WHY I DON’T USE PLATED/ETC. WIRE

When I design my pieces, I don’t use anything but “raw” (i.e., no coating, no plating, etc) for a very simple reason. I, personally, am allergic to all sorts of things. (I can’t use nickel, for example).

So, you might say, use coated/plated copper.

the problem there is that, with my skin, any coating or plating will wear right off of the piece., I don’t want to have people coming to me saying that the wire in their piece changed color. So, I’ll use either silver , copper, or stainless steel, and I will make that explicit in the description of the piece. some people can’t use copper, for example. (in my case, that’s one of the few metals I can use, but, if I make something with silver plated copper, within a few days to a week, the silver will begin to peel off — I’ve, personally, decided that that could be a design idea, but no one need agree with that.

New Purpose Built Bracelets (eczema and anxiety)

My reaction to my Covid vaccination was to get a whole body eczema treatment (thankfully it did not go on my face, just everywhere else. The doctors told me they couldn’t make it go away and gave me palliative treatments (jars of chemicals).

Then, suddenly, I managed to remember that I make purpose-built jewelry, so I went on a treasure hunt and found that rose quartz, labradorite, amethyst, and aventurine make a powerful eczema healing bracelet. I made that bracelet in about an hour (there were stringing issues because the labradorite had come from India where, apparently, they don’t have quality control. (with some of the labradorites, they were not drilled through and through, so I had to remake the thing on .5mm stretch cord. (I wasn’t pleased with the size of the cord because it seems more breakable, but I did get the bracelet done. ) Interestingly, although I would not normally consider wearing some of these colors, I have come quickly to love this little bracelet because it does seem to help me not scratch myself to death.

Then, suddenly, this week, a person I am close to told me he was going off to a bonfire party 5 hours away from where he lives. Suddenly, I got worried that he might have “too much fun” if you know what I mean, and I worried about him driving. He said his friend would be driving (no help), So I went into worry mode and felt rather disturbed. Suddenly, jade and pyrite suggested themselves (I’ll look it all up and see why that could have been – all I know is that that was the fastest bracelet that I have ever been able to make, and it did help me keep my calm (this bracelet is Russian imperial jade with pyrite rondelles and a few silver beads and spacers and some black jade)

GOOD NEWS FOR WHEN YOU’RE LOOKING FOR INFO: ROBYN HARTON IS BACK IN FULL FORCE!

For the longest time, I followed Robyn Harton and learned a lot about crystals, but then, suddenly, one day, she was gone! She sold her website to someone else and left us high and dry. She had her reasons, Io suppose, but I sure did miss her. Now, today, just because I’m looking for something rather esoteric, I decided to google her name, and — lo! and behold! She’s back.

You can find her at https://www.sacredcrystalmeanings.com/

This website is somewhat different from what was there before, but, hey! things change! It’s full of good information, and I find it much better than what had replaced her at her old website.

Do go check out what she is doing!

My New Attitude: re Buying Online

Since last year (oh, you know… when quarantine started) I have been buying my beads on-line. It usually works out okay, especially if you are buying from the big established companies like Fire Mountain or Rio Grande. Then, you get the bright idea to go look on etsy,com and you find tons of stores selling just what you want — except… you have to be careful (are they selling the real thing? will they let you return something if you get it and look at it and it is NOT what you want? et cetera and so forth)

One of the things that I never expected was that some stores on etsy REFUSE to send a packing list with the product they send you. (this wouldn’t be a problem if you only buy one thing from one place in six months, because you would know what that one thing was and you would be waiting for it) t

The problem comes when you are making things to sell, and, or, you have a special use for what you are buying and you are buying from more than one place. If you are buying through etsy, it is a little easier – usually, you can go back through your orders and identify what the heck that is…… but it is a hassle.

Recently, I have decided that I will no longer deal with certain dealers, as, often enough, I cannot find the information on their shipment, and, so, since what I make depends on specific stones/crystals, I am going to desist from buying from those places (furthermore, since, when I have approached them, asking for assistance in identifying shipments, they have been rather unfriendly, I am going to list then not only the good places to buy from, but , also, the places where I have had unhappy episodes.

I have been suggesting to these places for a while that I will not buy from them anymore, but now I am going to tel you who I have cut out of my list of suppliers when I pull the plug.

I’VE BEEN LEARNING MORE ABOUT CRYSTALS

Since LAST YEAR (the Year of Living By Myself! what do you call it?) I have been studying more about crystals. I’ve been doing it online. I mean… I’ve been doing crystals for more than 20 years now, and just picking up this and that here and there (I started out just wanting to make jewelry, and then I got caught up in what the stones , and how to use them….). (CAVEAT: I am going to name a place where I have studied, and I’m naming it because I like it, but I am not getting any kick-back for doing this!) There’s this outfit in Manchester, England called Centre of Excellence (that *is* how *they* spell it) that offers a number of esoteric courses, and, last summer, I started to study about “crystal therapy” with them. My courses have been quite eye-opening, and thorough.. I’m saying this because I already knew a lot about crystals before I started the courses, and, still, I have learned cool stuff). What I have learned is more about “techniques” for using crystals (not really where I am: I am into making jewelry with stones that will be pretty AND do the job!), but, still, it has been interesting to learn about the ways you can take crystals and work with them. (I have so may books about crystals and what they do — really, I have shelves of books on the subject, and, yes, I do consult them often, especially when I suddenly become attracted to a particular stone, even if it is solely shown or described online.

If you are interested in learning more about the properties of crystals/stones/gems, you might well enjoy the COE’s courses in Crystal Healing and Advanced Healing Practitioner (and, you can get a diploma to print off on your computer!) I’m saying all this because, even though I have been studying crystals for a couple of thousand years, I managed to learn some things and, also, learn how systems work in England: for example: in England, apparently you do not need a license to touch people (as we do in the US. Never mind: if you want to stretch your mind around the uses of crystals, whether for yourself, or for others, or just so you can make cool jewelry, COE might be an interesting place for you to go (one thing I like about them is that you can take your time working through a course — no time limits– and you can jump around in the “units” at liberty. There are even exams at the end of each “unit”, and sometimes they really require you to think — BUT, if you don’t want to take the exams, you can still move on in the studies (you just won’t get the diploma later on!)

Another place I’ve studied about crystals with is International Open Academy (which is out of Ireland). This one has a lot of good information, as well, and the exams are much easier to get through (of course, if all you are doing is reading for more info, that doesn’t matter — I just found myself compulsively going for “diplomas” and “certifications”! )

Interestingly, to an American, the IOA “diplomas” look more like American diplomas and certificates, while the COE diplomas must be what a diploma looks like in the UK. Here, to me, it looks almost like a postal mailing label, but, where I work, I have seen several certificates posted that look like these, so it must just be a “cultural difference”.

Both of these operations often offer Groupons so you can save lots on the courses.

Oh, and…. if you are one of those folks who takes their time at studying: COE has no time limit (at least while they are in business), but IOA does have some kind of time limit (I won a 1 year subscription the year before last, so I took every course in my interest areas, but now I am unable to access any of that info, so, thank heavens! I printed everything off and have a huge library of binders with my entire courses, as well as, of course, my beautiful diplomas!) COE. at this time, does not have a time limit: good for me, because I have not been able to complete 4 of their courses – one of them was a crystal course where i just didn’t feel up to one of the questions on the final exam! ( I will get back to those courses soon — I just needed a break! — and, meanwhile, I got three other certificates from COE)
AGAIN! No, nobody has paid me to say this. This is just the observation of a satisfied customer.

OUT OF CONTROL: COOL RESULTS

In the past month, I have been a little out of control about beads. (My father passed away unexpectedly – I mean, who can ever EXPECT such a thing? and I am blaming that life experience for my totally unresponsible acquisition of amazing beads. I mean, don’t I need a good reason why I have gone to town buying beads all of a sudden? ) I’ve collected cacoxenite, auralite 23, quantum quattro, lapis, charoite, lepidolite, chrysocolla, rose quartz, smokey quartz, shattuckite, labradorite, larvikite, blue tiger’s eye, carnelian, pyrite, malachite, sugilite, and kyanite beads. (I’m also going to blame the fact that there is, apparently, only one bead shop in Manhattan, and I only found it two weeks ago, and I need to be surrounded by beads at least once a week, so, with all these beads, my room is feeling very very mellow!)

The beads that I have bought all have interesting descriptions, properties, and uses according to Internet and crystal book sources. Just before all this began, I took a course in a course in Advanced Crystal Healing (if you are interested in such a course, I do recommend centreofexcellence.com – they are having a sale right now where you can pick up a course for @$29 — but, if you miss it, you can usually find a Groupon for it. — I do need to tell you that I am telling you this out of the goodness of my heart — I took the two courses and felt quite educated and pleased (got certificates, too!).. I have no affiliate agreement with them.. I’m just being a happy customer)

Now, since I have so many beads, and I only want to make jewelry with them, I have been reading through all of my books on crystals and, also, raiding the active gemstone info websites for more information as to what the stones mean and what they are willing to do, i.e., what have they been traditionally used for, and what are the current usages, and, for the new kids on the scene — what are they up to? (I mean, I know most of this but I want to be exact) – that is important for the bespoke jewelry pieces I create. For example: right now I am creating some grief relief pieces. — that color combination is a challenge for me, because I do not see half of those things together; that is why

(I have another commission, where the fellow just handed me 5 stones and asked me to make him a bracelet and two pendants wrapped in silver wire and Reiki–it’s taking me just as long as the wire company will take to send me the wire that I need.)

MARCH 6th INTERNATION WOMEN’S DAY

Alright! Today, I learned that the color for International Women’s Day is PURPLE! What joy! I have a purple turtleneck sweater, in case it is still chilly then, (Otherwise, if Spring has sprung, I will be back to my lovely black wardrobe) AND I have jewelry pieces in Charoite, Lepidolite, Sugilite, and, of course, Amethyst. (I even have some unusual rose quartz that looks like it is masquerading as pale violet – violet is a purple, right?) What will you be wearing? Me? I cannot wait to pile on the purple!

INTERESTING PLACES TO LEARN ABOUT CRYSTALS AND CRYSTAL HEALING

Okay, to be honest, when I started this blog, I thought it would be an interesting place to share info about making jewelry with crystals which have meanings (a tall order, as I now know). Along the way, I have learned quite a bit about crystals and crystal healing, and, as it turns out, my love of making jewelry is intensified when I am making a piece for a specific issue: I have certain aesthetic considerations, and, when a specific issue is to be addressed, I must find some way to make the piece to my liking: example: I am working on some pieces for ‘grief’, and the suggestions that I see in my research are widely varied, and all too are will not work together to meet my personal esthetics. (right now, I am really struggling with colors I never use, and ways that I can put them together in what I consider to be an esthetically pleasing combination, while still giving the maximum attention to the issue(s) involved. (whew! this is work that most jewelry-makers don’t have to do – but it is the way my mind works and which is most satisfying to me.)

So, I’m mentioning online opportunities to learn more about what crystals (aka gemstones, stones, stone beads…) can do for you. This grief thing (my father passed away 3 weeks ago) is requiring me to do all kinds of research – ‘what are stones which are recommended for grief”; then, what do those stones do, then how to make them into an immensely attractive jewelry piece which the intended will WANT to wear. I am already wearing a lot of what is recommended, but I need to send some pieces to my Mom and my Sister. They already know that what I give them will be “purpose-built”, but, right now, I need it to be so beautiful that they will want to wear it or carry it anyway.

The site I saw today was http://loveandlightschool.com. You might want to check it out if you are interested in finding out more about crystal meanings. I am still exploring it, but what I have seen is very useful. (warning: I am not involved or affiliated with this site in any way other than that I have seen it, liked what I saw, and plan to go back to see more, and, so, I am sharing that with you,, and, at the same time, putting a reminder on my blog for me to go back there soonest.)

CRYSTALS FOR GRIEF

I’m still working on this: I told my mother what I was doing, and she asked if I could make her a bracelet. I will allow that making bracelets is not my forte, but, hey! it’s for my mom, and that’s what she wants. Now, I don’t know about you, but with me, anything for my mom has to be done the best way (even if I don’t know what way that is) and, unfortunately, grief is an immediate need, so speed is part of the deal here.

From my research online, I have found a number of different combinations of crystals for grief.

One site calls for Rose Quartz, Smokey Quartz, Black Obsidian, and Mookaite — I have the first three, but mookaite and I do not get along.

Another site calls for Black Onyx, Chrysoprase, ,Citrine, Lepidolite, and Rose Quartz – I don’t have the Chrysoprase

The next site calls for Moonstone, Rhodonite, Aquamarine, Amethyst, Mangano Calcite, Red Jasper, and Rose Quartz

Still another calls for Amazonite, Apache Tear, Emerald, Lapis, Mookaite (again!), Rose Quartz, and Zoisite.

Right now, I have on hand, Rose Quartz (8mm), Smokey Quartz (4mm), Citrine (4mm), Lepidolite (8mm and 10mm), Mangano Calcite (8mm) Aquamarine (8mm), Moonstone (6mm), Black Onyx (8mm), Black Golden Obsidian (8mm), Lapis (varying sizes), Ruby Zoisite (8mm)

Esthetically, I do not deal much with pink (okay, except for my lepidolite phase –lepidolite tends to be a sort of rosy purple). Is someone gave me a pink bracelet, I might wear it for a while because they had thought of me, but, according to me, it would look a bit off with my black tourmaline, charoite, and turquoise “wrist wear”. I know, I know! This is for my mother, not for me! Still, does she wear pink much? I don’t recall seeing her wear much pink, but, then I usually only see her once or twice a year (and I haven’t seen her now for over a year (unless you count the Zoom gathering on Christmas morning)

Actually, I am seriously leaning toward clear Quartz Crystal, and fitting in the pinks (say: the mangano calcite, lepidolite, rose quartz), the smokey quartz, and the moonstone, and calling it a day. (I do have an attunement which allows me to tell the crystal what I need it to be, and it will do it)

Right now, I am seeing this a three or four strand bracelet on beading wire, held together and separated with some four hole silver “spacers” I have, and connected by a gorgeous clasp that I have had for years, waiting for the right project.

BEADS IN NEW YORK CITY!!! YES!!!!!

BEADS IN NEW YORK CITY! YES! it seems that all of my old favorite bead shops have been killed by Covid 19, and I have unhappily accustomed myself to buying what I need online — but where’s the magic in that???? Part of the fun has always been going to the bead store and sniffing around to see what calls out to me, even when I have gone there looking for one specific item. The energy of a bead shop is exhilating for me. I had not had that feeling since, well, you know, this time last year.

Today, I realized that, despite the fact that I have almost every bead imaginable (to me), I had NO smokey quartz, and I was in dire need of some right away (not two weeks away!)

I stretched my imagination and tried another google search, and this precious, marvelous tiny store, Aurora’s, popped up, and it’s only about nine blocks from where I live! It is right there at the corner of 2nd Ave on E. 28th St. (And, lazy me, when I started my walk, I saw the bus coming, hopped aboard, and rode to within one block of my destination!)

It was tricky getting inside — I had to read all the signs on the door, including the one that said “No Browsing” before I found the one that said “Please ring the bell”. At last, an older gentleman opened the door to me and said, “The owner is not here” — but he was holding the door open, so I walked on in. He asked if I had been there before, and, although I was afraid that the truth (no) might get me ushered out, I told him the truth. I told him what I was looking for (and tried to shield my eyes from “browsing” —How could I? I was in heaven or at least next door). The gentleman told me that, on Fridays, his wife (the owner) shops for beads for the store, so, now I know to go on other days. The store’s selection seems to be curated in some inexplicable way (from the website, it seems that the owner makes jewelry for people or repairs their broken items.) They do not have *everything* and they do not have every size in everything they do have. No matter — there was enough there to let me know that I will go back next time I need beads. (actually, their selection and way of displaying (for those of you who may remember Metalliferous) reminds me of that back room in Metalliferous, which was where my love affair with beads began.