Gem stones are precious stones and semi-precious stones. All can be called gems. All are minerals that have hardness, density, refraction, and color.

 Stones of all kinds have played a very important part in the history of mankind. From the beginning, small smooth river stones were collected and carried for good luck when hunting.

Used as talismans and good luck charms throughout recorded history and before, stones in all their many forms, are considered the 'bones of the Earth'.  

Staurolite  is a light tan to dark brownish-black, and often reddish-brown colored mineral, born of the Earth, like all natural gemstones. The natural crystal form of this mineral forms 60-90 degree angles to each other causing a ‘cross’ form. The 90-degree crystals are Greek Crosses and the 60-degree crystals are St. Andrews Crosses.

Staurolite is a talisman of good luck. It's healing properties relieve stress and depression. Read More...

Amber has been used as a symbol for marriage vows and to assure promises.
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Carnelian ranges in color from light brownish-red to deep transparent red. This colorations is due to iron. It is also known as Cornelian.

Carnelian protects against envy, fear, and rage, and helps to banish sorrow from the emotional structure.
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I've been the Editor of Jewelry Collecting at Bella Online for one month on Tuesday, and I've been having a great time setting up the site. We're growing and over the coming weeks I will be adding several new subjects, articles, and interviews with artists and designers—online jewelry shops—and jewelry collectors. Upcoming featured  interviews include Alexa Hirst of Loopy Monkey, the Marketing Director of Kirks Folly, and Elliot Abbott of the The Hollywood Collection

Jewelry is such a fascinating subject. I've been collecting all kinds of jewelry over the years and appreciate this opportunity to learn more about it as I research and write about it for the Jewelry Collecting site at Bella Online. There's lots to do—many talented jewelry artists and designers to interview—hundreds of gemstones and other jewelry materials to add to the encyclopaedic, 'All About Jewelry'—a wide variety of different kinds of beautiful jewelry to show you—and special jewelry offers exclusively for my mailing list (coming soon).

I wish I could work on my Bella site 24/7, it's so much fun! But, alas, I have other jobs and as a volunteer at Bella Online, I'll be working on the site most of my spare time. Watch for new subjects and categories over the coming month, and thereafter I'll be adding fresh new content on a weekly, if not more frequent, basis. My goal is to create a rich resource for everything you ever wanted to know about jewelry and the exciting hobby of collecting jewelry. 

I'd like you to know that I really appreciate having you on my mailing list. And please do come say hello in our Forum. I would like to establish a jewelry collecting community there and your input is key to a lively ongoing discussion about jewelry. It's pretty lonely there right now, but it's very new, and I know that people are a little hesitant about joining a forum. At least stop by long enough for a chuckle!!! (Yes, it's the same photo of me that's on the site—but bigger. Yikes!!! And yes I am wearing a wig. It's actually a nice enough Raquel Welch wig i.e. when it's styled. I have long red hair and needed a quick 'professional' picture for Bella which I left to the last minute, as usual. My own hair looked a little off that day so I threw on the wig. Guess I should have looked in the mirror. My husband told me it looked fine and snapped some pics—he was on his way to work and only had a couple of minutes to be the 'professional' photographer. I should have known better—after 33 years he's trained to say I look nice. I'll probably change the photo at some point, but in the meantime, whenever you think you're having a bad hair day, just visit my Forum and you'll feel way better. Maybe you'll even consider joining!)

Please send along any comments or questions you have. Suggestions for new articles are welcomed, and I am always looking for great stories about jewelry and the hobby of jewelry collecting. I look forward to hearing from you, and really would appreciate your feedback.

Best Regards,
Susan Dorling
Jewelry Collecting Editor at Bella Online
www.bellaonline.com/site/JewelryCollecting

1. Read our Interview with Jewelry Artist and Designer, Molly Magdalain. 
   (to read please click on the following links - if they don't open please right-click and choose Copy Shortcut and paste into your browser)
    

   • Molly talks about her background and what inspired her to design jewelry.
   • Molly talks about The StarStrings Collection and The StarStrings Project
   • Molly tells us about her favorite pieces from her collection.
2. About Our Artist Interview Series
3. Article - 'The Formation of Diamonds'
4. Book Shop - Recommended Reading for the Month of May
5. Article - 'Staurolite - One Powerful and Unusual Mineral'

Next Newsletter May 14th