Interesting Facts About Garnets

When you think of garnets, most consumers, are familiar with the common reddish garnet, known as pryrope garnet, however, within the "garnet group", there are varying types and colors of garnets.

Red garnets are the most popular, however, they also are available in many different shades ranging from yellow to orange (aka as Mandarine garnets).

Some of the more popular garnets are; almandine garnets which have a red/violet tint, spessartite garnets range from orange-pink, orange-red to brownish-yellow. Green and varying shades of yellow garnets, you betcha, they are known as grossular garnets. The most valuable of garnets are known as demantoid garnets since they have a luster similar to diamonds and at times can be confused with gossular garnets, but also with peridot, emeralds, tourmalines and spinel. They range in color from pale, clear to very dark green.

Garnet deposits are located in Sri Lanka, Canada, South Africa, U.S.A, Germany, Urals and Brazil.

On the Moh's scale of hardness they range from 7 - 7.5 and are excellent for everyday wear.

Garnets have been around for thousands of years and worn by the early Egyptians, Greeks and Romans.

Early travellers wore or carried garnets since it was considered as a protective gem.

Garnets are known to encourage strength in willpower and hope.

Positively,
Baya

Discovering Unique Gemstone Combinations for Jewelry

When you think of combining gemstones, the most common combinations are ruby/diamond, sapphire/diamond, emerald/diamond. However, there is an incredible variety of gemstones that when combined together, can create a master piece :)

When you think outside of the box, it is amazing to see and discover the unique combinations of gemstones that can be combined.

Clear stones can be combined with opaque or translucent gems, as well as gemstones that have natural inclusions or other unique features such as moonstone's shimmer aka adularescence can be combined with other gemstones with unique features.

Imagine a light grey moonstone combined with an opal. A light grey, semi-translucent opal with the white light floating across the stone beside a white opal that emits an explosion of colors. Its an incredible combination, because they are two such diverse stones each with their own unique characteristic.

You can see from the rings pictured here how diverse the combinations can be and how absolutely breathtaking they are.

I love the upper pinkish tourmaline that is combined with the rich dark rubies, and the lime green peridot combined with the rich forest green emeralds. Another favorite is light blue topaz combined with royal blue sapphires.

Be flamboyant, free-spirited and have fun in exploring all the dimensions of gemstones' colors.

I would love to hear from you and what you have come up with.

Stay positive always,

Baya

Amethysts' Many Interesting Facts

Amethysts, are one of the most beautiful and valued of gems belonging to the quartz family.

The finest quality amethyst deposits are found in Brazil and Uruguay.

Amethysts traditionally are faceted stones, but many are also cabochon cut.

On the Moh's scale of hardness, they are #7.

The name amethyst is derived from the Greek word amethyein, which means "not drunk" and was worn by the early Greek as an amulet to protect them against drunkenness.
Wine was also served from amethyst pitchers.

Amethyst's, when worn, diminish migraines as well as improve concentration. Many amethyst wearers charm others with their personality and charisma.

Hmmm, a gem that keeps the doctor away, and attracts people :)

Staying positive,
Baya

Best Deli Coleslaw Recipe

With the busy lives we lead and with all the multi-tasking women do, sometimes its nice to find short-cuts or time saving ideas for meal planning.

This salad is exceptional in taste, but most importantly, is very versatile since you can store this salad in the fridge for one week. Now, all of a sudden, you do not have to make a salad every night and thereby one less course to prepare--freeing up a little more time.

Time-saving and convenience is what we need and this salad will fit nicely into those niches.

When you visit your favorite deli and order a great smoke meat or cornbeef sandwich, they always serve it with a dollop of coleslaw. I guarantee, that this coleslaw recipe is as good, if not better than what you have tasted in the past. Every time I make it, especially for a large gathering, I have requests for this recipe. Enjoy and let me know how you like it.

Vegetable Mix
1 cabbage
1 English cucumber
1 red onion
l red/orange pepper

With your food processor, or manually, shred the cabbage, thinly slice the other vegetables. Toss in a big bowl.

Liquid Mix
1/2 cup water
2 Tbsp salt
3/4 cup vinegar
1/2 cup oil
3/4 cup sugar

Mix together and pour over salad. Toss the salad a few times and refrigerate immediately. The taste improves day by day and can be kept in the fridge for up to a week--if it lasts that long.

Positively,
Baya

Discovering the Beauty of Mother-of-Pearl

Such a glorious and majestic creation of nature. It is called mother-of-pearl because it is the mother of true pearls. It is also known as the nacre--mother of pearl is the nacre of the pearl and is the lining of the mollusk.

They have unique inlays because of the irregularities they develop and are found in salt and fresh waters. Their colors are like a spectrum ranging from solid black , white to a rainbow collage.

Folklore suggests that people who wear mother-of-pearl jewelry are protected and attract prosperity. It also heightens intuition and creative imagination.

Positively, Baya

Exciting New Ideas For Your Earrings

Everyone loves earrings and whether you have pierced ears or non-pierced ears, you can give your earrings a whole new dimension in design. If you have a pair of pearl studs and a pair of diamond stud earrings, why not combine them as one. The diamond solitaire, depending on size, could be set at the base of the pearl. Of course, the backing has to be removed and redesigned. This can also be applied with any combination of gemstone stud earrings. You may have a unique cut or color gemstone that would look exquisite combined together. Imagine rose quartz with amethyst, black onyx and tiger-eye, blue topaz and sapphires, diamonds and everything.


Chandeier earrings are glamorous as well as very tres chic. If you have a pair of dangle earrings that are short and wide, they would make a good base. Now see what you have in other dangle earrings. If you have 3 or 4 earrings that yo do not wear, imagine what a spectacular pair can be created. The add-ons dangle at different levels.

If there are earrings you don't wish to wear any more such as a pair of gold hoops, why not have them soldered together horizontally or vertically and have the birthstones of your children or grandchildren set in the center for a one-of-a-kind pendant.

With an odd 1/2 pair of stud earrings, you can have it modified to wear as a ring by adding a shank. If they were dangle earrings, you can have the closure removed, add a bale and have it redesigned into a charm or pendant. If you don't want to wear your earrings as studs, why not convert them into a dangling pair. As well, you can have an odd pair of earrings made into a tie or hat pin.

Again with an odd 1/2 pair or several pairs, you could have the backings removed and have them spaced apart and soldered on a chain . Now if you have a link chain, they could be set between the links at various inches apart. Imagine how beautiful it would look as a jeweled neck-piece. A single earring could be added to the center of a chain simply by having the chain cut in half and soldering each half to the earring. Wouldn't an odd diamond solitaire that has been sitting in your jewelery box look gorgeous as a beautiful diamond solitaire necklace.

I hope I have inspired you with these new ideas. Have fun looking through your earring collection. Let me know what you have come up with. I would love to hear from you.

Positively,
Baya

Smiles Are Contagious

All my life people have asked me, "Baya, why are you always so happy? or "You are always so cheerful and you always have a smile on your face". As I write this blog, I am also smiling.

No I am not on happy pills, but I sure do love life.

Each and everyday as we listen to the news, or talk to people, we are reminded about the global recession, that people are losing their homes, jobs, are not sleeping well because of the high level of stress. However, from all these daily negative reminders we also need to bring about change simply by bringing joy to each other.

The joy that I am talking about, is completely FREE, you only have to move a few muscles around you mouth, and SMILE. When you smile, you feel joyous. Your demeanour changes, you feel relaxed and content. You also feel peace within.

Now imagine smiling at a complete stranger, or a group of people. How can one resist not smiling back? Perhaps someone has had a rough day, or is not in a good mood. Your smile, certainly can lift their spirit and make their day.

To quote a line from the late Louis Armstrong's famous song "When your Smiling", it goes like this "When your smilin, keep on smilin
The whole world smiles with you"

So you keep on smiling...

See its contagious and its catching on.

Positively,

Baya