Purple Shell Chip, Iolite Oval, Rhodonite Round, Turquoise Cube, Red Aventurine Cube, Multicolor Aquamarine Rondell, more Faceted Beads, Chip Sticks

(Including Chiastolite, Opalized Fluorite)

(Including Discs, Scarabs, Leaves, Zuni Buffaloes, and old favorite shapes in new stones)

 

 

 

** Gold is the most highly valued metal in the world, in all cultures. Its beauty and usefulness is unsurpassed by any other. It has been known and used since prehistoric times, and its value has never wavered.
** Gold is indestructible. Being completely non-reactive, it will not rust, corrode, or tarnish. It is 100% recyclable, and is regularly used in medical, industrial, and electrical applications. It is highly ductile (meaning it can be drawn into a very thin thread), and is so malleable that one ounce of Gold can be beaten into 300 square feet of Gold Leaf. It can be rolled out so thin that light will shine through it.
** Gold is found naturally by itself, with no other elements contaminating it. It is usually mixed with other elements (such as copper or silver) to aid its usefulness, according to the intended purpose. Its purity is measured in carats. 24 carats is pure Gold; 18 carats is an alloy that contains 75% Gold.
** Gold is the world's only naturally-occurring yellow metal. Its primary color is yellow, but is also sometimes found in black, red, and purple.
** Gold is incredibly rare, and only comprises about five ten-millionths of the earth's crust.
** The word "gold" comes from the Old English word geolo, meaning "yellow."
** Gold is the traditional gift for the 50th wedding anniversary.
** While the 1849 Gold Rush makes us think of California as a big mining spot, most Gold in America is mined in Nevada and the Dakotas.

 

** Even though we have it in the form of beads, Myrrh is not a gemstone. It is the resinous sap from a desert tree called the dindin. The sap forms in small beads and has a very sharp, strong smell. (Our beads have a much more mild smell, because they were made from the by-product of the sap after the strong oils were removed.)
** Myrrh has been used since ancient times in perfumes, incense, and embalming. The ancient Egyptians used Myrrh to preserve mummies. Today, it is used in any application that warrants fragrance, such as candles, soaps, etc. It is also found in several commercial mouthwashes.
** While it is usually known for its smell, Myrrh can also be used as a flavoring for candy and baked goods. (Our Myrrh beads smell like cinnamon-vanilla cookie dough, and my 9-month-old baby loves to chew on his own strand!)
** Myrrh has a large number of healing uses. It is an astringent and antiseptic, and can be used to cure acne, boils, and other inflammations of the skin. It is also widely used to help heal infections of the mouth, such as gingivitis, ulcers, and bad breath. It is highly useful in applications of the throat, and is thought to help heal pharyngitis, bronchitis, sinusitis, asthma, and sore throat. It can be used as an expectorant (cough syrup).
** Myrrh makes a helpful childbirth aid, making contractions more efficient, and relieving pain.
** The word "myrrh" comes from the Arabic murr, meaning "bitter."
** The ancients found this resin to be so valuable, the Bible tells of it being given as a gift, along with Frankincense (another aromatic resin) and Gold to the baby Jesus.
** Modern science has recently discovered that Myrrh may be a cure for cancer! Laboratory studies show that a compound in Myrrh was effective in killing breast cancer cells. More research on this is currently in the works.