Adventures in Jewelry: 2013 colors

Showing posts with label 2013 colors. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Two Weeks... Just Two Weeks

Am I the only one going just a little crazy getting ready for back to school? Sometimes it feels like that.

From the sports physicals to shots, to finding the best back to school supply deals, to figuring out when the heck my high-schooler gets on the bus, I am like WHOA! Stop the world, I want off!

But seriously, it's pretty hairy. And the bummer is, normally at this time of year there is a late August jewelry show up here in Tacoma or Seattle -- sometimes both. But this year, it's neither, so I can't even spend a day forgetting about it all. Of course I would use the excuse with the family: But, I need to do this for the shop. Seriously, they buy it every-single-time.

But this year I must wait until November. So I catch myself often looking longingly at bead shops on Etsy. Wow -- beautiful small quantities on there. It's like Christmas whenever I find myself looking. I am just in awe of the perfectly faceted gemstones, and the wire. There is this one shop in New Orleans that makes fabulous wire -- my mother got me some Rose Gold wire from there, so I have been having a little fun.

You did hear Rose Gold is super big this year? Like amazingly big. Like, how do I get noticed for having it in my shop big.

These are Emerald Green Onyx (Color of the Year) finished in 14k Rose Gold Filled.

Stunning Mozambique Garnet with a pinkish hue finished in 14k Rose Gold Filled. My mother adores these.

So you know those "Alina Jolie" Earrings? The Emerald ones no one can get enough of? These are fashioned after those -- The are perfect Emerald Quartz finished in 14k Rose Gold Filled. Oh Wow -- two birds, one stone.

And don't forget there are only a few days left of the wonderful Birthstone "Peridot" -- it's a lovely green, and there are many items in the shop.

Up next month is the amazingly versatile Sapphire. Ohh La La.

But for now -- it's time to start pulling my hair out again on the couponing blogs to find the best back to school deals. You know that's right. I've heard it both ways.

Yeah, I love Psych. By the Way -- anyone watching "The White Queen?" Lovely Jewelry ideas. It's on Starz -- but the books are better.

~Maggie~

Monday, August 12, 2013

Mystic Jewelry

I was just going over my facebook posts for today and noticed I have a whole lot of "mystic" this and "mystic" that. Which leads me to say -- what exactly is Mystic?

Well, I would love to think its one of those stones that actually has mystic properties -- but it doesn't, it's generally a heated finish to create an AB or aurora borealus (that's right, northern lights) finish on a stone, glass or I guess whatever they can get the metal (used in the bonding process) to "bond" to.

So -- the nitty gritty. What is "Mystic"?

They mystic "coating" is bonded to a stone usually using a metal, and most commonly using a clear stone. That is how one gets "Mystic Topaz" especially. I know I know it's all shiny and stuff, and it's unfortunate it doesn't actually happen in nature. I do personally view the process a little different than say heating a stone to change the color. See below:

Mystic Labradorite Drop Dangle Earrings in Sterling Silver

This pair of earrings was created with a labradorite roundel that had been given a "mystic' coating -- normally titanium (the metal) bonded through heat to the stone (labradorite) to make it AB shiny -- like the northern lights. I know, I know -- why on earth would one do that with a fledspar that normally has actual AB inclusions that makes it shine and shimmer?

(Feldspards are the family of stones that contain Moonstone, Labradorite and Sunstone -- all naturally sparkly and shiny, even the non 'sparkly' regular moonstone).

But, meh, I guess the person who created these stones decided they just needed 'more' -- it's cool, I get it. Kind of. But, not really. It's still got that little extra something, you know?

Emerald Green Quartz Earrings in Sterling Silver

These beautiful earrings were treated with heat -- and only heat to bring out this green color. They are naturally clear crystal quartz -- but in the heating process (usually using gamma radiation heat to bring out other colors -- which is hysterical if you see this became a big pair of green gemstones, like the Hulk becoming giant and green after his exposure to gamma radiation. Don't worry, you won't become the Hulk from wearing these, but you will look like a million bucks.) other colors are brought out, in this case "Emerald Green".

So, why all the "mystic" in my shop then? I honestly don't know, but I am pretty certain my daughter has something to do with it. But it sort of is fun to photograph -- just to see if I can bring out those color scapes added to the gemstones in my photography. Hint: I am not so good at it.