LAST DAY!!! Minerals Harder Than Quartz

40 specimens of minerals have been placed in our current theme auction. The focus this week is on minerals with a
hardness greater than that of quartz. Please feel free to take a look at:

http://auction2.mineral-auctions.com

FYI, the measure of minerals hardness is generally given using Mohs Scale. This was devised in 1812 by Friedrich Mohs using 10 commonly available minerals. Because of this, it is usually easy to find the 10 reference minerals (with the possible exception of diamonds). There is a good summary to be found at:

http://www.allaboutgemstones.com/mohs_hardness_scale.html

It includes a graphical comparison to absolute hardness. The numbers refer to the ability of one mineral to scratch the surface of another. This can get confusing when some harder minerals tend to crumble (we might call them
friable), have strong cleaveages (it is easy to cleave topaz even though it is quite hard), or have different hardness in different directions (kyanite). So, have fun looking and think a bit about how you might use hardness to identify
an unknown mineral.

One interesting usage of the harder than quartz question is whether or not a mineral is suitable for use in a ring. Since quartz is a common component of dust, you might not want to choose something softer than quartz as it will get scratched over time.

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Thanks once again Keith I love these themed auctions and the information that comes along with it!

Trinity Mineral Company Auctions

Margaux Lange on Silent Sunday...

Margaux Lange can be found at:

http://margauxlange.com

http://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/MargauxLange

Christine Dhein's Green Jewelry News!

Summer Exhibitions Go Green! Reclaim, Renew, Reuse, Repurpose Left: 21st Century Breastplate in repurposed circuit boards, brass and rubber by Christine Dhein. Right: Maharaja's 6th in repurposed LEGO by emiko oye As an artist who has been making jewelry from recycled materials for over a decade, I am very aware of the growing interest from both the public and the art world in this type of art. Ten years ago, there wasn't much interest in or understanding of jewelry made from recycled materials. This summer, I have been invited to participate in several exhibitions with the theme of reuse. When my work is on exhibit, I include statements to communicate ideas and challenge beliefs about consumption with the hope of inspiring viewers to see the potential value in the discarded in a whole new way. At the opening reception of re/Purposed (details below) two ladies were admiring my 21st Century Breastplate. When they found out I was the artist, they exclaimed in unison, "One man's trash is another man's treasure!" I knew my message had been heard loud and clear! re/Purpose to use or convert for use in another format or product The work of Christine Dhein and emiko oye is featuerd in re/Purpose, the opening exhibition at the new African American Art & Culture Complex'sSargent Johnson Gallery in San Francisco from July 23 - Oct 11, 2009. The opening reception was a huge success! emiko oye and Christine Dhein in front of their work at the opening reception of re/Purpose Reclaim, Reuse, Renew Christine Dhein's work will be featured in Reclaim, Reuse, Renew, at the Atrium Gallery, Ball State University from August 25 - September 26, 2009. Christine Dhein is a jewelry designer, author, and eco-educator who has been using recycled materials for over ten years. Christine's jewelry can be purchased online atobjectfetish.com. via Green Jewelry News

VOSTENAKstudios Wins National Jewelry Award & Business Grant

VOSTENAKstudios is the 2009 winner of a national competition sponsored by Halstead Bead, Inc. The Jewelry Design Business Development Grant is awarded to a new jewelry design entrepreneur each year in recognition of design talent and business acumen.

Valerie Ostenak will receive a $6,000 grant of start up capital and supplies in recognition of her entrepreneurial skills and design talents. VOSTENAKstudios collections are available online at www.valerieostenak.com.

In response to winning the award Ostenak said, "I am absolutely thrilled and deliriously happy to be the 2009 winner. I am still laughing with joy!"

Ostenak’s artistic experience includes traditional jewelry training, blacksmithing, graphic design and painting. The influences of each of these media converge in her jewelry creations. Designs are crafted from Argentium sterling silver and embellished with high karat gold accents, freshwater pearls and semi-precious gemstones.

The VOSTENAKstudios line is contemporary with fluid lines and great attention to detail. Ostenak’s unique style is easily recognizable in every piece. She creates one of-a-kind statement necklaces, hairpieces and earrings with delicately intertwined metalwork in her Woven Collection. Her Ribbon Collection consists of more simple hammered styles with a highly reflective finish.

“These designs are stunning,” said Hilary Halstead Scott, a competition judge, “I literally gasped when I opened her submission packet to a portfolio montage page. It is rare to find work that is so unlike anything else in the industry.”

VOSTENAKstudios joins a distinguished group of jewelry designers who have received the Jewelry Design Business Development Grant in past years: Ananda Khalsa Jewelry, Belle Brooke Designs and Bridgland Studios. Halstead Bead Inc sponsors the annual competition for new companies in the mid-level segment of the jewelry industry known as bridge jewelry or art jewelry. Details on the award and all of this year’s top finalists can be found atwww.halsteadbead.com/grant.

Halstead Bead, Inc. is one of North America’s leading jewelry supply wholesalers. The firm was established in 1973 and supplies professional jewelry designers and manufacturers around the globe.

How to Remove a Stuck Ring

A great step by step with photos at wikiHOW...

How to Remove a Stuck Ring

Has it been a while since you took off a ring? Did you try on a ring that seemed big enough going on but won't readily come off? Don't panic, and don't rush to cut it off either. There are some simple things you can do to remove it safely.

http://www.wikihow.com/Remove-a-Stuck-Ring

This would be a great link for a jewelers website - good photos and well written instructions...

What Inspires You? New Inspired Design Contest Announced

2009 INSPIRED DESIGN CONTEST

We invite members of the designer community to share their unique, original earring, ring, and pendant designs along with the story of their inspiration.

Show us quality, creative, manufacturable designs and tell us how you were inspired to create them for your chance to win cool prizes and cash.

PRIZES

First Prize:

Wacom CintiQ monitor - Get the best-of-class interactive pen experience, only available on the Wacom CintiQ interactive monitor. The 21.3” TFT screen delivers a highly sensitive pen-on-screen experience and a generous active area for working directly on large images, concepts,

and designs in the most natural way possible -Value: $1999 - plus $1,000 cash

Second Prize:

Canon EOS Rebel XSi camera and macro lens -Capture some incredible shots with the 12.2 Megapixel Canons EOS Rebel XSi Digital SLR camera with point-and-shoot ease,The EOS Rebel XSi brings staggering technological innovation to the masses. Use the Canon Macro Lens for a broader range of photographic applications. Lens specifications: 60 mm - F/2.8 -Value: $1100 - plus $500 cash

Third Prize:

iPod Touch - Get music, movies, games, applications and internet on Apple’s premier Touch-screen iPod. (32 GB) -Value: $399.00 - plus $100 cash

SUBMITTED DESIGNS

The submitting designer will keep all ownership of and copyrights to the designs submitted for the contest. The contributing designer grants Paragon Lake a license to the submitted designs under the Official Contest Rules and the Designer Agreement so that the submitted designs may be included in the Virtual Display Case (VDC) or the Paragon Lake website.

In addition to being considered for the Design Contest, any designs submitted for this contest, that are approved for display and sale on our Virtual Display Case (VDC) will receive a royalty for each piece sold as per our Designer Agreement. For additional details on royalty payments, please refer to the Designer Agreement within the Designer Portal.

The winning designs will also be featured on our website and will be showcased on Paragon Lake’s Virtual Display Case (VDC) as a Paragon Lake Design Contest Winner.

HOW TO ENTER THE DESIGN CONTEST

You must register to be a Paragon Lake designer to enter the Inspired Design Contest. No purchase or payment is required to enter. Entries should be uploaded through the Paragon

Lake Designer Portal.

Exhibit: Surrealist Jewels

Surrealist Jewels

Jewelled Starfish brooch by Salvador Dali was a shocker in more ways than one

By Bernadette Morra

Spontaneity was one feature of Surrealism, the art movement which had a significant impact on the worlds of design, theatre, fashion, film, architecture, and advertising through the 1930s.

But there is nothing spontaneous about Salvador Dali’s Starfish brooch. Each arm of the life-size pearl, diamond, ruby and emerald pin is fully articulated so that it can wrap around a hand like fingers.

The brooch is just one of nine extraordinary fine jewelry pieces included in Surreal Things, an exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario which runs until August 30, 2009. - for more -

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This show also features the jewelry works of Calder and art from most of the surrealist movement - Giorgio de Chirico, Marcel Duchamp, Max Ernst, René Magritte, Joan Miró, Meret Oppenheim, Man Ray and Elsa Schiaparelli. Looks like something worth looking into!