Something Pink?

Why not? Every young girl loves pink.....I was one of them and had a pink bedroom at some stage. These days my fascination is more with bright, bold and vibrant cerise pink than baby pink.

When it comes to minerals I am sure you are expecting me to introduce Rose Quartz...... not so, I have a new and more exciting mineral to introduce.... Rhodochrosite.

Rhodochrosite is a mineral of manganese carbonate and is found in manganese ore veins. As seen above, it is generally light to dark pink with white stripes and veins.

Together with Rose Quartz, the combination works well.

Rhodochrosite is known as the stone of love and balance and is also thought to awaken a need to give and receive tenderness and love.
 It also promotes creativity and helps one to accept and integrate new ideas and information.

In the pink and all soft and feminine, Rhodochrosite has also been used to heal the heart....both emotionally and physically. It is said to heal old wounds and to stabilise the heart and pulse rate.

While I am thinking of pink and white striped Rhodochrosite, I have a clear image in my mind....related to food that is. It is of soft, sweet, stewed Guava's served with lashings of chantilly cream.... Can you see this image? mmmmmmm........

Well, the closest image I have at present is this baked Guava tart. Can you see the pink and white of the Rhodochrosite in this image? 

Light and dark pink, I have chosen to pair simple Hibiscus flowers with the delicate colours of the Rhodochrosite gem. 

Dreaming of summer entertaining...... here is a great idea for outdoor decoration. Simply float hibiscus flowers and floating candles in a bath of water.

The ultimate partner for Rhodochrosite has to be my all time favourite,  Turkish Delight Bougainvillea. A variegated variety, it has both pink and white flowers on the same bush. The other more descriptive name is Coconut Ice.....really a fitting partner for Rhodochrosite.

I have another passion..... that is making decorations from old buttons. Here at Easter time I created these button eggs to hang on the Easter tree. The light and dark pink coloured buttons pair well with the colours of Rhodochrosite.

I cannot help but leave you with the image of sushi in your mind...... think of  salmon roses as a partner to Rhodochrosite. In the above photo I am joined by friends who supported a fundraiser  arranged for the Western Cape Rehab Centre. 

A platter of homemade Sushi. It was a fun experience........ Looking at the salmon next to the sushi rice, I can once again see the colours of Rhodochrosite....Can you?

From Amber to Orange continued.....

So, I have looked at the gem stone, Carnelian and paired it with a bright orange Nasturtinum flower. I cannot also help but think of the deeper coral orange of the Aloe flower as well.

Standing tall and strong, the magic of the Aloe plant adds structure and interesting lines to any garden design. Adding a splash of colour, the Aloe spikes are an absolute delight for the birds as well. The frenzy that exists when the birds are feeding is an absolute delight to behold.

Let me turn away from flowers and look at fruit......and yes, the bright orange, fleshy Butternut Squash is classified as a fruit. You will understand why I am pairing this squash with the Carnelian gem stone when you look at the deep and rich orange flesh of the Butternut squash.

A great source of vitamins and fibre, Butternut squash is an important addition to any diet.

In winter the aroma of Butternut soup simmering on the stove is an absolute delight. Thick, warm and slightly spicy, Curried Butternut soup is what one needs to ward off the winter chill.

Create a Butternut soup with interesting flavours by adding roasted fruits and vegetables such as apples, onions, sweet potatoes as well as a toch of grated orange rind to the butternut base.

 

Enjoy a cosy week end at home with a warming bowl of hot and spicy butternut soup. Enjoy with a scattering of bright orange Nasturtinum flowers for a splash of colour! Bon appetit!

From Amber to Orange.

And so today I move around the colour wheel from honey coloured Amber to rich, orange to red-brown coloured Carnelian.
Carnelian has been used in jewellery for thousands of years, particularly for signet rings, cameos and seals. Engraved with Arabic characters, it protected the wearer from the tricks of the envious. 

This necklace shows the colour  variations of Carnelian. The main cylindrical bead is an apricot colour to the smaller beads being a deeper orange to burnt brown colour.

No wonder Carnelian is another one of my favourite gems......it is said to stimulate analytical capabilities and precision, as well as awaken one's inherent talent and skills. Wear Carnelian to fend off your temper tantrums.......it also protects against fear and rage!

This Carnelian and Amber necklace was one of my first designer creations. Quite fitting that it encorporates both Amber and Carnelian, the first two gem stones I have featured!

As my personal mantra is cooking, crafting and creating, I am looking outside the window and staring at a bright, beautiful display of Nastutinum flowers.....so, immediately I am pairing Carnelian with a beautiful, bright orange nasturtinum flower....naturally!

It takes only one small bright flower to brighten up a miserable winter's day.

My endless fascination with water droplets on nasturtinum leaves still exists!

While on the topic of water droplets, I could not help but slip this image in......this time on thick, fleshy Aloe leaves.

 

New Inspiration.

I recently viewed an insert on one of  Deutsche Welle's television channels and it has set my creative juices a flutter. The blog, Taste of  Runway is my inspiration.....have a look at it www.tasteofrunway.com 
The creative combination of Fashion and Food is a wonderful way of finding the perfect recipe to match the design, shape, colour and texture of a selected fashion piece. I just LOVE it!

I have decided to give this creative idea my own twist.....since I am in Beading creative mode at the moment, I will match beads, gems and jewellery pieces with basic, organic ingredients, flowers, herbs and plants. I imagine this new inspiration should keep my mind spinning for a while?
I can see new pieces of jewellery emerging, and designer recipe creations popping up in the kitchen. What fun!

This necklace created using Amber, turquoise and African Trade beads.

  Amber, or Bernstein, as it is known in German is an Organic gem. It is fossilised resin from prehistoric pine trees. Amber is hard and golden to yellow-brown in colour . Amber is considered to be healing, soothing and harmonising . It is said to exert a positive influence on the endocrine system, heart and spleen. With all these healing properties, Amber is known as the Mindful One.

How beautiful are these slices of Amber? See how the colour variations go from clear,  golden Amber to milky white, almost yellow Amber. (The large, clear stones are Citrine.)

Amber, a delight to the eye ...... it remembers past centuries but helps with simple absent-mindedness! It is truly the Mindful One.

Looking at the golden colour of Amber, it is almost predictable that I am going to pair Amber with delicious, sweet and golden Honey.

Just look at that golden colour and see the Amber......... so beautiful and natural.

Honey, Food of the Gods.....produced by bees has been prized by man for centuries. Used as a sweetner and food, honey has traditionally been served as a tonic or pick-me-up. I am sure many of you have fond memories of drinking a mug of warm milk and honey at bedtime? Be it as a nightcap or to sort out a sore throat.....Honey always comes to the rescue.

Doctors have also recognised the antibacterial properties of honey. Honey is used in the treatment of burns as well as bedsores. As a beauty treatment, use honey to soften and condition the skin.

And to conclude, just the use of the honey colour gives a warm and glowing, sweet feeling. Go and enjoy some Honey now..... Honey!