L - LABRADORITE

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Labradorite

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Labradorite ((Ca, Na)(Al, Si)₄O₈), a feldspar mineral, is an intermediate to calcic member of the plagioclase series. It is usually defined as having "%An" (anorthite) between 50 and 70. The specific gravity ranges from 2.68 to 2.72. The streak is white, like most silicates. The refractive index ranges from 1.559 to 1.573. Twinning is common. As with all plagioclase members the crystal system is triclinic and three directions of cleavage are present two of which form nearly right angle prisms. It occurs as clear, white to gray, blocky to lath shaped grains in common mafic igneous rocks such as basalt and gabbro, as well as in anorthosites.

Labradorescence is a side-effect of the molecular change which occurs in large crystal masses of anorthosite, producing an iridescentplay of colors similar to adularescence. This labradorescence, or schiller effect, is the result of light diffraction within the lamellar intergrowths – fine, adjacent layers of the separate materials (lamellae) comprising the whole rock phase – created when conditions do not allow for sufficient diffusion to the materials' equilibrium composition.

So that is all gobbledygook to me but what I do know is that labradorite is a beautiful stone, one of my favourites....

If you would like a chance at wining these labradorite earrings then head on over to my facebook page Silver NikNats and enter my Easter giveaway....

Have a wonderful day amazing people x

The Challenge of Music

3rd Annual Challenge of Music :: Personal Playlists

You wont be surprised to know that I enjoy joining in with Jewellery challenges, and I love Erin's  Challenge Of Music hops but this one has a theme especially close to my heart!

For many years I worked in a care home, caring for adults with Alzheimer's and I have seen first hand the wonderful effect music can have, How quickly a room full of sleeping, unresponsive people can change into younger versions of themselves, as if they have been transported through time to a happier place, where they can remember all the words to a song when only moments before they could not tell you what year it is. The effects music has on these people is truly amazing!

So onto the challenge, My first thought was to do what ever song was top of the charts when I was born, but...

Olivia Newton-John - Physical

This was doing nothing to inspire me! So another big year in my life, possibly the biggest is 1999 specifically 6th December 1999, the day my oldest daughter was born, and by luck the song was much more to my taste....

Santana Feat. Rob Thomas - Smooth

A bit about the song...

(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

"Smooth" is a collaboration between Latin rock band Santana and Rob Thomas of the rock group Matchbox Twenty. The song was written by Thomas and Itaal Shur, sung by Thomas, produced by Matt Serletic and won three Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. It was also the final number-one Hot 100 hit of the 1990s.

I do love this song. After watching it I had so many ideas, I could do some thing with a spanish/boho feel but then I put a bit more thought into the piece, I wanted to be inspired by the music but I also wanted my piece to some how relate to/remind me of my daughter so I listened to the song a few more times and the I listed some of the words that stood out to me, and the part I was most drawn to was....

And It's just like the ocean under the moon 

Well, thats the same as the emotion that I get from you

You got the kind of loving that can be so smooth, yeah.

I really like this part and it lead to me making this....

very smooth (just like my daughter)

It has the most beautiful little sparkles that look like glitter/stars in a dark night sky 

and an amazing blue flash, just like the ocean, So it turned out bold, bright and beautiful just like my daughter! 

Now after I made this I found out that I had made a little mistake (as only I could) and had come up with the tunes that were number one in America rather then number one in the UK but that is very me (rather ditsy) and I'm fine with that (the UK number ones were not that great)!

Thank you Erin for hosting such a fab blog hop, and inspiring me to make a piece that I will treasure forever. I do hope you pop along over to Erin's beautiful blog and see what the other wonderful people have made and have an amazing day x

Year of Jewellery wk 5 & 6

I'm already a week behind but hey life happens!
For week 5 the prompt was Mid-Winter Memories, well this was started mid winter and then just sat there half done for ages, so I finished it off....

Labradorite set in sterling silver with a 4 in 1 chain maille bracelet and beautiful butterfly clasp by daisy chain extra.

With a cute cut out heart detail on the back, a little secret just for the wearer!

The beautiful flash from the stone, which unfortunately chipped a little, while in the tumbler (note to self labradorite is not to go through the tumbler hand polish only) so I have to keep this one!

Week 6 prompt was Medals and Coins which lead to this simple idea....

I love this butterfly bead from Mandrel2 and put it with a lentil bead that I made from two sixpence coins (I have made a few of these as they look very cool) then added a matching head pin by Earth shine beads and hung the lot on a black cord that I got from the Swarovski shop (I love the little silver caps on the ends of the cords it just adds a really lovely finishing touch to it).

Hopefully it wont take long to catch up again but for now I am off to enjoy half term with the kiddies, have a great day! xxx