HAPPY NEW YEAR SALE

OUT WITH THE OLD...IN WITH THE NEW!!

For so many of us the last year was challenging in many ways, so now it's time to close the 2009 book and move on to a more prosperous New Year. So to start the year off right, I am putting some of my jewelry ON SALE! I've never done it before but figured I'd try different things this year. Since January is the month of the Garnet, I am putting three of my pieces up for sale.

This first piece is a beautiful 10mm (synthetic) garnet, wire-wrapped in rolled gold with a 6mm cubic zircon.

The size is 2.5 inches in height.
www.mywireworks.com/garnet.htm

Not only is the garnet known as the birthstone for January,it’s an astrological birthstone for the sign of Capricorn. It’s the anniversary gemstone for the 2nd and 19th wedding anniversaries.

Garnet is derived from the Latin word "granatum" which means "pomegranate" which stone color resembles that of the fruit's seed.

My second garnet piece which I have put "on sale" is a 6mm garnet stone which is wrapped in sterling silver.

The size of this piece is 1.5 inches. www.mywireworks.com/garnet.htm


And finally, I am offering up this last garnetpiece which is also a 10mm garnet wire-wrapped in gold-filled wire.

The size of this piece is 2.5 inches. www.mywireworks.com/garnet.htm

It is said that King Solomon wore a large red garnet along with eleven other magical gems (representing the 12 steps of Jacob's Ladder) in his breast plate to help him win battles and to keep him in touch with the deity. In the 13th century, they were worn to repel insects and evil spirits and the evil eye of others.

In Egyptian times they were taken into the tombs with the dead as payment to the gods of the nether worlds and for their passage through the nether world safely.

Indulge yourself and go for something new.

Other sale items can be found at:
www.mywireworks.com/sale.htm

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

OCTOBER

THE MONTH
On the Gregorian Calendar, which is the common calendar used, October is the tenth month of the year. On the old Roman calendar October is the eighth month, hence "octo" meaning eight.

October is commonly associated with the season of autumn, which is pretty evident with the changing colors of nature in many parts of the country. I do remember however, many many times growing up that October really meant winter was here or "snow time" has begun. Just two weeks ago I visited Virginia where the beginnings of the color change was happening.



Yet, in talking to my sister who lives in Colorado, she was shoveling seven inches of snow off her porch, and who could forget the snows of Alaska at this time of year, oh so beautiful.



THE BIRTHSTONES
The Australian Opal

An opal is most notable associated as a birthstone with the month of October. As an anniversary gemstone it applies to the 14th and 18th years of marriage.

Opal comes from Latin opalus, from Greek opallios, from Sanskrit upala stone, jewel. It is a mineral that is a hydrated amorphous silica softer and less dense than quartz and typically with definite and often marked iridescent play of colors. The color various dramatically depending on where the opal is mined and how it is cut.

Most opal is more than 60 million years old and generally dates back to the Cretaceous period when dinosaurs roamed the earth. It is found near the earth's surface in areas where ancient geothermal hot springs once flowed. The minerals bubbled up from beneath the surface of the earth and slowly, over the centuries, lined the walls of cracks, vents and underground cavities in the bedrock. Most opal is found where geothermal hot springs dried up during seasonal periods of rainfall and extended dry periods.

The most striking quality of opal is its ability to refract and reflect specific wavelengths of light. In fact, the term "opalescence" was coined to describe this phenomenon. The size and spacing of the amorphous spheres of silica within the stone refracts specific wavelengths of light; each sphere refracting a single, pure spectral color much like the individual microscopic droplets of water in a rainbow. The interplay of these pure wavelengths of light gives opal its unique visual appeal, and makes it one of the most sought-after gemstones in the world.

The Opal - often referred to as the October birthstone - is a brilliant gemstone which shows off the interplay of a variety of iridescent colors. The opal is composed of a white or colorless compound (silica) which occurs in quartz, flint, sand or agate. The silica produces the vibrant internal colors by the diffraction of color passing through the stone. The veins that display the 'play of color' are quite thin and this is where the cutting of the stone is important.

The opal is Australia's national gemstone, and Australia is credited for the largest production of the worlds opals.

There is a rather large array of opal colors and classifications and I could go into breaking them all down here, but I think I will refer to Wikipedia. I think it offers a great source for further information on the Opal and it's various color breakdowns and classifications. Though a little technical, I feel it breaks it down better than I could. Check it out.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opal


Rose Zircon Gemstone

The birthstones associated with zircon are October (rose zircon) and December (blue zircon). Zircon's are not associated with anniversary gemstone.

The name Zircon is from Zargun which means "gold color". The etymology is German, modification of French jargon jargoon, zircon, from Italian giargone.

Zircons come in a variety of colors and degrees of colors of yellow, yellow-brown, brown, orange, red, violet, blue, and green. The color of zircons sometimes can be changed by heat treatment. The zircon stones used in my site are synthetic (lab created) stones.

On the spiritual level, the zircon supposedly helps one be more at peace with oneself. It was believed to provide the wearer with wisdom, honor and riches. The lost of luster on a Zircon stone is said to warn of danger.

The legend of Zircon began when Hyacin, the Greek youth, was killed. A blue hyacinth flower grew from the spilled blood. The blue color of the zircon found in Greece matched the blue of the flower. Pliny, the elder, started this legend by his written comparison of colors.

Zircon is a natural stone - not to be confused with Cubic Zircon which is manmade. It is known as a colorless stone used to imitate diamonds but also comes in: blue, yellow, orange, red, brown and green.

Whichever your choice, both stones are a joy to own. Check out my jewelry pieces for this month
http://www.mywireworks.com/wirewrapped-opal.htm
http://www.mywireworks.com/rosezircon.com

HUNTING FOR SAPPHIRES

Seeings as this is my favorite stone, I thought I would do a little research and see where I might go hunting for this precious find and share it with you.

If you are a West Coaster it seems that one great place that one can go to try their hand at digging is in the big sky country - Helena, Montana right on the banks of Hauser Lake as the Missouri River flows. The place to check out is Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine. They are open year around (but I'm thinking digging through the ice in the cold would not be my first choice). Check out the rates, supplies needed and the whatevers at

If you are an East Coaster Franklin, North Carolina is a good place to go. Check out The Sheffield Mine, they say that you can pretty much be assured that you'll go home with a stone of some size. You may find a sapphire or maybe even a ruby. Sapphires and rubies are both variations of corundum and this is what is found digging in their dirt. They are open April 1st through October 31st. For more info check them out at

Of course there are other mining areas one can choose from - like if you'd like to take a trip to Australia, but these are two that I think are worth checking out. Happy digging to all!

Check out my jewelry pieces associated with this months birthstone.
http://www.mywireworks.com/sapphire.htm

SEPTEMBER

THE MONTH
In Latin, septem means "seven" and septimus means "seventh"; September was in fact the seventh month of the Roman calendar until 153 BC, when the first month changed from Kalendas Martius (1 March) to Kalendas Januarius (1 January). [1] In the Northern hemisphere, the beginning of the meteorological autumn is 1 September[2].

September marks the beginning of the ecclesiastical year in the Eastern Orthodox Church.[citation needed] September begins on the same day of the week as December every year, because there are 91 days separating September and December, which is a multiple of seven (the amount of days in the week).
(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September)

THE BIRTHSTONE

Sapphire - [saf-ahyr]
Origin: [Middle English saphir, from Old French safir, from Latin sapphīrus, from Greek sappheiros, of Semitic origin; akin to Hebrew sappîr, a precious stone.]

Traditionally this birthstone is associated with the month of September. It’s the anniversary gemstone for the 5th and 45th year of marriage. Even though this is not my birthstone it is my favorite.

The Sapphire is a member of the corundum family and gets its name from the Latin sapphirus and the Greek sappheiros (blue). It gets its color from titanium and iron oxides. The depth of the color comes from the amount of oxides present.

Though not meant to replace traditional medical treatment, Sapphire is used for clear thinking. Kings used to wear sapphire around their necks as a powerful defense against harm. The stone preserved the wearer from envy and attracted divine favor.

Sapphire represents truth, sincerity and consistency. The stone was used by the Greeks to stimulate the opening of the third eye and to tap into the subconscious and super conscious. Clear sapphires, like diamonds, are the guardians of love. In the old days, it was used to banish envy and jealousy. It also promotes chastity in virgins and insures fidelity in marriage.

Check out my jewelry pieces associated with this months birthstone.
http://www.mywireworks.com/sapphire.htm

AUGUST

THE MONTH
This month was originally named Sextilis in Latin, because it was the sixth month in the original ten-month Roman calendar under Romulus in 753 BC, when March was the first month of the year. About 700 BC it became the eighth month when January and February were added to the year before March by King Numa Pompilius, who also gave it 29 days. Julius Caesar added two days when he created the Julian calendar in 45 BC giving it its modern length of 31 days. In 8 BC it was renamed in honor of Augustus, who did not take a day from February (see the debunked theory on month lengths). (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August)

In common years no other month starts on the same day of the week as August, though in leap years February starts on the same day.

THE BIRTHSTONE
Peridot - [per-i-doh] or phonetically - [pair-a-doe]
a green transparent variety of olivine, used as a gem.
Origin: 1300–50; < F péridot; r. ME peritot < MF

Peridot name derives from Greek, but the meaning is uncertain. The dictionary says that it is etymology is from French. The name chrysolite (Greek for gold stone) was formerly applied not only to period but also to many similarly colored stones.

Peridot is a transparent lime or olive green stone. Italian peridot is olive in color. American peridot is a light yellow-green.

Peridot is given as a symbol of fame, dignity, and protection. Legend has it that pirates favored it to protect them against evil. When the peridot was set in gold it also protected the wearer from terrors in the night. It has been mined from St John's Island in the Red Sea for over 3500 years.

Peridot is the created during volcanic action. Occasionally, its crystals are found on the black sands of Hawaii. Peridot is used to help dreams become a reality. It is the stone associated with the 16th anniversary.

I like to wrap this stone especially in gold as it really brings out he colors in the stone. Some versions of it are so light they get confused with Topaz and other versions of it can be dark and resemble emeralds.

Check out my jewelry pieces associated with the month of August.
http://www.mywireworks.com/peridot.htm