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Thank you to all who attended
the Kirkland Artist Studio Tour. Hope you enjoyed yourselves and the very sunny weather! We certainly did.
It is always enjoyable talking with visitors during the tour.
Prior to the weekend tour, though, the Kirkland Art Center hosted a preview party & silent
auction, where many of the artists had donated an item or two to be auctioned off, giving everyone the opportunity to see
what the artists were offering through their tour venues. So, we did get a sneak peak at other artists' work (which
we don't get a chance to see during the tour). Monthly Newsletter For those new to our newsletter, we welcome you. It is published nine times a year, combining
months Jan-Feb into one issue and June-July-August into the "Summer" issue. It is usually posted on our website
at the beginning of each month. If you miss a particular month, let Coralyn know and she'll e-mail it to you.
Ongoing
Events
Trunk shows:
If you are lost for fun party ideas this summer, consider hosting a trunk show. It can either be done at your home or
at our home in Kirkland. It is a great way to have a party and add some new items to your wardrobe. KAC's Gallery: Coralyn's work is
also available through The Kirkland Art Center's shopping gallery, named "has, Fine and Functional Art",
located in Kirkland's Park Place Center, just down from Noah's bagels. Her jewelry will continue to be sold on
a consignment through this venue, with new inventory added on a rotating basis. Coralyn is working there as a volunteer
a couple of times a month.
Unveiling of the Whitney Alexandrite The story of the Whitney Alexandrite and the Smithsonian has been located
on the Events page under “Prior”.
More than just Beads and Wire The "Coralyn W Whitney Design" business entity actually
has many facets (no pun intended) to it. Coralyn is a certified GIA graduate gemologist and an Accredited Jewelry Professional.
With these credentials she is able to buy gemstones at wholesale, know what she is buying, and able to guide her clients in
the process of both diamond and color stone selection, as well as the different metals available from which to craft jewelry,
whether for a single purchase or items to be used in a custom design. This expertise also allows her to evaluate
those hidden treasures you may have, passed along to you from your mother, grandmother, or Aunt Mable, which you may have
questions about. As a trained gemologist, Coralyn
understands (and will carefully explain to you) the various aspects of a gemstone you may be considering buying.
For example, to many, all diamonds pretty much look alike. But, in reality, if one knows what one is looking at, they
do not. While purchasing an "ideal" cut diamond without flaws will be a stunningly brilliant stone, Coralyn
knows (as do all the other jewelers out there) that one does not have to pay the premium price for such a stone to get one
that is equally as stunning, and still holds value. However, on the other end of the spectrum, there are retailers offering
diamonds at surprising low prices and for good reason ... very poor quality, mismatched, or the stones have undergone some
form of treatment to enhance their beauty. Many
of Coralyn's fine jewelry designs have involved the creation of one-of-a-kind bridal sets. Often these are done for
the "second time around" couples or those couples who do not want the typical options offered by brick and mortar
stores. Coralyn works one-on-one with the clients to determine what style they are looking for, including discussions
of the pros and cons of white versus yellow metal (gold versus platinum), what style they might have in mind (traditional
or modern), and the types of stones they want to use ... be it all colorless diamonds, or a combination of fancy color diamonds
(like natural fancy yellow, pinks, and blues), color gemstones (such as sapphires, rubies, emeralds, or some more exotic stones),
and colorless diamonds. A master jeweler, with decades of experience, crafts the final designs. Fine jewelry designs can also be created utilizing your own gems (from other treasures)
and pre-fabricated mountings, as are typically offered at your local jewelry store. Another aspect of Coralyn's business is the identification of gems and metals used in
estate or pre-owned jewelry. Her expertise provides a client with an evaluation of whether or not a piece of jewelry
is a fine piece made of gold and diamonds, or costume jewelry fashioned from gold-plated base metal mounted with CZ's (glass).
The cost of this evaluation is on an hourly basis, and provides guidance when more extensive written appraisal work
is required (whether for replacement value, fair market value, or for estate settlements). She has a few local experts
she can refer you to. So, as you see, not only does
Coralyn create her own bead work and designs in sterling silver and/or gold, she offers custom fine jewelry design, gem buying,
estate jewelry evaluation and sales, and also has available one-of-a-kind jewelry from award winning jewelers. Thus,
the business really offers the same services as your neighborhood jeweler.
Gemstone's
Powers
This month we look at: Olivine, Onyx, Opal, Pearl, Rhodochrosite, Rock crystal, Rose quartz, and Ruby.
As I've mentioned before, since time immemorial, gems and rocks have been looked upon as healing stones,
both physically and mentally. The ancients held strong beliefs in this area. Stones are of the
earth and have a direct connection to the sun and the stars and the moon and all the powers that created them. All these
sources working together synergistically to provide health for all those that seek it (or not working together resulting in
illness). Externally, they have been worn as jewelry, tumbled into smooth stones, and even worn in the rough,
to provide the wearer with the relief they are seeking. The stone is to be worn next to the area requiring its powers.
And, the rougher the stone, the stronger the powers of the stone were perceived as it was closer to its natural self.
It was also held that the finer the gemstone, the better its powers; of course, many failures were attributed to utilization
of inferior quality stones. In addition to the adornments and transmission of energy externally, rocks have been ground
up finely, mixed with a liquid (like water or wine) and taken internally to supposedly rid one of headaches, acne, kidney
problems, infertility, etc.... If you missed last month's series on lapis lazuli,
malachite, moonstone, and obsidian, e-mail Coralyn and she will forward it to you.
Olivine (peridot):  Peridot is a stone of compassion. It lessens stress in relationships, particularly marriage. It can also bring abundance
and prosperity. It influences Cancer and Leo. For a Cancer, olivine relieves anxiety and depression, and for
Leo, this pure green stone keeps them young! Onyx:  Onyx assists with challenges in life, especially those caused by a drain of energy. It prevents the draining
away of personal energy and can be used for protection from such. Capricorn, Leo, and Aquarius are influenced by the
effects of onyx. For Capricorn, onyx increases their wisdom and serenity, helping them strive toward higher goals.
Onyx calms Aquarius, allowing for a better sense of reality and the ability to explore it. For Leo, onyx (especially
the pure black form) helps keep their minds free and flexible. Opal:  Opal is a stone of inspiration, enhancing imagination and creativity. It helps one release inhibitions and enhances
memory. Opal is also a very spiritual stone bringing happy dreams and eases the process of change. Opal has the ability
to exert its influence over five of the signs of the Zodiac ... Pisces, Cancer, Virgo, Aquarius, and Sagittarius. For
Pisces, opal brings harmony and happiness, averting depression or heartache. It helps Cancer in their search for harmony,
helps Virgo become more spontaneous, and is a lucky charm for Sagittarius. For Aquarius, opal strengthens creativity,
feeding the imagination. Pearl:  Pearls attune the wearer to the ebb and flow of life. They are calming and centering. They give purity and promote
faith, charity, and integrity, truth and loyalty. They especially enhance personal integrity. Pearls confer wisdom and
sincerity for Cancer the crab, and, for Capricorn, the black pearl variety has a calming effect. Rhodochrosite:
 Rhodochrosite is an elegant pink and white stone called the "stone of love and balance", as it balances and
enhances love on all levels. It allows fuller love to enter one's life, in part by calming excessive passions. This
stone promotes a positive self image for Taurus, allowing for more spontaneous expression of their emotions. For Cancer,
it lends new strength to their self-awareness. Rock crystal:  Rock crystal (i.e., clear quartz) is a power stone that harmonizes and balances. It is said to enhance energy and thoughts,
and purify the spiritual, mental, and physical self. It is also said to be a powerfully protective stone, drawing in purified
energy. This crystal has a positive impact on Capricorn, Gemini, and Leo. For Capricorn, rock crystal helps loosen
the grip of cares and responsibilities, allowing him or her to enjoy a more expansive life. Rock crystal provides Gemini
with inner clarity, paving the way for spiritual exploration. And for Leo, this gem enhances strength and inner composure. Rose
quartz:  Rose quartz is a stone of unconditional love. It opens the heart to all forms of love: self-love, family love,
platonic love, and romantic love. The elevated energy of quartz gives rose quartz a property of enhancing love in virtually
any situation. It also brings gentleness, forgiveness, and tolerance. Pisces, Taurus, and Sagittarius respond to the
influences of rose quartz. For Pisces, this pale pink gem brings inner harmony, allowing emotional wounds to heal and
awaken new life. For Taurus the bull, this lovely stone helps him or her to love and care for themselves, freeing them
for clearer thinking and fresh undertakings. With rose quartz, Sagittarius will find the tenderness and love that their
personalities sometime lack. Ruby:  Ruby brings integrity, devotion and happiness, and increases romantic love. It also enhances generosity and brings
prosperity. Ruby is a stone that has been known to be very protective of home, worldly possession, and children. Ruby
helps Aries when the ram has lost sight of how to reach their goals, by fostering intuition and creativity. It
also helps Virgo summon up that extra needed energy boost when their strength seems to be waning. And for Sagittarius,
ruby's red glow ensures harmony in love relationships. ______________ *CAVEAT: This information is purely for entertainment purposes
and should not be construed in any way, shape, or form as formal advice on the use of gems and rocks as healing stones. ++ References: "Healing
Crystals and Gemstones" by Dr. Flora Pscshek-Bohmer and Gisela Schreiber (2002); "The Curious Lore of Precious Stones"
by George Frederick Kunz (1913); and "Gemstones of the World" by Walter Schumann (2001). Thank you to
Robyn at Crystals and Jewelry (http://www.crystalsandjewelry.com/) for allowing us to use the information from her website. There is a large contingent of followers of the metaphysical properties
of gemstones. You can find books and online websites aplenty on the topic, as well as specific talismans. And,
we have even been approached on the topic ourselves.
Coralyn & Dwight - Jewelry Designer
- GIA Graduate Gemologist
- Accredited Jewelry Professional
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