork red marble. This very rare stone is indigenous to Ireland and jewelry beads are scarce. You are more likely to find this stone in public buildings here, particularly churches.  Not too far from where I live in Dublin, fine examples can be found in the columns of John's Lane church. 

Celtic, spiral detail on the reverse of the pendant

However, the stone does lend itself to some unique jewelry.  'Rosanna' pendant is made with a beautiful heart shaped specimen, which was carved by a Galway mason. I reference my Celtic heritage a lot in my work. When wire wrapping this piece, I incorporated a silver spiral on the other side. You decide which is the front or back of the pendant!

Cork red marble earrings

Also recently listed, are the earrings to match. 'Rosanna' earrings are a discreet red and a simple style, hung, as always, on sleek sterling silver hooks. You can read more about this Irish stone in my previous post 'A Little About Cork Red Marble.'

Personalised Etsy Ad

Etsy have broadcast their first TV ad in the Uk, which of course, we get to see here in Ireland as we have the UK channels too! Hats off to Etsy for the addition of fun element for Etsy sellers....watch this video all the way to the very end...

Tuesday Treasuries at the Eleventh Hour

Treasuries are showcase lists of Etsy goodies from various shops. They are artfully put together by members of the Etsy community. As always, I am grateful to be included.

Tuesday Treasuries almost didn't happen this week, but it's not yet midnight and I've just discovered my work has been featured in two really stunning lists:

'Polar Bear Adventures' by Daria of Daria Creative is steely blue cool and filled with fresh summer picks. Warm thanks to Daria for including my blue eyeglass leash!

And it seems I'm not the only one burning the not-quite-midnight oil. Only half an hour ago, Mathew & Sarah (well one of them at least!) of TraBan put together this styish collection of Irish goodies 'A Rustic Irish Summer .' Thanks so much for including my sea glass pendant in this fabulous, local list.

Caught My Eye, Inspired by the Sea

Caught My Eye  is a series of blog posts showing scenes I found interesting, odd, curious or beautiful. I am artistic and therefore an observer but I am not a photographer by any description. So if you expect top quality photography I'm afraid you will be disappointed.  But please do enjoy a snap shot glimpse of the world through my creative eyes. 

This week has been all about the sea on my blog:  ocean inspired pendants,  nautical treasuries,  and a recycling project for small pieces of seaglass, So I'm ending the week with one of my favourite views: the harbour in Howth, North Dublin, taken a couple of weekends ago. The seagulls seem to be enjoying the calm.

Here it is from another angle, at the beginning of the lower cliff path walk...but that's a story for another day....

Summer Jewellery, Feeling Nautical

Spurred on by the unusual Summer weather we've been enjoying here in Ireland, I've been busy making sea and beach inspired jewelry.

blue agate slab pendant, Deep Waters

Deep Waters pendant was made from a stunning, cobalt agate slab. The wire is solid sterling silver. The swirl represents a rolling wave or an eddy in the water.

denim blue pendant, Sun & Sea

Catering to all budgets, 'Sun & Sea' is an affordable denim blue, colour-enhanced jasper stone pendant. I wire wrapped this one in silver plate. 

seafoam sea glass pendant, Seascape

Seascape pendant is a greener blue known as seafoam, a shade similar to aquamarines. I found this perfectly frosted sea glass on a Dublin shore. It must have been rolling about in the Irish sea for decades. Again, this pendant is wrapped securely in silver plated wire.

All three pendants above are available with or without the cotton crochet chains. 

Here is a selection of other ocean-inspired (or ocean-given!) jewelry from my Etsy store:

 

Tuesday Treasuries get Nautical

Treasuries are showcase lists of Etsy goodies from various shops. They are artfully put together by members of the Etsy community. As always, I am grateful to be included in a beautiful list this week.

We seem to have a nautical theme going on here this week....

Firstly, I put together an ocean-themed treasury myself.  'Sail Away Summer' features shops from the Top Treasury Team. of which, I am a member.

Then it is thanks to Jo of DigitalFolkArt for this special treasury titled 'Beach Pottery.' It delivers exactly what it promises - a fabulous selection of beach pottery from around the world. This is a beach comber's dream come true. I'm delighted to see my brown sea pottery pendant from Ireland in the mix. There it is, on the bottom left.

If you would like to learn more about sea pottery, please click the link to my previous post HERE