Opal vs Fire Opal

The biggest difference between an Opal and a Fire Opal?

The base color of the Gem.

Milky:                                         Orange-y                             

Opal Pendant

Fire Opal Lariat

          

Both have flashes of color from within the Gem.

An Opal, whether from Australia, Ethiopia, or Brazil will show flashes of all colors of the Rainbow.

A Fire Opal, whether from Mexico, Central America, or US, will show flashes of predominantly Reds, Yellows, and Oranges.

OPAL                                              FIRE OPAL

Enhance Creativity                         Awaken Inner Fire

Release Anger                                Release of Bottled Up Emotions-quickly, possibly

Claim Self Worth                           Increases Self-Confidence

Helps Express TRUE Self             Revitalize and Reenergize

Release Inhibitions                        Helps Heal Traumas of Past

Intensify Emotions                        Amplifies Energy

Helps Find Love                            Attracts Money and Customers  

Both are Fragile. Softer Gemstones that require a little extra caution and care. 

Avoidance of high heat, drying out, and bumping against hard surfaces. Simple damp cloth for polishing.

BUT, the Beauty of the Gem makes the precautions well worth the effort.

 

Simple Photographs of Opal are difficult, because the Beauty of the Gem is in the Colorplay. Colorplay that is usually only visible while viewing from multiple angles. SO video is my go to.

Why All the Spirals?

The other day at one of the Art/Craft Fairs that I have been doing, someone that has been following me for a while, asked me if there was a reason for all the spirals in many of the newer designs?

Without missing a beat, I told a story of when I am creating a Spiral, I start with an end of my wire-my center-and start wrapping, or Spiraling Out. 

Around and around. 

Each twist-no matter how wonky, crooked, or perfect-takes me one step further in my growth as an Artist/Person. Culminating in a finished piece of Art-and Personal Growth.

This flowed out without even a thought of why I was saying what I was saying. I was just speaking from My Heart-My Core.

As an Artist, I do what fells NATURAL at the time.

Yet, that had gotten me thinking about the WHY. 

Why the Spirals? 

And why All of a sudden-although, I have often used this motif in the past, but never SO MUCH?

So I did what everyone seems to do, a quick Internet search...

I  discovered that Spirals-such a simple design-have represented such concepts such as EVOLUTION, LIFE, CREATION...Anything but simple.

Artists in past civilizations, Celtic in particular, have used this symbol to represent/facilitate the creative process. Helping to release the creative process. Allowing them to tap into that part of their mind where Dreams and Intuition dominate. 

Bringing them into the Physical World.

So, without realizing it, I have been tapping into a part of my psyche that lies dormant-BUT NOT VERY DORMANT-and kinda restless. 

My Journey as an Artist has been series of Starts and Stops. Ups and Downs.

BUT I have never quit, even when roadblocks-Real or Imagined-have shown up, I have always sensed my path. 

Those “stops and starts”, I now realize were those “wonky or crooked twists”.

I have never given up the Dream. 

I have recently given That Dream a name.

#OperationStayatHomePuppyDaddy 

I still have to fight to stay on that path, in order to see just WHERE it will lead, but at least I KNOW that I am on the RIGHT Path.

Every Wonky, Crooked, or Perfect twist is one step closer to the realization of ME.

It is part of my Journey as an Artist. 

NEVER ALONE

Recently, for whatever reasons, I have been thinking about certain elements that have made themselves VERY apparent in my Jewelry Designs.
Specifically, BRAIDS. 
They have been present a lot more in recent designs. AND double braids particular.

Blue Topaz Satellite Pendant

I

began 
to 
wonder 
why.




It came to me when a coworker had to realize the consequences to some of their actions.
Nothing dire.
Basically, just what it means to be an Adult.

Those doubled strands of Silver are always on the same path. Going in the same direction.


Never 

Braided Silver Bangle Bracelet

alone

There may be twists and turns, sometimes not perfectly smooth or expected, BUT always there is the other present.

Fire Opal Pendant

It made me think that in Life, We are never alone.
There is always a guiding force-A Husband, A Wife, Our Parents, A Friend, Your Personal Goals, A Higher Power-guiding our way.
No matter the direction we are heading, we are aways heading somewhere.
Every path is leading us Home-back to Ourselves.
Sometimes We realize it, sometimes We feel like We are floundering. Meandering.



BUT We are always heading towards something.

INSOMNIA

Why can I not get a good night’s sleep?
I am sitting here at 1:52AM. My eyes are burning. They are actually  tearing up.
One of My Pups is sound asleep, dreaming, right beside Me-The other went to bed hours ago. The Hubby is snoring-I can hear him.
I should take their heed.
I created 3 different spreadsheets to gage how profitable this whole Jewelry Business thing is-CAN BE.
I am putting off going to bed
WHY?

There is a an idea percolating. A NEW Design.
In my mind I am working through all of the specifics of the Design.
I have a feeling that with THIS one there will be quite a bit of deconstruction in conjunction with the construction. But, if I can get it right, it will be AMAZING.
A TRUE Statement Piece, yet more affordable for many...
BUT, I need a day off to play with the metals and stones.
MONDAY
That is the next day off.
That is the next opportunity for REAL concentration.
I have no doubt that I will be able to get a successful Design out of all of this.
Until then, I have 3 more nights of non-sleep/minimal sleep. 2 days of shuffling through a work day trying to sell somebody else’s product.

You KNOW I will post pictures of the finished product.

Dreaming Big in 2020

Stay-at-Home Puppy Daddy.
AND Jewelry Designer.

#TheThundrGirls need Me at Home

Being a Jewelry Designer CAN allow me to be that Stay-at-Home Puppy Daddy.

How am I going to do this?

HARD WORK

We are 2 weeks into 2020, and I am working to get most of my pieces listed on Etsy-Yes I am trying this platform again.
I am working on getting those same pieces listed on DeAndreaDesigns.squarespace.com

I am already looking into traveling locally a bit more to do Craft/Vendor Shows. I am learning that the Craft Shows require a different level of inventory.
A constant Learning Process.

ThundrCrest hosts DeAndreaDesigns

I am going to open my Home a little more for Events. I really like these smaller more intimate Events.
To be able to support Myself, My Husband, My Pups.
This is MY Dream.
AND THAT IS JUST BIG ENOUGH.


One of my coworkers and I were watching a YouTuber who in just 6 years went from BROKE to Living his Life in Designer clothing, Living in a mansion, driving customized vehicles, AND has one of the TOP cosmetic companies.
This is his Dream, and his Dream is HUGE. He is an over the top personality. THAT is perfect for HIM, but not for Me.

Stay-at-Home Puppy Daddy/Jewelry Designer. THAT is MY DREAM.

That is the NEW Dream-but is it REALLY NEW?

The Black Star of Queensland-A Star Sapphire

A little while ago I posted a photo of a Star Sapphire Ring that I had just finished. I was amazed at the number of people commented that they-or their Mothers-had had one when they were younger.
My own Mother had one.

Follow along on FaceBook
https://www.facebook.com/DeAndreaDesigns-248159268885/

I remember being fascinated at how the “Star” seemed to float on the surface of the Stone. How, depending on the lighting it was stronger, or even nonexistent.
I have always liked the Gem.
I loved seeing the “Star”-or asterism.
There was something almost magical about that “Star”...BUT of course it isn’t magic.
That asterism is the result of a series of needle like inclusions that intersect with one another to create a 6 ray star pattern. Best shown under a single light source.
Star Sapphire occurs naturally in every color that Sapphires do.
Blue.
Pink.
Orange.
Yellow.
Green.
Grey.
Black.
Blue, however, is the most desirable.

Most Star Sapphires are on the smaller side-perfect for use in Rings and Pendants, BUT occasionally, You find LARGE GEMS. Introducing “The Black Star of Queensland”...

The Black Star of Queensland. By greyloch .

Until recently "The Black Star of Queensland” was the largest Star Sapphire known. Measuring in at 733ct, it was found in the mid 1930’s in it’s namesake of Queensland, Australia.  A 12 y.o. boy by the name of Roy Spencer found the stone, brought it home to his father, who worked in the Industry. They used it as a doorstop for 9 years thinking that is was just another black crystal.
The Elder Spencer inspected the Stone a bit more closely over the years. He realized that there WAS something Special about the Stone.
In 1947 he sold the Stone to Henry Kazanjian for $18K-which he used to build a new Family Home.
Kazanjian studied the Stone before cutting and revealing “The Black Star of Queensland” buried deep inside-sacraficing 400+cts in the process.
The Stone has since been loaned to numerous museums, and been showcased on TV-Most notably around the neck of CHER in the late 60’s early 70’s.
“The Black Star of Queensland” was again sold. This time to an Artist and his Socialite Girlfriend for $500K-the money going to set up scholarships in Gemology.
After a legal battle to determine ownership “The Black Star of Queensland” now resides in Switzerland with the Socialite Girlfriend.

Time to start DREAMING BIG

WOW...Some things never change.
Reading over some older posts-like some of the Originals-where I was trying to find that balance between Work/Life...Yep, I am still searching for it.
Carving out a few minutes a day for DeAndreaDesigns is going to have to be a priority.
I have been posting more. Creating/Tempting my audience.
I have been creating a little more. Playing with NEW Designs.
I have been re-evaluating past Designs.
Even selling one or two of them. They were that good, but got lost in the shuffle.
Some just need finishing touches before they are ready to be seen...
SOME are JUST PLAIN bad, and will NEVER be seen. They are destined for a “Deconstruction Day”. Not a bad thing, sometimes the act of deconstructing something tells you more about how to properly construct it.
What I am learning, is that I will always be trying to find a balance between doing what I love, and the satisfaction of being able to pay the bills.
I am always going to be trying to be BETTER at the balance.
If my time away from DeAndreaDesigns has taught me anything...It is that I HAVE to find time for Myself.
Whether it is an hour at the gym.
OR
15 minutes outside with the dogs.

My baby Grendel

My baby Prudence

I have to take that time that I am just chilling
in the mornings/evenings and apply it to DeAndreaDesigns. If I don’t I will NEVER get out of Retail for someone else.
Like the caption on the Aqua Pendant says, “If you dream big enough, it can happen for you too”
Time to start DREAMING BIG!!!