Julie's Friday Crystal Ball 1 March 2019

Hi there dear Empaness supporters and gemstone jewellery fanatics

Amazingly, its March now ! Hard to believe Empaness has now been in existence for 3 and a half months already. 

 

 

Handcrafted Black Onyx Briolette Sterling Silver Drop Earrings

This week I have earrings on my mind ! - There’s so much interesting history on these adornments, but to be brief, here are a few interesting facts:

 

• The Sydney Morning Herald reported in 2014 that Chinese archaeologists have discovered earrings they believe are the oldest found in the world.

The jade earrings, which date to between 7500 and 8200 years ago, were unearthed at the Xinglongwa culture site in Chifeng city in Inner Mongolia, the Xinhua news agency said yesterday.

The jade rings, called "Jue" in old Chinese, have diameters that measure 2.5 to six centimetres.

 

• In many past eras men wore earrings perhaps more than women - 

For example, you can see their use in old pictures of native Americans before the influence of foreign cultures. And even in Elizabethan times some old portraits of William Shakespeare show him wearing hoop earrings. But now, earrings are predominantly for women in European cultures.

 

• Earrings can also have religious significance and be used in magic and shamanistic rituals. For instance, in Africa. Here jewellery is also an expression of the soul and can symbolise prosperity and protection.

 In Africa, the Fulani which are also called the Fula or Fulbe, are well known all over the world for their jewellery crafting. The special super-large gold twist earrings can be up to five inches long and usually is made out of silver or gold. This quickly and thoroughly conveys the wealth and status in the wearer. Traditionally the nomadic Fulani, wear their wealth as their jewellery. They can then easily buy goods from people they meet. [africa-facts.org}

 

• The representations of the historical buddha show him with long stretched earlobes - this is because, previous to his search for enlightenment, he was a prince who wore heavy earrings. He renounced his earrings, amongst other things, when he followed the eightfold path, upon enlightenment.

 

Our buddha statue

 

• According to Wikipedia: 

Ear piercing re-emerged in Western culture in the late 1950’s or early 1960’s, but since a large commercial market did not exist, most ear piercings were done at home.Teenage girls were known to hold ear piercing parties, where they performed the procedure on one another. 

 

Handcrafted Green Aventurine Earrings On Sterling Silver Belcher Chain

 

 This week’s news from Julie’s craft bench:

 

Our 50% off the Beautiful Pearls Collection finished yesterday , so I have been busy packing up orders and sending off. I have also been working on some new pieces which I should be finished by end of week. These are with the gemstones I talked about last week. Montana Agate, Black Onyx and Tigers eyes. Some stunning pieces by themselves but I have also mixed with Sterling Silver metal. Keep an eye out for these next week.

 

I am going to be starting a new collection of petite jewellery for younger girls/women or just ladies who like their jewellery smaller.

Also, in the future, a boys/mens range. I would love any feedback on this or ideas of what jewellery you like

You can message me on FB or via email julie@empaness.com.au

 Message from me for the week is “treat humans, animals and the earth how you would like to be treated”

 

Bye for now - have a fantastic weekend. 

 

Jules