The Amber Room - 8th Wonder of the World

Info for this post is from the Smithsonsian article by Jess Blumberg

Dubbed the "Eighth Wonder of the World," the room that once symbolized peace was stolen by Nazis then disappeared for good.

While many Americans associate amber with the casing for dinosaur DNA in 1993's Jurassic Park, the stone has enthralled Europeans, and especially Russians, for centuries because of the golden, jewel-encrusted Amber Room, which was made of several tons of the gemstone. A gift to Peter the Great in 1716 celebrating peace between Russia and Prussia, the room's fate became anything but peaceful: Nazis looted it during World War II, and in the final months of the war, the amber panels, which had been packed away in crates, disappeared. A replica was completed in 2003, but the contents of the original, dubbed "the Eighth Wonder of the World," have remained missing for decades.

Interested in the whole story? http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/world-history/brief_amber.html

Timothy Meier - Innovator

Tim Meier came to the attention of jewelry enthusiasts in 2007 with his inclusion in the exclusive "Best In Show" listing by JCK magazine following the JCK Las Vegas Jewelry Show.

Always questioning, always striving to understand...a little bit from his website: http://www.timothymeier.com

The Artist

(BTW - this is one of the best "Artist Statements" I've read)

The strength of bones is dictated by the engineering that human beings are unable to replicate. Perfectly adapted to their application. What would be the simplest , most effective way to wrap a finger in metal? What is the most comfortable and appealing necklace that is possible to make? Seashells are formed in a perfect spiral unbeknownst to the mollusk that is forming it one layer of calcium carbonate at a time. for more go to http://www.timothymeier.com/TheArtist.aspx

"It's all about getting people in touch with the primal human urge to make one's self more attractive by decoration. I'm just caught up in the concept that jewelry is culturally universal, and accessible to people on every continent."

Ellipse_________

All of my forms are a discussion in the definition of space. I like to think that my carved forms are something that would spontaneously happen in nature. Each individual piece is delicate, even feminine, and then together the chain becomes tough and masculine. I love that transition that a piece makes from concept to reality.

_______________

The Vision

In America today, 63 percent of women say that they think fine-jewelry on men is sexy and 74 percent of women have purchased jewelry for a man. Why are men being forgotten in commercial jewelry markets? Men who see the Timothy Meier collection of mens jewelry will feel compelled to decorate themselves. Decoration is not something reserved for the fairer sex. There is nothing effeminate about a 4-ounce chain of blackened Sterling silver.

His innovative "Vertabrae" series has won him international acclaim - and I have to say I am a huge fan. Individually carved links - hand cast and hand assembled - available in Sterling, Stainless Steel, and now he has started working in Platinum!

Vertebrae_________

This is the genesis of a number of ideas. Bones have a repulsive/ alluring charm. Whether you are a hard line creationist, or a Darwinian scholar, there is no argument over the miracle of the engineering behind bones. On a trip to West Africa, I noticed bead vendors in the Abidjan market selling snake vertebrae all strung up as jewelry. I was mystified, and rather repulsed. These were the coolest shapes I had ever seen, and I wanted very badly in a primal sort of way to decorate myself in these tribal ornaments. (Without having a dead snake around my neck) Unleash your tribal warrior...

_________________

What is Gemecology?

Gemecology - Gems & Ecology: balancing the benefits and the costs!

About Gemecology

Gems and the Environment is a project of Saleem H. Ali, Ph.D. and Sally Dickinson DeLeon conducted with generous support from The Tiffany & Co. Foundation and several research collaborators. We hope that the site will serve as an educational resource for those interested in improving the living conditions and quality of life of artisinal miners around the globe.

An "artisinal miner" is that little guy - the independant miner that is not operating with the backing of a larger corporate sponsor.

This site teaches about the people, places, and processes of colored gemstone mining around the world. Think about how the ancient practice of artisinal mining interacts with complex ecological and social webs in some of the places where the earth produces amazing pockets of rubies, sapphires and emeralds.

Watch their Featured Film "The Emerald City" from Google Video for an overview of the methods of extracting gems from the earth!
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-866649985079290432&hl=en

9 'gotta have it' fashion trends for spring

There's no better way to celebrate the arrival of spring than with a new wardrobe.

It's safe to say that all women love fashion and there are some trends that are coming for next season you are going to love!

Ken Downing, Fashion Director at Neiman Marcus says its easy to welcome the new season into your wardrobe if you bring the following nine fashion trends for spring into your closet.

1. Downing says PINK is hot in shade for spring. Its the most powerful color in fashion. Wear it with coral for a combination that says "Spring 2009."

2. ONE SHOULDER-DRESSING. According to Downing, shoulders bared themselves on every catwalk, from Paris to New York City.

3. SNAKESKIN ACCESSORIES will also be hot says Downing. Be it a shoe or a handbag, the real deal or a print - reptilian motifs are a must.

4. Downing also says STATEMENT SHOES will create a buzz. You can create excitement from head to toe in sky-high stilettos and sandals with subtle aggression.

5. RUFFLES. According to Downing, these feminine flourishes bring romanticism to skirts, tops and dresses.

6. A Place for everything, and everything in its place. CARRYALLS are big next season. Downing says unstructured handbags are the right pairing for a free-spirited look,

7. COLORFUL CARDIGANS. Downing says consider it the new jacket. This wardrobe essential adds polish to dresses and separates.

8. GRAPHICS. According to Downing graphics are fashion geometry you can understand. Vivid, optic prints are everywhere.

9. Whether turquoise stones are pink and color gems - BOLD JEWELRY is a hot new trend. These statement makers complement bright colors and patterns.

Now start at one and dress yourself to the nines!

...as reported by ABC15.com on 2/11/09 10:52 am

http://snipurl.com/bsht9 [www_abc15_com]

A good friend of mine recently received a strand of hand cut damale turquoise beads for her birthday. They impressed me to the point that I wanted to know more about this specific turquoise deposit.

From the Turqouise Mines of Nevada website:

DAMALE - VARISCITE / FAUSTITE & PAIUTE - TURQUOISE

The Damale mine is located 30 miles east of Austin, Nevada on the east side of Damele Mountain at the south east end of the Simpson Park Range. The site is about a mile southwest of the Dry Creek (Godber) mine. Damale turquoise is distinctive because of the unusual colors the gems in a yellow-green to bright mint green with excellent hardness. The Damele deposit produces very little material of the standard blue colors most people commonly associate with turquoise. Mineralogically, most of the material produced here is likely Variscite, Chalcosiderite or possibly Faustite. The mine consists of a single medium sized open pit excavation. The adjoining Paiute turquoise deposit shares the same hill with the Godber mine, produces material of a standard good blue color. The Damale material is mostly in nugget form, with a webbing consisting of a dark brown to black matrix. Its availability is limited because the mine is fairly small and considerable laying back of the steep pit walls will be required for further production. The mine is worked only sporadically by the owner on a small scale. Due to its rare, bright and attractive colors, Damale is considered a collectible gemstone.

http://nevada-outback-gems.com/Nevada_turq_mines/turquoise_mines_of_nevada.htm

These particular beads were hand cut by Artisan Jeweler William Murdoch...a rock hound and a professional bead and cabochon maker. He put together a pictorial documentary on his process for the "Ask Szarka" blog. He walks through the process of making a natural Ithaca Peak rondelle necklace. Check this article out and all the fun stuff on the Ask Szarka blog http://askszarka.blogspot.com/

Of course now you've seen the original stones that started this journey so now I need to show you what the lovely Szarka did with them...

You can find more of Szarka's handiwork at http://www.szarkas.com

...she is also one of the most trusted gem and bead slingers online: Magpie Gemstones http://www.magpiegemstones.com

This Week In 1905 - Cullinan Diamond!

Rough diamond – the giant Cullinan stone as found in 1905

from http://snipurl.com/ashcr [www_firstscience_com]

This week back in 1905...Frederick Wells discovered the world's largest diamond in the Premier mine, Pretoria, South Africa.

The 1.33-pound colorless behemoth checked in at 3,106 carats.

Named for Sir Thomas Cullinan, who had discovered the mine three years earlier, the colourless stone was purchased by the Transvaal government and was presented (1907) to the reigning British monarch, King Edward VII.

It was cut into 9 large stones and about 100 smaller ones by I.J. Asscher and Company of Amsterdam, famed for their cutting of the "Excelsior diamond", which until the discovery of the Cullinan had been the largest known diamond.

Copy of nine of the diamonds cut from the famous Cullinan diamond, from the "Reich der Kristalle" museum in Munich. The top left one is the Great Star of Africa *

The stones cut from the Cullinan diamond, all flawless, are now part of the British regalia. The largest of these is the second largest cut diamond known and is called the "Great Star of Africa", or Cullinan I, a 530.2-carat, pear-shaped gem set in the English sceptre. Another is the most valuable stone in the imperial state crown, the 317-carat Cullinan II, sometimes called the Second Star of Africa

Today, the largest stones are on display in the Tower of London as part of Britain's crown jewels.

* - This Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons image is from the user Chris 73 and is freely available at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cullinan_Diamond_and_some_of_its_cuts_-_copy.jpg under the creative commons cc-by-sa 2.5 license.

My Favorite Jewelry Sanding Tip!

Credit Given: I learned this from my teacher, Brad Smith at Venice Community Adult School (soon to be Venice Skills Center)...the technique was further explained by my friend Ruth Shapiro (Artisan and Judaica Designer - http://growingupjewish.com ) at the 2008 Demo Day held by Metal Artists Society of So. Calif. (MASSC - http://www.massconline.com ).

The following question has come up several times on forums:

May I ask what files or tools do you use to file the edges inside the piercings so smooth?

If you want a great trick to get into tiny piercings...

Take a sheet of sand paper (choose appropriate grit for your piece)

Turn it grit side down on the table

Cover the back of it with strips of packing tape (the kind with the nylon threads running through it)

Cut strips as thin as you need them to be to fit inside the piercing you are working on.

These strips can be used to thread thru the piercings and, if you have a vise, hold on each end - use a sawing motion to sand.

If you don't have a vise to hold your piece then you can thread the strip thru your piece and actually load the strip into your jewelers saw - voila - you have a hand free to hold your piece!

Photos Courtesy of Yolanda Lumel's Camera Phone with the permission of Judy Bapties (isn't that a great bracelet?)! Thanks Lulu and Judy!