OPAL-Tangible Rainbows

I have no idea where the month of September went.
Suddenly it is cooler and the leaves are changing colors-there was even snow in the mountains not too far from here the other day.

Boulder Opal wrapped in FineSilver

Yes, October is here.  And with October comes a new Birthstone. It is actually the perfect birthstone for this month as the leaves change, and we see color everywhere.  Opals have within them all the colors of the rainbow locked within.

Many Ancient Cultures have revered Opal.

Ancient Romans believed that Opals contained all of the light of Precious Gemstones within...

“You will see the living Fire of Ruby,

Glorious Purple of Amethyst, 

Sea Green of Emerald, 

all glittering together in an incredible mixture of light.”

                                                                     Pliny, 200BC

Australian Aborigines believed that the Creator came to Earth with a Message of Peace.  Walking upon a Rainbow Road, every place that his foot touched the ground small tangible pieces of that Rainbow Road were left.  There must have been locations where the Creator lingered longer than others.  These Opal Outcroppings became sacred spots to the Aborigines.

Throughout History Opals have been prized for their flashes of Color.
As a Stone of HOPE.
As a Stone of FORTUNE.
A Symbol of PURITY.

Whether your Birthstone or not a definite must have for any Collector of Gems/Jewelry.

I Cannot Sleep-Not Always A Bad Thing

Monday Morning...4:47AM to be exact, and I cannot sleep.

There is an idea formulating in my head utilizing the latest wrapping technique-that I am LOVING-and incorporating it into a ring.  I have been thinking about it for about a week now, but the specifics are just starting to come through.

7ct BlueTopaz and Twisted FineSilver

I am not the type of Artist/Designer that can sketch out my designs whenever they come to me and then revisit at a later date.

It is a case of use it or lose it.

I have tried sketching designs for myself that come in the middle of the night.  
I used to have a “Dream Diary” that I would record-or try to record-ideas and sketches in. It did not work. In the morning it all looked like a mass of meaningless squiggles.
Or, I would have gone to the Studio/spare bedroom to work it out, but since I have opened the DeAndeaDesigns and moved all my supplies there, that is not an option.
I have to try to keep the idea fresh in my head until I can get to the Store to experiment. Even then it is not a guarantee, as I cannot force a Design until it is ready.

NOPE. Sketching Jewelry Design Ideas does not work for me.

In some ways it is like giving birth without the weight gain, swollen ankles, or LaborPains...There are sometimes weird cravings, though. AND sleeplessness until it is ready.

Doing what I Have To

I have been working Nights and Weekends outside the store.  Actually waiting tables to help bridge the gap until I become a Destination in the Neighborhood.
As far as the work itself goes, it is not difficult. The hours are rough, but I have yet to feel a drain on my energy within the Store.
Even though, I am getting only a few hours sleep before each shift, I am still in the Store at my appointed hours.
Still working on New Pieces of Jewelry, AND New Designs.

“Twisted” FineSilver, GreyPearl Necklace.

Still putting the time in after hours to work on the Website and Social Media-Facebooking, Tweeting etc...
Still holding Special Events in the Store.
Private Parties.
Participating in Neighborhood Promotions.

I am gonna do whatever I have to make this adventure succeed, and someday I won’t have to work in a restaurant-especially 11P-7A and be Bright-eyed and Bushy-Tailed for my time at the Store.

SRI LANKA-“Old Fathiful” of Sapphire Production

I had started researching Famous Large Sapphires-I Love it when “research” involves reading about intrigue, drama and History.  What I soon discovered was that many of the Largest Sapphires known to Man today originated in Sri Lanka.

I remember hearing the term “Ceylon Sapphires”-and, yes, I realize I am dating myself-and thought it only referred to the Color of the Stone. They were always so Beautiful.

Bright.

Princess Di’s Engagement Ring

Vibrant.

Fiery.

I did not realize that it referred to the origin of the Stone itself. Ceylon becoming Sri Lanka in 1972.

OK. So back to Large Sapphires.
I found that the largest piece of Rough material, a WHOPPING 42 pounds, was found in Sri Lanka.
The Blue Giant of the Orient, 466 ct
The Logan Blue Sapphire, 422.99 ct
The Blue Belle of the Orient, 400 ct
ALL found in Sri Lanka.
So these are all Famous Stones that have been known for quite awhile, but it got me to thinking about where Today’s Sapphires are coming from.
This is what I found...

Kasmir, which has historically produced MANY large Noteworthy Gems, has not been producing anything since the 1920’s.

Burma has decided to focus on the more plentiful Rubies that abound there.

Pallin, in Cambodia, is just too troubled of a region to rely upon for Gem production.

Thailand’s Katchanaburi region has been mined out.

And, finally Madagascar, which was promising.  The miners have been asked to leave...WHY?

That leaves Sri Lanka. And with technological advances, a lot of the sapphire material that in the past was considered not worth much of anything, can now be utilized, Gem-Quality Valuable Sapphire.
Keeping former Ceylon, the “Old Faithful” of Sapphire Production...Steady and Reliable.

SAPPHIRE...A Stone of the Heavens

September’s Birthstone is Sapphire. A Corundum.

Most people think of Sapphire as only coming in that Gorgeous Cornflower Blue Color.  Actually it comes in a variety of colors from Clear, white, to Greens, Yellows, Pinks and Reds-however RED Corundums are called Rubies.  There are even Sapphires that will change color depending upon the lighting-maybe that is where the myth of Sapphires telling of one partners fidelity, or lack of, by changing color when one cheated...

Sapphires have been prized by Rulers since about 800BC. Believed to bring Wisdom, Good Fortune, Sincerity, and Faithfulness to the possessor, is it any wonder that many Countries Crown Jewels and Collections include numerous Sapphires?

For Spiritual Leaders, Sapphires are said to be a Stone of the Heavens-A reflection of Divine Favor.
A Guardian of Innocence.
A Preserver of Chastity.
A Banisher of Evil.
The 10 Commandments were said to be written on tablets of Sapphire-now that is Divine Favor.

Today, you only need to Rule your own Life to possess a Sapphire. Us commoners can allow Sapphires to bestow upon us, what was once only for the Rich and Powerful.

Orange Sapphire FineSilver Pendant

But what Color Sapphire do you want to own?

Sapphire Heart FineSilver Ring

Sapphire Cluster FineSilver Bracelet

BLUE......For Love and Purity.
                 Also Facilitates Self-Expression.
YELLOW.To attract Wealth and Prosperity to your Home
                   Also leads to the Fulfillment of your Ambitions
BLACK....For Centering and Grounding
                  Aids in Achieving Confidence in your own Intuition
PINK......To Clear away Emotional Baggage
                Bringer of Peace and Unconditional Love
WHITE...For Extreme Protection
                Focuses Morality and Justice
INDIGO..To enhance Psychic Awareness
                Eliminates Negative Energies
GREEN...To bring about Loyalty and Fidelity
                Improves Internal and External Vision

ANOTHER FEAR-Not quite conquered, but faced

 WOW.
It has been almost a month since I last posted anything.
I knew I had been busier this month, but just did not realize how busy.
Last month, I found, was a Fluke. A convergence of negative energies, and poor choices. All of which resulted in insecurities and poor sales.
I am learning that I can deal with the poor sales better than the insecurities.

I have never been the type to ask for help, but once I put out that I needed a little help-and without realizing that I had.  Help arrived.
Friends and Family rallied around me,  just reminding me, well, of who I am.

I just needed to know that people still believed in my Dream as much as I did to reinvigorate my Passion.

One of the Lessons that I am learning being a Business Owner is that...
No one person can do everything on their own.
Always believing that I can do it better on my own. That my way is the Best way, if not the ONLY way.  Well, that bubble has been burst. I do need help from time to time-Everyone does.

That does not  mean that I don’t still want to know how to do everything. That I won’t try to do it on my own, but I am not as afraid to ask for help. I am sure that there quite a few things that I am doing that may be done better. Or things that I am just missing out on, and when I find them I will not hesitate to ask.

Peridot Pendant by  DeAndreaDesigns

Another outcome of all of this?
While trying to control everything, I have been able to adapt one of my wrapping techniques to accommodate much smaller Stones. Ones that I thought I would just have sitting around looking pretty. Now there is one less thing that I feel that I cannot handle.

The Rent is Paid for Another Month

July was a rough month.

6ct Peridot with FineSilver Bezel

I was always told that July and August were the 2 slowest months of the year.  

With Families wanting to spend time together before the kids head bak to school, and so many outdoor activities, it is little wonder. And, even though, I have worked retail for more years than I care to recall, I somehow forgot JUST HOW SLOW it can be.

Pair that with a failed PT job that cut into the hours I had available to be in the Store, is it little wonder that I laid awake in bed many nights just wondering how the bills were going to be paid?

I started to question whether I should really be trying to do this right now.
The Economy-or lack of one-being on the News every night only helped to reinforce the idea that the timing was not right.

I have no back-up plan.
I have no resources to fall back on if I don’t sell enough.
I really am taking a Leap of Faith.

Those nights in bed just lying there awake can be cruel. I questioned everything.

But during the light of day, while I was in the Store-oftentimes all alone-I KNEW this was the Right Thing to be doing, and at the Right Time.
Family and Best Friends rallied around me-without realizing they were. They are truly my Angels.

I decided to ignore those voices that were keeping me awake at night.

Lo and behold, I found my strength again. My Faith.
I went back to a former employer, got a job waiting tables that, while I am going to be exhausted, will not cut into Store hours at all.
I followed up on a sales prospect that I thought was dead-not dead just lost.
I have been adding more and more items to my Website, DeAndreaDesigns.com.

While August is looking up-definitely better than July-there is still a long way to go.
But the Rent is paid for another month.