Precious Things: Precious Things

Precious Gems

Gem-stone or a precious stone is a highly attractive piece of mineral. But certain organic compounds are also considered as gem stones.

E.g.: Amber

After cutting and polishing gem stones are used in jewelry.

Gemstones fall into different categories because of the composition.

E.g.: Diamonds-Made of carbon

Rubies-Aluminum oxide

Many gems are crystals and classified using a crystal system

E.g.: cubic, trogon, monoclinic

Classification of gem stones

Gems are classified classified into different groups, species and varieties.

E.g.: ruby is the red variety of species corundum

Other colours of corundum - sapphire

Value of the gems

Value of a gem depends on the refractive index, dispersion, specific gravity, hardness, cleavage, fracture and luster. Value of a certain gem changes from the country to country. Coloured gem stones are prized specially for its great beauty and aesthetics.

Processing

Most of the gems are cut and polished before they fit into a particular purpose. Some gems are treated to increase their beauty and some of the non-gem stones are converted to gems by treating.

Methods of gem treating are,

Heating

Irradiation

Waxing/Oiling

Fracture filling

Some gems are synthesized artificially

E.g.: Cubic zirconia

Synthetic corundums

Precious Things

i love our scottish sunlight
the way it filters in through my windows
sometimes i creep after it as it moves from room to room

to sit in its golden warmth, curled up with a book

i love my rings, each holds delicious memories

all threaded onto the tiny wooden ring tree

my green eyed girl gave to me one day to make me smile.

the bottom two rings belonged to my sweet grandma, Mary Day

from whom i learnt my love of fairies, wild flowers, folksong . . .

i love old keys & collect them, imagine the stories they coud tell

Dad has discovered some beauties for me over the years

he found this tiny one at the art gallery

hidden & forgotten lying there between the floorboards

i love round things,

they have a habit of creeping into our wee house

such varied textures, patterns, colours

so tactile, and pleasing to my eye

i love bells, deep resonating ones,

Precious Things

i do . . . just three months ago

Time for Reflection

a stretch of days just me, myself, i

nothing but my own thoughts for company

with time . . .

time to paint on and on undisturbed

time to read for great long lazy stretches

time to eat when i wanted to eat

time to sleep (guilt free) for 14 hours solidly!

waking up to do it all over again

thank you Mr O for giving me

those wonderfully peaceful few days

how precious that was x

i wonder what precious "me" time others get ??

Grayson E

There are so many luscious patterns for felted bags - we thought they deserved equally decadent handles. These beautiful leather handles are from Grayson E and they’re available in a variety of sizes. Grayson E leather handles are hand made in California. The colours are straight out of a Mediterranean painting featuring aqua, tuscan red and saturated olives (to name just a few).

Of course now that the Grayson E handles are on the daybed in the sunroom, India has scouted out less crowded places to snooze. Her people called to complain that Gracie was getting more face time on the blog. India’s contract clearly states that she gets equal billing however she’ll take