Birthstones: January - Garnet

Hi all!  Each month we're going to have myths and legends to get your inspired in your jewellery making.  For 2014 what better place to start than a whole group of jewellery makers favourite shinies?  Yep, birthstones!  We'll do a bit about the stone, and then some myths and legends associated with it.  To start, here is January's birthstone: Garnet.  

Garnet is actually the name for a group of silicates with various amounts of magnesium, iron or calcium.  These come in shades of green, red, yellow, and orange.

It is normally the dark red Alandine we see representing the birthstone.

The name “Garnet” comes from the Latin “granatus” meaning seed or grain.  It is thought that this is a reference to the pomegranate seeds, which have the same deep red colour.

The Legend of Persephone and Hades

Persephone was the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, the earth goddess.

Legend tells Hades, god of the underworld, kidnapped Demeter and took her to the underworld to be his bride.  Demeter was beside herself with grief, and wandered the earth searching for her daughter, carrying two burning torches in her hands.  As a result the land that was her domain became unfertile.  Plants withered and died, animals bore no offspring, and death stalked mankind.

The gods approached Demeter and begged her to resume her care of the earth, but she refused to do so until she was reunited with her daughter.

Finally Zeus, King of the gods, intervened.  He sent Hermes the messenger god to the underworld to request Hades return Persephone.

Hades agreed, but before he let Persephone go, he gave her pomegranate seeds of which she ate.

Persephone returned to the light and air, and Demeter rejoiced and lifted her curse of the earth.  However, those that eat the food of the underworld are obliged to stay there.  Because Persephone had eaten the pomegranate seeds, she would have to return to Hades.

So Zeus commanded that she would split her time between Hades and Demeter, living for a third of each year in the underworld and two thirds in the land of the living.

So each year when Persephone travels to the underworld, Demeter grieves and all living things wither until her daughter returns, and with her the spring.

It is thought that this legend is the origin of the garnet being associated with keeping travellers safe.  Like the pomegranate seeds that Hades gives to Persephone to ensure her return to him, garnets which resemble the seeds were given to ensure a safe return.

Other properties attributed to the stone is the ability to heal wounds, prevent bad dreams and cure depression.  Not bad!

You can easily get hold of some lovely garnet to make a piece for this month at an affordable price, so if you want to make a special piece for someone about to go on a journey, or perhaps for a January birthday, why not pick up some beads and experiment? :)

Tutorial - New Year Grapes

Happy New Year!

In this tutorial, we’re going to be making a lucky New Year necklace.

The story:  I used to work at a company that had many international employees.  We were working over New Year, and as midnight approached the Spanish people started opening up packets of grapes.

They explained that it was a tradition to eat twelve grapes, on each chime of the stroke of midnight for good luck for the coming twelve months.

So to celebrate New Year 2014, here is a necklace inspired by that tradition.

I’ve used large green beads to represent the grapes, and used a basic stringing design that anyone can do with minimal equipment.

(Before we begin I will admit to a very silly mistake… I apparently can’t count!  I made this on New Year’s Day and was still a little sleepy, and put 14 grapes on instead of 12!  Oh well, I guess that means I get two extra months luck?!)

You will need:

18 inches Brown or gold coloured Embroidery thread

12 large Green beads (they don't have to be all the same size though - grapes aren't!)

10 brown or gold seed beads

2 gold coloured jump rings

1 gold claw clasp

Scissors

Glue

Flat nose pliers

Round nose pliers

Step 1

Lay out your design on the bead tray.  This way if your beads are slightly different, as mine were, you can see what order you like them in the best.

Step 2

Start to string your beads onto the embroidery thread.  (This is easier if you have a needle - but I did it without, so don't worry if you can't find one.)  Continue along until you have all of the beads on the string.

 

Step 3

Tie a jump ring to each end of the thread.  Loop the thread through the ring twice and tie a double knot to keep it secure.

Step 4

Hold up your necklace by the jump rings and make sure the beads are hanging evenly.

Now to space out those small beads, we are going to tie single knots in the thread up each side.  Don't worry if they aren't perfectly even, we're going for a rustic look here, so it's up to you how you space out your beads.  I tried to make mine roughly at the same levels, but I didn't measure it, so some are closer than others.

To do this, slide all but one of your beads up to the jump ring.  Tie the knot where you would like your next bead to sit, and then let one slide back down to the knot.  Tie your next knot above it, and let the next bead slide down to it.  Continue until you have done all the beads on both sides.

Step 5

Using your pliers, attach your clasp to one of the jump rings.

Step 6

Trim the ends of the thread, and add a dab of glue to the knots to keep them secure.

 

Your lucky grapes are all finished!

For a variation on this necklace, try using a mixture of purple and green beads, for different coloured grapes! 
If you don't have any jewellery making supplies, you can even make this out of thread and Papier Mâché beads, and just tie the necklace together.
Have fun. :)