|
|
|
|
|
|
Happy 2006 from MrBead! Garnet, How to Store Beads, & a Bead Crossword
You have received this newsletter because you opted after a past purchase, but should you wish to be taken off the mailing list, just click the link at the bottom. This month’s theme is January's birthstone garnet + a fun bead crossword puzzle. Scroll down, or click one of the links below on the html version to go to a certain section. If you have any suggestions for the future, please e-mail me at suggestions@mrbead.com. To go to the MrBead store click here
If you
weren't mailed this newsletter enter your e-mail address
here to receive next month's newsletter.
Garnet - January's gemstone
How to Store Beads
Bead Crossword Puzzle
Free 2006 Calendar
Garnet is January's birthstone, a name given to over ten gemstones with similar chemical structure. Although red occurs most, there are also shades of green, pale to bright yellow and fiery orange garnet. Some rare garnets even change color from daylight to artificial light. “Garnet” derives from the Latin “granum” meaning "grain”. Describing the typically rounded shape of the gemstone and also reminds of pomegranate seeds.
Garnet makes good jewelry because it is very hard, and so resistant to wear. Garnet has been found in jewelry from ancient Greece, Rome, and dating back to 3100 BC in Egypt. Chinese and Japanese warriors made bullets out of garnet because they believed that these would inflict more damage. Even Noah used a lantern from garnet to steer his Ark through the night. Travelers wore garnets for protection from evil, poison and wounds. People thought garnet brightened the night because of its high refraction of light. It was also believed to help depression and prevent nightmares. A red garnet in particular is said to break a fever, stop bleeding and to reduce inflammation.
Today, garnet is prized for its beauty rather than its magical powers. People like its naturalness, its brilliance, and color of a sun-drenched Indian summer. Garnet is said to symbolize happiness as well as deep and enduring love and friendships. Green garnets are the rarest and therefore highly prized. Emerald green and colorless garnet is next rarest, followed by pure red. Garnet comes today mainly from Africa, but also from India, Russia, central and south America. Skilled gem cutters all over the world shape them in classical forms and modern fancy designer’s cuts. to top
Eventually every beader is faced with the
dilemma of how to store beads. Everyone has their own way depending on quantity
and availability. Some beaders use a fishing tackle box, plastic shoe boxes,
wood or plastic utensil trays from Walmart – others, clear sliding drawers
designed for nuts and bolts, plastic pencil cases, or plastic drawer storage
bins. All these compartments are the ideal size for storing beads, findings, and
tools. Sturdy and portable, they allow you see project options at a glance.
Inside these draws you need to separate different types and sizes of beads. For
loose beads, tubes are good with a label or photo around. Zippy or sealable
plastic bags are great for strands - plus they have the advantage of a large
opening to get a scoop or counter inside to retrieve loose beads. These bags can
be brought from freezer and stationary stores.
However, as your collection grows you will need a more and more containers. We
use plastic draws that are stacked together and labeled with a photograph and
description outside. Transparent or partly-transparent draws are good for seeing
what’s inside. Another way is to build narrow shelves for baby food jars. You
can even screw the top of the lid to the top of the shelf so they always go back
neatly. For small loose beads you can use 35mm film containers, candy tins,
aspirin bottles, and paint cans for larger beads.
One beader has 8 spice racks that turn, brought at yard sales for $2 each. Plus
16 glass jars with lids for her seed beads. Each jar has several shades of the
same color. She just turns the rack to find the color she’s looking for and the
type of bead. Another beader uses Tic Tac containers when she travels. They are
small enough for all the different colors she needs and they never spill.
Lastly, she stores beads in margarine containers because they are flat and she
can pile them on top of one another.
to top
Nine months of MrBead Newsletters
December is the 9th MrBead newsletter, and I thank you all for such enthusiastic comments and appreciation. Just click below to see the past newsletters:
Summer Beads - Carnelian & Peridot
How to Sell Beads Online + Citrine, Yellow Topaz & Lampwork
Christmas
Beads, Presents, and December's birthstone, Turquoise
Any suggestions for future newsletters would be
appreciated, just email
suggestions@mrbead.com
to top
|
Bead Crossword Puzzle ACROSS DOWN |
|
|
|
to top
2006
Calendar
For your free
Microsoft 2006 calendar click
here
For a free
Microsoft 2005-2006 school calendar click
here
Special 10% Offer !
Sample our beads with 10% off any order from our MrBead bead store, just key in "december" at the checkout (without the
inverted commas) and click "Redeem Coupon".
Offer valid until 8th January only - so act now! Only for use in our store at the checkout and not valid with any other offers.
To see all garnet in our bead store click here
To go to our MrBead store click
http://www.mrbead.com
To Top of Page
To return to the top of this page click here
