Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Gemstone Necklace in Spider Web Agate and Bronze

Dragon Vein Agate Necklace in Bronze
Agate is a variegated class of chalcedony that usually exhibits with colored bands or other markings. It is often used and worn in order to help transform and eliminate negativity as well as find a balance between the intellectual, physical and emotional centers of the body.

In the handmade gemstone necklace pictured in today's post, agate is the theme of the piece. The spider web agate used in this piece is both earthy and bold with a smoky shimmer to the body of the beads and dark bands of inky black within the stone.

T
his spider web agate and bronze necklace has been created by hand from a large chunk of spider web agate designed into a pendant hanging from a hand-crafted chain of more spider web agate beads combined with fresh water pearls and lots of bronze tone accents. An extender chain at the nape makes the necklace able to be worn at a variety of lengths.



Monday, April 11, 2011

Lampwork Easter Bunny Charm Bracelet

Charm Bracelet with White Bunny Lampwork Beads
In celebration of the upcoming Easter holiday, I designed this lampwork Easter Bunny charm bracelet from a variety of beautiful pink and white beads clustered along the length of a silver plated chain with glass flower beads and lampwork Easter Bunny charms added in.

This handmade charm bracelet is a perfect celebration of spring and a wonderful reminder of the traditions of Easter and the Easter Bunny from our past.

The Easter Bunny is a character depicted as a rabbit bringing Easter eggs, who sometimes is depicted with clothes. In legend, the creature brings baskets filled with colored eggs, candy and sometimes also toys to the homes of children on the night before Easter. The Easter Bunny will either put the baskets in a designated place or hide them somewhere in the house or garden for the children to find when they wake up in the morning.

The Easter BunnyThe Easter Bunny was introduced to the United States by the German settlers who arrived in the Pennsylvania Dutch country during the 18th century. The arrival of the Osterhase (Easter Hare) was considered one of "childhood's greatest pleasures", similar to the arrival of Kris Kringle on Christmas Eve.

According to the tradition, children would build brightly colored nests, often out of caps and bonnets, in secluded areas of their homes. The "Osterhase" would, if the children had been good, lay brightly colored eggs in the nest. As the tradition spread, the nest has become the manufactured, modern Easter basket, and the placing of the nest in a secluded area has become the tradition of hiding baskets and eggs for children to find on their Easter Egg hunts.

[Information on Easter and the Easter Bunny provided by Wikipedia.]