November Birthstones are Topaz and Citrine

Fall color trees

November has two birthstone choices – Topaz and Citrine November Birthstones November birthstones are topaz and citrine.  At one time, topaz was a term used for any yellow gem; today, it describes the mineral fluoro-hydrozy silicate (the chemical name for topaz).  Topaz is the hardest of all silicate minerals.  Natural topaz is colorless, but impurities…

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American Craft Week

WELCOME TO THE 9th AMERICAN CRAFT WEEK – October 5-14! Buy Handmade!  Your support for local crafts and crafters is important and vital for the survival of the craft industry.  Crafters can’t thrive without you!   When you purchase handmade items made in the USA, the dollars you spend stay here, and is spent and…

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Christmas in July and Making up for Lost Time

  Christmas in July sale runs through July 22. At checkout, use the CODE christmas in july. I’ve always been nuts about jewelry, but my interest in vintage jewelry really began when I inherited a few pieces.   I was fascinated with the designs and the techniques used to create them.  I love old Czech…

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Making Progress

In June I had surgery for a badly torn rotator cuff on my left side.   Unfortunately for me, I am left handed, so I’ve had my share of anxiety about the injury and the recovery and how all of this will affect me in the future. I started physical therapy a couple of weeks ago…

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Ammonites

Ammonites are fossilized prehistoric sea animals known as cephalopods with a spiral form similar to a modern day nautilus. The spiral form is clearly evident in some ammonites. In others, portions of a large original fossil have been cut into cabochons and polished. Some areas of the mineral portion of the fossil have been replaced…

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