Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Back to the blog....

Been awhile. I've been busy. I work with my husband in his lawn service sometimes. Well, a few weeks ago when Florida got hit with the Artic Blast, a lot of the plants & flowers on our customer's properties got hit really hard. So, I spent a week out there trimming back flowers in hopes they'll come back. So far, so good!
So, as of now, I'm going to landscaping school! Just started Monday & I can honestly say I don't think I've ever been in a class that so comfortable & laid back. There are only 13 of us in the class which makes it even better! My instructor's a hoot and keeps thing interesting!
I also poured my first resin today! I've been thinking about it for awhile; did a lot of research & price comparison on where to buy products. Finally got everything I needed and did my first pour today! I'm so excited!!!! I don't know if I can wait 'til it cures. I LOVE the way resin looks & I love the idea that the possibilites are endless with it. Today I just did some basics ~ a black bracelet, a pearl bracelet & some basic pearl shapes that could later become pendents or earrings. I'll NEVER give up my gemstone bracelets. I LOVE gemstones too much & they are a part of me I'll never be able to let go of. But sometimes, it's fun to mix things up a little bit & try new things. I'll keep you posted & when the resin pops out, I'll post pics!

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Gemstones 101

Gemstones 101

As I stated before, there are way more gemstones out there than just diamonds, emeralds, rubies, & sapphires. But before I get into other gemstones, let’s get to basics and find out just where gemstones come from & what they’re all about.

The information I am about to share with you comes from one of three books. The first one is The Crystal Bible by Judy Hall. It is, well ~ my bible! The second one is Love Is In the Earth by Melody. The third one is The Illustrated Guide to Crystals also by Judy Hall. All of these books are filled with a wealth of information regarding gemstones and their properties!

Let’s get to it!

The way crystals are formed is a very long, drawn out lesson. So, in a nut shell, I’ll say this! Crystals come from the earth. They are the earth’s DNA. They have been used for thousands of years for healing, protection and adornment. To ancients, crystals were sacred gifts from the earth. They have magical and spiritual qualities and have been used through the years by priests, medicine men, rulers and shamans as symbols of spiritual and temporal authority. The richness, rarity and variety of gemstones have been valued by many. They have long been considered great objects of beauty & power. Crystals have been used to treat food, water, plants, animals and humans.

In today’s world, people wear gemstones not knowing the meaning of the stone. But they do know it makes them feel good ~ this is because of the energy the stones emit. Crystals come in various shapes, sizes, forms, and once retrieved from the earth, are polished and shaped. They can be used to protect, attract, heal, decorate, whatever you need it to do. Once you’ve received a gemstone, you must cleanse it in order for it to serve its purpose. That’s a blog for another day….

Until then…have a great weekend!