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Chalcedony, Mother's Day, Charms &
Aquamarine
- March's Stone
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Mother's Day Beads
Charm Bracelets
Chalcedony - A
Graceful Stone for Spring Jewellery
Aquamarine - March's Stone
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Only for use in our
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MrBead.co.uk and not valid with any other offers
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When
Is Mother's Day?
Mother's
Day 2014 in the UK is Sunday 30th March, and in the US Sunday 11th May.
British History
During the 1600's, England celebrated “Mothering Sunday" on
the 4th Sunday of Lent (the 40 day period leading up to Easter). Then,
many of the England's poor worked as servants for the wealthy. As most were
employed far from their homes, the servants would live at the houses of their
employers. On Mothering Sunday the servants had the day off and encouraged to
return home and spend the day with their mothers.
Mothering Sunday Around the
World
In the United States Mother's Day was first suggested in 1872
by Julia Ward Howe as a day dedicated to peace. Until 1914 when Ana Jarvis, with
the help of the church, persuaded President Woodrow Wilson to make the second
Sunday of May a national holiday in honor of the anniversary of her mother’s
death. However, many countries celebrate Mother's Day at different times
throughout the year - except Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia, and
Belgium who also celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday of May.
Best
Present for Mum, Daughters & the Ladies in Your Life
What do you give to Mother? She longs for something special, but already has
everything. The gifts that mean the most, are the ones that have memories
attached to them. Mother's say that every time they receive something special
from their children, they remember the exact circumstances for the gift. And one
of the most cherished gifts has got to be a charm bracelet.
What
would mother like on her special day? Beads of course! Make a
special necklace or bracelet as a gift for your mother and mother-in-law this
year – or purchase one already made. Jewellery is always appreciated, and
gains sentimental value with age allowing Mother to always remember who it came
from. Pearls are great, but any pink or warm-coloured stone jewellery would be appreciated!
Charm Bracelets
Why
are charm bracelets so special?
These beautiful bracelets are a personalized gift to someone close for
weddings, children, graduations, Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, and all
occasions. Like a history of her life to carry everywhere. A gift that never
stops giving. An instant reminder of those who are important to her.
Charm bracelets are not only a truly unique gift, but also the building bricks
for future presents. Allowing you to add charms for every future occasion.
History of charms
Carrying charms to ward off evil dates to Neolithic times where hunters wore
stones for luck. Egyptians used charms for identification and to please their
gods in the afterlife. In Roman times, Christians hid fish charms in their
clothing to identify themselves to other believers - the Greek word for fish was
an acronym for Christ. Charms protected medieval knights, and in the Dark Ages
they represented heritage and religion.
Latter, superstition made charms an important part of life for most people - even the common folk depended on them for well being. Today’s charm jewellery stems from Queen Victoria’s fascination with charms and pendants, making elaborate charm bracelets fashionable amongst the gentry of the time.
Why wear a charm bracelet?
One is never too old for a charm bracelet. Celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor and Joan Crawford decorate their wrists with them, and top hip-hop singers wear million-dollar Shamballa bracelets. All make you feel good and are great conversation starters.
Fine-boned wrists need tiny charms, unless you have big hands. Larger charms on a chunky bracelet are best for larger bones. Long and thin arms are lucky enough to be able to stack a multitude of charm bracelets, Cleopatra style. Charms on a bracelet should face outwards, although some prefer the other way.
See our pearls at
MrBead.com
or MrBead.co.uk
See our charms for charm bracelets at
MrBead.com or
MrBead.co.uk
Also see our shamballa charm beads at
MrBead.com or
MrBead.co.uk
Pictures of charm bracelets designed and crafted with love by
TheBeadQueen.co.uk or
TheBeadQueen.com
Chalcedony - A Graceful
Stone for Spring Jewellery
Chalcedony
is an excellent gemstone to use for graceful spring jewellery. Its delicate, silky
light-blue colour reminds of early morning mountain sky. If you design
handcrafts, try making matching chalcedony earrings and a bracelet. Use small
beads with subtle silver spacers for style. Sell them in a white or light-blue
box.
Romance
Chalcedony
is ideal for the lady you love or to use on wedding jewellery. Some people even
use chalcedony wedding rings. Set in white gold or silver, it creates just the
right look.
What is chalcedony?
Its
name is said to come from an ancient Greek town called Chalkedon, now in Turkey.
It is a fine-grained variety of quartz with a waxy luster and microscopic
compressed crystals. Because of this structure, chalcedony is usually
semi-opaque - which creates a soft glow as the light diffuses through the stone,
ideal for graceful jewellery.
The Romans made seals from chalcedony, and the stone has
been carved into ornaments for thousands of years. And in the past its heavenly
blue colour explains why it had been called Mecca stone and St Stephen's stone.
Colour
Chalcedony
comes in every colour, but for jewellery it's usually light milky blue with a hint
of pink. Being porous, it's been dyed blue and pale minty-green for centuries -
and today sometimes its colour enhanced to emerald green and even tangerine and
peachy pink.
Formation
Chalcedony
is formed in volcanic rock cavities where silica-rich water flows through.
Traces of iron oxide in the water create the pinkish and sometimes red colour.
The gemstone can be seen in the Arizona Desert, where
petrified trees have formed from chalcedony replacing the ancient forest. Native
Americas there called the stone sacred as they believed it brought stability to
the tribe.
Properties
Chalcedony
is a feminine stone, full of yin energy. Said to balance the emotions, bring
stamina, and promote kindness and charity. It is also believed to be good for
love as it lowers anger, depression and melancholy. The gemstone also absorbs
negative energy and promotes a feeling of enthusiasm. It is also believed to
lower blood pressure with its anti-inflammatory properties and heal the lungs,
so being good for smokers.
History
Because there is so much chalcedony in many countries, it
has been carved into arrowheads, tools, knives, cups and bowls for
tens-of-thousands of years. Years ago sailors wore it as a talisman, and it is
the birthstone for those born under the star sign of Sagittarius.
Source
The best chalcedony is mined in Chalcedony are from India
and Madagascar, but it can also be found natural all over the US, plus in Burma,
Brazil and Mexico.
Aquamarine - March's Gemstone
Aquamarine is March’s stone – a blue-green gemstone from South
America, meaning Water of the Sea. The stone of sailors, believing it protects
them. Folklore also says that aquamarine protects against gossip, but will pick
up spirits. It is an excellent stone for meditation, bringing great peace and
serenity. Use it for your spring jewellery designs.
Aquamarine is the treasure of mermaids, and those legends have it that for
aquamarine to be truly powerful, it must be immersed in sea water and bathed in
sunlight. The gemstone is also supposed to have powers that reach to land too,
helping married couples solve their problems and drive off evil.
Aquamarine is associated with the thymus gland and is very soothing worn as a
necklace. It will also help coughs, reduce fluid retention and calm the nerves.
The Romans used aquamarine for stomach troubles and believed it could cure liver
and throat problems. Aquamarine brings courage, aids quick intellectual
response, and gives peace while protecting the aura.
Colour ranges from a very light turquoise blue to a bluish green. Darker blue
colours are the best with greener being less valuable. Check the clarity of the
stone. Because aquamarine has a light pastel colour, it is important that it be
free of flaws or inclusions. Examine the cut and check light reflects evenly off
the surface of the gem and that there are no scratches. Look at the stone from
several different angles to be sure.
Aquamarine is usually heat treated and sometimes irradiated. However, it will
become paler if left out in the sun. Clean aquamarine in with warm soapy water
and a soft bristle brush. As with all gemstones, protect from scratches and
sharp blows.
To see all aquamarine in our US bead store click MrBead.com or MrBead.co.uk to top
Free
Shipping Offer!
Sample
our beads with free shipping from our MrBead bead store, just key
in CHARMBEADS at the checkout and click "Redeem Coupon".
No minimum
order, but offer only valid until Friday 28th February 2014 only - so act now!
Only for use in our
stores at MrBead.com &
MrBead.co.uk and not valid with any other offers
or eBay.
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