Author: TylerH

Sterling Silver Heart Earrings with Garnet or Rose Quartz stones. Both pair have shining, lovely charm.

Sterling silver is an alloy of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals (usually copper). Developed as a solution to pure silver’s fragility, this precise blend was first standardized in 12th-century England and remains the global benchmark for high-quality jewelry and silverware today

1100s: The term “sterling” originated from “Easterling” coins. These were high-purity silver coins used in trade by German merchants from the Hanseatic League. The British, who traded grain and cattle with the League, adopted the trusted standard.
1275: King Edward I officially codified the 92.5% standard in English law to regulate the purity of silver used in both coins and wares.
1300s: Hallmarking practices were formalized in England. The “lion passant” mark was later introduced to guarantee that items met the required 92.5% fineness.
1600s – 1700s: European settlers brought silversmithing to Colonial America, forging items like buckles, tankards, and flatware

1800s: The Industrial Revolution and the discovery of massive silver deposits drastically lowered production costs. This allowed working-class families to afford sterling silver flatware and decorative items.
1900s – Present: While no longer used for everyday currency, sterling silver remains a beloved medium for fine jewelry, luxury goods, and decorative arts

Sterling silver – Wikipedia

Picture Jasper Earrings, sometimes called Scenic Jasper. Two pair from Succor Creek in the Owyhee Mountains and two from Namibia, African Queen.

Picture Jasper is an opaque, microcrystalline variety of quartz famous for intricate, landscape-like color bands caused by iron oxide and other mineral inclusions. Prized for its natural “scenes” (mountains, rivers, or deserts), it is widely used in jewelry, lapidary art, and crystal healing

Appearance: Features earthy tones like sandy tan, golden brown, deep red, and dark blue. When cut and polished, the banding creates the illusion of miniature paintings.
Composition: Primarily silicon dioxide (\(SiO_{2}\)) with a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, making it highly durable for carving and daily wear.
Origins: Commonly sourced from the American West (especially Oregon and Idaho), as well as Mexico, Australia, and Namibia

Jasper Gem Guide and Properties Chart

Larimar Turtle pendant and earrings with Rose Quartz set in Sterling Silver! Larimar’s Its distinctive sky-blue and turquoise colors mimic the appearance of the Caribbean Sea, complete with white, wave-like marbling patterns.

Larimar is a rare blue variety of the silicate mineral pectolite, found exclusively in the Barahona province of the Dominican Republic. Formed millions of years ago by volcanic activity, it is prized for its soothing oceanic colors. In addition, it is valued for its unique white marbling.

1916 Initial Discovery: A Spanish priest named Father Miguel Domingo Fuertes Loren first discovered the blue stones on a beach and requested permission to mine them. The request was rejected because pectolites were unknown in the country at the time.
1974 Rediscovery: The stone was rediscovered along the seashore by local Dominican artisan Miguel Méndez and U.S. Peace Corps volunteer Norman Rilling. They traced the water-worn alluvial stones upstream to an in-situ outcrop in the Bahoruco mountain range. At that location, the Los Chupaderos mine was established.
The Name: Miguel Méndez coined the name “Larimar” by combining the first few letters of his daughter’s name, Larissa, and Mar, the Spanish word for sea, to reflect the gem’s Caribbean colors

The story of Larimar – Dominican-Larimar.com

Cool Braided Copper Bracelets! Copper jewelry is a popular, affordable, and durable accessory known for its warm, reddish-brown hue and potential, though scientifically debated, health benefits. It often develops a natural green or brown patina over time. This patina can be cleaned with acidic solutions like lemon juice. Additionally, it may leave green skin stains, which are harmless.

Copper bracelets have a history spanning over 9,000 years, with roots in ancient civilizations including Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Indus Valley. In these cultures, they were worn for both aesthetic status and believed medicinal/mystical properties. Known as the earliest “ionizing” bracelet, copper was revered for its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Moreover, its usage for pain relief was popular in ancient times and saw revivals in the 1920s and 1970s.

Ancient Egypt: Regarded as a sacred metal and associated with the goddess Hathor, Egyptians used copper to sterilize water and heal wounds.
Mesopotamia/Sumerian: Used as early as 5000 BC, bracelets were crafted from copper alloy and bronze. They were often made with open-work designs.
Celtic Cultures: Open-torque copper bracelets (circa 100-300 AD) were worn in Britain as symbols of strength, identity, and status.
The Americas: Native American tribes traded copper beads. Later, copper and brass items were traded extensively with groups like the Iroquois and Sioux.

The History & Benefits Of Copper Bracelets

Spectral Stone will be at the Noblesville Art Fair on the Square this Saturday, May 9th from 10am to 4pm. There will be art demonstrations, live music, interactive exhibits, and much more family FUN. Attendance is FREE.

The 2026 HCAA’s Art Fair on the Square is back on the square in downtown Noblesville, IN on May 9th from 10am-4pm. We are excited to once again kick-off to Peony Festival Week!

Come see a tiny art show by HCAA members, live drawing/painting from our Open Studio groups, an interactive music group with Copper Z Creative Wellness, the Conner Prairie youth spinners in action, live music/dance performances, and meet other arts organizations in the area ALL while browsing the amazing artwork and items from our fine art vendors!

This is a family fun event and attendance is FREE! Come check it out!

The Art of Custom Handmade Jewelry