Ruby - July Birthstone

Ruby - July Birthstone

A ruby is a pink to blood-red gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum (aluminium oxide). The red color is caused mainly by the presence of the element chromium. Its name comes from ruber, Latin for red. Other varieties of gem-quality corundum are called sapphires. The ruby is considered one of the four precious stones, together with the sapphire, the emerald, and the diamond. -Wikipedia

July is one of the few months in which the Traditional Modern Mystical & Ayurvedic birthstones are all the same: Ruby! One of the rarest gemstones known, Ruby has long be thought to represent contentment & fidelity. And according to stone intuitives Rubies are said to energize and stimulate the wearer!

Busy Weekend! Father's Day & the Beginning of Summer!

Father's Day

"Father's Day is a celebration inaugurated in the early twentieth century to complement Mother's Day in celebrating fatherhood and male parenting, and to honor and commemorate fathers and forefathers. Father's Day is celebrated on a variety of dates worldwide and typically involves gift-giving, special dinners to fathers, and family-oriented activities." Wikipedia

Luckily for myself, I was able to celebrate my own father and the father of my child together. We spent a relaxing day purchasing tomato, hot chili pepper and basil plants at the local farmers market and planting them :) It was nice to spend time together smelling the basil (instead of the flowers).

Turquoise - Summer's Hottest Hue!

It's no wonder turquoise it all the rage this summer! It's an a ancient symbol of good luck that's study-proven to boost mood. This gorgeous stone will make you look and feel fantastic!

"Everyone is so over the bling and ostentatiousness it represents," says Margi Kent, fashion stylist to Demi Moore. "People are going back to a softer, organic feel. And turquoise is wonderful because it has a free-spirited, natural quality that attracts us - and looks even more attractive on us." In fact, Kent says the stone in universally flattering. "It brings out a woman's unique coloring and that sparkle in her eyes." Plus, it's incredibly versatile: "You can wear it larger and chunkier to make it casual, layer it to add drama or choose stones with a finer finish for a dressier touch." Whichever way you go, you'll feel fabulous: the blue hue stimulates the release of serotonin and melatonin, brain chemicals that create a state of blissful calm.

Up to 50% off Howell Hued Beads!

* No promo code needed

* Website purchases only, eBay items excluded

* Limited to stock on hand

* Sale begins June 20 and ends June 22 at 11:59PM Eastern (GMT-4:00)

June - The Pearl & Moonstone

June's Birthstones: Pearl & Moonstone

The traditional June birthstone is the pearl. Pearls have been a passion and even an obsession of people throughout the ages. They have been ground up and used in cosmetics and as a medicine to treat heart and stomach conditions. Some cultures swear by pearls as an aphrodisiac. These gems have adorned crowns, clothing, and temples, and were said to be a favorite of Cleopatra.

Only those with royal status once wore pearl jewelry, but eventually these gems were seen among all classes of people. They continue to be viewed as a mark of taste and refinement as well as a symbol of purity, and they are often given to celebrate a marriage or the birth of a child. Pearls are nature's perfect gift, suitable for all ages, and elegantly worn with everything from jeans to an evening gown.

An alternative birthstone for June is the moonstone. Moonstone, a type of feldspar named because of its uncanny resemblance to the iridescent sheen of the moon. Varying in color from clear to blue-white or peach, it was considered by ancient civilizations to be a sacred stone, bestowing the wearer with great spiritual understanding. Some believed that the Moonstone could even make a person invisible! Mined in Sri Lanka, Brazil, India, Madagascar, and the United States, a gift of this stone is symbolic of health and longevity.

See more Pearls and Moonstones here.

Happy World Oceans Day!

Happy World Oceans Day!

"World Ocean Day is an opportunity every year to honor the world's ocean, celebrate the products the ocean provides, such as seafood, as well as marine life itself for aquariums, pets, and also a time to appreciate its own intrinsic value. The ocean also provides sea-lanes for international trade. Global pollution and over-consumption of fish have resulted in drastically dwindling population of the majority of species." -Wikipedia

Like Pearls, our Shell beads are grown on farms. The shells are taken care of in a manner to assure that it lives a normal healthy life span for the larger it grows. Larger shells mean more beads and cabochons for jewelry thus bringing in more revenue. The cleaner the water; the healthier the shells and with this comes more beautiful, iridescent luster and smooth blemish free nacre. In this manner shell farming encourages keeping the waterways clean and free of pollutants. For more information on Pearls and their benefits for the environment see here.

For thousands of years Netsukes have charmed their viewers. A huge detraction to this exquisite form of legend/myth telling was that fact that they were carved out of Elephant Tusk. As the planet has become more aware of what happens to the magnificent elephants, it has made this extraordinary art form repugnant as well as illegal to own for many. The switch to boxwood has made these enchanting objects a green product as boxwood is an easily farmed wood. Boxwood is carved green when it is soft and as it dries it hardens. It is used in it's dwarf form for topiary in the west and the larger variety for ornamental and even furniture carving in China and other eastern countries. It is an ecology friendly solution to preserving an ancient art when boxwood is used to carve Netsukes and other object d'art.

To celebrate World Oceans Day at www.SilverRoseBeads.com we are offering 35% off all shell and carved boxwood beads.

*No promo code needed

*Website purchases only, eBay items excluded.

*Limited to stock on hand

*Sale begins June 8 and ends June 10th at 11:59PM EDT

June 1st - International Day of the Child

June 1st - International Day of the Child

First proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1954, it was established to encourage all countries to institute a day, firstly to promote mutual exchange and understanding among children and secondly to initiate action to benefit and promote the welfare of the world's children. It was also chosen as the day to celebrate childhood.

Wikipedia

Everyday around here seems like it could be "Day of the Child!" Luckily for us my daughter can come into the office and "work" whenever she wants. She even has her own desk set up near me to draw and consult on projects. As a child she is able to see the wonder in a spiderweb or the charm in a squirrel, somethings that I might miss if she weren't here. Her joy in life is such a gift!

But today is special! We at SilverRoseBeads want to share International Day of the Child with our customers and friends. Please take some time to recognize the importance of childhood and what it means to be a child. Be sure to nurture any children in your circle as well as your own 'inner' child.