STONES & PEARLS 

Agates are a grounding stone, bringing about emotional, physical, and intellectual balance.  Formed from microscopic crystals laid down in bands, agates can take up to 50 million years to form.  They are believed to have the power to harmonize yin and yang energies.  Agate is a stone that works slowly, but brings great strength.

Amazonite is a soothing stone, which is believed to help in calming the brain and nervous system.  It is believed to balance the masculine and feminine energies and align the physical body with the etheric.  Aiding in dispelling negative energy and alleviating worry and fear, amazonite is a gentle and powerful stone. 

Amethyst is considered a highly protective and powerful stone with a high spiritual vibration.  Amethyst is often linked with the third eye or 6^th charka and is believed to bring calm to the wearer and opens the door to new understanding and wisdom.  Amethyst is the birthstone of February.

Carnelian ranges from a more transparent light orange to rich dark opaque rust color.  Mirroring the colors of the rising and setting sun, carnelian is believed to symbolize warmth, joy and bold energy.

Chalcedony has a soft, slightly opaque blue tone.  It is believed that chalcedony is a nurturing stone that promotes community and good will, as well as bring the body and mind into harmony. 

Chrysoprase is a rich, colorful green stone that is often opaque and at times has a slight transparency.  Believed to promote a love of truth and hope, chrysoprase is said to aid in recognizing the gentle beauty within oneself and to stimulate self-expression and creativity.

Citrine is considered a powerful cleansing stone, carrying the power of the sun, it is said to be a stone of abundance.

Coral, though often categorized as a gemstone, is more closely related to shells, being comprised mostly of calcium carbonate.  Coral is believed to be a symbol of protection and thought to soothe emotions, especially for those experiencing significant changes in life.  I use antique coral beads from Morocco and Nigeria, these beads are often around 100-200 years old.

The term druzy refers to the crystal formation that can occur on many different kinds of gemstones.  This naturally occurring  process happens when water brings minerals to a stones surface, the water evaporates and leaves the minerals behind which form small crystals, known as druzy.

Emerald is considered a stone of inspiration, a life affirming stone with great integrity. It is believed that emerald enhances unity, unconditional love, and promotes friendship.

Fossilized ammonites are believed to promote trust and flexibility, while dispersing old paradigms and ways of being.  Considered to impart wisdom and knowing when it will be most useful to go with the flow and release any personal resistance, even in the midst of great turbulence. 

Fossilized coral is created when prehistoric coral is gradually hardened and replaced with agate from silica-rich waters, a process which can take over 20 million years.  Fossil coral is believed to be a grounding stone, helpful for promoting inner peace, and good for bringing about change.

Garnet has long been used as a protective talisman and is believed to be a powerful stone that helps revitalize, purify and balance energy.  Connected to creativity and love, garnet is said to open the heart and bestow self-confidence.

Herkimer diamonds can be an energizing stone that aids in creativity and attuning to ones highest self and is said to help recall and understand our dreams.

Hessonite garnet is believed to open intuition and eliminate feelings of guilt and shame.

Iolite, named after the Greek word “ios,” meaning violet; has a rich purple, blue hue mirroring the night sky.  Iolite is known as the gemstone of clear visions, promoting intuition and inner knowing.  The color of iolite ranges in depth from deep purple, blue tones similar to tanzanite and sapphire into soft subtle gray tones.

Labradorite has an understated grey base with a hidden fire inside that shines through at just the right angle.  The iridescence ranges from deep blue, to yellowish green, even into the orange and purple hues.  Labradorite, the bringer of light, is believed to be a highly mystical and protective stone.  It stimulates intuition and psychic gifts and strengthens faith in the self and trust in the universe.

Lapis Lazuli is believed to bond relationships of love and friendship, encourage creativity, release stress and bring deep inner peace.  Its deep blue color can often have shimmering specs of pyrite that formed within the stone.  I use lapis that is hand carved in Afghanistan with bold cuts and a matte finish as well as more highly faceted and polished stones hand cut in India.

Moss Aquamarine has an ocean hues range from greens to deep blues.  Moss aquamarine is believed to have an affinity with sensitive people, carrying the power of the ocean, it is considered a stone of courage, communication, and heightened clairvoyance. 

Onyx is said to center and align ones energy, creating harmony with the our whole self, it is also believed to give strength and support during difficult eras of life.

Pearls are believed to be in harmony with the moon and the element of water, aiding in aligning with the lunar cycle.  Considered a powerful representative of divine feminine energy, a creator of life and worlds, pearls can help with introspection, self-acceptance and intuitive foresight.  These are authentic fresh water pearls.

Peridot is believed to be a powerful cleansing stone, aiding in the release of outside influences, and helping to clear burdens and guilt.

Opalized fossils are often found in areas with volcanic activity, hot springs or geysers - which provide the silica-rich fluids needed for opalization.

Quartz is considered one of the most powerful healing stones.  It is believed to harmonizes the chakras and bring the body into balance.  Quartz is known to absorb, release and regulate energy.

Rhodochrosite is an earthy pink stone which is believed to integrate the physical and spiritual energies as well as stimulate love and passion.  By energetically opening the heart, rhodochrosite is thought to encourage a positive outlook, creativity and intuition, as well as enhance the dream state.

Ruby is believed to be a stone of passion and protection.  It has strong associations with the heart and love, especially with encouraging healing from loss and rebuilding trust in loving relationship.  Ruby gets its name from the Latin word ruber, meaning “red” a nod to it’s deep red color.  Ruby is the birthstone of July.

Ruby zoisite is a natural formation, combining the minerals of red ruby and green zoisite.  It is believed to be a stone of passion and patience, it is associated with abundance, vitality and growth.

Rutilated amethyst has mineral inclusions or rutiles which formed with the stone creating thin striations and bans inside the stone.

Rutilated quartz comes in many different hues depending on the fine threads known as rutiles, ranging from yellow, rust, green, and black.  Rutilated quartz offers a story of how flaws transform into depth and beauty.  Believed to be an energizing and harmonizing stone, rutilated quartz is said to be an illuminator of the soul.

Smokey quartz is said to be a grounding and anchoring stone that is connected to earth energy.

Sodalite, often called “the poet’s stone” is associated with communication, creativity, self-expression and intuition.  It is often recommended as a stone for artists, writers and other creative folks.

Spinel can range in color, here I’ve used black spinel, which is believed to be connected with energy renewal and rejuvenation.

Tourmaline comes in many colors and is considered a cleansing stone which can transform dense energy into a lighter vibration.  It is believed that tourmaline can help one develop a deeper understanding of themselves and others.

Turquoise has traditionally been thought of as a stone to unite earth and sky.  It is considered a strengthening stone while also instilling inner calm and enhancing intuition. I use turquoise that is hand carved in Afghanistan with bold cuts and a matte finish as well as more highly polished stones hand cut in China and India.

 

ANCIENT & ANTIQUE GLASS, & ANCIENT STONE

Ancient glass shards and components are excavated in Afghanistan, along the Silk Road, a network of trade routes that connected cultures and merchants and spanned from the 2^nd century BCE to the 18^th century.  The glass originated in the regions of the Roman Empire, where glassware became popularized with the invention of glass blowing, around 50 BCE.  Glassware was brought into the homes of most Romans and used on a daily basis. It was also traded along the Silk Road.  These fragments of glass are repurposed from broken vessels that were buried for hundreds of years along the Silk Trade Road and today are made into beads.  Because it is excavated in Afghanistan, I am choosing to call it “ancient glass” instead of “ancient Roman glass.”

These ancient stone beads were excavated in sub-Saharan Africa in the ancient city of Djenne-Djeno, located in Mali. Djenne-Djeno was originally settled around 250 BCE, according to archeologists, and was an oasis with grassy plains, lakes, and rivers allowing for a thriving community of farmers, artisans, and merchants.  By roughly 1,000 CE the water sources and soil were not as suitable for community life and the population migrated to other areas across Africa.  Ancient beads have a powerful and magical energy.

Many glass African trade beads originated in Europe during the 1800s and were traded throughout the world – mostly throughout the continent of Africa, but also throughout Western Asia and the Americas.  These special beads became influential in the beadwork created by many cultures across the world.

 

SHELL & LAKE STONES

Silvija feels a strong link between shells and divine feminine and/or creative energy, having formed in water, our planets unique element that is a key to creating life.

These conch shell beads are hand carved in Nepal.  They have a beautifully rustic shape and each bead has unique details.  This kind of conch shell is found in areas around the Indian Ocean.  Conch shells have a long religious lineage within Buddhist and Hindu cultures.  In Buddhism, the conch shell is one of the eight auspicious symbols, symbolizing the Buddha’s speech or call to teaching.  In Hinduism, the conch shell is the sacred emblem of the God Vishnu, the preserver, believed to protect humans and to restore order to the world.

Antique conus shell beads were hand carved in Mauritania and traditionally worn in women’s hair of sewn onto fabrics.  Finding an exact matching set can be challenging, giving way for the subtle asymmetry that comes from natural materials. 

Kualia shells are from Papua New Guinea, they were originally used as currency and later sewn onto decorative fabrics.  Kualia shells are roughly 100-200 years old. 

The lake stones I use are hand drilled rocks found along the lakes in the Midwest.  These stones have a smooth, matte finish and each piece has unique character.

 

METAL 

Coin silver is made from a mixture of metals with a high pure silver content, often repurposing coins by melting them down.  The coin silver components I work with are antiques from all of the world, ranging from 80-120 years old, found in India, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, and many West African countries such as Nigeria and Mali.  The wear and patina of antique coin silver has informed much of my jewelry aesthetic over the years.  The pieces are very special and rare.

Hilltribe silver beads come from the Karen tribe in northern Thailand, a mountainous area known as the Golden Triangle, where many Indigenous tribes from Thailand, Laos and Myanmar live.  The Karen tribe have been silversmiths for generations and they create unique designs made from roughly .999% pure silver, a slightly higher percentage that standard sterling which is .925 pure silver.

 

HINDU GODS & GODDESS PENDANTS

Shiva, the Hindu God of destruction and transformation, he is believed to keep the world in balance and protect the soul from pain and suffering.

The Sapta Matrikas, the Seven Mothers, of Hinduism are feminine deities or priestesses, they are believed to have originated from the seven stars of Pleiades and have a strong connection with nature and unpredictability. 

Bhumiya Raj is known as the protective “ghost king” he is said to have been a chief who died while defending his land and villagers and who is still believed to ride through the village today dispelling evil spirits.

Hanuman is a symbol of strength, loyalty, pure devotion and the absence of ego.  It is believed that Hanuman can change forms from the size of a small animal to a presence as huge as touching the sky, he teaches us to adapt.

Some sources say this pendant depicts Kali, the Goddess of Destruction, time and change, and the remover of ego while others say Devi, the all embracing Mother Goddess or Great Goddess.  It is important to note that Devi can manifest as Kali.  These pendants hold a very special place in Silvija’s life, as she has twice worn a Kali pendant for protection and healing, both times deciding to release them into the natural world to find a new home in their own time.

When the pendant stamping is upside down, sometimes these pendants were made this way so when the wearer would look down, the figure would be right side up.