Tidbits About Abalone

I just finished a fabulous necklace that includes an abalone shell pendant and I was intrigued to find out some properties surrounding it. Aside from its beautiful colours it sounds like it is something that everyone in the creative field should add to their wardrobe!

Abalone is said to provide for boundless growth in whatever you undertake, and stimulate intuition and imagination. For the business minded it is also said to enhance mental clarity and insight and assist in decision making.

Closely connected with family, in particular motherhood, abalone shells are told to be worn on the forehead of Apache girls on the morning of the initiation into womanhood.

For those who take interest in its healing properties, abalone is said to help build and protect the heart and aid in digestion.

What are some of your favourite abalone creations? Do you have another stone that is a favourite of yours?

Tidbits about Chalcedony!

Time again to dive into the world of stone properties! If you haven't had a chance to check out some tidbits about Jasper you can catch up here. I must admit that I didn't really know very much about Chalcedony but I thought the name was interesting and so I would do some research. I discovered that it is a derivative of the name of the ancient Greek town Calkedon in Asia Minor and is used to name the group of stones where the quartz crystals are too small to be seen without magnification. For jewelry purposes Chalcedony is usually applied only to the light blue translucent and waxy form. Other stones in this group are known as agate, jasper, petrified wood, bloodstone, petrified dinosaur bone, fire agate, tiger's eye, chrysocolla, chrysoprase, onyx, sardonyx, and carnelian.

Legend and Folklore:

I should run out and get some chalcedony as it is believed to be beneficial for business! It also is said to bring love and comfort, promote good health, relieve nervousness, increase vitality, endurance and emotional balance.

Native American Indians believed chalcedony was a sacred stone and used in the spiritual ceremonies of the tribe.

Tidbits About Jasper

Time for some more tidbits for you to enjoy. In case you missed the last post A Girl and Her Pearls be sure to stop by and learn about these timeless classics! Today I wanted to explore the world of Jasper.

Coming in a variety of colours Jasper is a variety of Chalcedony. The patterns and bands resembling landscapes with mountains and valleys are a result of the stone containing organic materials and mineral oxides, lending the name "picture" to be associated with many jaspers. It was a favorite stone of ancient times, often mentioned in literature with a variety of attributes associated with it.
*Helps to bring joy into life (Poppy Jasper)
*Aids in sleep (Opalite Jasper)
*Thought to drive away evil spirits
*Protects against snake and spider bites
*Thought to bring about rain
*Stabilizing and healing
*Protective

A Girl and Her Pearls!

I just love reading about stones and their properties, especially the folklore surrounding them. In case you missed my last post A Bit About Amethyst be sure to stop by.

What girl doesn't LOVE pearls and with prom/wedding season quickly approaching they are sure to adorn the neck of many. Jennifer over at Handmade News wrote a great article about the different types of pearls and was gracious enough to include a picture from our supplies shop!

Here are some of my favourite tidbits about pearls:

*Official birthstone of June

*Symbol of feminine wisdom, purity, and innocence
*Said to reduce irritability (I should wear extra pearls some days!)

*A myth of the early Chinese speaks of pearls falling from the sky when dragons fought!

*Brides have been wearing pearls throughout history believing that pearls promote harmony in marriage (plus they look fantastic)

Do you have a favourite style or colour of pearl? How do you enjoy incorporating them into your work?

A Bit About Amethyst

I had so much fun with Tidbits About Turquoise that I thought I would share another stone with you. Here are some bits about amethyst for you to enjoy:

*February's birthstone

*Said to assist with stopping addictions (Funny, I have plenty of amethyst beads and yet they don't seem to be helping with my bead addiction!)

*Assists with meditation and psychic awareness

*Suggested that amethyst helps with headaches and other pain

Do you know any other bits about amethyst or have an amethyst or purple creation to share?

Any ideas as to which Bits you would like to learn about next?

Tidbits about Turquoise!

Turquoise is always a hot colour for spring and one of my personal fav's! It is said to have healing properties and the ablility to detoxify and create balance. For the artistic soul it is also said to assist with creativity and communication skills (maybe you should be wearing turquoise when trying to write your product descriptions!)


This fabulous piece named the Virginia bracelet was created by In Pursuit. Be sure to stop by her studio for a great assortment of jewelry in every colour!

Know any other tidbits about turquoise? What are some of your favourite colours for spring?