Turquoise Slabs – My New Gemstone Crush!!

Ok, so my new gemstone love affair is with freeform turquoise howlite slabs. They are funky and bold, but have a rustic earthy feel to them which really appeals to me. And……they are just crying out to be made into statement necklaces.

From this….

To this……

Chunky Turquoise Statement Necklace – $42 from Big Skies Jewellery

I couldn’t resist using a whole string of freeform slabs in one glorious ‘out there’ piece.  I think the turquoise slab beads in this necklace look like a garland of beautiful blue butterflies…..

Turquoise Slab Statement Necklace – $42 from Big Skies Jewellery

I also combined some side-drilled turquoise howlite slabs with genuine Tibetan brass beads inlaid with real turquoise and coral, to create something more ethnic but still very exotic.

Turquoise Howlite Freeform Slab and Tibetan Brass Bead Necklace – $60 from Big Skies Jewellery

I am loving the brass and turquoise combo.

Turquoise Howlite Freeform Slabs with Genuine Tibetan Brass Beads – $60 from Big Skies Jewellery

If you are interested in Statement Jewelry and Chunky Gemstone Necklaces, why not pop on over to the Big Skies Jewellery Etsy store and see what else is available.

If you love Turquoise Jewelry, check out this section: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BigSkiesJewellery?section_id=12366413 

Find me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bigskiesjewellery

Just Because It’s Friday Photo…..

This week’s Friday Photo is another of my wildlife pictures.  This photo of a pair of Giraffes at a watering hole was taken during a visit to Etosha Game Reserve in Namibia.  The way the Giraffe’s lips are puckered up, they look like they are kissing the water!

So here it is, a cool picture to make you smile…….just because hey, it’s Friday!

This week:  Giraffes at Watering Hole – Etosha Game Reserve, Namibia.

  If you like it, please share it!

(Have a look at some other cool pictures here.)

Have a great Friday!

Big Skies Jewellery on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/bigskiesjewellery

Big Skies Jewellery on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bigskiesjewellery

Fabulous Fluorite

What is Fluorite?

Natural Raw Green Fluorite Crystals

Fluorite (also called fluorspar) is a halide mineral composed of calcium fluoride (CaF2). Fluorite has a wide range of colors including yellow, blue, pink purple and green. It is an isometric mineral with a cubic habit, but octahedral and more complex isometric forms are not uncommon. The natural fluorite crystal beads I recently purchased were of the octahedral form.

Octahedron 3D Image

History of Fluorite

Fluorite derives from the Latin noun fluo, meaning a stream or flow of water. In verb form this was fluor or fluere, meaning to flow.

In 1852 fluorite gave its name to the phenomenon of fluorescence – due to certain impurities in the crystals found in certain locations, many samples of fluorite exhibit fluorescence under ultraviolet light.

Gemstone Necklace Featuring Octahedral Raw Fluorite Crystals – created by Big Skies Jewellery

Fluorite Gemstone Meaning

The ancient Egyptians used flourite to carve statues and scarabs, the Chinese have used it in carvings for over 300 years. In the 18th century, fluorite was powdered in water to relieve the symptoms of kidney disease.

Fluorite is said to help with absorbing new ideas and bringing order to chaos.

Fluorite is said to absorb and neutralize negative vibrations.  It is believed to be effective against computer and electromagnetic emanations (says she, sitting in front of her computer for 8 hours a day!)  It is also known as the “Genius Stone” by helping us increase our concentration and make decisions.

Raw Fluorite Crystal and Pearl Necklace – designed by Big Skies Jewellery

Healing properties of Fluorite

Fluorite can be used as a meditation stone to help energize the body and raise the power of concentration.

Healers use it to help with ulcers as well as the respiratory tract by stimulating cell regeneration in these areas. It fortifies bones, improves arthritic or other joint ailments.

It is reputed to be a powerful healer and is believed to be good at fending off colds and flu, reducing the pain of arthritis and reducing the discomfort of shingles and other nerve related pain.

The Finished Fluorite Jewellery Piece  – Green Fluorite Crystal Necklace

Green Fluorite Crystal and Pearl Necklace – $75 from Big Skies Jewellery

Pictured above is how I used my “octahedral” raw fluorite crystals.  I favoured a simple design, just using square bead caps to complement the cubic crystals and pretty iridescent grey freshwater pearls to act as highlights between the crystals.  I find this necklace very calming and soothing…..

Shop for beautiful and unique gemstone jewelry at Big Skies Jewellery: http://www.etsy.com/shop/bigskiesjewellery

Find Big Skies Jewellery on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bigskiesjewellery

Two More Tiger Eyes in My Collection!

Followers of this blog will know that I love working with the gemstone Tiger’s Eye.

Recently I made two exciting new Tiger Eye additions to my gemstone bead stash – faceted Red Tiger’s Eye and some rare Blue Tiger’s Eye.

Faceted Red Tiger Eye Beads

Because Tiger Eye is such a naturally beautiful gemstone, I favour simple designs that let the gemstones speak for themselves.

I combined the red faceted beads with a single square Hill Tribe brushed silver focal bead to make up this modern, urban stretch bracelet.

Faceted Red Tiger Eye and Hill Tribe Silver Modern Stretch Bracelet – $45 from Big Skies Jewellery

This bracelet is available in my Etsy shop.

The Blue Tiger’s Eye beads I bought were stunning large smooth ovals.  I can honestly say I have never seen Blue Tiger Eye beads of this quality or size before.  The blue chatoyant striations in them are almost mesmerising!

Blue Tiger Eye Beads

I again kept the design simple, just adding 4mm faceted genuine sapphire accents and tiny patterned silver tone spacer beads to make up a simple elegant necklace.

Blue Tiger Eye and Sapphire Gemstone Necklace – designed and created by Big Skies Jewellery

This necklace actually sold on my website last night, and is heading off to California today.

Tiger Eye must have been in the air this weekend – as I also sold these two Tiger Eye pieces as well.

Chunky Tiger Eye Statement Necklace – designed and created by Big Skies Jewellery

Tiger Eye and Turquoise Howlite ‘Tree of Life’ Charm Stretch Bracelet – designed and created by Big Skies Jewellery

Shop at Big Skies Jewellery: http://www.etsy.com/shop/bigskiesjewellery

Join Big Skies Jewellery on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bigskiesjewellery

Happiness is…..a Black and Yellow Necklace

I love this new necklace design – it makes me feel happy.  I can’t help smiling when I look at it.  For me, this is happiness in necklace form!

Onyx and Jade Necklace – $40 from Big Skies Jewellery

There is something so cheerful about the glossy onyx petals combined with sunshine yellow jade. The colours remind me of big fluffy bumble bees….another image which makes me smile.

I also love dramatic colour combinations……they appeal to the drama queen in me!  I have a woollen scarf/snood in this yellow colour and I love to wear it with all black.

Black Onyx and Yellow Jade Necklace – $40 from Big Skies Jewellery

Find this necklace and other colourful and unique gemstone necklaces in my Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/bigskiesjewellery

Find me on Facebook, I would love it if you came to say “hi”: http://www.facebook.com/bigskiesjewellery

Just Because It’s Friday Photo…..

This week’s Friday Photo is another of my wildlife pictures.  This photo is of a cute little Vervet Monkey, taken during a visit to the Kruger Park.

So here it is, a cool picture to make you smile…….just because hey, it’s Friday!

This week:  Vervet Monkey – Kruger Park, South Africa.

  If you like it, please share it!

(Have a look at some other cool pictures here.)

Happy Friday!

Big Skies Jewellery on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/bigskiesjewellery

Big Skies Jewellery on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bigskiesjewellery

Learn About Gemstones – Tibetan Quartz

One of the recent additions to my gemstone bead stash is a string of beautiful Tibetan Quartz crystal beads.

Beautiful Tibetan Quartz Crystal Beads

I have never seen or heard of this stone before, so I was very interested to see what information I could out about it on the Interwebs.  What I discovered possibly explains two things:

a) Why it is so expensive!

b) Why I felt so drawn to it

When I saw the crystal string, I immediately fell in love with it.  But then I saw the price….over twice that of everything else I was looking at… so I moved on, reluctantly.  But I kept going back to the crystals.  Several times.  Eventually, I had to buy them!  I couldn’t leave without them – I knew I would regret it if I did.

Tibetan Quartz crystals are considered to be some of the most energetically vibrant crystals available on the planet.  Maybe this explains my attraction to them…

This Quartz is mined in the Himalayan Mountains of Tibet, one of the most sacred areas on Earth. They are brought from the Ganesh Himal Mountain range that borders Tibet and Nepal. Found at elevations of over 15,000 feet, the mines are not easily accessible by machinery, so most Tibetan Quartz is mined by hand, sometimes by monks themselves, and carried out in sacks.

It is a 10 day trek to reach the remote location where these very special Quartz Crystals are found and the snow-covered passes are only open for a short time during the warmer months.

The vibration of this highly spiritual area is imparted on the stones, making thousands of years of spiritual and healing knowledge more easily accessible. Their source also seems to give Tibetan Quartz Crystals an almost holy, enlightened vibration as well as very harmonious and balanced energy.

Out of curiosity I decided to look on the Etsy website for Tibetan Quartz jewellery.  My search on “Tibetan quartz” necklace returned only 85 results – just 3 pages!    Given that there are over 300,000 jewellery sellers on Etsy and usually about 200 pages with thousands of search results, this gives you an idea of how rare Tibetan Quartz is.  Of the three pages of results I found, only 6 necklaces contained more than one Tibetan Quartz crystal – the rest were all single crystal necklaces.

So what to do with these lovely stones?  Share the energy and vibrancy amongst many necklaces?  Make one super powerful statement necklace?

Decisions, decisions…..

.

Southwestern Inspiration Makes a Return!

I don’t think Southwestern inspired jewellery ever goes out of style. Turquoise and silver are meant for each other – a timeless combination.

Southwestern Inspired Turquoise Chrysocolla Chip Double Strand Choker – only $25 from Big Skies Jewellery

About 5 years ago, a long time before I was ever selling jewellery online, I made a limited edition of these necklaces, and the other day I saw one of my work colleagues still wearing her necklace – and I thought wow, that still looks really good.   So I decided to have a re-run of this classic necklace design for release in my Etsy shop.

Southwestern Inspired Turquoise Chrysocolla Chip Double Strand Necklace – only $25 from Big Skies Jewellery

The stone chips used in this necklace are actually turquoise coloured chrysocolla, as oppose to turquoise howlite which I usually use.  I like the depth of colour in the chrysocolla.

I loved this necklace design the first time round, and I still love it now.  However, I would like to think that I have managed to improve both the design and my photography skills in the last 5 years!!  Here is the original….. 🙂

For more beautiful and unique gemstone jewellery please visit my Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/bigskiesjewellery

Find me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bigskiesjewellery

Just Because It’s Friday Photo…..

This week’s Friday Photo returns us to my love of birds.  This photo is of an American Robin which was taken during a visit to Niagara Falls.  This picture was taken on the Canadian side in the lovely grassed gardens.

So here it is, a cool picture to make you smile…….just because hey, it’s Friday!

This week:  American Robin – Niagara Falls, Canada.

  If you like it, please share it!

(Have a look at some other cool pictures here.)

Happy Friday!

Big Skies Jewellery on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/bigskiesjewellery

Big Skies Jewellery on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bigskiesjewellery

The Story Behind the Necklace…..”Phoenix Rising”

Sometimes I know exactly what I want to do with a gemstone bead string as soon as I see it, at other times……..no clue!

I had no idea what to do with these Labradorite spike beads when I saw them, but I love Labradorite and I like unusual shaped beads; this string fit the bill on both counts, so I bought them.

Labradorite Spike Beads

I began thinking about what other Labradorite I have in stock, including this pendant….

Labradorite Oval Pendant Set in Silver Metal

And from that, suddenly came the idea! I know, you would never guess that I passed ‘A’ level Art at school!  Thankfully it is not the accuracy and detail which is important in my design sketches, but rather capturing the essence and components of the design before it disappears from my mind’s eye.

My artistic rendition of a design idea!

The resulting finished necklace was this, which I think (hope!) you will agree, looks a whole heap better than my artistic rendition:

Labradorite Necklace – Phoenix Rising – $40 from Big Skies Jewellery

The necklace is called Phoenix Rising as the Labradorite spikes remind me of the arched wings of the phoenix as it rises from the flames and ashes – perhaps I am just being whimsical!

Labradorite Necklace – Phoenix Rising – $40 from Big Skies Jewellery

In Greek mythology, a phoenix is a long-lived bird that is cyclically regenerated or reborn. Associated with the sun, a phoenix obtains new life by arising from the ashes of its predecessor.

Labradorite Necklace – Phoenix Rising – $40 from Big Skies Jewellery

Please browse through Big Skies Jewellery’s Etsy store for other unique and beautiful gemstone jewellery: http://www.etsy.com/shop/bigskiesjewellery

Find me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bigskiesjewellery