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New jewelry in time for Christmas!

Nov8

Just in time for the holiday season, I have added bunches of yummy jewelry creations to my website, www.wrappedtogo.net   Pendant, bacelets and earrings, affordable prices, and custom orders are welcome!

History of Valentine’s Day

Feb9
Rhodochrosite heart wrapped in gold wire pendant

Rhodochrosite heart wrapped in gold wire pendant

 The history of Valentine’s Day — and its patron saint — is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine’s Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite?

One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first ‘valentine’ greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl — who may have been his jailor’s daughter — who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed ‘From your Valentine,’ an expression that is still in use today.

In Great Britain, Valentine’s Day began to be popularly celebrated around the seventeenth century.  Early ones are made of lace and paper.   By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was common for friends and lovers in all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes.  Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expression of one’s feelings was discouraged.  Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s.

To purchase your Valentine a lovely gift of handmade, one of a kind jewelry, please visit my web-site of  Wrapped to Go!

Citrine heart pendant wrapped in gold wire

Metaphysical Properties of Spectrolite

Apr25

 

spectrolite pendant

spectrolite pendant

 

A stone of transformation, Labradorite (also known as Spectrolite)
is a useful companion through change, imparting strength and perseverance.
It balances and protects the aura, raises consciousness and grounds spiritual energies.
Excellent for strengthening intuition-promoting psychic abilities.
Powerful in revealing the truth behind illusions, Labradorite (Spectrolite)
banishes fears and insecurities, and strengthens faith in the self
and trust in the universe.  It stimulates the imagination and calms an overactive mind,
developing enthusiasm and new ideas.

Labradorite (Spectrolite) treats disorders of the eyes and brain,
stimulates mental acuity, and relieves anxiety and stress.
It regulates metabolism, balances hormones and relieves menstrual tension.
Labradorite treats colds, gout, and rheumatism,
lowers blood pressure, and aids in digestion.

The astrological signs of Spectrolite are Scorpio, Sagittarius and Leo. Associated with the Winter season, and the January Moon (Wolf Moon).

Labradorite (Spectrolite) Associations:
Chakras – Base Chakra
Zodiac – Leo, Scorpio, Sagittarius
Planet – Uranus

( source: Charms of Light )

 

 

Spectrolite – variety of labradorite displaying with intense reds, oranges and yellows as well as blues and greens. These colors are due to light interference by thin lamellae (parallel layers) within the Spectrolite. The color play is iridescent like the feathers of a peacock or the Northern Lights.

Spectrolite belongs to the plagioclase feldspar group, a series of mixtures of sodium and calcium aluminum silicates. Spectrolite has a hardness of 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale and a specific gravity of 2.69 – 2.72.

Spectrolite is the very high grade of dark based Labradorite that is found only in Finland. The name “Spectrolite” is a trade name given to this material by the Finns, and only this material can truly be called Spectrolite.

 

spectrolite jewelry

spectrolite jewelry

 

Wire wrap spectrolite