On the 3rd Day of Christmas...

...this blog gave to thee...

...three shiny gems...

...two talking whales...

...and a pendant that I made.

Recently, I've become slightly more obsessed with gemstones.

{1) Fluorite, 2) Zoistite var. Tanzinite, 3) Opal.}

When I was a kid, and we visited my grandparents in Glasgow, one of my favourite past times was searching through my grans box of polished stones. There was something about the way shininess and they way they felt in your hand, but I blame university for the furthering of this obsession. Nothing brings out the magpie more in me than the stone merchants visiting the university to sell their wears to jewellery students who are lured in more by the shine than the prospect of what you could use them for.

I haven't been to the uni fair in a couple of years, but I save my pennies to go to the Bead Fair in Perth every year. A place where I have to forget to bring my bank card and limit the amount of cash I bring. It's that or go broke within the first two stalls!

For your enjoyment I've made a board on Pinterest dedicated to the wonderful minerals and gems, cut and uncut which I have been collecting together. If only they weren't just pictures!

{G e m s t o n e s}

Merry Christmas! Part four tomorrow...

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Listening: O Holy Night - Performed by Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andres and members of Tipitina's Foundation

Monday Mood Board: Fields of Gold

Row 1:

Doucer - 13 by Sophie Cagnac

Invalid Ticket by 5Letters

Row 2:

Doucer - 15 by Sophie Cagnac

Land..... by Mustafa DedeogLu

This time last year, it was sunny...I think. Certainly sunny enough to ripen the Victoria plums in the garden, which this year are weighing down the tree to the point where its branches are almost reaching the grass. I know it was nicer this time last year because I have a cupboard full of plum jam dated for August which was made because it was that or let the fruit go to the wasps. Turns out none of my family like plum jam, including me. So lesson learned.

Everywhere still seems so green, the lack of sun and warmth and all the rain keeping the majority of this years crops in Scottish fields because they're not having the opportunity to ripen. I was in Perth on Sunday at the Scottish Bead Fair - where needless to say I spent way too much money - and after I was thinking about how much I enjoy the back roads home, where normally at this time of year, fields are either full of bales or creating waves of gold as the wind rushes through the stalks.

Anyway, that explains the board, which features three - in my opinion - of deviantArt's best photographers.

As for the bead fair, it was great. Mum and I took gran so we could buy her some beads for her birthday and I could look for inspiration. There weren't as many semi-precious stalls as last year, and certainly a stronger leaning towards the pearl and crystal type which are really not my thing. That didn't however stop me spending all the money I brought with me! Thank God the majority didn't take cards, or I'd be seriously broke! I like beads, what more can I say?

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Listening: Greg Laswell - It's Been A Year

Monday Mood Board: Rainbows

Row 1: From inside a rainbow... by Joshua Liberman, Jónsi by Lilja Birgisdóttir

Row 2: Rainbow Umbrella #5 by Yein~ , Chihuly 8 by Andi Wolfe

Inspired by my day at the Scottish Bead Fair 2010 on Sunday. So many wonderfully beautiful stones and beads, glass and plastic, natural and unnatural to be hand in every colour and finish imaginable. I spent way too much money but came away with a few ideas and some beautiful stones to play with.

My mum even bought me some glass rods so I can start teaching myself how to make lamp work beads or whatever my little brain can come up with. Very exciting. I've wanted to learn forever!

Shall post my purchases when I get a moment.

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Listening: Radiohead - Nude