Gemstone Jewelry With Form & Function

I’ve been intending to post photos of some of the stone jewelry I’ve created in the past, but lately I’ve been too caught up with posting current items to bother with the archives.  This is a collection of jewelry I designed this past holiday season as gifts for friends & family.  Constructed using only the finest quality metal and stone, these pieces were designed not only with aesthetic appeal in mind, but also the stones’ supposed metaphysical properties.

This first necklace showcases a crescendo of alternating spheres, in shades of dusty yellow which looks stunning against a darker wardrobe.  The large translucent orbs are Lemon Quartz, which is said to clear the mind & absorb negative energy.  The smaller brighter beads are Citrine, a powerful cleansing stone of emotional balance, which is also known as a “merchant’s stone” for promoting financial prosperity.  When combined, the citrine is said to dispel the negativity which the lemon quartz collects – the necklace retains an optimistic air regardless of the wearer’s stress levels.  Hung on a sterling silver chain, with complementary accent charm on the clasp, this elegant citrus-inspired necklace is a personification of happiness.

This next piece was designed for a longtime family friend who had recently been involved in a car accident and suffered a broken wrist.  To supplement the healing process, this bracelet features large free form nuggets of Pyrite (a stone of physical strength), framed by round beads of red tiger eye (his favorite stone) and accented by brass.  Tiger Eye is a grounding stone, said to combine the energies of sun & earth, which helps to encourage discipline & practicality.  Though designed with a man in mind, this silhouette is extremely versatile is looks great on women as well.

These next two pieces were collaborative works with my partner.  The first is an edgy pendant showcasing a genuine Ammonite fossil. Ammonites are a prehistoric form of marine life, said to bring structure to one’s life while allowing them to understand the big picture.  The fossil is framed by small spheres of spotted Dalmatian Jasper and disks of Bronzite, on a large brass chain.  Dalmation Jasper, also known as Leopard Jasper, is a stabilizing stone which promotes patience and helps one accept responsibilities.  Similarly, Bronzite is known as a “stone of courtesy,” promoting equitability and unbiased judgment.  Although the stones used are sharply contrasting in appearance they hold common threads metaphysically, which allow them to come together in a youthful necklace of peace & understanding.

This final tourmaline bracelet is truly elegant & unique.  The vintage-style butterfly, which we bent to match the natural curve of the wrist, was originally purchased about a decade ago from a local Claire’s Boutique as a necklace focal point.  The bracelet is adorned in pink and black tourmaline rounds, and accented by faceted nuggets of green tourmaline and “gun-metal” filigree beads.  Tourmaline promotes inspiration $ self-confidence, and it’s said to mirror the body’s chakras.  Rubellite (aka pink tourmaline) strengthens love &the healing qualities of the heart.  Green Tourmaline, also related with the heart, brings about both clarity & wealth (material & emotional). And the powerful Schorl (aka Aphrizite or Black Tourmaline) is said to protect against & repel negative energy.  With a design reminiscent of a peace sign, this bracelet connects the energies of mind, heart & body.

All of the wonderful information I’ve presented here on the stones’ properties has been gathered from the definitive source on the subject, Love is in the Earth:  The Crystal & Mineral Encyclopedia, by Melody. It may be the heaviest book I own, but it certainly suceeds in leaving no stone unturned.   🙂

Sonobes: Cornerstone of Modular Origami

Although battling a severe bout of sickness, I thought I’d post some more informative material regarding the history and mathematics of modular origami.  And seeing how many of my models are created using Sonobe modules or derivatives thereof, it felt a natural place to begin the discussion.

According to origami lore, the Sonobe module was created by its namesake, Mitsunobu Sonobe, in the early half of twentieth century Japan.  These parallelogram modules feature folds at 45 and 135 degrees, with two built-in pockets.  Thanks to the tab-pocket system, shapes can be assembled and held together entirely without the aid of adhesive.  It is due to this strength, along with the plenitude of shapes this modules can create, which has added to its longevity.

The simplest of Sonobe shapes, known as Toshie’s Jewel, is made with only 3 modules.  Cube constructions can be assembled using 6 or 12 unit assembly methods, as can 12 unit octahedral assemblies.  One of the most well-known shapes, and a personal favorite, is the icosahedron, which is comprised of twelve pentagonal faces and requires 30 units to assemble.  Of course, other larger polyhedra are equally viable, including spiked pentakis dodecahedron, and the large 270 module “buckyball.”

Adding further to this design’s endurance is the virtually endless ways in which this module has been modified over the decades.  Through the small adjustments of folds, brilliant color contrasts and shape differentiations are created.  In fact, you’d be hard pressed to find a modular origami unit which does not in some way draw inspiration from the original Sonobe.  So thank you for this ingenious fold, which opened the gateway for a whole genre of origami!