A collection of Crystals and Keepsakes

A collection of crystals on hand-crafted wire stands in my lounge. The snake skin in front is from my resident Mole snake, Mollie, which she shed a couple of weeks ago

A collection of crystals on hand-crafted wire stands

A vintage bowl filled with earrings and brooches and a display of some of the insects I make

A few watercolour bird paintings and some Keepsakes jewellery

Rose Quartz crystal wand on hand-crafted wire stand

Rose Quartz crystal wand

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Rose Quartz Place-name Holder

Rose Quarts set into a shell with silver solder border and a silver wire stand. Can be used as place-name holders at a dinner party or just to hold an inspirational message next to your bed!

Rose quartz is pink quartz that is often called the "Love Stone." It is a stone of unconditional love that opens the heart chakra to all forms of love: self-love, family love, platonic love, and romantic love. The high energy of quartz gives rose quartz the property of enhancing love in virtually any situation. In turn, this lowers stress. All in all it is a very soothing and happy stone.

Emotionally rose quartz brings gentleness, forgiveness, compassion, kindness and tolerance. It raises one's self-esteem and sense of self-worth. It helps balance emotions and heal emotional wounds and traumas, even grief, bringing peace and calm. Rose quartz removes fears, resentments and anger. It can also heal and release childhood traumas, neglect, and lack of love, in part by enhancing inner awareness. It can help with reconciliation with family and others. Overwhelming or unreasonable guilt is eased by rose quartz.

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Rose Quartz

I have a large collection of Rose Quarts crystals and absolutely love the calming and reassuring energy this stone emanates. Rose Quartz, with its gentle pink essence, is a stone of the heart, a Crystal of Unconditional Love. It carries a soft feminine energy of compassion and peace, tenderness and healing, nourishment and comfort. It speaks directly to the Heart Chakra, dissolving emotional wounds, fears and resentments, and circulates a divine loving energy throughout the entire aura.

All areas of the home will benefit by putting rough rose quartz stones in each corner of the room. Even eating areas can benefit from this soft sweet energy - and it may also improve your digestion too!

Rose Quartz is also the modern birthstone of Taurus. Being a Taurus myself, I wear it always with pride and style, love and respect, and enjoy my personal Rose Quartz birthstone.

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust, after feldspar. It is made up of a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall formula SiO2. There are many different varieties of quartz, several of which are semi-precious gemstones. Most rose quartz crystals come from Brazil, US and China, but South Africa also has large deposits, found primarily in granites in Limpopo Province, in the Soutpansberg district and near Gravelotte. It also occurs at some tin mines in the Bushveld complex.

Rose quartz is a type of quartz which exhibits a pale pink to rose red hue. The color is usually considered as due to trace amounts of titanium, iron, or manganese, in the massive material. Some rose quartz contains microscopic rutile needles which produces an asterism in transmitted light. Recent X-ray diffraction studies suggest that the color is due to thin microscopic fibers of possibly dumortierite within the massive quartz.

In crystal form (rarely found) it is called pink quartz and its colour is thought to be caused by trace amounts of phosphate or aluminium. The color in crystals is apparently photosensitive and subject to fading.

If you are wearing or keeping your crystals or stones on you all the time, remember to methodically cleanse them. If you have been using them to heal health issues or when you were in a negative frame of mind... they would probably have absorbed your negative energy. This is why it is a good idea to purify them on a regular basis. Cleansing quartz crystals is very simple, as they are some of the easiest crystals to cleanse... so do it regularly for best long term results.

There are various methods of cleaning your crystals - If you do not know much about crystals... avoid using water to clean them. Some crystals may be totally ruined by contact with water ... so use other methods of cleansing crystals unless you are absolutely sure.

Photo credit

Crystal Singing Bowls cleanse crystals with sound : 
A crystal singing bowl may be used to cleanse your crystals. There are two ways to do this. If the stones are small you may put them into the crystal singing bowl. For bigger items, place them close to the bowl,  then play the bowl for a few minutes. The lovely crystal bowl music is very powerful and the sounds emitted by the bowl will resonate throughout the room. As the strong vibration of the pure crystalline sound of your crystal singing bowl fills the crystals... it will drive out any negative energy. This will lift the vibration of any of your crystals that are close by.

 However, the method I prefer most is playing music to my crystals. I place a few crystals in front of my computer speakers, choose a song with heavy bass (bass vibrations enter the crystals easily) and enjoy the music while my crystals are being cleansed.

A full moon rising over my garden wall

Bury stones or use moonlight for cleaning crystals :
The moonlight has a powerful influence that will re-energize your crystals... and allow them to lift their vibrations naturally. A good time to for cleansing crystals is at the time of the full moon... when it is at its brightest. Place them somewhere in your home where they will be in the moonlight for as long as possible. Leave them there overnight if you are able to. By absorbing the energy of moonlight... you will allow their vibration to naturally lift. I put my crystals outside on a table during full moon and collect them early in the morning again.

You may also choose to bury your stone in the earth, but again make sure that you know if the stone is one that can take water, in case rain seeps through to where they are located. This is a perfect way to cleanse many stones, but do mark where you put them so that you can find them again! You can dig them up after a day or two.

"What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday... and our present thoughts build our life of tomorrow. Our life is the creation of our mind."
 - Buddha

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Unpolished Amethyst Crystal

A raw unpolished Amethyst Cluster, mounted on a silver wire display stand inter-laced with small glass beads. Hand-crafted with Silver wire and silver solder. I just love the feel and look of rough crystals, polishing seems to distract from the beauty of the natural earthiness. In the back-ground is a large piece of raw Rose Quartz crystal.

This is part of my "Earth" collection in my jewellery range "Afrika Street Jewellery".

The Amethyst meaning is spiritual growth and protection. These beautiful healing crystals are also known for bringing clarity of the mind to the owner. By wearing or using Amethyst crystals, you can become more in tune with your own feelings and get to know your inner self on a much deeper level. It is a gemstone which can bring you calmness, inner peace and is thought to heighten your natural intuition.

It is a stone of spirituality and contentment. It brings one the energies of serenity and composure while inciting fairness in decisions and enhancement in the ability to manage any and all responsibilities. It provides the "sense" of common sense and encourages flexibility in decisions. It assists in the assimilation of new ideas.

Clusters – are most useful for cleansing and charging other gemstones or jewellery. They also assist to cleanse negative energy in large areas. These bring group energies together promoting peace and harmony in all relationships.

Amethyst healing properties can relieve pain and swelling throughout the body by calming the nervous system. Amethyst is well known for having a positive affect against insomnia and nightmares. By placing an amethyst crystal under your bed, you can dispel nightmares and encourage lucid dreaming. Amethyst is the birth stone for February. The Amethyst birthstone meaning is also of spiritual growth and protection. If you were born in February, the amethyst powers for healing will vibrate more strongly for you. This is especially true as you hold an amethyst in your hand or wear a piece of amethyst jewellery against your skin.

Amethyst properties
Spiritual awareness, dreaming, dispels nightmares, protection, known as the “sobriety stone”, helps break bad habits. Psychic / Meditation / Protects against anger, hate, envy and fear.

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Rose Quartz crystal pendants

Pieces of Rose Quarts encased in silver wire. This crystal looks equally good suspended from a chain or some leather thonging for a more natural look. When working with this crystal, it seems to emanate a low heat, making it feel warm to the touch. I can almost feel its comforting properties flowing through my hands as I wrap the wire around it.

Rose Quartz is a calming and reassuring crystal, excellent for use in trauma or crisis, including the emotional upheaval of mid-life crisis. It strengthens empathy, sensitivity, and aids in the acceptance of necessary change. It is also an excellent stone for comforting grief.

Rose quartz is often called the "Love Stone." Its energetic hallmark is that of unconditional love that opens the heart chakra. This makes rose quartz a stone for every type of love: self-love, family, platonic, romantic, and unconditional. As a variety of quartz, rose quartz has high energy, and this strong energy can enhance love in virtually any situation. A large piece of unpolished Rose Quartz in the home provides on-going protection against intrusion and gossip.

Rose Quartz, a silicon dioxide crystal, is one of the most common varieties of the Quartz family. Its name is derived from its soft rose colour, which ranges from very pale pink to deep reddish-pink. It usually occurs in massive form, though it sometimes grows in clusters of small prismatic crystals. It varies in clarity from opaque to translucent to a foggy transparency.

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Clear Quartz

Quartz Crystal, or Natural Quartz Crystals, are the original powerful things. Clear Quartz Crystal, such as the Quartz Crystal Ball, has an archetypal energy, a consciousness that is rarefied and highly evolved, that is packed with wisdom because Rose Quartz Crystal or other natural Quartz Crystal have experienced wisdom.

A polished clear Quartz Crystal on a hand-crafted silver wire stand. Also in the picture, clear Quartz Crystals embraced by silver wire and on a silver chain. From my hand-crafted jewellery under the label "Afrika Street Jewellery". 

Quartz crystal has been around for a very long time. How long, no one knows for sure. We do know that crystals were formed in this Earth and suggest the mineral evolution of the planet. Their very being expresses the unity of the four ancient elements.

PROPERTIES OF QUARTZ :
Pure Quartz is colourless or white. It is also known as the "master healer" and will amplify energy and thought, as well as the effect of other crystals. It absorbs, stores, releases and regulates energy. Clear Quartz draws off negative energy of all kinds, neutralising background radiation, including electromagnetic smog or petrochemical emanations. It balances and revitalises the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual planes. Cleanses and enhances the organs and subtle bodies and acts as a deep soul cleanser, connecting the physical dimension with the mind. Clear Quartz enhances psychic abilities. It aids concentration and unlocks memory. Stimulates the immune system and brings the body into balance. Clear Quartz (Crystal Quartz, Rock Crystal) harmonises all the chakras and aligns the subtle bodies.

Quartz is the birthstone for April. (I'm born in May, but I'm sure it was supposed to be April.... just LOVE clear Quartz!)

Clear quartz is associated with the crown chakra, but also works effectively to balance and energize all chakras. Chemical Composition: SiO2

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Africa Embraced pendant

A Rose Quartz crystal in the shape of Africa, embraced by silver wire and hanging from an earthy leather thong but would look equally great on a silver chain.

Rose Quarts is often called "the Love stone". It carries a soft feminine energy of compassion and peace, tenderness and healing, nourishment and comfort. The heart healing properties are the most prominent energy of the rose quartz. Rose Quartz signifies peace, so place pieces throughout your home. Wearing it close to your skin balances emotions, heals emotional wounds and aids in skin and cell rejuvenation.

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I go to nature...

... to be soothed and healed . and to have my senses put in order 

Hand-crafted from copper and silver solder . the copper assists in energy flowing more freely

Karee leaf and seed – Hand-crafted earrings made from Copper and silver solder with patina for a vintage look – from my EARTH range of ‘Afrika Street Jewellery’ – displayed on a large Rose Quartz crystal. The EARTH range of jewellery is inspired by nature and this one is fashioned after the leaves of the White Karee tree (Rhus viminalis).

Albert Einstein said, “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”

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Quartz Crystal Pendant

Not for sale

Large 9cm long Quartz Crystal pendant, wrapped in silver wire, with a feather and Turquoise beads on a silver chain - From my hand-crafted jewellery under the label “Earth Range”.

Quartz Crystal, or Natural Quartz Crystals, are the original power crystals. Clear Quartz Crystal, such as the Quartz Crystal Ball, has an archetypal energy, a consciousness that is rarefied and highly evolved, that is packed with wisdom because Rose Quartz Crystal or other natural Quartz Crystal have experienced wisdom.

Quartz crystal has been around for a very long time. How long, no one knows for sure. We do know that crystals were formed in this Earth and suggest the mineral evolution of the planet. Their very being expresses the unity of the four ancient elements.

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