Another week down. How many more to go? Good question! I hope you are surviving “staying at home” without going insane. Me? I am doing alright. I am using the time to stay focused while concentrating on relearning, practicing jewelry skills learning some new ones and building my jewelry inventory.
While I am practicing and relearning some jewelry skills, I am doing my best to use materials that I already have on hand and that are not too expensive. That way when I do I mess up and inevitably I will, I am not wasting a whole bunch of material and losing a whole bunch of money!
A gemstone that I already have quite a few of, and that are not real expensive are agate slices.
Agate is a translucent variety of microcrystalline quartz. Agate generally forms by deposits of silica in groundwater the lodges in cavities of igneous rocks. These deposits form concentric layers around the cavity of the rock or in horizontal layers forming banded patterns which are characteristic of agates. Agates can occur in a wide range of colors including, brown, white, gray, black, red, pink and yellow.
Due to the nature of the stone agates also take dye quite readily as in the case of these agate slices of mine.
Agates can be found worldwide. In the United States agates are prevalent in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana and other western states. You may have heard of Montana agate that will often times have pretty picturesque banding patterns. Agates have been around for thousands of years and were some of the earliest stones to be fashioned by people. Not only have they been cut into cabochons and beads for use in rings, earrings and necklaces but they have also been used to make bookends, paperweights, coasters, sculptures and even wind chimes of which I have one. It makes a beautiful sound!
MAE artisan jewelry
MAE artisan jewelry
There are literally hundreds perhaps even thousands of different kinds of agates. I have been “practicing” with agate slices. Recently I used agate slices in brooches that are part of the Luna Collection.
Most of the Luna Collection is now available on my Etsy shop www.MAEartisanjewelry.etsy.com. The brooches you see here will also soon be added. Please contact me if interested before they are available in my Etsy shop.
Agates are said to promote inner stability, composure and maturity. Agates many protective properties are useful when traveling, and are especially effective against traffic accidents. Their protective properties can help to encourage security and self-confidence. Agates are said to stop burning desires for things we do not need. Hmm…I must carry some agates the next time I shoe shop so I don’t end up buying multiple pairs! They can also help to assist those juggling multiple commitments and or jobs.
The different types of agates have certain properties all their own. That will be a discussion for another blog however!
Until next time, keep staying safe. Coronavirus will soon come to an end so that we can begin a “NEW” normal life!
ENJOY!!
cheryl