Mother Nature is an interesting entity. Recently, I was reviewing some old travel photographs and came across an arresting image of Colorado’s ‘Garden of the Gods’ and this particular rock formation. Unbelievably, I just designed a turquoise and amber necklace with a center trio of amber that exactly resembles the rock formations in Colorado. The funny thing is that the amber is from Africa.

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In my inspiration blog, I shared a photo of a piece of jewelry that I was in the process of designing. What started off as a tray full of round green turquoise, chunky green nugget turquoise, chunky blue nugget turquoise and some sterling silver accents, transpired into this chunky necklace and coordinating bracelet found in the Southwest Sizzle Collection.

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Jet is a minor gemstone and is dervied from high pressure wood decomposition.

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Is a variety of quartz that contains both amethyst and citrine sectors in the same crystal. Also known as trystine or by its trade name as bolivianite.

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Jade defines two minerals, nephrite and jadeite, of similar appearance but different chemical composition. Both minerals are found in a wide range of shades of green, brown, yellow, grey and pink and may be either translucent or opaque. They may be milky or cloudy in appearance and sometimes speckled with tiny black spots.

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Howlite is always an opaque white or gray color with black web-like veins or streaks. It is often dyed and can be easily confused with Turquoise.

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Its uncut color is a dirty grey. But when cut, it is usually blue in color. When placed at various angles, the color can change tremendously showing a metallic luster and beautiful sheen.

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Like your love for each other, your sugar’s jewelry should sparkle brightly. The necklace has just that touch to make it remain close to her heart.

Freshwater Pearls, Swavorski Crystals and this outstanding Druzy pendant create a mesmerizing triple strand combination. The photo doesn’t do it justice.

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Druzy is formed when water carrying dissolved silicia is forced into a rock cavity and quickly cools. The tiny crystals that from form this are called Druzy.

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So, what are you going to do with your new year? I decided that I’m not dressing in depressing grey garb despite the big R word. No, honey, I’m going to live it up and have some fun. Life marches on one way or another and I’m doing it to the beat of my own drum.

So, it’s appropriate that I kick off the first ‘09 ‘Folio Files’ with this piece. Feathers = frisky.

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This mineral may be blue, violet, pink or brown. If it contains a streak it will be white. It is transparent to translucent. It is attributed to helping one to speak his/her mind.

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Is a pale blue and white banded variety of Agate.  Agate is actually a derivative of Chalcedony. It can be obtained in all sizes through the world. It is proclaimed to have qualities that balance yin and yang energy.

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Metallic is marvelous darling, just marvelous. Silver metallic is also a magnet for excitement and can double as a disco mirror chip in a pinch.

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Why is it that a few simple strands of these marine marvels always envelop a woman in a cloak of style, grace and class?

Historically, every culture placed high value on pearls even during abundant supplies.

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Turquoise is said to bring good fortune to those who wear it, and apparently people feel the same about its influence elsewhere. Turquoise is a hot trend item in home décor right along with its presence in jewelry design. Sounds like good fortune is on the upswing everywhere.

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The name “iolite” comes from the Greek word for violet. Gem quality Iolite varies in color from sapphire blue to blue violet to yellowish gray to light blue as the light angle changes.

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Typically thought of as blue, sapphire can also be colorless, green, pink and a range of other hues. It is mined in parts of the US, India, Russia and countries throughout Africa. In ancient Greece and in the Middle Ages, there was a belief that sapphires cured eye diseases and served as an antidote against poison. It is September’s birth stone.

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Brass has been used throughout time as decoration for its bright gold-like appearance and its nearly tarnish-resistant properties. Back in the day, polished brass was often used as a mirror. Brass has likely been known to humans since prehistoric times. In the German village of Breinigerberg, an ancient Roman settlement was discovered where a calamine ore mine existed. Thus, brass was produced by melting copper together with calamine, a zinc ore.

Note: This image is actually 22k plated gold over brass.

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StyleFolioJewelry.com introduces its Bridal Bliss Collection. The collection fits the most demure or dramatic bride-to-be. Some pieces are designed to add the just-there touch and others are created to play center stage, second to the bride’s breathtaking beauty. Think of the collection as tradition with a twist.

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If you consider yourself a fashionista, then chances are you are a Folioista™ too. What is a Folioista™? A devoted StyleFolioJewelry.com™ patron who loves the original, stylish, jeweled treasures featured on this site.  Every purchase counts towards your style revolution.

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Is a massive stone, typically of deep-blue color, but sometimes with mottlings of white. It is an expensive mineral and crystals with vivid color are even more valuable. It is dull except when given a polished surface.

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Is a solid organic substance exuded from pin or fir trees. It is formless and translucent and generally yellow to brown.

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Clothes, cars, shoes and hangbags are just some items that seem to work best in the decadent color black. Black has always been associated with mystery, intrigue and power.

Pure black onyx is common and probably the most famous variety of quartz.

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A variety of precious opal that is transparent to translucent and is reddish-brown to orange-red in background. Sometimes shows iridescence when viewed in certain directions.

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Highly coveted for its apple-green to deep green color, Chrysoprase is a gemstone variety of chalcedony. It is composed of crystals that remain undetectable under normal magnification. This gemstone is found throughout the world in Australia, Germany, Russia, Arizona, California and Brazil.

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The fashion world continues to be enamored with all things native, especially the cultures throughout the African, Oceanic and Asian parts of the world. This fascination continues through Fall ‘08 which I’ll chat about in a future issue. The Artistic Tribe collection pays tribute to the outstanding creativity prevalent in these cultures with a modern day twist.

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“If one is good, more is better”, professes my friend and designer Mary Jane. She took the words from right out of my mouth. Layering your jewelry is a fun way to add visual imagery and dimension. Baubles come in many shapes, sizes, stones and textures and when they are mixed together, magic happens. Plus, ladies, you know that you can never have too much shimmer to go with that shake!

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A massive, amorphous copper mineral of blue to green color that is sometimes confused with Turquoise. The name comes from the Greek chrysos, “gold”, and kolla, “glue”, in allusion to the name of the material used to solder gold.

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Comes in an assortment of colors, however the natural hues of brown and black are most common.

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Is an opaque, blue-to-green mineral that has been prized as a gem and ornamental stone for thousands of years owing to its unique hues. It is a water rich mineral yet only forms in dry regions of the world. It is extremely flexible and favored by artisans because it serves as an excellent carving surface.

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Is found in a variety of colors due to its complicated and varied chemical composition. It is commonly found in black but other colors include blue, red, pink, green, brown and yellow.

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Has a glassy luster. Pure topaz is transparent but is usually tinted by impurities; typical topaz is wine or straw-yellow. They may be made white, gray, green, blue, pink or reddish-yellow and transparent or translucent.

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A variety of Epidote, a complex mineral, and is generally a pale-green color when first mined. However, they typically are bluish-violet and sometimes other hues.

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Material ranging from pale brown to virtually black. Color results from natural radiation, and radioactive mineral grains ensconced in massive quartz are often surrounded by a ‘halo’ of smoky quartz.  

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Includes needle-like inclusions in some gemstones.

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Its color ranges from pink to blood red. Only diamonds are harder than rubies. Lab-created rubies have been around since the 1890’s and are difficult to distinguish from natural. 

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Color ranges from pale pink to a deep rose-red. 

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Is a variety of the gem Olivine that is golden-green; but also ranges in shades from dark green to yellowish-green and can even be brown, black or colorless.

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The most valuable of all organic gems, pearls have been prized for their delicate iridescence and unique forms for at least 6,000 years.  Pearls are formed when a foreign body such as a grain of sand or a parasite becomes trapped inside the shell of a mollusk. Pearls are relatively soft, but their concentric structure and organic binder give them great toughness. Due to the nature of pearls, they are susceptible to dehydration and exfoliation. 

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There are two types of opal: 1) precious or noble that is iridescent and 2) a common opal characterized by a white, milky appearance with numerous sub-varieties.

Opal ranges from clear through white, gray, red, orange, yellow, green, shore, blue, magenta, rose, pink, slate, olive, brown, and black. Of these hues, the reds against black are the most rare and dear, whereas white and greens are the most common. 

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Is a cryptocrystalline form of quartz. The colors of its bands range from white to almost every color. Pure black onyx is common, and perhaps the most famous variety, but not as common as banded onyx, which contains bands of white, tan and brown. Onyx is originally an Assyrian word meaning ring, and so could refer to anything used for making rings.

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Also known as nacre, it is an organic-inorganic composite material produced by some mollusks. It is strong, resilient and iridescent.

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An opalescent variety of orthoclase (a major rock forming mineral) and some other components give this stone a blue or white sheen known as a schiller. 

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Is a variety of natural glass and is transparent and bottle-green to greenish-brown. It is used as a gemstone when faceted (cut) and polished. 

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The real mineral is almost white and can resemble pale bronze. It is generally cut and mounted in a fashion to enhance its surface sparkle. 

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Is transparent and lilac-blue, violet or pink. The stones sometimes resemble pink topaz but are lighter and softer.  Photo credit: Eurico Zimbres

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Traditionally red in color, garnet is part of a group of minerals that includes six main varieties. The chemical composition of garnet influences its many colors and shades.

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This rare and valuable precious stone comes in shades of green to blue-green. The more saturated the color, generally the higher the price. Synthetic emeralds, developed in the 1930’s, have fewer imperfections and are difficult to distinguish from natural. 

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Is a rare, organic gemstone which can no longer be gathered due to environmental restrictions. A renewable resource collected in the wild from a limited environment, it is the remains of a delicate and beautiful living organism that flourished deep beneath the waves. Found primarily in Asia, Africa and Mesoamerican. Ancient societies believed in that coral was a protective charm that brought good fortune and protected people from harm.

NOTE: StyleFolioJewelry.com’s coral pieces were made before the extraction of coral was prohibited.

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Is less common than the amethyst. Yellow to yellow-brown in color and resembles the gem topaz. Good citrine crystals are surprisingly rare. 

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Is a variety of quartz that is usually pale blue or grey. It is generally uniform in tint but some varieties have multiple colored internal markings.

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A semiprecious stone that is usually translucent blood red to reddish orange in color. It has been believed that it calms the temper, gives its owner courage and helps the timid to speak eloquently.

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Calcite has a variety of habits which makes it an especially interesting crystal. Scientist have discovered its optical properties such as double refraction of light, such that objects viewed through a clear piece of calcite appear doubled in all of their parts and producing wavelengths of extraordinary refractive indices. It is generally transparent to opaque and can be gray, yellow or green.

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Most bone beads today are made of ox or cow bone. 

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Is the fastest growing woody plant in the world. It is well regarded for its strength and diverse uses. Throughout Asia, Bamboo are economically and cultural significant. Its long life makes them a symbol of longevity, whereas in India it is a symbol of friendship.

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The mineral beryl has been considered a gemstone since prehistoric times. Aquamarine is a transparent variety of beryl, having a delicate blue or turquoise color. It is closely related to the emerald.

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Is lilac to deep purple is the most highly valued of all the quartz varieties. In ancient times the amethyst was thought to have mystical and protective powers, particularly the ability to prevent intoxication; for this reason the stone’s name is derived from the Greek phrase amethystos, meaning ‘not drunk’. The deeper the color, the more valuable.

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An organic gem that comes from preserved tree resin. Its basic orange ranges from dark honey to reddish orange to hazy lemon. Although rarer, amber may vary in color from green to blue.

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Is a general term for a solid in which the constituent atoms, molecules, or ions are packed in a regularly ordered, repeating pattern extending in all three spatial dimensions. Natural crystals include quartz, diamonds and emeralds. Glass crystals, such as Swarovski, are manmade and incorporate lead to produce a sparkling, crystalline appearance. Both natural and glass crystals come in a wide range of colors, shapes and sizes.

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