CanterburyVinesStudios' Blog

Canterbury Vines Studios Blog

Dumortierite gemstone

Published: 04-16-2013 05:58pm
Posted In: Gemstones

This deep blue gemstone reminds me of dark blue jeans or better yet a great navy suit. Dumortierite is a fibrous variably colored aluminium boro-silicate mineral. The Dumortierite crystals are vitreous and vary in color from brown, blue, and green to more rare violet and pink. Substitution of iron and other tri-valent elements for aluminium result in the color variations. Dumortierite was first described in 1881 for an occurrence in Chaponost, in the Rhône-Alps of France and named for the French paleontologist Eugene Dumortier (1803–1873). It typically occurs in high temperature aluminum rich regional metamorphic ... » Read More

Canterbury Vines Studios auction jewelry

Published: 04-14-2013 04:25pm

Canterbury Vines Studios has been involved in a couple of charity auctions recently. I wanted to give everyone a little bit of background on these great causes.First is The Recovery Project This organization specializes in high intensity rehab for spinal cord injuries patients.The second great organization is Danielle Karmanos Work it Out. This organization focuses on good nutrition and exercise for children.I hope you get a chance to check out these great organizations.Shannon... » Read More

Labradorite gemstone

Published: 04-09-2013 06:29pm
Posted In: Gemstones

Labradorite is one of my new favorite gems, such complexity of color with a luminescence and it complements your whole wardrobe. Labradorite is a feldspar mineral occuring in maficigneous rocks, and presents as clear, white to gray colors. Gem quality labradorite is known as spectrolite; which is a colorless variety, darkened with needlelike inclusions, it is often called black moonstone. Spectrolite is a dark and opalescent blue with a shimmer when the light hits it. The luminescence in labardorite is called ‘Labradorescence’ and is a side-effect of the molecular change which occurs in large crystal masses of anorthosite, ... » Read More

Rutilated and Tourmalinated Quartz

Published: 11-25-2012 10:43pm
Posted In: Gemstones

I’m always getting Rutilated and Tourmalinated Quartz mixed up. What’s the difference? Read on and learn more about both. Quartz is the most common mineral on Earth. It is found in nearly every geological environment and is a component of almost every rock type. It makes up about 12% of the earth's crust, occurring in a wide variety of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. It is also the most varied in terms of variety and color. Quartz is a 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Rutilated quartz is found in Australia, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Norway, Pakistan and the United States. Rutile is a major ore of titaniu... » Read More

Beyond the Cube 2012

Published: 11-18-2012 10:42am
Posted In: Promotion

2012 was the third annual Compuware Corporation Beyond the Cube employee Art Exhibition. As usual, this was an amazing event and very fun. This year Canterbury Vines Studios had nine pieces in the show consisting of three different collections. I can't wait until next year's show!Handmade chains.Bangle Bracelets:Hand forged metal:... » Read More

Sapphire Blog

Published: 09-22-2012 07:46am
Posted In: Gemstones

I’m in love with this gorgeous precious gemstone. We all think of blue but read on to learn about all the other colors of this gorgeous stone. Sapphire is the birthstone for those who are born in September. As for the Zodiac, it is regarded as the stone for the Taurus. If a Taurus wears a sapphire, it will protect one from and cure one's mental disorders. Ruby and sapphire are the same material, the mineral corundum, and the second hardest gemstone after diamond. Red corundum is known as ruby, while all other colors are referred to as sapphire. While blue is the classic sapphire color, sapphire is actually found in a wide range... » Read More

Spinel Gemstone

Published: 07-23-2012 05:29pm
Posted In: Gemstones

I’m intrigued by the gemstone Spinel. I was surprised how many colors and the history of the gemstone. Here is what I found. Before the advent of modern gemological techniques, red Spinels and Rubies were confused for hundreds of years. In fact, many famous rubies in crown jewels around the world are actually spinels. The Black Prince's Ruby on the British Imperial State Crown is a 170-carat red Spinel. The Timor Ruby that has the engraved names of the Mogul emperors on its face was once thought to be a Ruby as well. This magnificent 352-carat stone is in fact a red Spinel and is now owned by Queen Elizabeth. Spinel is a magn... » Read More

Tourmaline gemstone

Published: 07-02-2012 04:34pm
Posted In: Gemstones

Tourmaline Blog My latest gemstone love is Tourmaline. This gem has such a great range of colors with an earthy feel. Tourmaline is a crystal boron silicate mineral compounded with elements such as aluminium, iron, magnesium, sodium, lithium, or potassium. Tourmaline is classified as a semi-precious stone and the gem comes in a wide variety of colors. Tourmaline belongs to the trigonal crystal system and occurs as long, slender to thick prismatic and columnar crystals that are usually triangular in cross-section. The style of termination at the ends of crystals is asymmetrical, called hemimorphism. Small slender prismatic ... » Read More

Mother's Day gemstones

Published: 03-31-2012 04:07pm
Posted In: Gemstones

As Mother’s Day approaches the quest for a thoughtful gift becomes a real challenge. I wanted to bring together a collection of traditional birthstones and jewelry pieces to help you pick a gorgeous meaningful one of a kind gift for those Women who cater to us the rest of the year. Happy Mother’s Day!! Mom’s birthday in January: Her birthstone is Garnet. A delicious Red gem with purple undertones. February: Her birthstone is Amethyst. A beautiful Purple Quartz. March: Her Birthstone is Aquamarine. Nothing reminds me more of the ocean. April: Her Birthstone is Diamond. One of the four precious gem... » Read More

Sunstone gemstone

Published: 03-31-2012 01:51pm
Posted In: Gemstones

Sunstone is a variety of Plagioclase feldspar which emits flashes of shimmering golden-orange color similar to that of the golden rays of the Sun. It is a protective gemstone and is normally seen in colors like yellow, orange and reddish brown. It is normally formed in molten lava and is discharged onto the surface with the help of a volcano. This stone is also known also as ‘Aventurine Feldspar’ and has a hardness rating of 6.5 on the Mohs scale with a triclinic crystal structure. They are normally non transparent, but it also comes in transparent form. These stones are rare and carry a higher price tag. Sunstones from Norway are ... » Read More

Iolite gemstone

Published: 03-03-2012 06:01pm
Posted In: Gemstones

Iolite gemstone is the more commonly used name for the mineral Cordierite that is named after the French geologist P.L.A. Cordier. It is also one of the most commonly used gem variety that exist in the Cordierite group. The name iolite comes from the Greek ios, which means violet. Viking sailors allegedly used iolite as a polarizing filter to find the sun on cloudy days for a safe offshore navigation. Iolite is usually a purplish blue when cut properly, with a softness to the color that can be quite attractive. The best color is a lovely violet blue that is unlike other gemstones. Pleochroism is very pronounced in iolite and is seen as... » Read More

Lapis Lazuli

Published: 01-26-2012 06:59pm
Posted In: Gemstones

Lapis lazuli is a rock, largely formed from the mineral lazurite The main component of lapis lazuli is lazurite, a feldspathoid silicate mineral. Most lapis lazuli also contains calcite (white), sodalite (blue), and pyrite (metallic yellow). Other possible constituents: augite; diopside; enstatite; mica; hauynite; hornblende, and nosean. Lapis is the Latin for "stone". Lapis takes an excellent polish and can be made into jewelry, carvings, boxes, mosaics, ornaments, and vases. It was also ground and processed to make the pigment ultramarine for tempera paint and, more rarely, oil paint. Its usage as a pigment in oil p... » Read More

Metals

Published: 01-25-2012 07:01pm
Posted In: Techniques

I’m in love with mixed metal jewelry. I enjoy playing with all my metal smithing tools. Stamps, hammers, dapping and punch set. Here is all the information of the different types of metal I’ve used. Gold Filled: Gold filled is an actual layer of gold-pressure bonded to another metal. Gold filled is not to be confused with gold plating as filled literally has 100% more gold than gold plating. Gold filled is much more valuable and tarnish resistant. It does not flake off, rub off or turn colors. As a matter of fact, anyone who can wear gold can wear gold filled without worries of any allergic reaction to the jew... » Read More

History of Valentine's Day

Published: 01-10-2012 08:18pm
Posted In: Just for fun

Valentine's Day Traditions I was curious how modern day Valentine's Day started so I did a little research and here is what I found out. Happy Valentine's Day! Valentine's Day or Saint Valentine's Day is a holiday celebrated on February 14 by many people throughout the world. In the English-speaking countries, it is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other by sending Valentine's cards, presenting flowers, or offering confectionery. The holiday is named after two among the numerous Early Christian martyrs named Valentine. The day became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the ... » Read More

Garnet - January birthstone

Published: 12-14-2011 06:18pm
Posted In: Gemstones

Garnet is January’s birthstone. Garnets are red, right? Not so fast, they actually come in many colors and many names. Colors include red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, black, pink and colorless. The rarest of these is the blue garnet. It changes color from blue-green in the daylight to purple in incandescent light. The names you might hear that fall into the garnet family are almandine, andradite, demantoid, grossularite, hessonite, pyrope, rhodolite, tsavorite, spessartine, and uvarovite. The traditional red is called pyrope. What makes a garnet a garnet? Well that has to do with a few physical prop... » Read More

MCWT Gala 2011

Published: 11-19-2011 03:01pm
Posted In: Promotion

MCWT Gala 2011 I’m a member of a professional organization called Michigan Council of Women in Technology. In addition to providing the technology professionals valuable programs and support the Foundation gives scholarships to women to earn degrees in the technology field. MCWT Foundation Each year the Foundation hosts their Gala fundraiser to raise the scholarship money. This year I am donating a piece of jewelry for the silent auction. Hand forged sterling silver chain with 3 step cut crystal quartz nuggets. Valued at $200 it’s sure to bring in some great bids for the Foundation. My husband and I are also attending... » Read More

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