Piggybacking on Sooz and Barbara's questions, I am wondering which gemstone beads everyone prefers to use in designing? And which ones are not faves? No limit.
I like purples and blues the best -- so...Amethyst, Charoite, Sodalite, Lapis, Blue Lace Agate.I also like Rose Quartz and green aventurine. I've also been designing a lot with that bamboo stuff they are passing off as coral. My not so faves include Peridot, garnet, Citrine, smoky quartz.
I like using citrine a whole lot. It's my birthstone, and I'm just drawn to it. Garnet is a close second, and quartz (mainly smoky) is third. I haven't worked with much lapis, but I love how it looks. Snowflake obsidian is something that I'd really like to work with more.
Dislikes....well, peridot is the only one that comes immediately to mind...
When I read the question, the first thing I thought of was the fluorite that's purple and green.
Since I'm a green girl, I love malachite. I love azurite/malachite, although I've never used it.
I tend to favor the cooler colors because I mostly work with silver, but I like a lot of the earthy browns too. Oh, shoot. I think I pretty much like any stones!
I am *in love* with iolite (errr- hence my email!)- I had never even heard of it before I started working at the bead store. Now I cannot get enough of it!
Come to think of it, I never thought about gemstones before I started working there- now I have a hard time *not* using gemstones! They have such a life to them- and they *feel good* to hold!
I am in love with jaspers- ocean jasper, fancy jasper, silver leaf jasper, picture jasper- wow! Even in the same family, they each have their own little quirks and personalities- when I make a necklace with them, it's almost like arranging a bunch of tiny little pictures- you have to look at them individually.
I also like moukaite, purple sage agate, moonstone, amber, jade, opal (especially peruvian blue!), amethyst, smoky quartz, lapiz, malachite, moldavite, turquoise (being from AZ, I feel I almost have to!). . . the list goes on and on!
Hmmm- best maybe to say what I do *not* like =) I'm not a fan of dalmation jasper- it's just not exciting to me, but I have seen people make some wonderful things with it! I don't really like coral- new or old, dyed or not. Unakite's not on my list of awesome, but I do have some chips lurking around somewhere. . .and the more I think of them, the more I think unakite's not so bad! All greeney and pinky at once! =)
I know I sound like a bit of a nut in this post, naming every single gem that comes to mind =) I think my love of gemstones has something to do with seeing them every single day- the owner is a gem freak, and one half of the store is dedicated to the little guys =)
Turquoise is my favourite. I also love real jet, but it's hard to find. I usually manage to get it in the form of strands from old Victorian/Edwardian mourning clothing, they used it by the mile for fringe so I have a big bag of it that is loose strands but not much larger than modern Delica bead size.
I love coral but can't bring myself to use it so I've been turning to the glittery side of the force with crystals instead.
The Sage amethyst I have is much lighter and a more clear purple. Lots of white and black speckles, some beige. No time to do a photo right now, but I'll try to do so this weekend and post what I have.
Barbara Beader and Polymer Clay Junky
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Well I have fancy jasper that is purple! I guess they've renamed it for
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