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Thursday, April 29, 2021
Fractals and Painted Buntings
Volume 18 Issue 5, May 2021
What's New in May?
The yard is in bloom and the painted buntings have still hung around the feeder. I am not sure why they are still here since they don’t breed here, but it’s still nice to see those bright yellow, blue and red colors bouncing around in my bird feeder. We added a circle of pink geraniums to the base of our little Magnolia tree, so that when the big white blooms start, the pretty pink will be a nice addition to the color. I went with a pale pink and a coral pink bloom.
It looks to be a warm summer already, so I have to enjoy my flowers while I can before the summer heat eats them up. I have planted a lot of the baby milkweed that I have been nurturing for a year alongside the more mature plants from last year. They are all flourishing. I seeded two more big trays of milkweed for next year. I have seen Monarchs flitting about the yard, and one leaf on the milkweed had a small egg. There has been no caterpillar sighting yet, but they will come.
What’s New
Fractal Art Earrings: Lots of new earrings featuring my fractal art work. Paired with crystals and handmade lampwork beads.
Thimbles: More Mother’s Day gift ideas for Mom or Grandma. Don’t forget that Nurse Appreciation Week is May 6-12.
Statement Earrings: Perfect for Zoom calls. Large and bold earrings for every day.
You will find all of my beads, canes and finished jewelry on my website. www.bluemorningexpressions.com
Until next month,
Julie
Things to Look Forward To:
New Products:
Pushpins: I have too many themes to mention here, but from teachers to nurses to friends, I am doing designs as quickly as I can.
Statement Beads: Working on large beads for ZOOM calls and being on camera. Both earrings and pendant necklaces.
Prints and Posters: Bible verse posters and other art featuring hot rods and more are in production.
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
Black is Black
Black is about as classic and classy as you can get. This color adds sophistication to your designs or your art, and those who love black know that it is flattering and easily accessorized. Everything goes with black, and black is not only for goth, it is for elegant wear. It is at home at upscale parties and downtown nightclubs. Some of the most expensive gemstones come in black, and that lends to its exclusivity.
Black Opal
The rarest of all opals and more expensive than black diamonds. This stunning gemstone is filled with fire and color. This gemstone comes from Australia, and October babies sparkle and shine in opal.
Black Diamond
The second most expensive gemstone. Since the diamond starts as a black stone, you would think there would be more of them, but there are not. They hail from Brazil and the Central African Republic. Like any other diamond, they are the birthstone of the April child.
Black Beryl
The more pure a piece of beryl is, the clearer it is, so a black beryl is filled with impurities. They come from Madagascar and Mozambique, and even though they are not as rare as a red beryl, they are still very rare.
Black Pearl
Black pearls are known as Tahitian pearls, and they are rare. My grandmother went to Hawaii one year and opened an oyster. She got a pair of pearls. One was white and one was black. It was a beautiful stone. The oyster may not have felt the same way. February and November lay claim to the pearl as one of their birthstones.
Black Sapphire
The same stone that gives us the ruby is called a sapphire when it is any other color than red. The traditional sapphire is a blue stone, but a black sapphire is not unheard of. These stunning stones are translucent with a six star shine throughout them that is beautiful. The sapphire is the birthstone of the September child.
While all of these hard to find stones are equally gorgeous, there are plenty of more common black gemstones that can be found in today’s jewelry design. The black garnet, zircon and onyx are more readily available. Additionally, designers like to use tourmaline, spinel, moonstone, obsidian (the cabin I lived in was called Obsidian Point because the ground was filled with arrowheads made from the abundance of lava from volcanoes), jasper, hematite and jet.
If you are looking for something classy and elegant, take a look at these beautiful black offerings from handmade artists and designers.
Closeup Black Blister Beetle
Photography & Digital By Colleen Cornelius
The black night tulip bracelet, stretch bracelet
Black Lava Rock Gemstone and Lampwork Stretch Bracelet
Swarovski Jet Black Crystal Teardrop Earrings with Sterling Silver
Black and White Leather Crystal BOHO Wide Cuff 7 1/2 Inch Bracelet
Handmade Black Beaded Bracelet and Earrings Set
Black Hearts Necklace w Silver Filigree Accents Onyx Swarovski Crystals
Druzy Quartz Pendant, Black Onyx 6 mm Faceted Beads 18 inch necklace Earring Set
Skull Crossbones Earrings, Pirate Jewelry Day of the Dead Halloween
Onyx Sardonyx Charm Bracelet, Black Round Puffy Coin Beads, Adjustable To Size Large 9"
Black and White Earrings for Women Drop Buttons
Don't see what you are looking for?
You will find more gift ideas from these designers and artists here:
Orange You Glad it’s Getting Warmer
Feel free to reach out and ask the artists and designers if they could make something just for you.
Enjoy
Julie
Friday, April 23, 2021
Wednesday, April 21, 2021
Royally Purple
Okay, who does not like purple? I know a few of us use it in a majority of our designs, and why not? Purple is the color of royalty because it was so expensive to produce. Remember my Snail Spit post a few years ago? http://bmebluprint.blogspot.com/2013/04/oh-snail-spit-and-drama.html
Here are some of the most expensive purple stones I could find.
Alexandrite
This stone is capable of changing colors and is derived from chrysoberyl. It may appear purple at night, but green during the day. It can run $45,000 per carat. It is the birthstone of the June babies.
Taaffeite
This purple gemstone was not even discovered to be purple until it was cut open and faceted. It is also available in red. It is considered the rarest of all gemstones.
Purple Garnet
Most people are familiar with the red garnet, but there is a purple version of this pretty stone. It is the blue garnet (which is the rarest of garnets) under an incandescent light. It can run $3,000 a carat. The garnet is a January birthstone.
Tanzanite
This is one of my all time favs. It was discovered in Tanzania in 1967, and up until then, the blue version was the most commonly seen. It is a variety of the zoisite and today’s December baby gets to claim it as theirs.
Purple Apatite
This group of minerals are a good source of phosphorus and commonly found in fertilizer. Apatite is usually found as a green stone, but the purple version is a translucent or transparent stone that has a glassy luster and a lot of clarity.
In addition to these lovely and expensive purples, we have the most commonly used purple stones like amethyst, purple flourite, purple topaz, agate, chalcedony, jade and jasper. Most of us use some form of these purples when we design jewelry.
Here are some even more lovely lavenders to enjoy! Get out on the royal side and buy them all!
Lavender Moon Art Print
Photography & Digital By Colleen Cornelius
Purple Floral Earrings, Unique Polymer Clay Jewelry
Handmade Lampwork Glass Beads, Premium Purple EDP Shiny Glossy
Purple shamballa beads, black skull bead, bracelet, macrame wrap
Peacock Blue Iris Czech Blue Opal Beadwoven Handmade Dangle Earrings
Cape Ametrine Gemstone Bracelet Violet Lampwork Glass Bead Double Strands
Purple Jewelry - Striped Agate Necklace - Gemstone Pendant - Statement Necklace
Dotted Lampwork Earrings, White Aqua Purple Colorful Handmade Jewelry
Purple And Lilac Pearl And Crystal Earrings With A Long Dangle, Sterling Silver Ear Wires
Macadamia Wood & Resin Exotic Wood Oval dangle Earrings
Hummingbird Bangle Bracelets for Women with Charms and Purple Beads
Are you feeling royal yet?
Don't see what you are looking for?
You will find more gift ideas from these designers and artists here:
Orange You Glad it’s Getting Warmer
Feel free to reach out and ask the artists and designers if they could make something just for you.
Enjoy
Julie
Friday, April 16, 2021
Wednesday, April 14, 2021
You are My Sunshine
Yellow is happy and bright. Yellow makes you smile even when you don’t wanna. Yellow is warm and nurturing. It is the color of the sun in the summer and the bright petals on a sunflower. Everyone loves yellow. Even when yellow can be a little dangerous and send a warning out to you, you are still drawn to it.
Yellow Diamond
Did you know that the yellow diamond is the most common color in diamonds? It’s just that for whatever reason, people prefer the white ones. The diamond is the birthstone of April babies.
Yellow Spinel
This stone is normally a red stone, and they are quite often used as a ruby substitute. However, they are available in yellow, and yellow is a very rare color for these stones. That makes them sought after by collectors.
Cymophane
Cymophane is the name given to chrysoberyl when it is yellow instead of green. They are the third hardest stone and are sought out for their chatoyancy. They are known as cat’s eye stones and this was once the June birthstone.
Yellow Topaz
If you lived in the Middle Ages, you called all yellow stones topaz, but now the word topaz is anything that is siliate regardless of the color. Yellow topaz is also known as precious topaz, and it can be found in Brazil.
Other yellow stones that are commonly found in jewelry include amber, yellow jade, sunstone, yellow beryl, citrine, agate and flourite.
Here are some other ways to add sunshine to your life.
Handmade Lampwork Glass Bead Set, Bumble Bee Wavy Yellow Black Shiny
Beach Theme Silver Key Chain, Girls Just Wanna Have Sun Key Ring
Sunflower Pendant Necklace Yellow Polymer Clay w Jonquil Mint Swarovski Crystals
Crochet handmade hat, yellow cotton yarn
Healing jewelry, Reduce anxiety - Chakra Bracelet
Golden Sun Sunburst Earrings Amber Red Turquoise Boho Handmade Jewelry
Yellow Flower Czech Bead Earrings With Blue Crystals
Sunflowers Note Card Watercolor print 5x7 Greeting Card yellow sunshine greeting card handmade
Bali Diamond-Swarovski Citrine-Chartreuse Gold Chandelier Earrings
Yellow Green Pink Handmade Polymer Clay Earrings for Women Dangles
See? Now, didn’t that make you smile?
Don't see what you are looking for?
You will find more gift ideas from these designers and artists here:
Orange You Glad it’s Getting Warmer
Feel free to reach out and ask the artists and designers if they could make something just for you.
Enjoy
Julie
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