#Garnet Color Varieties

[singletapyash]

Do you ever feel much burden in your life?  Or perhaps find yourself desiring to be much closer to yourself? If this is the case, you would do well to explore joining the world of crystals. Of those myriad gemstones out there, Chalcedony stone holds a special place, with its unique properties and rich history.

Chalcedony crystal often gets lost in the shuffle of flashier stones, like aquamarine but that's what makes this stone literally and figuratively a hidden gem. This versatile stone comes in a rainbow of colors, from serene blues from the green chalcedony to mysterious depths of black chalcedony. 

Every color possesses a self-contained, special energy, but all of them share a common thread: tranquility and balance.

[reddpenn]

Here is a potentially silly question: how do you feel about birthstones? Do you think they fit the months (by season or astrological sign)? Do you have other stones you'd rather see as birthstones?

Okay, so, birthstones make absolutely no sense.

I mean, look at this mess. We’re doing beryl and corundum twice! I get that they get Special Different Names for their Special Different Colors, but it's just lazy. And why are we giving some months cheap, common gemstones like garnet and amethyst while the poor June birthdays have to shell out tens of thousands of dollars for FREAKING ALEXANDRITE? That’s incredibly unfair! We should be picking birthstones that are all roughly the same price. And why do some months get multiple gemstones? I’ll tell you why: because nobody can agree on an official list and every attempt to standardize this thing has just added MORE birthstones to every month.

So obviously the answer is to standardize it again, by throwing out everything and starting over. Here are our goals:

Fair pricing. You should be paying roughly the same amount regardless of what month you were born in. We’re getting rid of those ridiculous outliers like diamond and alexandrite.

More customization potential! Nobody should be stuck with a stone they hate. We’re picking gemstones that come in multiple colors or varieties, so that everyone can choose a variant they like.

Wearability. Some birthstones are too fragile to be worn as jewelry. We need to replace them with stronger stuff.

No more duplicate gemstones. Every month gets a stone or family of stones with a unique chemical composition.

Now without further ado, I present to you:

The New And Improved List Of Birthstones With No Problems Or Flaws That Everyone Will Definitely Agree On And We Can Start Using Right Now Immediately

JANUARY: GARNET

I've got no problem with garnet. It's a fine, classic birthstone, so January can keep it. But I would like to see a little more garnet diversity. January birthdays shouldn’t be confined to just red. The garnet family of minerals contains a rainbow of different colors, like orange hessonite, green uvarovite, pink rhodolite, yellow grandite, and many more. They’re all garnet, so we should be wearing them all!

FEBRUARY: QUARTZ

The original birthstone of February was amethyst, which is… kinda boring. Super cheap and common and you only get one color? No, we can do better. February gets ALL the quartzes now. Keep wearing amethyst if you want, but also feel free to branch out into clear quartz, citrine, rose quartz, smoky quartz, rutilated quartz, tiger eye… actually, take all the agates too. If it’s quartz, it’s yours!

MARCH: SPODUMENE

March was originally aquamarine, but I’ll be giving all the beryls to May, so we need a different stone here. Let’s stick with that theme of pale pastels and go with spodumene. For an April birthday, bedeck yourself in green hiddenite, pink kunzite, or yellow triphane. Despite its subtle colors, your birthstone has some amazing fluorescence, with really cool pinks and oranges under a UV light.

APRIL: FELDSPAR

Diamond is too pricy for this list, so we’re replacing it with something less expensive and way more interesting. April will now be represented by the feldspar family. We’re talking labradorite, moonstone, amazonite, aventurine, and sunstone. While you don’t have much variety in color, your stones are full of shimmery schiller which glitters and shifts as it catches the light.

MAY: BERYL

May’s original birthstone was emerald, which is great and can stay, but we’re also adding its siblings! May is now represented by all beryls: Emerald, Aquamarine, Morganite, Bixbite, Heliodor, Goshenite, and whatever other varieties I’m forgetting to list. A bright and saturated rainbow of colors is represented here, so everyone born in May is sure to find something they like.

JUNE: ORGANIC GEMSTONES AND FOSSILS

It’s time to address the alexandrite in the room, and obviously we’re getting rid of alexandrite. A stone worth $15,000 to $70,000 a carat does not belong on the same list as friggin amethyst. Instead we’ll look at the other traditional June birthstone, pearl. The problem with pearl is that it’s a clear outlier in this list. An organic gemstone, by some definitions not even a mineral. Should we replace it? NO. We are OWNING it. All organic gemstones now belong to June. Pearl is joined here by jet, amber, coral, ivory, ammolite, petrified wood… in fact, June can have every fossil ever.

JULY: SPINEL

July was originally represented by ruby, which is a fine stone and won’t be kicked off the birthstone list - we’re just shuffling it down to September. Replacing ruby for July is spinel. (See, it’s funny because historically spinel has often been mistakenly identified as ruby! That's a little gemology humor for you.) Available in any hue you could possibly desire, spinel offers some nice color options to a month that previously only featured red. Of course if you want to keep wearing red, red spinel mimics ruby so well that you’ll barely notice the difference.

AUGUST: PERIDOT

Nope, we’re not changing this one. Peridot is the ideal gemstone and you ungrateful August whiners can die mad about it. HOW ABOUT YOU LEARN TO APPRECIATE PERFECTION

SEPTEMBER: CORUNDUM

Sapphire is a wonderful, classic stone and it deserves its spot on this list. But the corundum family has been separated for far too long, and we’re finally going to reunite them. Joining sapphire in September is its sister ruby. Between the pinks and reds of ruby and the many, many colors of sapphire, these two stones give September a nice variety of colors.

OCTOBER: TOURMALINE

Look, as gorgeous as opal is and as much as I love it, it is both way too pricy for our list and also TERRIBLE in jewelry. This stone is just too brittle to wear around from day to day and can be ruined just by getting it wet, which makes wearing your birthstone a huge hassle. We’ll kick opal out and hang on to October’s other traditional birthstone, tourmaline. Pink tourmaline may be classic, but this stone comes in plenty of other colors. Whether it’s brown dravite, watermelon elbaite, or the rare and beautiful blue indicolite, you can wear them all!

NOVEMBER: TOPAZ

November can keep topaz, but we’re not confining it to the color yellow. This stone comes in a huge variety of colors, and now they can ALL represent November. No further notes; it’s a nice, classic stone.

DECEMBER: ZIRCON

I dunno, I’ve had to come up with 12 of these, I’m burnt out. Sure, zircon, whatever.

“BUT WAIT,” you say. “Now instead of having a single color assigned to each month, almost every month is represented by almost every color, making it impossible to tell anyone’s birthstones apart and removing what made them special and recognizable as symbols!”

Well CLEARLY you didn’t read the title of this list.

[gemville]

Antique Harlequin Necklace In 12k Gold and Set With A Variety Of Colored Gemstones Which Include: Garnet, Zircon, Topaz and Spinel

Photo Courtesy: Doyle & Doyle

Source: forbes.com

[rock-swag-tournament]

Mineral Swag Round 3: Gems

Aquamarine is the blue variety of beryl, which is a cyclosilicate mineral with beryllium in it. Aquamarine is named for sea water - literally aqua marina aka "marine water." It is a beautiful gemstone and the March birthstone.

Garnet is the January birthstone and actually comes in MANY colors. It is commonly red or pink but can be green or orange as well, depending on the garnet variety you’re talking about. It naturally forms dodecahedra and is an isotropic mineral so it goes “extinct” (turns opaque) under cross polarized light. Pictures of this are in previous rounds!

Garnet is, by far, my favorite mineral because of almandine garnets (shown) are such a beautiful deep red color. Plus they're a metamorphic mineral! So they form in rocks like schist and gneiss. Aquamarine, for anyone interested, forms in igneous rocks like granite.

[vpofcookies]

Please tell us more about characters assigned rocks 👀

Oh no my trap card! long post time!

Okay, the rocks that I assign to characters depend on a lot of different factors (mostly vibes), am I planning aesthetic matches? eg. rubies and garnets for technoblade? Narrative matches? eg. gypsum for dream? Character matches? vibe or function? eg. feldspar for techno, muscovite for phil? The result is a pile of different rocks assigned to each of my special little guys, some with more uhh tenuous connections than others.

Let's go over the rocks I assigned to the syndicate (+dream) and why:

First up, Technoblade and K-Feldspar:

This is one based mostly off of vibes. It's one of my favorite feldspars and Technoblade is my favorite guy. And orthoclase feldspar, or K-feldspar, is PINK.

But I am nothing if not able to make explanations for things that were initially just based on vibes. Let's look a little beyond, shall we? Feldspars are known for being very structured in the sense that they have two defined cleavage planes at 90 degrees to each other, making rectangular blocks with irregular ends. Techno, to me, is the pillar of support and structure to his friends, so a cleavage pattern that reflects that is fitting. (in contrast, I think Ranboo's character could be represented by obsidian, which is glass-like). Beyond that, feldspar is the most common mineral in the earth's crust, making up about 60% of the crust. In terms of Technoblade, this could represent his impact on the mcyt community, his character's role in driving many major plotlines, or if you like the old immortals hc, a lasting impact on the world throughout history. (If you like the old immortals theory, please consider pairing feldspar techno with olivine philza! Olivine is a green mineral, the most abundant in the upper mantle!)

A couple other notes: K-feldspar is pink because it has iron mixed into it, but it's named for the high concentration of potassium. Potassium is also known for: exploding! Also. It's PINK. But, generally I do tend to associate feldspars with Philza instead of Technoblade, because feldspars are what makes moonstone and labradorite, and I tend to associate moon and star mythos and symbolism with Phil.

Philza and muscovite:

I know I just wrote muscovite, but I was thinking of fuchsite, which is a chromium-rich muscovite!

I can't really put a finger on why I feel that muscovite fits Phil so well, but I think the micas suit him. Maybe it's something about how they used to use Mica to make windows (Muscovy glass, from Moscow, gives muscovite it's name!), and I feel that Philza's builds and character act as windows into rich worldbuilding. Maybe it's something about the fact that micas are made of many many layers and Philza adds a depth to each of his characters (and even literal layers with the colorzas). Muscovite is generally clear and reflective, while biotite micas can be dark enough to be black even in thin sheets. both suit Phil in my opinion, but the inclusion of alluminum in muscovite sometimes gives it a metallic sheen. It can be thin and transparent sheets, but it's still durable and versatile as a material. Maybe that reminded me of how people always see Technoblade as the warrior, but Philza has been known as a survivor for just as long if not longer.

Connor and Ocean Jasper:

I'm going to be honest. I know nothing about this guy.

Ocean jasper is blue. He's blue. What more is there to say?

Ocean jasper, or orbicular jasper, is a pretty rare stone! The main reason I assigned this to C!connor, other than the color, is that from the little I knew of his character, he was still somehow everywhere. That sums up my understanding of jasper pretty well too! It's a silicate mineral, defined more by its crystal structure than its composition, but some people still just call it chalcedony or quartz, and jasper is everywhere with lots of varieties! It reminded me of seeing all of C!connor's appearances with his normal skin and all the time traveler theories. The same Connor under different names, the same quartz under different names.

Niki Nihachu and Rhodochrosite:

This is the one I feel fits the best, actually! Yes I did initially think of it because it's pink, but Rhodochrosite is an extremely cool mineral and I think the fact that people think of it as "just pink" reflects perception of Niki's character compared to her true depth.

Just look at the versatility of it! From crystals to roses to speleothems. Rhodochrosite has been used for manganese, which is used in steel and aluminum alloy production, or to concentrate silver. In both cases the process is destructive and creates a lot of byproducts, which reminded me of the hurt caused to C!Niki through the revolution, and the way she was spoken over and ignored after. Another aspect of rhodochrosite is that it generally forms in hydrothermal veins. High pressure formation conditions to create this beautiful mineral reflect, to me, Niki's arc of finding herself again.

Ranboo and Snowflake Obsidian:

I think any obsidian fit's C!Ranboo well, but you know I had to choose snowflake obsidian because it's black and white.

Ranboo's fragmented memory made me think that a fracturing material would be a good fit, and obsidian has the properties of glass. It is also not lost on me that obsidian forms when magma or lava hit water. However, snowflake obsidian forms through the process of devitrification (vitri-, like vitreous, meaning glass-like), where glasslike substances become crystalline. The white material is cristobalite, a silicate material that forms at high temperatures. What this means is that snowflake obsidian is not as glass-like as other types of obsidian, just as Ranboo's memory loss is not exactly what it first appears to be either.

Dream and Gypsum:

Gypsum, in some forms called selenite, is a pretty well-known mineral. However, many of the forms are known under different names so people do not realize that they are all the same mineral.

Gypsum can form roses, clear selenite, reflective satin spar, the sands of white dunes, rock, crystals, and more. It's used in construction, to make chalk, to make buildings, to analyze mineral thin sections, to measure hardness on the Mohs scale, and to charge crystals by those that believe in spiritual properties of minerals. I see these many different forms as parallels to Dream's many faces on the server, real and perceived. Many different names given to different forms of the same person. I think the many used of gypsum also reflect the perception of Dream by the rest of the server. Gypsum is attributed power by some (is Dream the most powerful villian on the server?) and use by geologists and builders (Is Dream a way to get the revival book? Is he an ally?), but one of the main qualities is that it has a very low hardness, and is very easily broken. Is the role and name assigned to Dream, by others and by himself, more than he can fulfill without breaking?

[tiredwitchplant]

Everything You Need to Know About Crystals: Bloodstone

Bloodstone (The Blood of Purification)

Color: Green with bright red splatter. Some have white mixed in

Rarity: Easy to obtain

Hardiness: 7

Type: Chalcedony

Chakra Association: Root, Heart, Solar Plexus, and Sacral

Deities: Brigid, Dione, Persephone, Christ (believed to be his blood in Christian mythology)

Birthstone: March

Astrological Signs: Aries, Pisces, Libra

Element: Fire

Planet: Mars

Origin: Australia, Brazil, China, India, USA

Powers: Open Doors and Remove Walls, Prosperity, Strength, Courage, Purification, Vitality

Crystals It Works Well With: Red jasper, Black Tourmaline, Hematite, Amethyst

How It is Created: Bloodstone is a variety of chalcedony quartz with a distinctive dark green color combined with specks and clumps of red jasper inclusions

History: The distinct blood red marks within the stone are often used for talismans because it is believed that the stone protect one from evil spirits. In medieval times, it was believed the blood specks came from the blood of Christ while he was being crucified as his blood dripped down onto the rocks. Legends such as the tale of Percival, one of King Arthur’s knights who went on the quest for the Holy Grail, illustrate the combined qualities of bloodstone. Percival was a knight trained in the physical aspects of combat, but his quest took him into the spiritual realms, teaching him lessons about illusion and the power of unconditional love. In ancient times, it was believed that this stone could heal, banish negativity, and guide people who were lost. It was worn by warriors on their arms to help heal wounds during battle and to stop the bleeding quickly. It was also worn on the breast of a warrior to feel them with courage and strength. It was said to keep their morals high, even after very heavy casualties.

What It Can Do:

Banish evil spirits and negativity

Heal wounds and one’s mental state

Used to draw money and increase wealth

Clams fear and anger

Ensures victories in legal battles

Balances and ground the energy in one’s heart to promote action

Gives courage and teaches on how to avoid dangerous situations

Heal the ancestral line

Benefits blood-rich organs, regulates and supports blood-flow, and aids in circulation

Egyptians believed it shrank tumors

How to Get the Best Out Of: Wearing it as a bracelet or something on the arm area and a necklace near the heart is a great way to utilize bloodstone to its full potential as it works well near the bloodstream and blood-rich organs like the heart.

How to Cleanse and Charge: Cleanse it by running it under water or bury it in your garden for a deeper clean. Charge it by placing it under a full moon or using green and red candles around it.

Crystal Grid:

General Well Being

Layout: Lemniscate

1 clearing crystal

1 light-bringing crystal

1 immune-balancing crystal

Crystals to Use:

Bloodstone

Green Aventurine

Que Sera (Llanoite)

Quantum Quattro

Cherry, Rose, Smoky, or Emerald Quartz

Hold your crystals in your hands and state your intention for the grid.

Lie down.

Place a clearing crystal beneath your feet (sit up to do so).

Place a light-bringing crystal above your head.

Place an immune-balancing crystal halfway up your breastbone over the

higher heart chakra.

Use the power of your mind to connect the lemniscate over and around you.

Remain in the grid for five to fifteen minutes, focusing your attention and breathing gently

into the immune-balancing crystal. If you become aware of energy that needs to shift out of

your body, send it down to the crystal at your feet for transmutation.

Remove the crystals in the reverse order in which you laid them, then cleanse them

Heart and Immune System

Layout: Lemniscate

1 grounding crystal for the feet

1 pinkish-burgundy crystal or immune stimulator

1 emerald-green crystal or immune soother

Crystals to Use:

Emerald

Emerald Quartz

Fuchsite

Cherry Quartz

Rose Quartz

Ruby

Garnet

Green Aventurine

Lepidolite

Bloodstone

Que Sera

Quantum Quattro

Hematite Quartz

Hold your crystals in your hands and state your intention for the grid.

Sit down on the floor.

Place a grounding crystal at your feet.

Lie down fully.

Place one crystal above the heart on the higher heart

(thymus) chakra.

Place one over the heart seed at the base of the breastbone.

Check your heartbeat—it will quickly indicate which crystal should be placed above, and which below. If your heartbeat feels too rapid or is pounding heavily, or if it feels too slow and heavy, switch the crystals around.

Use the power of your mind or a crystal wand to trace the lemniscate, crossing the circles over your heart.

If dizziness results, breathe deeply and send the energy down toward the crystal at your feet for transmutation.

When the layout is complete, remove the crystals in the reverse order in which you laid them. Stand up slowly and ground yourself by stamping your feet.

Sources

[votederpycausemufins]

My Xisuma gemcyt design on a sheet. Originally I was gonna have both him and Evil X in one post but I had too many thoughts.

the whole gemcyt au got kicked off by @chrisrin so make sure to check out their stuff and all the stuff they reblogged if you haven't already.

Variation of the sheet above but with more notes below the cut.

Alright. Originally I had just been searching for gems to be potentially fusions as I was planning to do a ZIT and/or ZITS fusion, then noticed that tango and impulse don't have a fusion yet. (tango and skizz don't either, and there's no ITS yet, but whatever)

I was scrolling through potential gems and stumbled upon the existence of purpurite. And there's all the theories of Xisuma being a voidwalker or something and having the mask bc end air is thinner and the overworld atmosphere is too thick, etc etc. But like! Purpurite like how there's purpur blocks in the end. And xisuma's two main colors are purple and green and purpurite is apparently purple and green! I had to make him as a purpurite!

His outfit is trying to adapt his skin/the doomguy armor into a gem style. Xisuma himself is essentially shaped based on Holly Blue Agate since that or jadeite seemed like the most similar gem (ish), and i couldn't see him looking like a jade. Also there was another agate on the show that looked more like the various jaspers that had been corrupted, so there is variety in shape anyway!

I almost have him green spot markings, but they just never looked good, so he doesn't have them. Maybe I'd try again to try and match with Evil X's markings, but maybe the opposites are fine.

Instead of a regular gem weapon, he has a mask. And while it was never confirmed, the main theory about Garnet's glasses is that they're Sapphire's 'weapon'. Plus, Jasper had a helmet, so straight up weapon isn't necessary. I'm planning to do an extra sheet for both of the 'sumas, and for Xisuma it will probably show how he emotes even with him wearing the mask 24/7. If you've seen the Fool's Gold series by Dingodoodles, I imagine it vaguely similar to how Gothi emotes.

And finally, the x's. Like, the x shaped on his outfit/form/whatever. I have it similar to how Rose has the star around her gem. It's just that X has an x around his gem as a cutout from his cuff glove bracer thing. Originally, it was just that his backside felt empty and I wanted something there, so I put another x on the back, but then I got ideas and now there is a very good reason why he also has one there. But I'm not covering that here.

And the actual last part is that the sheet mentions its from Cabochon Cut. I'm actually working on a one shot under that title that I will hopefully post tomorrow. Hopefully. We'll see.

[chic-a-gigot]

The Delineator, no. 4, Vol. XLVIII. Autumn Number. October 1896. Published by the Butterick Publishing Co. London & New York. Colored Plate 19. Figures D41 and D42. Autumn Toilettes. Internet Archive, uploaded by Albert R. Mann Library

Figure D 41. — LADIES’ PROMENADE COSTUME.

Figure D 41. — This illustrates a Ladies’ costume. The pattern, which is No. 8631 and costs 1s. 8d. or 40 cents, is in thirteen sizes for ladies from twenty-eight to forty-six inches, bust measure, and may be seen in three views on page 418.

Rich myrtle-green broadcloth and silk are combined in this elegant costume, with lace edging for the jabot and iridescent spangled trimming and narrow lace edging for decoration. The basque adjustment is made by single bust darts and the usual seams and the closing is concealed by a double jabot of lace edging. A frill of narrow lace edging falls over the stand¬ ing collar, giving a soft and dainty touch. Bolero jacket-fronts are a pleasing feature of the costume ; they present a rounding outline and are reversed above the bust and extended to form a deep round collar at the back. Between them the jabot of lace appears fluffily, the edges of the lace falling softly on the boleros. The end of the jabot droops over a pretty crush belt of silk that is gathered at the ends and crosses the front under the jacket-fronts. Pointed epaulettes bordered with spangled trimming stand out stylishly over the one-seam leg-o’-mutton sleeves, which flare in puff effect at the top and fit the arm closely below. The back of the waist is lengthened by a peplum that ripples gracefully.

The three-piece skirt consists of a front-gore and two circular portions that meet in a seam at the center of the back, where the skirt is gathered at the top. At the sides and back the skirt falls in stylish rippling folds and at the front it flares in the approved fashion.

The revival of broadcloth invites refined and artistic dress for the street and marked individuality may assert itself in the selection of colors and decoration. Warm, rich tints of broadcloth in such shades as garnet, dahlia, mulberry, chestnut and wood-brown are liked, as well as green, blue and black. For decoration, bands of passementerie, spangled trimming, fur, etc., are commended and a soft jabot of yellow lace is becoming and rich with any shade of cloth. Aside from broadcloth, there is an infinite variety of materials suitable for Autumn and Winter wear, serge, Scotch cheviot, camel’s-hair and novelty wool goods being all available. With any of these materials velvet or satin may be associated in a costume like this, the decorative fabric being employed for the boleros, girdle and epaulettes; or a third fabric may be used for the girdle. The effect is always enhanced by trimming, which, however, should not be tawdry.

The hat has a soft velvet crown and is trimmed with lace and flowers.

Figure D 42. — LADIES’ VISITING TOILETTE.

Figure D 42. — This consists of a Ladies’ basque-waist and skirt. The basque-waist pattern, which is No. 8659 and costs 1s. 3d. or 30 cents, is in thirteen sizes for ladies from twenty-eight to forty-six inches, bust measure, and may be seen in three views on page 440. The skirt pattern, which is No. 8599 and costs 1s. 3d. or 30 cents, is in nine sizes for ladies from twenty to thirty-six inches, waist measure, and is shown on its accompanying label.

The basque-waist is pictured made of salmon silk and decorated with velvet ribbon and lace edging. The lining over which the waist is arranged is adjusted by double bust darts and the usual seams and is closed in front. The square front-yoke is closed on the left shoulder and the full front fastens at the center. The front has its fulness drawn well to the center by gathers at the top and bottom and puffs out stylishly; the seamless back has two backward-turning plaits at each side of the center flaring toward the shoulders. The one-seam sleeves flare in leg-o’-mutton puffs at the top and fit closely below, and a frill of lace edging droops from the wrist edge over the hand. The yoke is trimmed with two frills of lace edging arranged to follow the square outline, each frill being headed by a row of inch-wide velvet ribbon, and the standing collar is encircled by a softly twisted stock of Avide velvet ribbon, a pretty fan of lace edging drooping over the stock at each side. A soft twist of the wide velvet ribbon surrounds the waist.

The skirt of dahlia crépon, known as the new bell skirt, is circular at the front and sides and in two gores at the back; it may be dart-fitted or gathered in front and presents the rippling folds at the sides and back now fashionable.

A very artistic toilette may be composed with this basque-waist and skirt, if becoming colors and stylish materials are selected. Silk will be most appropriate for the basque-waist and broadcloth, serge, crépon, wool canvas or novelty wool goods are commended for the skirt. Lace edging, spangled trimming, passementerie, velvet ribbon, etc., are popular garnitures.

The hat is stylishly trimmed with fancy plumage, ribbon and a jewelled ornament.

[ichigoli]

Mistborn Shadow Box Master Post

Recently, I began working on a Shadow Box concept using paper, resin, and various mix-ins in a 4" square coaster mold.

Mistborn has such a dynamic and bold aesthetic that it felt like a wonderful place to start. It was also my first Cosmere book.

At least if it's Ruined, it's still perfectly in setting.

I started by drawing out a high-contrast, dynamic silhouette of Best Girl Vin above Luthadel.

Each layer was cut out of card stock. I picked a shimmery metallic for the skyline but it doesn't read through the resin so I'll skip next time.

I poured a layer of resin mixed with gray and black mica powder for ash into the channels around the rim of the coaster.

I alternated resin and paper to space the pieces out, swirling white ink between the rooftops for Mist.

A quick peek through the bottom of the mold shows nothing shifted out of position...

The last layer has a lot of red and Garnet ink swirled in. I deliberately under-blended it to get some variety in the pockets of color.

Something I didn't anticipate is the difference in density between the paper and resin. Thin spots tried really hard to float leading to some odd curling in the corners, but nothing deal-breaking.

And the big reveal!

... kinda underwhelming. I went too hard on the mists, and a lot of that ash escaped containment making the whole effect muddied and hard to see ...

BUT WHAT IF WE BURN TIN!?

Awww yeeeah, there's our girl. The red background being transparent and irregular really let's that fiery red sun POP.

A softer background mutes those lovely Allomancy lines but the effect is just too pretty to fault it.

I learned a lot from this project and already have some exciting ideas for more!

Stay tuned for the next one in progress right now

Sneak Peek:

[truevedicastrology]

Your Month's Magical Gem ✨💎

Ever wondered about the special stone tied to your birth month? Dive into the sparkling world of birthstones and their mystical meanings!

🗓️ January - Garnet 💗

Deep red passion and vitality

Boosts self-confidence and success

Protective energy against negativity

Symbolizes eternal friendship and trust

🗓️ February - Amethyst ����

Regal purple for peace and sobriety

Enhances intuition and spiritual awareness

Calms the mind and promotes clear thinking

Guards against drunkenness and overindulgence

🗓️ March - Aquamarine 💙

Serene blue of sea and sky

Soothes fears and sharpens intellect

Promotes clear communication

Brings courage and calm

🗓️ April - Diamond 💎

Brilliance and unbreakable strength

Amplifies energy of other stones

Symbolizes purity and eternal love

Brings clarity and abundance

🗓️ May - Emerald 💚

Lush green of spring renewal

Symbolic of rebirth and love

Enhances memory and increases mental clarity

Believed to grant foresight and good fortune

🗓️ June - Pearl & Alexandrite 🤍💠 Pearl:

Luminous orb of the sea

Symbolizes purity and integrity

Calms and centers the mind

Eases digestive discomfort

Alexandrite:

Color-changing marvel

Strengthens intuition

Encourages creativity

Brings good luck and fortune

🗓️ July - Ruby ❤️

Fiery red of passion and power

Stimulates heart chakra

Brings courage and strength

Symbol of love and royalty

🗓️ August - Peridot 💚

Vibrant lime-green vitality

Cleanses and stimulates

Protects from nightmares

Brings good health and restful sleep

🗓️ September - Sapphire 💙

Deep blue of wisdom and royalty

Attracts prosperity and success

Protects from envy and harm

Symbolizes loyalty and trust

🗓️ October - Opal & Tourmaline 🌈💗 Opal:

Multi-colored fire of emotions

Amplifies feelings and unleashes creativity

Enhances cosmic consciousness

Brings good fortune

Tourmaline:

Available in a rainbow of colors

Grounds energy and dispels fear

Promotes understanding and confidence

Deflects negative energy

🗓️ November - Topaz & Citrine 💛 Topaz:

Golden warmth of the sun

Brings joy and abundance

Releases tension and promotes harmony

Balances emotions and attracts love

Citrine:

Sunny yellow optimism

Energizes and invigorates

Attracts wealth and prosperity

Encourages generosity and sharing

🗓️ December - Turquoise, Zircon & Tanzanite 💙💎💜 Turquoise:

Sky blue of infinite possibilities

Master healer stone

Protects against negative energy

Brings good fortune and success

Zircon:

Variety of colors, often blue

Brings wisdom and confidence

Encourages compassion

Promotes restful sleep

Tanzanite:

Rare violet-blue beauty

Facilitates spiritual awakening

Enhances communication

Stimulates insight and perception

🔮 Birthstone Magic Tips 🔮

Wear your birthstone for amplified benefits

Meditate with your stone for deeper connection

Gift birthstones for personalized, meaningful presents

Collect all 12 for a full spectrum of energies!

[tears-of-amber]

5 Garnet Facts You Might Not Know!

Fact 1: The name garnet comes from the Latin word “granatus”, which means “seed” or “grain”, as this lovely gemstone is quite similar to pomegranate seeds in hue and shape! Because of this, it is associated with the story of Hades and Persephone.

Fact 2: In Italy garnet was called “pietra della vedovanza”, or “stone of widowhood” because it was often traditionally worn by widows as accessories (typically hair pins and brooches).

Fact 3: Garnet comes in a wide variety of colors, not just the classic red we associate it with! Other types of garnet come in green, pink, orange, and purple!

Fact 4: The historical use of garnet dated back to the Bronze Age, so it’s been adored by many cultures and civilizations for about five-thousand years!

Fact 5: Garnet is the traditional stone that’s meant to be gifted on the second wedding anniversary.

[daenysthedreamer101]

Daughter of Steel and Bronze ~ HOTD

Targaryen!OC Headcanons

Princess Daena's personal style during her youth

HOTD masterlist

This will cover Daena's youth and her style while she was still a maiden and before her marriage and pregnancies (110-115 AC)

She grew up in a time of decadence when the Targaryens were at the peak of their power and wealth

Plus she is a Princess of House Targaryen and her uncle is the King, ofc she's spoiled to the core

Lots of jewelry! Earrings, necklaces, rings, headbands covered in pearls and gems, you name it she owns it

Variety of precious stones and gems; amethyst, sapphires, diamonds, moonstones, pearls, opals, jade; but mostly rubies and red garnets.

Silver compliments her fair skin the best but also wears gold

Owns a special necklace of Valyrian steel given to her by her father, Prince Daemon

Owns plenty of chunky, chandelier necklaces with big gems - she mostly wears these in court

When she's hunting or flying she wears dainty earrings or studs so they don't mess with her hair

Has a habit of playing with her earrings when she's nervous

Wears at least 3-4 rings

Now, outfits

Silks, velvet, Myrish lace - nothing but the best for the daughter of the Rogue Prince

the classic Targaryen colors, red and black, are a staple in her closet

Once she claimed Vermithor bronze and copper became another prominent color in her wardrobe

Besides, bronze also represents her Royce side and her mother

Also purple! So much purple!

She fully embraces her Valyrian heritage and doesn't care to adhere to Westerosi standards; something she inherited from her father

Most of her dresses are cut in a way to emulate the styles of Old Valyria and the ancient dragonlords

Long flowy gowns with long, cape-like sleeves that spread like wings when she struts down the halls of the Red Keep

All of them cinch at the waist or have a belt that accentuates her figure

Ofc, she owns gowns that are more in line with Westerosi standards; she mostly wore these when she was young and still lived at Runestone

As she matured and developed her own sense of fashion, she started dressing more in line with her Valyrian side

It was partly because she genuinely wanted to honor her ancestors, and partly to make a political statement; she was a Targaryen and she will always be one and she will proudly show off her heritage

All of them are covered in rich embroidery and fine details

Her dragon riding suits are more angular and structured, with shaper lines

Some are made of leather, and some of harsher materials that are more durable

She has several riding coats in various colors; black, red, dark brown

All of them have belts because when she's flying she needs to secure all the chains of her dragon saddle to it

Next, her hair

She has the classic silvery hair of House Targaryen

It's a silvery blonde with a pearlescent shine to it

Keeps it long; it's past her shoulder blades

She has curly hair thanks to her mother, Lady Rhea

She doesn't straighten her hair like Rhaenyra

When she's flying or hunting, she usually braids her hair into a single plait or pulls it up into a braided bun

When she's at court or in her free time she usually wears it down but always has a couple of braids adorning her head

Owns plenty of headpieces and always has some sort of jewels in her hair

DRAGON HAIR CLIPS!

She takes great care of her hair and applies oils imported from Dorne and Lys to make it extra soft and shiny

Her hair smells like lemons and rose water

[megamanrecut]

And here's the consolidated list (mostly?) All from Diamond in the Rough, character notes below cut (not in same order as pics)

Considered a few different systems for assigning gems (gemstone family, value, etc.) but ultimately just went with color/relative familiarity of gem. There’s so many cool gems out there~ (I was trying to not be too repetitive with types/use more common ones though Quartz has a million interesting varieties!)

Mega Man, Blue Sapphire Sphere I wavered a lot on his ‘trinket’, Sapphire seemed obvious (especially with Proto being a ruby, both are corundum gemstones) but also considered blue diamond, alexandrite (blue/purple color shift), and aquamarine. For the jewelry, was also considering an atomic model (for chemistry?), a screwdriver, and slightly regretting not considering circlet

Roll, Amethyst Earring: primarily always wanted amethyst, but also considered heliodor, padparadscha sapphire (but it wasn’t quite the right color? and perhaps too obscure), tanzanite, morganite, zoisite, kunsite, iolite, (purple gems etc.) For shape, was considering spikes/fangs though that’s also Treble and Punk’s lol

Bass, Emerald Snake Arm Cuff: loosely based on a real arm cuff I saw in a book. Also considered black diamond, green diamond (he’s the titular ‘diamond in the rough’), and black opal

Proto Man, Ruby Aviator Badge: I went with ruby in the end, which seemed most obvious choice, but also considered red diamond and bixbite (red beryl)

Elec Man, Black Opal Ring: Also considered chatoyant Sapphire, Alexandrite (??? color shift?), chrysoberyl, angelite/anhydrite, and even hawkeye quartz (loosely inspired by a real hawkeye ‘lightning’ ring, before that I was thinking cufflinks, but seemed weird for him to become either a pair of gems, or even a single cufflink lol)

Jewel Man, Colorless Beryl (Goshenite) Monocle - also considered rock crystal, diamond, and Padparadscha sapphire. Apparently both beryl and rock crystal were historically used for eyeglasses. Monocle is a reference to gentleman thief archtypes, also they are just fancy. (Also I realized while drawing this that having a plique a jour monocle chain is probably super impractical, oh well lol)

Top Man, Imperial Topaz  Pendant in a Jeweled Egg - also considered alexandrite and spinel (for the pun, heh) and spessertite

Kalinka/Mega Girl, Rose Quartz Blossom Barrette: Pink :) though I considered other lesser known (but more valuable) pink gems

Quint, Alexandrite Wristwatch: Quint is a time traveler (of sorts), also considered model armillary sphere/astrolabe, a screwdriver, and jade or malachite or nanocrystal

Wily, Agate Cameo Belt Buckle: Loosely inspired by his skull belt in some of his game art, also considered amythist

Dr. Light, Alabaster bead on a bookmark tassel:  Dr. Light likes books! Was also considering rock crystal and goshenite

Ring Man, Zircon Hoop Bracelet: Reference to both his namesake and his carney background. Was also considering class ring (before assigning the ring to Elec Man) and a circlet. ‘Zircon’ just sounds circusy, must be the Z

Magnet Man, Garnet Horseshoe Amulet: garnets are apparently magnetic, also considered fridge magnet

Cut Man, Citrine Paperknife: for obvious reasons. I also considered topaz for the gem

Guts Man, Tourmaline Paperweight: funny/fitting pairing with the paper knife, the shape is in reference to the boulder he holds in game art (for a brief week, was a rock crystal until I realized those are clear lol smokey quartz would have made more sense)

Punk, Spinel Motorcycle Chain: ‘Spinel’ may be a derivative from Latin ’spina’ which means thorn

Rush, Labradorite Bone Collar Tag: Went for the pun!

Treble, Howlite Fang: and ditto for Treble

Others that weren’t in chapter (this list has no significance what-so-ever, I brainstormed a list of gems but also ‘trinkets’ and my brain just started associating lol)

Beat, Aquamarine Aigrette: Beat actually avoided transformation, but that’s what he would have been

Gyro Man: Mood Ring

Dr. Cossack: Selenite something or other

Dark Man: D20

Time Man: a pocket watch

Enker: Chess piece

Metal Man: A knife

Shadow Man: Also a knife, maybe jade

Yamato Man: Natsuke

Burner Man: Match Box

Fake Man: phenakite, derived from greek word for deceiver

Magic Man: Card Case

Needle Man: Rutilated quartz (it has needle-like inclusions)

Pharaoh Man: Scarab collar pin/cloak clasp

Star Man: Star Saphire?

And that's it from the notes, haha.

[themodernwitchsguide]

common crystals and their attributes

AGATE

agate comes in clear or milky white, grey, blue, green, pink, brown, and are often artificially colored. most agate is waxy and soft, and is usually banded. agate stabilizes emotions, eliminating negative physical and emotional influence. it also can be used for healing, and some varieties are good for protection.

AMBER

amber comes in golden brown or yellow--other colors are always artificial. it is opaque or transparent resin, and insects or vegetation may be trapped inside. amber has strong connections to the earth and is a good grounding stone. it is a powerful healer and cleanser, stimulates intellect and promotes a positive mental state.

AMETHYST

amethyst comes in purple, pink, and lavender colors. it is transparent, and always grows in points either in a geode, cluster, or single point. amethyst is an extremely powerful and protective stone. it has strong healing and cleansing powers, and enhances spiritual awareness. it can also be used to promote love (self and romantic/sexual).

AVENTURINE

aventurine comes in green, blue, red, brown, and peach. it is opaque and often speckled with small clear pieces. aventurine is a very positive stone of prosperity and luck. it defuses negative situations and turns them to the positive. emotionally, it promotes compassion and empathy and encourages perseverance, stabilizing one's state of mind. it also promotes creativity.

BLOODSTONE

bloodstone is a green stone speckled with red splotches. it is believed to have the ability to banish evil and negativity and to direct spiritual energies. bloodstone heightens the intuition and increases creativity. physically, this stone can promote healing.

CALCITE

calcite comes in green, blue, yellow, orange, clear, and pink. it is translucent and waxy, and is often banded (may be acid-treated to enhance color). calcite is a powerful amplifier and cleanser of energy. having calcite in a room cleanses negative energies. calcite connects emotions with the intellect, calming the mind and boosting memory.

CARNELIAN

carnelian comes in red, orange, pink, or brown. it's often small and translucent, being water-worn or tumbled. carnelian grounds you and is excellent for restoring vitality and motivation. it stimulates creativity and even has the ability to cleanse other stones. carnelian gives courage and promotes positive life choices, useful for overcoming abuse of any kind. it can also help with love (self or romantic/sexual).

CITRINE

citrine comes in yellow, yellowish brown or smokey grey-brown. it is transparent, and is seen most often as a geode, point, or cluster. citrine is a powerful cleanser, believed to carry the power of the sun. it absorbs negative energy and energizes every level of life. it is also a powerful luck stone.

GARNET

garnet comes in red, pink, green, orange, yellow, brown, and black. it is a transparent or translucent crystal, often small and faceted or a larger opaque piece. garnet is a powerfully energizing and regenerative stone. it balances energy, bringing serenity or passion as appropriate. garnet inspires love and devotion, alleviating emotional disharmony. red garnet in particular aids sex drive. garnet is useful to have in a crisis.

JASPER

jasper comes in varieties of numerous colors. it is opaque, patterned, often water-worn or small and tumbled. jasper is known as the "supreme nurturer." it sustains and supports during times of stress, and brings tranquility and wholeness. it provides protection and grounds the person.

LABRADORITE

labradorite comes in greyish to black with blue and yellow iridescence. it comes in all sizes and is usually polished. labradorite is a highly mystical and protective stone, a bringer of light. it deflects unwanted energies and prevents energy leakage. labradorite banishes fears and insecurities, focusing psychic energies.

MALACHITE

malachite comes in only green, concentric light/dark bands and rosettes. it is often tumbled or polished, since the raw form is toxic if particles are inhaled. malachite is a powerful stone that should be handled with caution, since it amplifies both positive and negative energies. malachite is a stone of transformation. life is lived more intensely under the influence of malachite, since it encourages risk-taking change.

MOONSTONE

moonstone comes in white, cream, and yellowy grey. it is often milky and translucent, sometimes having an iridescent shine. moonstone is a "stone of new beginnings". as the name suggests, it is strongly connected to the moon. it reminds us that, as the moon waxes and wanes, everything is part of a cycle of change. moonstone promotes intuition and empathy, and calms overreactions.

OBSIDIAN

obsidian comes in black and black speckled with white. it is shiny opaque and glass-like. obsidian is a stone without boundaries or limitations, it works extremely fast and with great power. it enhances the truth and exposes flaws. obsidian is also a strongly protective stone, forming a shield against negativity. it is helpful for highly sensitive people.

OPAL

opal comes in basically every color, but all of them have iridescent/holographic reflections. opal can be synthetic or natural, and can grow onto other objects (often shells or pieces of wood). opal is absorbent and reflective, it picks up thoughts and feelings and amplifies them. mentally, opal brings lightness and spontaneity. it encourages an interest in the arts.

PERIDOT

peridot comes in dark olive green to lime green colors. it's a transparent glassy crystals, but cloudy when polished. peridot is believed to keep away evil spirits. peridot alleviates jealousy, resentment, spite and anger, and reduces stress. it clears/releases "old baggage". peridot sharpens the mind and opens it to new levels of awareness.

CLEAR QUARTZ

clear quartz grows in clear, pointed crystals. it is translucent, milky or striated, and often comes in clusters. quartz is often considered a universal stone, but specifically helps to alter/amplify other energies. it also is a good healing stone.

ROSE QUARTZ

rose quartz is pink, usually translucent or transparent, and is sometimes tumbled. rose quartz is the stone of unconditional love and infinite peace. it is the best stone for attracting love. rose quartz gently draws off negative energy and replaces it with love. emotionally, it is the finest healer.

SELENITE

selenite is a white, pink, or beige crystal that can grow in flat and curled layers or long "tubes". it is translucent with a light bending effect from some perspectives. selenite brings clarity of the mind, promoting divine guidance. it can cleanse other crystals/objects and can form a protective grid around a house. it is a powerful disperser and stabilizer for erratic emotions.

SODALITE

sodalite is blue, and mottled with dark and light blue-white. sodalite unites logic with intuition and opens spiritual senses. this stone is particularly useful for group work, as it brings harmony and solidarity of purpose. it stimulates trust and companionship between people. sodalite is an excellent stone for the mind, as it eliminates mental confusion and intellectual bondage.

TIGER'S EYE

tiger's eye several shades of brown that grows in bands, with a light-bending effect. tiger's eye is a protective stone that is excellent for people who are spaced out or uncommitted. this stone is useful for recognizing both your needs and the needs of other people. tiger's eye heals issues of self-worth, self-criticism, and blocked creativity.

RHODONITE

this stone is pink and black, with some streaks of white or grey. it is another stone of great balance, balancing emotions, balancing a relationship, etc. for this reason it is also associated with love and healing.

RHODOCHROSITE

rhodochrosite is a pink stone with bands of tan, white, and lighter pinks. this crystal encourages a positive attitude and is known to enhance dreams. it is also known to promote love (especially self-love).

[rock-swag-tournament]

Mineral Swag Tournament Finals

Okay y'all, this is it. The FINAL for the Mineral Swag Tournament.

Fluorite.

Fluorite is a fantastic mineral. It would not have gotten this far otherwise. It comes in a ton of colors, it naturally forms both octahedra and cubes (and massive deposits), and it show brilliant bright blue color under UV light. Fluorescence (the phenomena) is named that because of fluorite!

It also does this fun thing (that other minerals do as well, but it is common among fluorite) where it changes color as it forms because of changing impurities in the solution from which it grows! Elements like iron, copper, manganese, chromium (and more!) can replace individual ions in fluorite's chemical structure and cause the light to reflect different wavelengths and we therefore see that as a different color. This can also happen if a fluorite ion is missing because the sample has been irradiated (for example) and NOTHING replaces it and so the light still reflects in a different way! That is one of the ways we get purple fluorite and this method of producing color is known as color centers.

Of course, not all fluorite fluoresces. Not all fluorite forms cubes or octahedra. Some fluorite is colorless. Some of it looks like an ugly little piece of translucent rock. Or a vein of purple mineral in a crack between two other rocks. It would be irresponsible for me to insinuate that all fluorite is this majestic.

But there are some properties that you will always find in fluorite. It has four directions of cleavage. It is the defining mineral for a 4 on the Mohs hardness scale. It will always be made of calcium and fluoride in a 1:2 ratio. These things are some of what define fluorite as a distinct mineral!

Opal.

Opal is a beautiful gemstone. Please note that I did not call it a "beautiful mineral" because it is not technically a mineral. It is a solid, inorganic substance with a defined chemical formula, but it lacks the specific crystal structure which minerals MUST have to be considered a mineral.

This crystal structure is the entire reason why fluorite is capable of forming cubes and octahedra. And why garnet forms dodecahedra and beryl forms columns and so on. Opal only comes in those fun little oval shaped stones because it was cut that way! Fluorite forms cubes because it just knows how. Otherwise, opal forms shapeless masses that fracture rather than cleave (fluorite cleaves--four ways). That being said, opal's lack of crystal structure allows it to sometimes be iridescent.

After all, there is a reason opal made it this far. When it shines, it is beautiful. There are several varieties of precious opal (opal that displays its trademark play-of-color/iridescence) and they are all very fun to look at. These precious opals are made of microscopic silica spheres that light reflects off of in weird ways and causes opal to look like it is glittering with a dozen different colors.

However, one would be remiss to forget common opal! Some opal is milky white or a translucent blue, and if you're going to love opal at her fire opal, you better also love her at her common opal.

Here are some raw pieces of opal (common opal on the left). Note how they break irregularly. They have conchoidal fracture, which both quartz and normal glass (all of which are just silica) also have. I personally think conchoidal fracture is pretty neat.

Also, while the opals on the right would still be considered precious opal, they are what the average person is likely to find. Just little bits of iridescence here and there.

And, like fluorite, while not all opals have all of the cool features, they do have some similarities. They will always have conchoidal fracture if they break. And they will always be made of hydrated SiO2.

...That's all I have for these guys, I think! I hope I have been as impartial (and accurate) as possible while presenting these, your FINAL mineral swag contestants. If you have any questions or anything, let me know. The Rock Swag Tournament will start shortly after this concludes! Submit your rocks here! And specific rock formations or named rock varieties here!

[tropic-havens]

The frangipani tree, called tipanie in French Polynesia, takes its name from the Italian perfumer frangipani who invented a fragrance similar to the flower of this tree. In addition, to have an intoxicating scent, the flowers of tipanie, in various colors, are magnificent.

The first frangipani trees took root in Tahiti in 1852 thanks to the nurseryman Mr. Abadie, originally from Valparaiso. It is the Plumeria genus which is the most widespread in the fenua. It has several varieties whose origins come from Central America, Mexico, Cuba and Colombia.

The origin of its common name, frangipani, is the subject of several explanations. We have retained the story of the perfumer Frangipani. In the 12th century, the Italian Frangipani made a highly appreciated perfume that European explorers found four centuries later when they arrived in the Caribbean on this tree. The name of the perfumer is then simply attributed to the tree.

In Polynesia, the tipanie is used to make very fragrant neck or head crowns.

Flowering all year round, but more particularly from October to November, the tipanie produces magnificent flowers with five petals. The flower has an intoxicating fragrance. There are several varieties producing single or two-tone, white, yellow, pink, yellow or red flowers and even a dark garnet that is highly sought after by Tahitian mamas.

Recognized for its olfactory properties, the frangipani flower is used in perfumery in the form of an absolute. As a top, middle or base note, it brings an exotic, honeyed and almondy component to cosmetic products. In Asia, the infusion of tipanie flowers is applied to the body after bathing for its pleasant fragrance and its invigorating action.