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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.
This 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.
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 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.]
Sometimes when boredom strikes, you just need a little color to stir up the inspiration.
When I was little, my sitter and I used to play a game. We would pick a color then take turns going through the alphabet naming something that was that color. For example, for purple we would start out with "A" and I'd say "Amethyst is purple" and she'd say "Barry's Beetle is purple". We'd take turns like that, going as fast as we can, until either one of us became stumped or got one wrong at which point the other party won.
I had a lot of fun with it when I was little and now, as an adult, I sometimes find myself remembering fondly that game in particular when I'm working on my jewelry.
The piece pictured above is the latest piece that has brought these memories to the surface. These silver and amethyst colored handmade hoop earrings are designed with lots of amethyst glass accents combined with subtle hints of silver accents. Joined together on a silver wire hoop, they create a mysterious style that makes me think of gypsies and moonlight.
For centuries, ancient societies and individuals have believed that stones and crystals are gifts from the earth imbibed with magical powers to help with an individual's every day life as well as healing properties. Today, as then, they continue to be revered by many for these same properties and reasons.
The handmade bracelet pictured above is designed with honey jade combined with burgundy glass beads and antiqued bronze rose charms. Honey jade is believed to be a stone of happiness and joy and has been used for centuries to foster these emotions as well as to encourage serenity and peace during times of need.
Incorporated in this vintage-inspired bracelet, it adds a charming value to an artisan design that can be worn both casually or for dressier occasions.
