July Gem and Mineral Shows are fun for all

Amethyst Cluster

This summer, take a day or two and visit and a gem and mineral show.  They are so much fun to visit and see all of the amazing specimens and jewelry.  Children love gem and mineral shows and it is so much fun to see them marvel (as you do too) at the amazing minerals.  Following is a list of some of the upcoming shows for this weekend.  This list is compiled by Rock & Gem Magazine.  If you like rocks and minerals or are a jewelry maker, this magazine is for you.  I am a subscriber and just love it.   You can check them out here.

July 1-5, 2009  CLE ELUM, WASHINGTON – “All American Pow Wow”  All Rockhounds Pow Wow Club – American Forest Teanaway Campground. Open: Fri. 8-9, Sat. 8-9, Sun. 8-3  Activities: tailgating, rock swapping, digging for agates, crystals, dadeite, Ellensburg blue agate.

July 1-5, 2009  MADRAS, OREGON – All Rockhounds Pow Wow Club of America - Jefferson County Fair Grounds.  Free admission.  Activities: field trips, dig for agate, jasper, thunder eggs, petrified wood, 75 vendors, rough rock, finished jewelry, and an auction Friday night.

July 2-5, 2009  SISTERS, OREGON – “Sisters Round-Up of Gems”  Sisters Elementary School, 611 E. Cascade, off Hwy. 20. Open: Thu. 9-6, Fri. 9-6, Sat. 9-6, Sun. 9-4.  Free admission.  Activities: demonstrations, Oregon State gemstones, gift items, beads, jewelry.

July 3-5, 2009 FARMINGTON, NEW MEXICO -  San Juan County Gem & Mineral Society at the Farmington Civic Center,  Arlington St.  Open: Fri. 10-6, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5.  Free admission.  Activities: door prizes, rocks, gems, minerals, Farmington Freedom Days.

July 3-5, 2009 FISHERSVILLE, VIRGINIA –  22nd annual  Treasures of the Earth Gem & Jewelry Shows at Augusta Expoland, Expo Road, I-64 Exit 91.  Open: Fri. 10-6, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 11-5.  Admission:  adults $3 (good all 3 days), children under 16 free.  Activities:  jewelry makers, goldsmiths, silversmiths, gem trees, wire wrap, wire sculpture, pearls, stone beads, stone setting, dealers, amber, opal, minerals, fossils, door prizes, classes.

Red Coral Three Strand Chip Bracelet

Three-Strand Red Coral Bracelet

Red coral is a marine (ocean) coral which has a beautiful red color, although sometimes is also pink, and a particularly strong skeleton.  The durable skeleton makes it nice for jewelry as it is easy to wear and care for.  Red coral grows on the sea bottom in dark locations such as caves, where there is not much build-up of sand and clay.

Our lovely red coral chip bracelet has three strands of red coral that are linked together for a striking look. The red coral chips are secured on stretch elastic for easy wearing. Not for small children. This bracelet comes pre-boxed in a gift box.

Shop now for great selection of our rock and mineral jewelry.

Sodalite Mineral – Unique and Rare

Sodalite Bead Bracelet

Sodalite is a royal blue colored mineral.  Often, the blue of the mineral is cross-cut by striking white veins throughout the sample.  Sodalite is not a common mineral but can be found in igneous rocks. 

This mineral has a white streak and glassy luster.  Moderate hardness of 5.5 to 6 on Mohs hardness scale is characteristic of the mineral too. 

Sodalite can often be found in beautiful jewelry pieces and home accents like mineral spheres and bookends.  Shop www.GivernyOnline.com for unique sodalite today!

Save 20% Now

Chinese Mineral Wind Chimes

 

Save 20% of your entire purchase, even sale items, now with coupon code GIVE20 at checkout. 

Shop now at www.GivernyOnline.com for great selections of jewelry, bookends, candleholders, wind chimes, mineral spheres, key chains, rough and tumbled stone, napking rings and more.

Amethyst Bead Bracelet

Faceted Amethyst Bead Bracelet

This beautiful amethyst faceted bead bracelet is great for anyone who loves casual, bead jewelry.  The unique faceted amethyst beads measure approximately 7mm so they are a great size for wearing everyday.  This bracelet comes pre-boxed in a gift box.  Matching necklace available.  Not for small children. 

Amethyst is a common, purple form of the mineral quartz.  Fairly hard, amethyst is a 7 on the Mohs hardness scale which has a range from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest).  Crystals of the mineral often form in clusters, which is also called druse, and commonly form in geodes.  The purple color of amethyst is due to the presence of ferric iron (Fe³⁺) in the quartz crystal and can range from light to dark.  Amethyst is considered a semi-precious gemstone that is most commonly used in jewelry and for collecting.  Beautiful samples of amethyst can be found in Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, Russia, India, Sri Lanka, and the United States.

Shop for beautiful rock and mineral jewelry at www.GivernyOnline.com today!

Versatile Tumbled Rock is Great for any Decor

Tumbled Rock

Decorative tumbled rock is a great home accent. Use this colorful mix of smooth rocks and minerals to fill your favorite bowl or vase.  Each stone is a nice, large size (approximately 0.75 to 1.0 inch) with great color and shine.  The assorted mix of minerals includes amethyst, quartz, citrine, sodalite, orange calcite, rose quartz, hematite, smoky quartz, carnelian, green quartz and onyx.  Sold in a 2 pound bag (roughly 70 to 90 rocks per bag).  Shop now for tumble rock at www.GivernyOnline.com.

Cool Father’s Day Gift: Large Amethyst Bookends

Large Amethyst Bookends

Amethyst bookends add a touch of dramatic beauty to your desk or bookshelves. Our large amethyst bookends are cut to show the natural color and shape of the amethyst crystals. Because amethyst is a natural stone, each pair of bookends is unique. Sizes vary but are generally over 10 pounds per pair.  

Amethyst is a common, purple form of the mineral quartz.  Fairly hard, amethyst is a 7 on the Mohs hardness scale which has a range from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest).  Crystals of the mineral often form in clusters, which is also called druse, and commonly form in geodes.  The purple color of amethyst is due to the presence of ferric iron (Fe³⁺) in the quartz crystal and can range from light to dark.  Amethyst is considered a semi-precious gemstone that is most commonly used in jewelry and for collecting.  Beautiful samples of amethyst can be found in Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, Russia, India, Sri Lanka, and the United States.  

Shop for beautiful amethyst bookends today at www.GivernyOnline.com.

Gypsum – A nifty, soft mineral

Selenite Candleholder

The mineral gypsum is fairly easy to identify due to its softness.  A 2 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, gypsum can be easily scratched with your fingernail.  (The Mohs Hardness Scale ranges from 1, softest, to 10, hardest.)  Gypsum also has a white streak, pearly to glassy luster.  Many uses have been found for the mineral gypsum such as the manufacture of paints, tiles, drywall, plaster of paris fertilizer and blackboard chald.  Gypsum is an example of an “evaporite” mineral because it forms when water from lakes or oceans dry up and leave the gypsum behind. 

Desert Rose

Giverny offers a beautiful selenite candleholder which is a fibrous variety of gypsum.  For the kids and collectors we offer a unique speciment called a “desert rose.” 

Shop for unique gypsum candleholder and desert roses today at www.GivernyOnline.com!

Sodalite Mineral Sphere with Nickel Stand

Sodalite Mineral Spheres

Blue sodalite is beautiful and calming. Our spheres make a great focal point for your home decorating. Place on a bookshelf or desk for a nice accent.  Mineral spheres look great singly or arranged in groups.  Since it is a natural mineral, each sphere varies slightly in appearance.  Approximately 1 7/8” diameter. Includes footed stand.

Mineral spheres make great Father’s Day gifts.  Each sphere comes packed in a white box which makes wrapping and gift-giving easy.  Shop today for these beautiful mineral spheres!

5 Tips for Caring for your Rock and Mineral Home Accents

Amethyst Clock

Rocks and minerals make beautiful home accents and accessories.  With minimal care you can keep your rocks and minerals looking beautiful for years to come.  Follow these simple tips to keep you home accents looking perfect.

1. 1.  To keep your rocks and minerals looking great, include them in your routine weekly dusting.  Use a feather duster or very soft cloth to dust and polish flat or smooth surfaces.  Rough materials may scratch the rocks and minerals.
2. Water can be used to clean hard minerals such as quartz and amethyst.  Do not use water on softer minerals, such as calcite, as they might dissolve in the water.
3. Never use abrasive brushes or cleaners, ammonia, bleach or other acidic cleaners on your rocks and minerals as those cleaners can damage the crystal surfaces.
4. Keep your rocks and minerals away from harsh sunlight.  Sunlight may speed crystal weathering and fade natural colors.
5. Do not drop your rocks and minerals because the samples or sample edges can be fragile and may break.

Following these few simple tips will keep your rock and mineral home accents beautiful for years to come.  Jewelry tip:  Follow these same tips for your rock and mineral jewelry.  Only use jewelry cleaner if you are certain that the piece can withstand the solution.