Check out Gemaliciousbeads giveaway!!

June Giveaway, Vintaj! and a much deserved Vacation

Congratulations Liz of Mad Bush Farm ! You will have these lovely pink earrings in the mail to you shortly. Although, not sure how long it will take to get to you in New Zealand! Enjoy them.

My eSMArt friend and teammate, Teri, is a Vintaj representative. These lovely brass pieces mixed with raw copper look fantastic together.

Teri is a great friend and designer. Besides her jewelry on Etsy she authors a blog, Hubpage, and is on Twitter- follow her!

A bit more about Teri: She has a jewelry design business with her best friend and business partner Saundra. They incorporated as a business in 2003 and have been slowly growing their inventory AND their skill sets ever since. In 2008 they began their online webpage and Etsy storefront, and are working on promotions with the eSMarts Etsy Team and a local Louisville group. They have in home shows, hostess jewelry parties, have a booth at fairs and festivals, and offer jewelry trunk shows.

Don’t forget if you see something on Vintaj – Teri is the person to contact to get a great deal for you!

I am on vacation this week! Yaaa! My last week off was a year ago… we usually take a winter holiday but because of Fred’s health issues we skipped Florida this year. Boy, has that caught up to me. We are doing absolutely nothing this week…. it is great to have no plans. Here is what I managed to do with some of my time so far:

Clear faceted quartz, chalcedony, garnet and opalite in silver

Amethyst rounds with opalite and silver

Fluorite, pink candy jade, amethyst done in silver

Handmade Product Directory and meet Dani Garcia of eSMArt's team

MyGemStoneBox by Diane is now listed in the Handmade Product Directory and the Arcade! A different storefront- but the same great items! Come by and visit.

I’d like to introduce you to Danis Garcia known to us at eSMArt’s as Dani. She is an independent jewelry artisan living in the Texas Hill Country just outside of San Antonio. She runs a Bulkbuy group on Yahoo selling lovely gems, stones and jewelry supply for those who share the love of creating their own designs.

Besides selling gems she also started making jewelry years ago, mostly for her, family and friends but it blossomed into a full time love of creating after her four children were grown and doing their own thing. She also loves creating that one truly unique element for some of her jewelry designs by custom wrapping stones, shells and other materials with sterling silver, copper or gold filled wire as well other handmade findings. Dani is currently learning to make pendants and other elements in glass and precious metal clay.

You can find Dani at DG Designs on Etsy and on her blog. I invite you to check out her store and here are a few of her wonderful pieces.

I created a new necklace this weekend… this is the first showing and soon to be listed on Etsy. I have always loved the sun/moon motif maybe that is the Aquarius in me?? Most of the beads came from Dani .... Here I used the translucent seaglass mixed with dumortierite round faceted beads, Bali style sterling silver and a touch of light blue Swarovski crystals. This has become my new favorite for everyday wear. It matches my jeans perfectly. This stone is said to act as an aid to your mental capabilities in overcoming tough situations. It opens the third eye chakra to enhance mental (and emotional) intelligence. Another good reason to wear it!

Launching grand new collections both in writing: Jewelry Collecting and in jewelry design “Daydream Facets Collection"

My interests have turned to jewelry collecting… What types of jewelry do you collect? What are the most sought after pieces in a given genre? How do I know about the markings on jewelry pieces of interest? What major jewelry manufacturing was produced in Providence RI (I've lived in RI all my life)...the "Jewelry Capitol of the World". All of these questions have been bouncing around in my head so I decided to write a series of Hubs around these very questions. I invite you to check my hubs frequently and let me know if these articles are of value to you. As always, I am open to comments and suggestions and your opinions are very valuable to me… feel free to contact me!! Here is the first in the series of Hubs: Coro Jewelry

Yet to be posted in my Etsy store…. "Faceted Fantasy Bracelet" This is the second in my new collection called: Daydream Facets. Veil Nebula Bracelet was the original piece that started this collection. I plan to develop this line- adding earrings, necklaces and bracelets all with wonderful faceted gems. Keep an eye out!

Lastly for this post, here is my latest in custom Rosary Beads headed for the UK today!

Each of the natural gemstones used in this rosary relates to the Chakra's

CROWN CHAKRA - SEVENTH CHAKRA Obsidian
3 black\white stones near cross
Located above the head. This chakra links the individual with the universal. Obsidian helps to protect the very sensitive against depression. It is the stone of the soft hearted and gentle people of the world. Use obsidian to help block negativity of any kind. As a black gemstone, it symbolizes self control and resilience. Black stones have protective energies in the sense that black is the absence of light, and therefore, can be used to create invisibility.
Energies:
Healing , Protection, Divination, Peace
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THIRD EYE CHAKRA - SIXTH CHAKRA Sodalite
1st decade to the right
Located between the eyes. This is intelligence and psychic power. Sodalite Gemstone
It is said sodalite will harmonize the inner being or the conscious and subconscious mind. Sodalite promotes peace and harmony. Energies: Power, Healing, Luck
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THROAT CHAKRA - FIFTH CHAKRA Turquoise
Between decade stones
Located at the throat. This is the creativity, self-expression and the search for truth.
Turquoise-Strength, protection from harm, psychic sensitivity and connection to the spirit world. Turquoise carries great wisdom of basic truth within it. It is one of the oldest stones known. This is a stone that a person must learn to attune to instead of the stone attuning to the person. It is important that the owner of a Turquoise give it the proper attention.
Energies: Luck, Love, Protection, Healing
HEART CHAKRA - FOURTH CHAKRA Aventurine
2nd decade
Located at the heart. This is the higher consciousness and love. Green Aventurine is the stone of luck and chance. It is said to increase perception and creative insight. It is a heart chakra stone.
Energies: Luck, Money, Healing
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SOLAR PLEXUS CHAKRA - THIRD CHAKRA Amber
3rd decade
Located at the solar plexus. This is the sense of identity. Amber energy properties
•Brings a care free, sunny disposition
•Promotes good luck and success
•Dissolves oppositions
•Helps with stomach, spleen and kidney complaints
•Reduces joint problems
•Alleviates teething pain in babies
To early Christians, amber signified the presence of the Lord.
Energies: Love, Healing, Protection, Power, Luck
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SACRAL HARA CHAKRA - SECOND CHAKRA Carnelian
4th decade
Located at the genitals. This is the chakra that monitors sexuality and reproduction.
Carnelian is used for these benefits:
•gives energy
•protects from bad vibrations
•guards against poverty
•helps give a sense of humor
•calms the temper
Energies: Power, Healing
ROOT CHAKRA - FIRST CHAKRA Rhodochrosite
5th decade
Located at the base of the spine and groin area. This is the animal or base nature.
Rhodochrosite in pink tones:
•soothes the heart
•stimulates warm feelings of love and compassion
•benefits the creative process
•promotes intuition
Energies:
Love, Power, healing