When you think of jade, you probably think green and you may think of carvings.
There is so much more behind it, though. Unfortunately I am really late with today's post already as I haven't had the chance of being much on the computer the last few days, so I have to keep it short.
Talking of jade we can mean two different minerals, nephrite or jadeite.
Jade comes in different colors, from yellow, blue, black, red to violet tones. Be careful, however. Dyed jade has been a thing for hundreds of years. It can be enhanced, but it's also possible that you get a stone which is not jade at all, but prehnite or quartz for example.
If you want to read a little more about this stone and its symbolic meaning, you can find an article here.
Not everyone at the Jewelry Artisans Community's Oldies but Goodies Challenge is working with jade, so once again we were a little generous with the rules and settled for jade and jade colors.
Enjoy!
1 Adams Handcrafted Jewelry
2 Violetmoon's Corner
3 Jewelry Art by Dawn
4 The Crafty Chimp
5 Robin's Jewelry, Antiques, & Collectibles
6 Cat's Wire
This is so addictive! Yes, I watch Bollywood, yes, I own a saree that I have never worn and yes, I love bangles, but I have to admit I have a problem with the sound they are making if you wear many and bangles have to be worn in abundance, right?
So I was sitting there looking at my colored wire, looking at my stone beads and the small candle in my brain started to shine, a little flickering at first - which is why the first one became a children's bangle - but then I really felt I was on to something here.
I hope I won't be the only one to think that. Do you know this feeling? You are all enthusiastic about something, you do a little happy dance and all your soul and thoughts go into this project, no matter what kind it is. You are excited to show others and then the bubble blows because you get a polite "Ah yes", "Mmh-mmh" or something else along that line. Sometimes these experiences stick to you like glue, sometimes you shake them off. I learned it is important to always do something for yourself in the first place and then maybe the spark is gonna flow.
I had fun making these bangles and I am sure they won't be my last, I'll just have to stock up on beads and wire. What a sacrifice! Shopping for beads and wire is one of the hardest thing to do, well, at least if you don't have the money to say you take everything ;-)
Today we were at a minerals and fossils fair. I took the tall guy along because of his wallet, eh, I mean because he is the perfect companion for this. He headed off to hall 7 immediately where there was an antique fair. He found something, I found something, we are both broke, but happy :-P
And here are the first bangles with round beads, I also made some with chips. Not Doritos! Red goldstone and rock crystal. Not as tasty, but they sparkle more ... Eventually they will pop up in one of my shops, too - in a few days, I guess.
Sterling silver wire and labradorite
Copper wire and brown tiger's eye
Copper wire and red tiger's eye
Green coated wire and light green Chinese jade
Hot pink coated wire and rose quartz, bangle plus hoops with copper earwires
I am sure the banglemania will go on now that I have new beads ... gotta hurry, my hook is calling me!! :-D
