The Rock Cycle. Where Do Precious and Semi-Precious Gemstones Come From?

Eternal Tools Color Wheel

Rocks and minerals are in a constant state of change, referred to as the Rock Cycle. Heat, pressure, water and erosion slowly change them over time. They are mined from the earth, lakes, rivers, and rock formations on the sides of mountains. Almost all gems are formed below the Earth's surface. The largest producers are Brazil, parts of Asia, and several countries in East Africa.

Raw Emerald

Some stones are brought to the surface through mining and some are brought to the surface through the earth's natural process of faulting, and volcanism. Research shows meteorites, pieces of rock or metal that fall to earth from outer space, are where precious metals come from. 

Raw amazonite on Wiccan Leanings.

Spiritualists believe each gemstone has it's own healing property.

Raw Rubies

Gemstones are referred to as precious and semi-precious stones. They are pieces of mineral that are cut and polished to form a shape. Most stones are cut, polished and drilled for usage as jewelry. Precious stones are diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds, because of their rareness. All other gemstones being semi-precious. Gemstones are classified by their color, translucency and hardness.

Gem Cutting and shaping Bespoke Gems.

If you have a dremel you can drill your own hole through a stone. If you are going to attempt to drill your own holes you may want to start out by drilling through pebbles. Here is a great tutorial blog that covers drilling holes in pebble stones. 

Raw Citrine post earrings from Anthropologie.

Raw diamond ring by Todd Reed. 

Some designers choose to work with raw gemstones, in the form in which they are found. These are two beautiful examples of using raw stones - the citrine earrings from Anthropologie and raw diamonds by Todd Reed.

The stones themselves have little value, but are often used in jewelry for their beauty. The value of the stone comes from the workmanship done to shape the stone and the color's desirability. We teach students here at Sheffield how to make beautiful settings for their semi precious stones. 

Are you interested in taking a great jewelry design course and learning more about how to make your own jewelry or get started professionally in this creative field? Sheffield School began as an Interior Design school in 1985, and then expanded our course offerings to train people in other design-related fields, including Feng Shui, Wedding and Event Planning, and Jewelry Design. With thousands of active students and more than 50,000 graduates, Sheffield has trained more design professionals than any school in the world.

 

Request a free Sheffield School catalog describing our distance education courses.

 

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Wedding Cakes with a Twist

 

Need some inspiration for your wedding cake? Take a look at these unusual designs.  Above we have a beautiful ombre effect with the layered ribbon frosting instead of the usual flowers and leaves. A pair of love birds to symbolize the bride and groom is the crowning touch for a very different look.

For a rustic touch, we have a wedding cake decorated with fruits and herbs from the garden. This wedding boasted a farm to table theme, a truly bountiful feast from nature.

And for the truly different, a cheese cake for cheese lovers! Yup, that wedding cake is make of wheels of cheese from cheddar to stilton to cornish yarg (that's cow milk cheese from Cornwall to you!).  Got cracker?

Thanks to 100 Layer Cake for their beautiful photographs, posts, and wedding inspiration. 100 Layer Cake is a unique, comprehensive wedding planning resource for and by thoughtful, crafty modern women. Their vendors, projects, weddings, resources, sponsors, and marketplace are hand-picked and thoroughly researched with the hope that every single one is a truly unique addition to both your wedding and your planning process. Visit the 100 Layer Cake website today.

Jewelry Inspiration: Fresh Take on Facets

The Carrotbox is a site dedicated to all those wonderful rings made of glass, lucite, resin, plastic, jade, wood, bakelite, metal, and even stone. Today's featured jewelry shows off creative do-it-yourself facet designs for rings (which you could also apply to other pieces).

These rings are so cool, they blow their own socks off.

Or their own facets off, anyway. For these and many more interesting series, check out Germany's Ariane Ernst.

Bonus

Want a softer take on facets? For diamond-shaped rings in leather, as well as other leather goods, visit Hong Kong's Anyway (Amus Leung & Gladys Chun).

Even more jewelry:

• Quarant'otto (Japan) - diamonds & gems
• Johnny Ninos (California) - metal & beachstones
• Aloyse Jewellery (UK) - lacey silver

Are you interested in taking a great jewelry design course and learning more about how to make your own jewelry or get started professionally in this creative field? Sheffield School began as an Interior Design school in 1985, and then expanded our course offerings to train people in other design-related fields, including Feng Shui, Wedding and Event Planning, and Jewelry Design. With thousands of active students and more than 50,000 graduates, Sheffield has trained more design professionals than any school in the world.

Request a free Sheffield School catalog describing our distance education courses.

 

Subscribe to the Sheffield Designer newsletter.

Your Favorite Collection on Display

New TraditionalistsNow that you have your wonderful blue and white porcelain collection of plates  or those crystal goblets from Venice, where are you going to put it? You can’t just place it on that metal bookcase you bought at the local hardware store.  You have to do it justice! The right display cabinet will bring your collection the attention it deserves. 

If you have a somewhat eclectic style – a mix of traditional and contemporary furnishings, these display cabinets will fit into your decor. From the New Traditionalists above, the Cabinet 272 is made of bleached walnut with nickel hardware. The cabinet below from Century is made of maple and finished in black.

New Tradition cabinet from Century Furniture

china cabinet from Century Furniture

For more traditionally designed interiors, the China Cabinet above – also from Century - has an Art Deco feel.  A slightly more ornate and feminine style is the Pompadour cabinet from Grange. Notice the contrasting trim on the curvilinear skirt and cornice. 

Pompadour Cabinet from Grange

Sofiero breakfront from Country Swedish

If you have a light color scheme and a traditional, informal style, you may look at 18^th-century Swedish country furniture. This Sofiero breakfront from Country Swedish has a soft curvilinear top and will complement your china collection.

Oval Cabinet from Barbara Barry Collection for Henredon

This graceful cabinet designed by Barbara Barry for Hendredon would match an elegant contemporary space. The cabinet is made of walnut and decorated with oval tracery.

Interested in learning more about furniture design?  Take a look at Sheffield School's Complete Course in Interior Design.  At Sheffield, you will learn how to transform a space, create color schemes, and select furniture, lighting, and accessories.

Wedding Alternative: Plan an Elopement

A popular alternative for some couples is having an elopement versus a traditional wedding. Wedding planners are still usually involved, so our wedding and event planning students don't have to worry about getting cut out of the picture.

Elopements usually have some kind of venue, albeit more informal, there are lodging accommodations for the couple and a small number of witnesses, arrangements to be made with the officiant performing the ceremony, and - drum roll, please - usually a large-scale reception for family, friends, and invited guests after the couple is formally married (that's when gifts are given, the registry is set up, and planners get involved to coordinate the catering, photography, venue, and so on).

Elopements suit couples who are less formal, want to dial down formal ceremonies, want to be less formal about dress and decor and protocol, and want their guests to focus on the reception food and party. Click on each photo to see inside different elopements, thanks to coverage from 100 Layer Cake.

Katie Berger, our Wedding and Event Planning student advisor, had these observations about elopements.

Don't let the laid back feel of the elopement fool you. While they are often more intimate in feel than a large affair, for the planner they can mean an increase in the amount of work leading up to the event. Planners become the go-to person for all vendors, the couple, friends, and family - even more so than in a regular wedding. The guest count may be small, but the workload is not! But with that being said, elopements are a wonderfully intimate way to say 'I do.'

Thanks to 100 Layer Cake for their beautiful photographs, posts, and wedding inspiration. 100 Layer Cake is a unique, comprehensive wedding planning resource for and by thoughtful, crafty modern women. Their vendors, projects, weddings, resources, sponsors, and marketplace are hand-picked and thoroughly researched with the hope that every single one is a truly unique addition to both your wedding and your planning process. Visit the 100 Layer Cake website today.

If you're interested in learning more about wedding planning, we encourage you to explore the Sheffield School, New York, NY. Sheffield began as an Interior Design school in 1985, and then expanded our course offerings to train people in other design-related fields, including Feng Shui, Wedding and Event Planning, and Jewelry Design. With thousands of active students and more than 50,000 graduates, Sheffield has trained more design professionals than any school in the world.

Request a free Sheffield School catalog describing our distance education courses.

Subscribe to the Sheffield Designer newsletter.