MrBead Newsletter - Year of the Rabbit

In Mainland China many people work inside large prosperous cities in the South East, a long way from their poor native village homes. Over Spring Festival hundreds-of-millions commute back to their village to be with the family. It's always a big strain on the railway and airways, and often made worse by severe snow cutting off power lines and runways!

The Year of the Rabbit begins on February 3, 2011. The Rabbit is a lucky sign, the fourth of the 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac. Rabbits are introverted, private individuals, but are friendly and enjoy company. They make good teachers, counselors and communicators.

Rabbit years are a time to catch your breath and negotiate. Don't try to force issues, because if you do you will fail. Focus on home, family, and security. Make it a goal to create a safe, peaceful lifestyle, allowing you to calmly deal with any problems.

Chinese folklore tells of a rabbit on the moon, long before the Western myth of a man on the moon!

Rabbit People
People born in the Year of the Rabbit are kind and loving, and dislike any hostile act. Their gentle appearance makes them seem frail, but in fact they are strong-minded with strong wills. They pursue their ideals all their lives in a slow, precise, and orderly way.

Don’t worry about them. They are nimble and clever to avoid harm. They are also good at art, like painting and music. Rabbits are very sexual, but tend to give too much of themselves. Rabbits need partners who won’t take advantage of this. They make warm-hearted hosts and companions, but never embrace others in public places.

Rabbits are sensitive to ailments like allergies, and stress or conflicts will detriment their health. To counteract this, they should exercise more. They also become withdrawn if their home lacks beautiful possessions that make them comfortable. Rabbits are careful with money, spending most on their homes, cars or furniture. They love hunting for antiques, arts and crafts, and will tend to make sound investments in these.

Rabbit Years
If you were born in any of these years, then you are a Rabbit: 01/29/1903 to 02/15/1904 (Water), 02/14/1915 to 02/02/1916 (Wood), 02/02/1927 to 01/22/1928 (Fire), 02/19/1939 to 02/07/1940 (Earth), 02/06/1951 to 01/26/1952 (Metal), 01/25/1963 to 02/12/1964 (Water), 02/11/1975 to 01/30/1976 (Wood), 01/29/1987 to 02/16/1988 (Fire), 02/16/1999 to 02/04/2000 (Earth), 02/03/2011 to 01/22/2012 (Metal).

Famous Rabbit People
Angelina Jolie, Anjelica Huston, Drew Barrymore, Edith Piaf, Fanny Brice, Helen Hunt, Jane Seymour, Joan Crawford, Kate Winslet, Natasha Richardson, and Tina Turner.

Western counterpart: Pisces

To purchase a lucky Chinese jade rabbit pendant or to read of the other 11 animals in the Chinese zodiac, click MrBead.com or MrBead.co.uk to top

Amethyst: The Royal Purple Pope Stone
Amethyst is the Birthstone for February, the purple variety of quartz. If it was not so widespread, amethyst would be very expensive. Its name comes from the Greek, meaning "not drunken". Perhaps due to a belief that amethyst would sober the effects of alcohol, or maybe referring to its wine-like color. Although amethyst is always purple, it comes in shades of pale lilac to deep purple. Deeper colors are more valuable, “milky” amethyst is the cheapest.

According to Greek mythology, Dionysius, the god of intoxication, was angered by an insult from a mere mortal and swore revenge on the next mortal that crossed his path, creating fierce tigers to carry out his wish. Along came unsuspecting Amethyst, a beautiful young maiden on her way to pay tribute to the goddess Diana. Diana turned Amethyst into a stature of pure crystalline quartz to protect her from the brutal claws. Dionysus wept tears of wine in remorse for his action at the sight of the beautiful statue. The god's tears stained the quartz purple, creating the gem we know today.

Purple has long been considered a royal color, featured in the British Crown Jewels and a favorite of Catherine the Great and Egyptian royalty. Leonardo Da Vinci wrote that amethyst could dissipate evil thoughts and quicken the intelligence. Because amethyst was believed to encourage celibacy and symbolize piety, it was very important in the ornamentation of Catholic and other churches in the Middle Ages. Amethyst is still the stone of bishops who often wear amethyst rings. Even in Tibet, amethyst is considered to be sacred to the Buddha.

Healers and New Agers believe certain gemstones heal on a metaphysical level, because of the earth's energy that has been absorbed by these stones. Amethyst is considered to have healing powers of purifying and pacifying - with the ability to transform lower energies into higher, healing at all levels of mind, body and spirit.

Amethyst’s sobering and calming qualities associate it with peace. It is known to calm those with constant rigorous mental activity. Called "nature's tranquilizer", because it also relaxes the whole nervous system. Amethyst reduces negativity and brings mental strength, stability, and vigor. Plus understanding to all that is transitional, especially death and rebirth, providing peace of mind when a loved one is lost. As an elixir, amethyst can help toothache, bone and joint discomforts and problems with the stomach and digestive tract. It has also been known to treat various types of blood disease and balancing blood sugar.

In yoga, amethyst aids the 6th Chakra, the Third Eye, center of the body’s spiritual power. Because amethyst heightens awareness, both spiritual and psychic - increasing intuition and psychic development and transition from a normal state of consciousness to a deeper awareness. Amethyst is mined in South American and African countries. African is the best, but mined in smaller sizes. Very dark amethyst, mostly in small sizes, is also mined in Australia. to top

These are the steps of MiMi making an amethyst necklace using our amethyst nuggets and fancy drop beads (numbers are as pictures).
Note the crystal rondell beads and gold stardust used as spacers.

1) Get all materials ready: nylon wire, crimping beads & 5mm stardust gold spacers, crystal rondell beads, crimping pliers, wire cutter,
catches, all beads.
2) Slide 2mm crimp bead onto wire and insert wire into eye on clasp
3) Loop and connect crimp bead.
4 & 5) Crimp attached to eye on clasp, and squeezing crimp bead closed.

6 & 7) Thread the beads into the wire.
8) Repeat steps 2 to 5 to secure the other end of the necklace.
9) Cutting off excess wire
10) Finished.

FREE Shipping Offer!

For FREE shipping, key the code "jaderabbit" in the box at checkout (without the commas), and click "redeem coupon".

NOTE: Minimum order for this offer is just US$50 or £32. Offer ends Sunday 6th February 2011, so claim now! to top

Making and Selling Bead Jewelry From Home for Extra Income

Why Beads?

Beads are a really versatile material that can be used for so much. You can make everything from bracelets to beaded bags. It's really satisfying to create your own piece of jewelry - and if you give it as a gift to friends and family it is something they can treasure forever. With a little research and imagination it's easy to create things to sell in markets, shops or online.

How to Profit from Your Own Hand-Crafted Jewelry

Home Jewelry making with beads is becoming more and more popular. The recession is forcing imaginative individuals to make extra income by designing and crafting their own jewelry.

Gone are the days when jewelry could only be created by professional designers. Today, there's an increasing trend of people with a desire to express their creativity by making their own, both for themselves and to sell. The internet accelerates this - with fast-information of fashion, design, and the availability of beads and findings.

Anyone with a creative streak can go online to follow the process through - from design, to buying the materials, to selling the finished jewelry. All they need is a desire to complete their ideas.

Some leave high-flying corporate jobs when they discover jewelry making. Stress of the rat race is replaced by the almost-spiritual experience of creating jewelry. Even children take to making bangles with Troll beads. More for fun than a fad, but encouraged by their parents to expand their creativity. For some, the discovery of hidden talents is start of a future career.

Today's world of mass production encourages women to search for unique jewelry to stand out from the crowd. This desire is also fueling the popularity of DIY jewelry making. Explaining the expanding new bead and craft magazines - along with over-crowded bead and jewelry-making trade shows.

My advice to those who would like to make and sell their own jewelry is "go for it"! Don't hesitate another day. The best time to do anything: is right away. Follow the below steps immediately:

Search online for design ideas
Buy a bead making kit
Book a beading class
Buy a book on making & selling jewelry
Research jewelry marketing
Join eBay to buy supplies & sell your designs

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