Blue Lace Agate clears voice and communications and gives insight into complex problems.

Carnelian grounds and gives focus into present moment. It also stimulates curiosity and initiative.

Onyx is a semi translucent to opaque quartz that comes in a wide range of colors--reds, apricot, oranges, and browns. It is said to protect wearer from any negativity.

Pearls are becoming more affordable due to cultured pearls available from China. It helps wearer to have self-acceptance and added femininity.

Rhodolite is from garnet family. One of reasons that Rhodolite made such a big splash is because of it's brilliant purple coloring, close to color of grape juice. Rhodolite is a very durable gem stone with a 7.5 on mohs hardness scale.

Rose Quartz is a type of quartz that ranges in color from pink to deep red.

Smoky Quartz is becoming very popular in jewelry. It's color is pale to a rich smoky brown. It is said to benefit those that are dealing with depression and fatigue.

Turquoise is a stone that comes in a wide range of colors, finest being an intense blue, with poorer color tending to be yellowish green. All turquoise will turn colors with aging. It is very important to take good care of your turquoise to minimize discoloration. Turquoise is considered by some to be a lucky stone.

The Mohs Scale is a measurement that tells a substance's hardness. The higher mohs number (1-10) more durable gem stone. Diamonds are 10 on Mohs scale, while Amethyst is a 7 and Ruby is a 9.

Other: Mother of Pearl is a more affordable way to acquire luster of pearl jewelry. It is lining of shell that houses pearl.

Raku is a unique ceramic firing process. Each piece is sealed with a glaze that is high in copper. Each piece is fired in a ceramic kiln until heat from piece ignites paper, causing a reaction with copper in glaze. The result is a wide range of colors on surface of piece full of beautiful colors, luster, and patterns.

Greek Leather is known for its smooth finish and consistent color.

Misnamed Stones: This is an issue that was discussed on Jewelry Making forum. The following "stones" are not necessarily even stones.

The Fruit Quartz' - Cherry quartz, blue quartz, strawberry quartz, pineapple quartz are all synthetic beads that are made to look like quartz. They are still a beautiful bead and add beauty to many pieces of jewelry. As long as they are identified as being synthetic, there is not a problem with these "quartz'". There is such a thing as real cherry quartz, but is very rare and extremely expensive.

Amazonite is sometimes just dyed onyx that is being sold as amazonite.

Moonstone is sometimes no more than pressed glass.

Goldstone is a manmade product made out of copper crystals in glass. Goldstone is sometimes sold as a semi-precious gemstone.

Rhodocrosite/Rhodonite are sometimes confused for each other.

Rhodocrosite has white striations and rhodonite is black.

Chalcedony is actually agate. It comes in a variety of colors. Chrysophrase and carnelian are both types of chalcedony.

Making your own cigar box purse or handbag.

It’s very simple to make a cigar box purse or handbag yourself, and you’ll have satisfaction of having something which is absolutely unique. A handbag or purse you’ve made yourself also makes a lovely gift for someone special. You can buy a simple wooden box, or a real cigar box if you can find one, some paint and lacquer, and hinges, corners, handle and clasp from purse hardware suppliers which you’ll find online. Of course, you’ll also need a photograph or piece of artwork to use on box. Choosing an image, a color scheme and purse hardware pieces which work together artistically is great fun, and very satisfying when it all comes together. It’s a very simple job to paint box, glue on image, cover whole thing with a few coats of lacquer, then attach all of purse hardware components.