Dear Friends,
June Moon Studios will feature my own designs, using nothing but the best precious and semi-precious gemstones available and high quality, gold-filled hardware that puts a finer and more modern touch on beaded jewelry. The collection is inspired by my own exploration for gemstone jewelry with finer materials, in a market where the pieces available are quite polarized on the spectrum of quality - and expense. It was our dream to create a place where you could find beautiful gemstone jewelry that is set in a more modern, elegant, whimsical, and high-quality aesthetic at a reasonable price. And ultimately, we wanted to create pieces that bring people closer to the most beautiful place we've ever dwelled - the intersection of nature and design. This is June Moon.
The Kodah Amazonite Bracelet with June Moon Balloon Dog Charm
Our love for nature - and in particular our love for Earth's ability to produce stunningly beautiful things - is the fuel, the spark, and the stoker. It is our greatest pleasure, out of this entire endeavor, that the vision of June Moon brings us closer to nature. While we will never limit ourselves to any set of minerals in our pieces, you may notice that we feature some minerals more often.
This week, we're going to take a closer look at these beauties and why we're using them:
Turquoise
Turquoise is one of the most popular and sought-after stones in the world. Found right here in the Southwest, there are a couple of varieties of Turquoise we favor for our pieces because of their alluring light blue to blue-green spectrum of hues. Named after the mines they're found in, these varieties of Turquoise are called Lone Mountain and Carico Lake. Lone Mountain's Turquoise, in particular, produces tones that I believe play best off of the gold-filled hardware we use in our pieces.
Wait, did I say that right? Did you hear it right? Turquoise paired with GOLD? YES!! All of my pieces are set in gold-filled or solid gold hardware. This means your piece will not only be beautifully modern, it will shine for years to come. No tarnishing!
The Enola Turquoise, Apple Coral, and White Howlite Bracelet Set
Formation
Turquoise typically forms from the oxidation and other chemical changes that can occur to other, naturally occurring minerals, such as Malachite, Chrysocolla, or Azurite. It is consequently known as a Secondary mineral.
Meditation
In meditation, Turquoise is used for clearing negative energy, promoting self-awareness and creativity. It is a powerful stone to use when meditating for inner work and awareness, self-forgiveness, and healing yourself back to a space where healthy intention can be integrated into your practice.
Notes
- Turquoise is the December birthstone and holds deep significance for those born under the Sagittarius sign.
- Turquoise is very susceptible to color change, due to oils in the skin and exposure to sun. To maintain the luster of your Turquoise:
- Always take off when showering or swimming
- When you take off, wipe the stones with a soft cloth, so that the oils from your skin are not sitting on the surface of the stones.
- Store in a jewelry box or a soft cloth bag.
Opal
Opals make stunning jewelry. When I started beading, I learned that opals could come in bead form just as much as they do in focal pieces. Ever since, I've used them in countless designs because they make such beautiful accents. Opals are unique from any other stone in that it is the water contained within the stones making all of those beautiful fiery flashes. Because of this, Opals have no defined common crystalline structure - each one is completely unique from all other Opals.
PSA
It's at this time that I'd like to make a PSA about the myth of poor luck as a result of Opal ownership. This myth is, in fact, from a novel and has no bearing on our IRL Opals. The novel is called "Anne of Geierstein," and cutely enough, our opal-wearing main character's name is Hermoine. :)
Formation
As mentioned earlier, water content plays a big role in the formation of Opals. The cool thing about the mineral is that it can "opalize" things! Deep in the ancient forests you will find glittering pieces of iridescent petrified wood, called Opalized Wood - these specimens can go for thouuuuusands of dollars at auction or a gem show. Water essentially collects silica from sandstone along its way down to the surface of an open crevice, and over millions of years the silica evaporates to leave a hard Opal specimen in its place.
Meditation
Opal is another very powerful meditation stone, known as the "Eye Stone." Opal's ability to help us see into ourselves is an important meditative process, bringing forth those things we wish to change about ourselves and giving us the courage to address them. It is a powerful intention and manifestation stone, as Opal helps to protect the spirit during times of great bravery.
Notes
- Opal is the October birthstone and holds deep significance for those born under the Libra, Cancer, Pisces, and Scorpio signs.
- Opal is a fragile mineral and needs special care:
- Keep away from acids and alcohols, such as hand sanitizer.
- Avoid swift and dynamic temperature changes.
- Clean with a soft cloth, no detergent.
- Store in a soft cloth bag.
One day we'll do a whole blog on Opal - it is a fascinating story.
Rhodochrosite
This perfectly pink stone is the state mineral of Colorado and is present in a lot of my designs. Just wait until you have one of these pieces on your wrist - the pink in Rhodochrosite is one of the most captivating hues of pink you've ever seen. Within the deep, dimensional pink you'll see swirls of white clouds. Rhodochrosite is a beautiful material that we are using both as a feature material and as accent pieces, as the hues in this mineral can create beautiful contrasts with or complements to many, many other minerals.
Formation
Rhodochrosite is found, most usually, in massive opaque formations. However, it can also be found in single crystal points that are clearer pink. The more common variety is formed in layers from hydrothermal activity, which collects in cavities of ore of sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. This is what creates the captivating bands of pink and white that are so iconic of Rhodochrosite.
Meditation
Rhodochrosite is a joy-bringer. Joy in, of, and for yourself. Joy for love and relationships. Joy for life. And in this experience of joy, we find inspiration and a spark of creativity. Rhodochrosite is a stone to wear when celebrating life.
Notes:
- Rhodochrosite is a fairly soft stone, so take care not to expose it to sharp or abrasive materials, or to drop or knock them.
- While not a traditional birthstone, Rhodochrosite does hold deep significance for those born under the Scorpio sign.
Other Notable Minerals in the Fall Collection
Carnelian
I am so excited about the Carnelian pieces we have coming in this collection! Carnelian is making a comeback as of late, most recently popular in Art Deco and Art Nouveau periods. It has been an admired stone for its intriguing peach and amber hues, inclusions, and patterns and was a favorite of Cleopatra's. The pieces in our collection celebrate that history, adding our own modern touch in the selection of companion minerals to create a warm and alluring look.
Formation
Carnelian is a form of Chalcedony, rich with silica. What makes Carnelian so unique from other forms of Chalcedony is the iron oxide present in the specimens. Varying amounts of iron present in the layers forming the specimens are the cause of the beautiful, mysterious bands of varying peach and amber hues.
Meditation
Carnelian is a really special meditation stone. Carnelian's warmth reminds us of the warmth and spirit within ourselves, renewing self-love, self-confidence, and self-worth. It's a great stone for jewelry, and I am so glad it's making a comeback, because Carnelian is a really effective empowering stone if worn in those situations where a confidence boost is needed.
Notes:
- Carnelian is fairly easy to take care of by occasionally cleaning with a soft cloth.
- While not a traditional birthstone, Carnelian holds deep significance for those born under the sign of Virgo.
Playing Around with Carnelian and Chrysoprase on the Bead Board
Malachite
The richest and most sumptuous shades of green, Malachite is an iconic stone. Its shade is emblematic of the Art Deco movement, and its massive formations allowed many designers throughout history to use carved pillars and panels to coat entire rooms with the mesmerizing mineral in castles and state buildings. It was even ground into powder and used as eyeliner in Ancient Egypt! Malachite is a stone for richness, power, and protection.
The Acadia Pink Coral and Malachite Bracelet with June Moon Balloon Charm
Formation
Malachite forms in massive deposits associated with copper ores, within the oxidized crevices. It is most typically found in botryoidal formations, which are smooth bubbly chunks of mineral. Because Malachite is only a hardness of 3.5-4.0 out of 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness ( diamonds score a 10), it is often carved into stunningly beautiful shapes and displayed as statues or figurines.
Meditation
Malachite is a good stone for protection and detoxification. It can help to clear negative thoughts and feelings, putting the wearer in a more positive state after meditating with it. Malachite can also help with precise and effective communication, if worn throughout the day.
Notes
- Malachite is softer and so care should be given care not to knock the stones while wearing.
- Store in a soft cloth bag or jewelry box.
- While not an official birthstone, Malachite holds deep meaning for those born under the Taurus, Capricorn, and Scorpio signs.
The Acadia Pink Coral and Malachite Bracelet with June Moon Balloon Charm
Amethyst
Amethyst has been among the most popular stones with which to adorn ourselves since ancient civilization. Its majestic purple tones associated with purity and protection, Amethyst comes from the Greek word "amethystos," meaning "not drunk." This stone has been affixed to countless relics, crowns, scepters, and signet rings of high distinction, the Amethyst signifying nobility and even divinity.
Formation
Amethyst is a form of quartz, iron impurities replacing key silicon atoms to create this mineral's stunning purple hue. It can form in a few different ways, one of the most beloved being within cavernous (or itty bitty) geodes. Geodes look like round rocks on the outside, but on the inside live thousands of little crystal points. Amethyst is just one mineral that can be found on the inside of a geode.
Meditation
Amethyst is powerful for meditation, connecting with the Crown and Third Eye chakras, and aiding in relaxation and soothing calmness. Groundedness, clarity, and balance are all benefits of meditating with this captivating stone. Amethyst is a great meditative gem for jewelry, as its benefits are helpful for the wearer throughout the day in varying environments.
Notes
- Amethyst is the February birthstone and holds significant meaning for those born under the Pisces sign.
- Amethyst is fairly easy to care for by wiping clean with a soft cloth and storing in a soft cloth bag or jewelry box.
Friends, I am so glad we got the chance this week to introduce you to some of the pieces coming this Fall in the first collection from June Moon Studios. They will all be available for purchase in just a few short weeks! In the meantime, I'd love to know your favorite mineral/stone. Put in the comments on the Facebook post, and feel free to share a picture.
And if you have any questions about my pieces, please don't hesitate to reach out to me directly at info@junemoonhomescapes.com.
Wishing you a wonderful week!
