Creating Memories for Memorial Day

Memorial Day represents different things to different people. For most of us, it is a time to remember and acknowledge the ultimate sacrifice given by our military and armed forces to protect our freedoms. What does that have to do with making beautiful handmade jewelry? Honestly, not a lot, other than the fact that it's a blessing to live in a place where that is possible to do.

Fun Fact: Memorial Day was originally called "Decoration Day," as it was the day when citizens would close up their businesses and lay flowers and other decorations on the graves of fallen soldiers. 

In honor of Memorial Day, Rebecca has created a special bracelet named simply "Patriotic." This unique piece is composed of three types of stones in red, white, and blue: Garnet, Mother of Pearl, and Sodalite, respectively. Each stone has unique characteristics. Garnet, a deep red stone, will bring you confidence in yourself, the pure white Mother of Pearl promotes positivity, and rich blue Sodalite encourages intelligence and communication. The bracelet is almost 8 inches long and 1/4 inches wide.

Fun Fact: Memorial Day is based on community remembrance events that began as early as 1866 to honor the thousands of soldiers who died in the Civil War. 

Rebecca produces these pieces one-by-one, finding the perfect stones in each mine she visits and honing them into the stunning jewelry you find on her online store. If "Patriotic" isn't your style, she has many other pieces available in necklaces, earrings, pendants, and more. Here are some other pieces you may enjoy:

Sodalite is featured again in these stunning earrings. They could make a beautiful match with the "Patriotic" bracelet, or be paired with numerous other jewelry pieces and outfits. The bright blue color shines against oranges and yellows especially. The earrings are about 1 inch long and they are mounted on sterling silver lever backs.

This third featured piece is composed of garnets and rose quartz. The garnets form part of the chain, and bring confidence while the rose quartz is thought to represent love. The rose quartz was mined in Franklin, North Carolina at Cowee Mountain Mine and it is hung on a 19-inch sterling silver chain. The pendant measures 1-3/4 inches by 1-1/4 inches.

Fun Fact: In 1968, Memorial day was set as the last Monday of May to give a 3-day weekend to federal employees and finally made a federal holiday.

If you are lucky enough to have a three-day weekend coming up, it's not a bad idea to take some time to appreciate the sacrifice of our fallen heroes. In between the shopping sales and the (hopefully) outdoor barbecues, it is always great to remember how blessed we are. There are several events throughout Northern Virginia to attend, including of course the memorial services at Arlington National Cemetery.

Whether you want to request a matching piece to something you love on Rebecca's online store, or you want something completely custom, do not hesitate to contact Rebecca with your requests. She loves to create and will work with you in finding the right elements to design your perfect jewelry piece.

Be sure to read more about Rebecca's story and the tales behind each of her creations on her website. Follow this blog to learn more about the process of creating jewelry and to see more of the beautiful things that Rebecca designs.

Resources:
History.com

New Beginnings

Everyone loves a fresh start. For Rebecca, that means taking her love of mining and jewelry design and translating it into Rebecca's Rock 'n Gems. For fifteen years, she and her mother have been traveling to various mines in Virginia and North Carolina to seek the best rocks, stones, and gems for their hobby of jewelry design.

Along the way, Rebecca has learned how to craft stunning pieces from raw gemstones, and now she gets to share her passion with you. From moonstones to charoite to aventurine, you will find a variety of beautiful jewelry pieces in her store, and each has its own unique story to tell. Since 2011, Rebecca has been designing these one-of-a-kind items for her clients, and only hopes to continue growing and expanding her business in the future.

You can find out more about Rebecca and her vision here.

The peach moonstone is especially relevant for a first post. Beyond the creamy orange color, there is a deeper significance to these beautiful stones. Whether you are seeking to build your confidence, lose weight, have a baby, or any other major undertaking, peach moonstone can help you along in your "new beginning."

Historically, moonstone is associated with the Roman goddess Diana. It was thought that you could see the goddess of the moon in this unique stone, and she would grant you wisdom, love, and good luck in your undertakings. Giving a lover a moonstone necklace during the full moon was also believed to give the couple lasting passion for one another.

Fun fact: The moonstone had fallen out of common use until the Art Nouveau period (1890-1910), when René Lalique revived its popularity by incorporating it into his designs. 

Rebecca's Rock 'n Gems peach moonstone jewelry can be purchased together or separately. The stones for these items came from Lucky Lake in Mckenney, Virginia. Rebecca mined them herself and worked with a gemologist to get them cut just right for her valued customers.

The "New Beginnings" necklace features the peach moonstone prominently. The 3/4-inch pendant hangs from a 22-inch sterling silver chain. This elegant piece can be worn in formal or causal settings, ideally paired with earrings.

Moonstone is actually composed of two types of feldspar, orthoclase and albite. These two materials grow together in layers, which creates the pearl-like sheen, or schiller effect of moonstone.

Fun fact: The moonstone is the state stone of Florida.

To continue the matching set, the "New Beginnings" earrings drop from a lever back clasp on a delicate sterling silver chain. These can be a fun way to dress up an everyday outfit. 

Other properties of the moonstone delve into the spiritual world. Wearing or holding a moonstone is thought to open up the mind to increase intuition and unlock psychic gifts. It helps to attract the things you need in life and allows you to recognize and acknowledge them, rather than pushing them away.

Fun Fact: In the middle ages, moonstones were used to look into the future.

Orange is often associated with enthusiasm, creativity, and determination. It is believed that orange promotes oxygen supply to the brain and increases mental activity, which is important for a new project of any kind. 

Last but not least, the "New Beginnings" ring is set in sterling silver to complete the group. The setting gently hugs the exquisite peach moonstone in place. 

Rebecca is always crafting beautiful new items for sale. Click here to see her store, or simply contact her directly.

Resources: 

Originstones.com

Color-wheel-pro.com