According to the team at the Pantone Color Institute, which calls itself the “global color authority,” green will be everywhere in 2017. Not just any old green, of course, but the green that evokes images of spring.  The yellowy green of new grass and trees budding.

“Greenery” is Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2017.  According to Pantone spokesperson, Leatrice Eiseman, “This is the color of hopefulness and of our connection to nature. It speaks to what we call the ‘re’ words: regenerate, refresh, revitalize, renew. Every spring we enter a new cycle and new shoots come from the ground. It is something life affirming to look forward to."

Because Pantone's color selections aren't licensed to other companies, Pantone has no way to gauge the effect of their color choices in the marketplace.  They are however picked up by  designers of clothing, textiles and furnishings as well as, jewelry and accessories and can be seen in use in these arenas.

While some may think that green is hard to wear, it has shown up all over the Red Carpet and runways, as well as in clothing and furniture stores.  In jewelry it is rare to find a natural green gemstone, such as emerald. 

However, there are some more affordable alternatives.  The closest to the emerald color that comes to mind is chrome diopside.  It is a beautiful, rich shade of green and much less expensive than emerald but still a bit hard to come by.  Agate is a great alternative and comes in any shade desired because it can be dyed.  Turquoise also comes in green shades and is a nice change from the more widely recognized blue tones it comes in.

As a designer, I am embracing the Color of the Year and can't seem to get enough of it!  So enjoy this Spring and all of the colors that remind you of it.  The sunny yellows, bright pinks, vibrant purples and even the toned down pastel shades of these colors.  I was ready for the change from the deeper, richer colors of fall and winter and am going with the trend in my new designs.

Look for amethyst, rose and purple quartz, lemon quartz, aquamarine and peridot for your jewelry selections.  I will definitely be using these in my designs this spring and summer!,

The New York Times, 2017
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/08/fashion/color-of-the-year-2017-pantone-greenery.html?_r=0
Emilio Pucci, spring 2017; Michael Kors, spring 2017; and Balenciaga, spring 2017. Credit Valerio Mezzanotti for The New York Times; Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times; Valerio Mezzanotti for The New York Times
UnbuttonedBy VANESSA FRIEDMAN DEC. 8, 2016
http://www.jewellerymag.ru/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/jewellerymag-ru-1-cover-greenery-pantone.jpg

http://earthsky.org/earth/march-birthstone-aquamarine-bloodstone
http://gemdictionary.blogspot.com/2013/06/aquamarine.htm
http://amykozak.com/gemstone-style-glam-aquamarine

Garnet
The garnet is the traditional birthstone gem for those born in January. Garnet is a beautiful stone which is commonly red but can be found in a range of colors such as yellow, orange, green and even blue.  The reds range from a rust color to a very deep red.  It symbolizes peace, prosperity and good health. Some say it even has the power to give the wearer eternal happiness, health and wealth.  The garnet is a very hard gemstone.  It ranks 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale.  Garnet is found all over the world.  In the U.S., it can be found in Wyoming.  Other places such as Greece, Tanzania, Madagascar, Russian and India also mine garnet.

Garnet jewelry has been a fixture throughout the ages. Garnets were often used as signet rings in ancient Rome, and the nobility favored garnets in the Middle Ages.  The garnet was made popular by the Victorians, who used it to create some of the loveliest jewelry of the era.

There are many legends concerning garnet.  It is believed to bring peace, prosperity and good health if brought into the home.  It is also thought to bring good luck to those who wear it and do good deeds.  However, it can bring bad luck if worn and bad deeds are done. Garnet also symbolizes deep and lasting friendship.  This gemstone was also used as a talisman for protection both by warriors going into battle and to those who wanted to ward off pestilence and plague. Some ancient healers and wise men even placed garnets in wounds and praised its healing powers.  In Medieval times, it protected its wearer against poisons, wounds and bad dreams, and cured depression. Red garnets relieved fever, hemorrhages and inflammatory diseases.

Today, we can just wear garnet and appreciate it for it's natural beauty.

References/Sources/Credits
https://www.americangemsociety.org/en/garnet-history
https://www.minedirect.com

So sorry to have left off on posting new material but the holidays have come sweeping through my calendar and haven't let up yet.  As you can see by our events calendar, we have been super busy with shows since October!  Well I promise to pick it back up after Christmas and hope to add some new features also.

In the meantime, we wish you all a joyous holiday season and best wishes for the New Year!

     The sapphire, birthstone for September, is related to
July’s birthstone, the ruby.  They are both a form of the mineral corundum.  Red corundum is what we know as the ruby, while all other gem quality forms of corundum are called sapphires.

     Typically, sapphires are blue stones, ranging from very pale blue to deep indigo. The color ranges on the presence of small amounts of titanium and iron within the crystal structure. The shade valued the highest  is the medium-deep cornflower blue.  Sapphires also occur in other natural colors and tints – colorless, gray, yellow, pale pink, orange, green, violet and brown – called fancy sapphires. These different colors are caused by different kinds of impurities within the crystal. For example, yellow sapphires get their color from ferric iron, while colorless gems have no contaminants.

     The biggest source of sapphires world-wide is Australia, especially New South Wales and Queensland.  Stones from Australia are usually  blue stones with a dark and inky appearance.  Kashmir, in India, used to be a well-known source of the cornflower-blue stones.  In the United States, a major source is the Yogo Gulch Mine in Montana that mostly yields small stones for industrial use.

    In ancient Grecian times, sapphires were found on the Island of Sappherine in the Arabian Sea.  Ancient Persians called sapphire the “Celestial Stone.” It was the gem of Apollo, Greek God of prophesy and was worn by worshipers visiting his shrine in Delphi to seek his help.

     A special orangy pink sapphire color is called padparadscha, which means “lotus flower” in the language spoken in Sri Lanka. Stones from Sri Lanka were initially the only ones labeled with this name. There’s no telling how many padparadschas have been sifted from Sri Lankan river gravel throughout history.  Sri Lankans have a special affection for the stone that’s traditionally been linked with their country. 

    Sapphires were once believed to be protection against snakes. It was believed to kill poisonous reptiles and spiders if placed in a jar containing the stone. The French of the 13th century believed that sapphire transformed stupidity to wisdom, and irritability to good temper.

     The sapphire was said to represent the purity of the soul. Before and during the Middle Ages, it was worn by priests as protection from impure thoughts and temptations of the flesh and also to symbolize heaven.   Ordinary people believed the sapphire brought heavenly blessings to them.  Medieval kings of Europe used sapphires for rings and brooches, believing that it protected them from harm and envy.  Warriors presented their young wives with sapphire necklaces so they would remain faithful. It was believed that the stone’s color would darken if worn by an adulterer or adulteress, or by an unworthy person.
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     Traditionally, sapphire symbolizes nobility, truth, loyalty, sincerity, and faithfulness. It has been used to decorate the robes of royalty and clergy members for centuries. Its extraordinary color is the standard against which other blue gems—from topaz to tanzanite—are measured.  In other times and places, people instilled sapphires with the power to guard chastity, make peace between enemies, influence spirits, and reveal the secrets of oracles.

     The sapphire is the most effective stone for healing the nervous system.  It regulates the function of the thyroid gland and is used as a remedy for lack of appetite and nervous heart ailments.  Psychologically, wearing the stone can strengthen willpower and helps to give healing strength.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f7/Sapphire.png
http://thumbs1.picclick.com/d/w1600/pict/291599757964_/4584CTROUGH-BLUE-SAPPHIRE-GENUINE-NATURAL-MINE-Free-shipping.jpg
http://earthsky.org/earth/september-birthstone-sapphire
http://www.gia.edu/sapphire-history-lore
"Healing Crystals and Gemstones from Amethyst to Zircon" by Dr.Flora Peschek-Bohmer and Gisela Schreiber, Konecky & Konecky, 2002

     August has two birthstones, peridot and sardonyx.  Peridot is a transparent form of olivine which is formed due to volcanic activity  It ranges in color from olive green to lime green, sometimes with a brownish tinge to it, depending on the mineral content.  The green color comes from its iron content and the brownish hue is from a higher iron content.   Quality peridot are sometimes referred to as "Evening Emeralds" because they appear greener under artificial light.

     This gemstone is associated with prosperity, growth, dignity, and love. It is also believed to have the power to ward away evil and nightmares.  Peridot is believed to bring peace and progress to one’s life.   In ancient times, Egypt was the primary source of peridot and was known as the 'Gem of the Sun'.  Peridot is currently mined in Burma, Norway, Brazil, China, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Australia, and Mexico.  Small stones can also be found in Arizona. Peridot has also been found in some meteorites.

    Peridot is one of the oldest known gemstones.   It was believed that the gemstones worn by the Queen Cleopatra were not emeralds as was believed in history but may have actually been peridot. References to the August gemstone have also been found in the Bible, going by its Hebrew name ‘Pitdah’.  The “topaz” on the breastplate of Aaron, in the Old Testament, was believed to actually be peridot. Ancient Egyptians, around 1580 B.C. to 1350 B.C., created beads from peridot. For Greeks and Romans, peridot was in popular use as intaglios, rings, inlays, and pendants.  The Crusaders thought that peridots were emeralds, and brought them back to Europe where they were featured as ornaments in churches.  The most sought after and expensive peridots are of the lime-green color not having any brown or yellow hue.

     Sardonyx is a variety of the silica mineral called chalcedony. This sort of mineral contains layers of tiny quartz fibers, which are stacked on top of each other to give a banded appearance. The layers in these stones range from translucent to opaque.

     Sardonyx can vary in color from white or gray to more colorful varieties such as browns and reds.  The best stones are found in India but can also be found in Germany, Czechoslovakia, Brazil, and Uruguay. Here at home In the United States, you can find sardonyx in the Lake Superior region and in Oregon. 

     Cameos and intaglios are often carved from sardonyx.  Sardonyx is a relatively common and inexpensive gemstone and was a favorite in ancient times because it was attractive, but also because it was could be found readily. Unlike most rare gemstones that could only be bought by the wealthy, sardonyx could be obtained by many people.

     Roman soldiers wore sardonyx talismans to guard from evil and bring good fortune engraved with heroes such as Hercules or Mars, god of war. It was believed that the stone would make the wearer as brave and daring as the figured carved on it. During the Renaissance period, sardonyx was thought to bring eloquence to anyone wearing it and was highly valued by public speakers and orators.  
  
     Sardonyx is a stone of strength and protection. It is used to enhance willpower, integrity, stamina and vigor.  It is also believed to bring lasting happiness and stability to marriage and partnerships. It also attracts friends and good fortune.  A lovely stone to have!

http://www.birthstonezodiac.com/birthstones/august-birthstone/
https://www.americangemsociety.org/en/augustbirthstones
http://www.richardsjewelry.com/userfiles/image/AugustPeridot.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cf/Olivine_(peridot).jpg
http://earthsky.org/earth/august-birthstone-sardonyx-peridot
https://crystal-cure.com/sardonyx.html

Ruby

     Rubies are said to bring good health, wisdom, wealth and success in love and other matters.  They are a good luck charm as well as being a beautiful and highly sought after gemstone.

     Ruby is found in the corundum family, which is harder than any gemstone except for diamond.  This makes ruby a candidate for wearing every day in rings, earrings and pendants.  Unfortunately, high quality ruby is quite rare and the color determines the value.  The color to look for is a medium or dark red or even a faint purplish red.  What you don't want is a stone that is too light or has too much purple or orange.  If the color goes to that range, it will be considered a fancy sapphire.

     The ruby is among the most highly prized of gems throughout history. The Ruby was considered to have magical powers, and was worn by royalty as a talisman against evil.  It was thought to grow darker when peril was imminent, and to return to its original color once danger was past—if it was in the hands of its rightful owner! Rubies were thought to represent heat and power.  It was said that a pot of water would boil instantly if a Ruby was tossed into it. 
 
     The word Ruby comes from the Latin "ruber," which means red.  Wear or carry Ruby to overcome exhaustion and lethargy. It stimulates circulation and amplifies energy and vitality to the whole system. Ruby has been known to calm hyperactivity in some individuals. Ruby is an aphrodisiac and deepens a couple’s relationship and encourages closeness and commitment.

     Ruby is said to hold strong energy that helps to sharpen the mind and strengthens concentration.  It also promotes courage and is good to have when dealing with difficult situations and during disagreements.

     Ruby also helps reduce fear from nightmares.. It shields the home from fire and intruders, and if worn on the body is a good talisman for staying safe.  Rubies also are used in technology such as in medical instruments and lasers.
 
     Rubies have been mined for more than 2,500 years and today the highest quality stones are from Burma.  They are also found in Sri Lanka, Australia, Kenya, Tanzania, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the United States.  

     No matter when your birthday is, Rubies have qualities that anyone can appreciate and delight in!

Pearls

   There are three birthstones associated with the month of June.  They are the pearl, alexandrite, and moonstone. 

    The most common birthstone associated with the month of June is the pearl  Pearls have been used throughout history as an adornment and were a favorite of the Romans.  In England, the 1500s were known as "The Pearl Age".

      Pearls are made inside shells of certain types of clams and oysters. While some pearls are formed in mollusks that live in rivers and in the ocean, many pearls are now farmed in oysters.  Early commercial culturing began in the 1900s and since the 1920s, cultured pearls have almost totally replaced natural pearls in jewelry design.  Pearls are formed from a mineral that is what the shells of the mollusks are made of.  They are unique in this way and don't require polishing or faceting to show their beauty. 

     Asian mythology says that pearls were thought to be dewdrops from heaven that fell into the sea and were caught by shellfish when there was a full moon.  In 17th century Europe, pearls were used as decoration and adornment.

     Pearls are said to help heal the stomach and help with immunity and emotional stress. Pearls aid in digestion and may reduce the chance of developing ulcers. They reduce stress, hypertension, headaches and exhaustion.   They have a soothing influence and  are said to reduce over-sensitivity and promote peacefulness.  Pearls have long been a symbol of purity and innocence and are frequently given to brides to wear and have been sewn into their bridal gowns.   

Moonstones & Alexandrite

       A phenomenal gemstone, moonstones show a floating play of light (called adularescence) and sometimes show either a multi-rayed star or a cat's eye.  It is considered a sacred stone in India where moonstones often are displayed on a background of yellow (a sacred color).  

     Moonstone soothes emotional instability and stress, and stabilises the emotions, providing calmness.  Moonstone enhances intuition, promotes inspiration, success and good fortune in love and business matters.  It also aids the digestive system, assimilates nutrients, eliminates toxins and fluid retention, and alleviates degenerative conditions of skin, hair, eyes, and fleshy organs such as the liver and pancreas.  It balances hormonal cycles, being excellent for PMS, conception, pregnancy, childbirth, and breast-feeding.  Moonstone is also beneficial to men in reaching their emotional side.
 
    Moonstones are believed to hold a spirit whose purpose it is to bring good fortune. The Roman natural historian Pliny, wrote that moonstone's appearance altered with the phases of the moon — a belief that held until well after the sixteenth century. Moonstone is part of the feldspar family which occurs in many igneous and metamorphic rocks and comes in a variety of colors such as green, blue, peach, and champagne.  Moonstones come from Sri Lanka; India, Australia, the United States, Mayanmar, and Madagascar.   

      Alexandrite appears to be a beautiful green color with perhaps a blue or brown tint. But when looking at the stone under artificial lighting it turns a reddish violet. Alexandrite is not common and is extremely expensive because of this. Alexandrite is also one of the hardest stones available. 

     This stone is a somewhat new discovery. In the 1800s, the Russians discovered it and named it after the Czar Alexander II, who reigned during that time.  Most Alexandrite it found in Sri Lanka but because it is so rare, synthetic versions have become popular.  (Synthetic gemstones are man-made versions of a natural stone and possess the same properties).    
    
     Alexandrite is considered to be a stone of longevity and affluence. It brings peace to both mind and body and gives the wearer emotional strength.  So it is said to be good for those that have a temper.   It is also believed to purify the blood and improve blood flow and helps strengthen intuition and imagination.

Sources/Links/Credits:

http://birthstonemonth.com/june-birthstone-color
https://www.americangemsociety.org/en/june-birthstones
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/Pearl_oyster.jpg
https://gemology.knoji.com/pearl-the-classic-organic-gem-thats-second-only-to-diamonds/
http://shelf3d.com/i/pearls
http://therapeuticreiki.com/blog/power-of-pearl/
http://charmsoflight.com/moonstone-healing-properties.html
http://www.jewelexi.com/gemstones/alexandrite

We enjoyed great weather, music, food and friendship at the Wimberley Arts Fest this year!  It was even better than last year, in my opinion.  The weather turned out beautiful and we had some wonderful music playing for the two day show.  The turnout was amazing and we had great success with our jewelry!  It was so nice to visit with folks from far and near and get their feedback.  That is invaluable!  Hopefully, we will be able to do more Wimberley shows!  We'll keep you posted right here.

We also had a great time in Bulverde!  We were at the Bulverde Market Days Show and again we lucked out with beautiful weather and great customers.  We ran into friends and family and had some surprises along the way.  We were visited by one of our previous customers who came by to visit and shop and as always, we were delighted to see her!  She looked lovely in her RiverRock druzy pendant!

We are so lucky to have such awesome and loyal customers and we hope to see you all again soon!

Emeralds
The emerald is the birthstone for May and belongs to the beryl family of minerals.  Emeralds vary in color from light to deep green. The dark green emeralds are the most prized and rare and also the most expensive. 

Emeralds were discovered in Russia in the 1800s ,however,  Colombia produces the largest and highest quality emeralds.  In the U.S., emeralds can be found in North Carolina. Other countries that mine emeralds are Brazil, Pakistan, India, Australia and Madagascar.

In addition to natural emeralds, lab grown or synthetic emeralds are a source for this stone.  German chemists first manufactured synthetic emeralds decades ago and the U.S. began to grow good quality stones by 1946.  But emeralds can be traced back to ancient times when they were worn by royalty in places such as Egypt.  Queen Cleopatra wore emeralds that were thought to have been mined in Egypt near the Red Sea.

During the Spanish invasion to South America, the Spanish conquistadors took large quantities of emeralds from Peru but didn't discover their source.  Later, in the 1500s, the Spaniards found and took over mines in Columbia.  These mines have continued to be in use and produce some of the best emeralds in the world.

The emerald has many myths associated with it.  It was once thought to prevent epilepsy, cure dysentery and fever, stop bleeding and protect the wearer from panic.  The ancient romans dedicated the stone to the goddess Venus because the green emerald represented the reproductive forces of nature.  Christians took it as a symbol of Christ's resurrection.  The emerald was also believed to hold the power to tell the future in the Middle Ages.  Whether these tales are true or not, the emerald continues to be a favorite and coveted stone and will probably continue to be sought after for centuries to come.