Posted by Rasmussen Gems and Jewelry LLC Chalcedony is a catch all term that includes many well known varieties of cryptocrystalline quartz gemstones. They are found in all 50 States, in many colors and color combinations, and in sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks. Chalcedony includes carnelian, sard, plasma, prase, bloodstone, onyx, sardonyx, chrysoprase, thundereggs, agate, […]
Posted by Rasmussen Gems and Jewelry LLC Quartz is a very common mineral in the earth’s crust (second to feldspar in abundance), and comes in a variety of colors. Seen here is a cluster of quartz crystals. Quartz is silicon dioxide (SiO2) and is the primary mineral in sand. Quartz has a hardness of seven […]
This is the first in a series of blogs featuring gemstones other than the big four (diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald). Each monthly blog will feature a different colored gemstone. The correct division of gemstones is white and colored. There is only one white gem-diamond. All others (including several in clear/white) are called colored gemstones. […]
In the beginning, before modern gemology, there were only four gemstones and they were named for their color. White (clear) were diamonds, red were rubies, blue were sapphires and green were emeralds. Then man became a little more educated and he found that all stones of the same color were not the same crystal shape […]
When we represent our products it is imperative that the artist portrays the product correctly and accurately. The picture to the right is a retail package from a large international company that sells many different items including food. What is being portrayed are “large” shrimp (kind of an oxymoron), and in large print highlighted in […]
Approaching us is a new year. Of course this is a “calendar” year. During the coming year, I am going to make a very concerted effort to refine my art, design, and fabrication. In so doing, I will use all my ability to improve. This is an ideal for all of us to attempt. This […]
Ethics is doing the right thing. How does this apply to the handmade artist? Fortunately, almost all of us do the right thing automatically because we were raised by our parents and society to perform in that manner. Unfortunately, some persons do not. Therefore, the government steps in and controls, at least in some part, […]
My shop specializes in handmade jewelry items. My wife does beading to make bracelets, ear rings and necklaces. I do lapidary to cut stones, and metalsmithing to fashion jewelry. I decided to look at some other genres that are available through the Shops. I looked first in the category of Woodworking and found a delightful […]
As I have aged I had the privilege to see many advances in technology with One Click Power. Astronautics from the orbit of Sputnik, the landing on the moon to space stations and shuttles and recently the Mar’s rover. At the same time, slide rules giving way to calculators to personal computers. Data input changes, […]
Debora likes to shop some of the big brick and mortar craft/art stores in our area. While at one, she purchased a large focal type bead that was identified as “turquoise.” Now after it has been sitting in her supply area for about a year or so; she asked me to cut it and make […]
