Happy New Year 2013

Happy New Year!

It's been a while since I posted here on my blog, the last time was in October.  I guess it's because I got really busy at the end of 2012.  The end of the year is big with craft fairs and getting ready for Christmas.

This year I've decided to post a lot about fashion trends and color. The color for 2013 as declared by the fashion industry is Green.  Green isn't just environmentally friendly. It's the color designers are reclaiming for 2013. And one particular shade--Emerald Green-- has been chosen as the color of 2013. So those of you born in May can break out your emeralds and wear them all year.



Why green? "Green is the most abundant hue in nature--the human eye sees more green than any other color in the spectrum," says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. "Symbolically, Emerald brings a sense of clarity, renewal and rejuvenation, which is so important in today's complex world." Green is also a color with a positive effect on the brain, releasing tension and reducing stress, which is why it is frequently used in color therapy, in schools and in hospitals.

From the grass-green emerald to the brilliant lime of peridot, green is moving back into use in the fashion world this year. Styles feature rich, deeply saturated shades that are sophisticated, feminine and bold. They're chic--not meek! Green is going boldly into winter and throughout the year ahead.

Get the look

Use greens generously--demure is not required. No subtle accents here; going green means wearing statement pieces with plenty of intense color. Bright greens are eye-catching without being too intrusive. As it's associated with a rare and expensive gemstone, Color of the Year Emerald Green is considered sophisticated, elegant and luxurious.

Find green accessories on my website at www.jewelrybydm.com

Emerald the May Birthstone

This is the beginning of a series on birth stones, I hope you enjoy the series and will leave comments if you want info on other stones.

Spring is a time of new growth and rebirth.  And the intense brilliant green of
the Emerald, May’s birthstone, is as refreshing to the eyes as a spring garden after a rain.  Within it’s depths are often tiny fractures or inclusions, which the French call "jardin," or garden, because of their resemblance to foliage.
The Egyptians were known to engrave Emeralds with the symbol for foliage to represent eternal youth, and to bury these jewels with their dead.  The ancient Romans associated this gemstone with fertility and rebirth, and dedicated it to enus, the goddess of love and beauty.

The Ancient Egyptians mined Emeralds in the eastern desert region 2,000 years before Cleopatra’s birth, braving extreme heat, scorpions and snakes to search for the beautiful crystals.  During Cleopatra’s reign, she claimed the Emerald mines as her own, as this was her favorite gem.  She often wore lavish Emerald jewelry, and it is said that she bestowed visiting dignitaries with large
Emeralds carved with her likeness when they departed Egypt.   

The Emerald is a member of the beryl family of minerals.  The green crystals grow slowly within metamorphic rocks and are restricted in size by the rock, making large Emeralds rare and costly.  Although this gemstone is relatively hard and durable, it must be protected from blows because the inclusions found within make it susceptible to breaking. 

Some people believe that wearing an Emerald brings wisdom, growth, and patience. And as any couple in a long-term relationship would agree, all of these qualities are essential for a successful and lasting love.  This may explain why a gift of Emerald for an anniversary -- or anytime -- is considered symbolic of love and fidelity.

The Muzo mine in Colombia is the source of the most prized Emerald specimens. Other sources of Emeralds are Brazil, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Madagascar, Nigeria, and Russia. 

Now that you know a little about Emeralds your appreciation of them may bloom like the flowers of spring.