Featured this Week: Turquoise-- A Sacred Gemstone

Turquoise has been a "prized" stone for many years. It was used to make jewelry by the Egyptians and it was "honored" by the Native American Indians.

The colors of turquoise range from blue to green. The more copper in the stone the bluer it is and the more iron in the stone the greener it is.

It's name means "Turkish Stone" as it came to Europe by way of Turkey.

Turquoise is found all over the world in places where volcanic activity has occurred. It is found here in the US, Mexico, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Tibet.

The turquoise found in Iran is known to be of the highest quality. It was first mined there over 6,000 years ago. However, not much is exported now. Today much of turquoise comes from Mexico, the U.S., and China.

Here is a list of words that has long been associated with turquoise:

Protection, wisdom, energy, serenity, wholeness, self-expression, creativity, peace of mind, emotional balance, good luck, spiritual grounding, honest communication, friendship, love and loyalty. Absorbs negativity.

These are some of the "Metaphysical Properties" of turquoise:

Protects and blesses the wearer.

Brings wisdom.
Enhances communication. Absorber of negativity.
Excellent grounding stone--it helps us to better understand ourselves bringing emotions and ideas under control.

Strengthens and calms the mind and body.

Excellent healing stone.

Some of the healing properties of turquoise:

Neutralizes overacidity
Alleviates rheumatism, gout, stomach problems, viral infections
Increases growth, muscular strength
Alleviates pain, relaxes cramps
Contains anti-inflammatory and detoxifying effects

It is easy to see why turquoise has long been known as a sacred gemstone.

Please share your turquoise beads, pendants, and designs using turquoise in our Artfire thread:

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=forums&op=view_topic&tid=7068&topic_src=1

Featured Studio: Divapixie

The featured studio this week is "Diva Pixie-Fools and Jewels" aka Cindy.
This is a fabulous studio because Cindy uses a full gamet of jewelry making techniques to create her jewelry pieces. You will also find a number of different styles also.
Cindy has been beading since she was 14 years old. Since then she has taught herself a number of jewelry techniques. Her many skills are truly enviable. Just listen to them--she can weave beads on a loom, she can wire wrap, she can string, she makes pendants, beads, and other focals from resin, she can create beads from natural items like flower petals, spices, paper, she can fuse glass, and now she has been exploring the world of polymer clay.
Okay, so now you can understand why I say that she is truly enviable.

Here are some of the wonderful pieces showcased in "Diva Pixie--Fools and Jewels"

Earrings:




Bracelets:



Rings:




Necklaces:

Cindy has quite an interesting and busy life. She works as an elementary music teacher, she is involved with the local community theater in Dodge City, Kansas where she lives. She has many hobbies and interests like knitting, crocheting, sewing, painting, writing, acting, singing, dancing, and let's not forget designing and creating jewelry. Whoa, this is one creative and active lady. I for one can not keep up with her.

Btw, Cindy also loves to do jewelry repairs, custom orders and make puppets too. Her studio has a section with some really cute hand puppets that you must check out.

Okay, I'm done. Now, please visit this studio to see all the wonderful things for yourself.

As always you are invited to leave a comment at the end of this article--it will certainly be a pleasant experience for sure.

Featured: CalysJewelryCreations

Our Featured Studio this week is "CalysJewelryCreations" aka Dawn.
This is a wonderful studio that showcases jewelry with a very strong "ocean and beach" influence.
Of course, there is a reason for this. There once was a time when Dawn had a desire to become a Marine Biologist. But, as we all know life is unpredictable and has many different roads for us to travel down.
The road that Dawn has traveled is the one of the crafter--sounds familiar???
Dawn loves working with her hands. She has enjoyed needle work, photography, creating mosaics, and working with ceramics. However, creating jewelry has been her greatest passion.
She began creating jewelry about 6 years ago and has never regretted not pursuing the career of a Marine Biologist.
How lucky we are that she has traveled down the road of the crafter.
Dawn's jewelry creations are a lovely reflection of her appreciation and love of the beach, ocean, and nature. Her theme for her jewelry is "funky and fun with beach attitude".

Here are some of her "funky and fun with beach attitude" jewelry creations that are showcased in her studio "CalysJewelryCreations".

Earrings:

Necklaces:

Bracelets:

Here are some of the fabulously funky and lovely "naked sandals" that she is "famous" for creating:

All of Dawn's jewelry is quite unique and beautiful but these naked sandals are really so cool and fun.

When visiting "CalysJewelryCreations" one can not miss how well she has used her love of the ocean and nature in creating her jewelry. She definitely is true to her "funky and fun with beach attitude" theme.

I would also like to thank Dawn for being so supportive of the other members of our guild. You will find her posting on our guild threads on Artfire on a regular basis. So, with this in mind let's be there to support her this week to repay her for her wonderful support.

Now, please take some time to visit her studio to enjoy her many designs.

http://CalysJewelryCreations.artfire.com

Btw, you will also find some lovely jewelry supplies as well.

A Tribute in Hearts and Flowers to Mothers Everywhere

This week the Ajdjss Guild features some of our "hearts and flowers" as a tribute to loving mothers everywhere.

Catinalife

Libertydoll

AndreaTJewelry

GramnanMoore

CreativelyJeweled

LAJewelryDesigns

JayceeCarmelJewelry

AllEarringsandSupplies

VintageFindingsandMore

Beadlady5

These are just a few of the wonderful "hearts and flowers" that you will find in the studios of the Ajdjss Guild--click on our studio links on the right side and you will see so many more wonderful heart and flower tributes to loving MOTHERS everywhere.

The Ajdjss Guild~Studios with unique and beautiful handmade jewelry and fabulous jewelry supplies~

We wish all of you wonderful mothers a very "Happy Mother's Day"