A Guide To Birthstones
Birthstones have been used for many hundreds of years as a means of associating a specific stone with the date of one's birth. The exact relationships between a stone and a calendar date are lost in the mists of time. There are many enjoyable guides available to you to research and for you to choose which stone is most appealing or appropriate for you. A World Made by Hand...
January
Garnet: The name Garnet is from the Latin granatum, meaning pomegranate and refers to its deep red coloured seeds. Garnet has been used in jewelry since ancient times and is believed to have great curative powers, protecting the wearer from harm. Garnet strengthens the emotions, building confidence and strength of character.
Rose Quartz: Rose Quartz is believed to be a fertility crystal. It is known as the "love stone" and is thought to attract and strengthen love as well as heal emotional wounds. Most rose quartz is mined in Brazil.
February
Amethyst: Amethyst is the stone of contentment and is believed to bring stability, serenity and peace. It belongs to the quartz family and its variation in colour is largely due to the traces of iron it contains. Amethyst has been highly prized in antiquity for its calming effect and the name derived from the Greek amethustos or 'non-inebriated'. Amethyst is often used as a meditation stone to help bring peace to the mind and as an aid to finding inner peace.
Onyx: Onyx is prized for its colour and has been used in jewelery since pre-historic times. It is a form of chalcedony and is coloured black through the presence of iron and carbon. Wearing Onyx is thought to bring self-mastery, confidence and assertiveness.
March
Aquamarine: Aquamarine is a form of beryl and has been valued as a gemstone for thousands of years. It and even appears in the Bible. The double reference to water in the name, which is a compound of the Latin words aqua, for water, and marina, "of the sea" suggests that the ancients connected the stone closely with water.
In addition to appearing in settings with other, more precious gems, aquamarine was also highly valued by sailors, who considered it to be a lucky stone. Aquamarine is the birthstone for March and the stone for the zodiac sign Scorpio. In the Middle Ages, it was thought that aquamarine would reduce the effect of poisons
April
Diamond: Diamonds are formed many miles beneath the Earth's crust and, as pure carbon, is the hardest mineral known to man. The name diamond is derived from the Greek adamas meaning "invincible". For many hundreds of years, diamonds have represented strength and invulnerability. Highly prized due to its rarity and purity, the characteristic fire and brilliance of the diamond have made it one of the most desirable of gemstones in jewellery.
May
Chrysoprase: Chrysoprase is the most valuable stone in the chalcedony group. The name Chrysoprase has been derived from a Greek word "chrysos prason," which means gold leek. It is said to be a "Victory Stone." California has a good deposit of Chrysoprase.
June
Pearls: In ancient mythology pearls were thought to be heavenly dewdrops caught by shells rising from the sea bed. Pearls were believed to be sacred to the Roman moon goddess Diana. Pearls are thought to symbolize peace, beauty and friendship.
Moonstone: Moonstone is associated with the moon and was the stone of the goddess Diana. The most powerful time to use the moonstone is a full moon. It is said to bring good fortune to the wearer as well as success in love and business issues.
July
Carnelian: Carnelian is a stone from the quartz family. Carnelian is found all over the world but it is widely held that the best stones come from India. The name is derived from the Latin word for horn. Carnelian is said to help the wearer "live in the moment" as well as restoring the natural energy flow of the body.
August
Peridot: The name Peridot is thought to have been derived from the Arabic faridat, meaning gem. Peridot was used in ancient Egypt as a stone for jewellery. It is said to alleviate anxiety and fear and to relieve insomnia. Peridot is thought to bring joy and good fortune
September
Lapis Lazuli: Lapis lazuli was popular thousands of years ago among the people of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Persia, Greece and Rome. It is said that the legendary city of Ur on the Euphrates plied a keen lapis lazuli trade as long ago as the fourth millennium B.C., the material coming to the land of the two great rivers from the famous deposits in Afghanistan. In other cultures, Lapis lazuli was regarded as a holy stone. Lapis lazuli is said to dispel melancholy and depression, and to cure recurring fevers. It is also said to impart ancient knowledge, and the wisdom to use it.
October
Opal: Opal is often described as "Nature's fireworks" due to its iridescent rainbow flashes through the white gemstone. It's popularly thought that the name derives from the Sanskrit word for precious stone: Upala. Most opal is more than 60 million years old and generally dates back to when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Opal is considered a stone of happy dreams and good changes. Opal is thought to be the most powerful of healing stones.
November
Topaz: The name Topaz is derived from the Sanskrit word tapas. In ancient cultures, topaz was considered to be the stone of Jupiter, representing rule over one's own life, self-realization and wisdom. When heated, yellow topaz often becomes reddish-pink. Topaz is said to promote peaceful and calm emotions.
December
Turquoise: Turquoise is believed to have been named after Turkey where European crusaders first came into contact with the stone in medieval times. In many cultures, turquoise was valued as a protection against evil spirits and was worn as an amulet for strength and prosperity. It is particularly valued in the Native American community and made into beautiful jewelry, often combined with silver.
OLD WORLD SPICE SHAVING SOAP
OLD WORLD SPICE SHAVING SOAP
I have just tried this new product from Sharon of Kama Soap and it is excellent!
100% plant based with essential oils.The clay and the different oils in the base of the soap; sweet almond and castor oil, make a creamy smooth lather for shaving.
Hand made on Salt Spring Island B.C. Ingredients: saponified olive, coconut, castor oil, sweet almond oil, bentonite clay, essential oils of cassia, cumin, lavendin, pettigrain and thyme. 120 g. This old world shaving soap is perfect for Jack Olives pottery shaving scuttle. https://www.sidestreetstudio.com/products/copy-of-orca-design-shaving-scuttle
Picture Perfect Oak Bay - New Video.
New From Robert Held Glass Artist
GIVERNY FOOTED GLOBE VASE
A brand new range from Robert Held's new studio in Parksville B.C. A truly magnificent vase with a lovely globe shape and round pedestal foot This range is named after Monet's property and garden in France.
The soft colours and stylised lily pads reflect the name perfectly. Made on Vancouver Island BC by Robert Held, one of Canada's foremost glass artists. Height~ 7 1/2 inches by width 7 1/2 inches.This would make a marvellous gift for anyone who appreciates fine glasswork art.
Signed by the artist.
Glass Spirit Feathers on Shaw TV
Loris Dawn writes:
"A Spirit Feather symbolizes a New Beginning, a Spiritual Evolution, Divinity, Inspiration, and Good Fortune.
Whether you choose the Spirit Feather that catches your attention and awakens you, or your loved one chooses one for you, it is a gift that will surely enlighten you. Your Spirit Feather will always remind YOU that YOU are loved.
From the moment I conceived the idea to create Spirit Feathers, I felt an overwhelming source of enthusiasm and positive energy.I knew I had discovered a form of creating attractive combinations of vibrant colours in a form that also brought a sensation of Spiritual energy to me.I LOVE designing the Feathers and embellishing them with natural beads and leather. I LOVE the response and reactions I have been feeling from all of my encounters who have chosen their Spirit Feathers.
My Spirit Feathers are created in limited editions." Writes Loris. See more at Side Street Studio
Watch the full interview here:
About Side Street Studio
The story of Side Street Studio is more than the history of a business. It is the physical expression of a belief that real art should be accessible to everyone. It is also the evolution of a business model supported by principles of community-building economics.
Here’s how it happened.
In 1984, six women artists rented a space on a small side street in Victoria’s Oak Bay neighbourhood. Their location gave them a name for their collective business, and it also allowed them to do what they love: show and share their art with local people.
They believed art, however basic, should be experienced and enjoyed by everyone.
They established two rules for their business. Firstly, everything in Side Street Studio must be made in British Columbia by small artisan businesses. Secondly, everything in Side Street Studio must be beautiful and the very best of its kind.
Present Day
Hello! My name is Jill Fitz Hirschbold and I am the proud new owner of Side Studio.
I have lived on the Coast for 30 years and my formal education is in the Sciences. I have a Diploma in Environmental Quality Control, a Bachelor of Science; I’m a Certified PADI Dive Master, a Paddleboard Instructor and spent 12 years working as a Laboratory Manager in Environmental Analytical Chemistry before starting a family. When my daughters were born, in my early 40’s, I made the decision to leave my career to stay at home with them.
To be honest I could not have predicted what would come next.
Over the last 7 years I have created a home based business with my West Coast and Abstract Photography. It extends from a line of photo gift cards to large format art sales and photography services. I have participated in Studio Tours, Arts Shows; have been a member of the Gage Gallery and for many years was represented by the Brentwood Bay Resort. I have organized art shows from the conceptual theme, curated participating artists, hung the artwork, scheduled staff, facilitated sales and fully planned the opening nights. My pieces have made their way to England, China and the US and many private residences in Western Canada. I have participated and successfully sold at the Sooke Fine Arts show in 2015/17. I have also volunteered my photography skills to Raincoast Conservation, Greenpeace Canada, FraserFEST, Watershed Watch, Tour de Victoria, Swiftsure, Santa Shuffle, many other community events and donated works to the Banff Mid-Summers Ball 2014/15/16/17/18, CNIB Art Appeal 2015/17, Heart for Hospice 2015, VGH/UBD Night of 1000 Stars Gala 2015 and YWCA Woman of Distinction Awards 2016/17. I have participated in over 20 shows and have self-published three books of my images paired with my writing.
You would think with all of that going on and raising children it would be enough but I was missing the daily interaction that comes with working outside the home. Then this amazing opportunity came my way. I have sold my cards at Side Street for many years so was very familiar with the Studio and the business model. It is a perfect fit.
My goal is to continue to build on the vision and many years of hard work, by all of the previous owners, that has made the Studio a success. To maintain the standard that is expected by customers when visiting the store and online, to keep all the artists that customers have come to know and love but also add in new talent so there is always something new to see. I also hope to meet each of the British Columbia artists that are represented in the store and try and understand a bit about how their process works. It is that personal connection that can be translated to the customer when we sell their handmade artwork.
Art comes from the Heart and that is truly what makes this store a success!
My wonderful staff, Kathy, Jean, Samantha, Heather, Shirley and Sheila, and I invite you to come down to the Studio and see what we have been up to.
Best,
Jill
Inspired by the love of Nature
Inspired by the love of Nature. Created by artist Sharon Beatch.
The studio was started when we purchased our Island cottage in 2010. It is located a stones’ throw away from Beachcomber Marina in Nanoose Bay on the beautiful West Coast of Vancouver Island.
Our family enjoys time strolling the secret beaches in the area and playing along the shore. It is fun to find the interesting pebbles, sea glass, shells and driftwood and it’s great exercise to walk then carry the treasures back to the cottage.
I have always loved doing crafts and creating things from almost nothing. Setting beach treasures out after we got them home and washed quickly turned into visions of art.
Some pebbles have been tumbled in a rock polisher to bring out their colors, others have been left natural to show off their powerful roughness designed by mother nature. I create simplistic and unique shadow box pictures which to me represent love, life, family, friendship and caring- all the values we hold dear in our hearts.
Some of the ideas were inspired from family and friend events like the birth our grandchild, weddings, boating, camping etc
I hope you enjoy them. You can see more of Sharon's beautiful work at www.sidestreetstudio.com
A World Made By Hand
