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Sodalite is a rich royal blue mineral widely enjoyed as an ornamental gemstone. Although massive sodalite samples are opaque, crystals are usually transparent to translucent. Sodalite is a member of the sodalite group with hauyne, nosean, lazurite and tugtupite. Discovered in 1811 in Greenland, sodalite did not become important as an ornamental stone until 1891 when vast deposits of fine material were discovered in Ontario, Canada.

A light, relatively hard yet fragile mineral, sodalite is named after its sodium content. Well known for its blue color, sodalite may also be gray, yellow, green, or pink and is often mottled with white veins or patches. The more uniformly blue material is used in jewelry, where it is fashioned into cabochons and beads. Lesser material is more often seen as facing or inlay in various applications.

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Although somewhat similar to lazurite and lapis lazuli, sodalite rarely contains pyrite (a common inclusion in lapis) and its blue color is more like traditional royal blue rather than ultramarine. It is further distinguished from similar minerals by its white (rather than blue) streak.

Significant deposits of fine material are restricted to but a few locales: Bancroft, Ontario, and Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, in Canada; and Litchfield, Maine, and Magnet Cove, Arkansas, in the USA. The Ice River complex, near Golden, British Columbia, also contains sodalite. Smaller deposits are found in South America (Brazil and Bolivia), Portugal, Romania, Burma and Russia. Hackmanite, an important variety of sodalite is found principally in Mont-Saint-Hilare and Greenland. Euhedral, transparent crystals are found in northern Namibia and in the lavas of Vesuvius, Italy.

The International Fashion Colorworks Beading Contest 2011 is over and we are glad to introduce the Third Place Winners. It was the very first such a great success in contests or all of them, and we are happy for them. From left to right: Svetlana Dubinsky (Israel), Ulyana Moldovyan (Russia), Aleksey Soloviev (Ukraine).

1. Have you planned to participate in Fashion Colorworks 2011 in advance or was your decision spontaneous?

Svetlana:
I participated in last year's competition, and when I didn't finish my 2010 entries yet, I decided to enter in 2011 contest.

Ulyana:
I really liked Fashion Colorworks in 2010. For various reasons I did not take part in it, but hoped to be able to participate in 2011.

Aleksey:
The decision was spontaneous, I decided to take part three weeks before the start of the competition.

2. How sudden did color combinations seem to you?

Svetlana:
Honestly, when I first saw the triads, I was shocked and decided to abandon my dreams. Those combinations were "not mine", I have almost never used some of the colors of them in my works - for example, orange and yellow. I thought that I should not try to do something worthy using them, nothing will come of this venture! But every day with the persistence of masochistic, I have opened the page with color triads intently staring at them, and after a while they have not seemed so terrible to me! In the end I decided, why not try it, especially since the contest raged around interesting debates and discussions, and I still wanted to take part in this holiday!

Ulyana:
I cannot say that they were unexpected and rather interesting and different.

Aleksey:
Triads have turned out very interesting but not unexpected.

3. What influenced on your decision when you selected color combinations for the entries?

Svetlana:
Since the preparation time was enough, I decided to make three works in the category of small beads covering all three color combinations, and began to collect and order the material for all three. Although purple-blue-green palette seemed the most attractive to me, it so happened that in the end I didn't have time to finish my beadwork in these colors.

Ulyana:
Availability of materials and my personal color preferences.

Aleksey:
I love bright colors, that was my main criteria when choosing a triad.

Full interview with Third Place Winners
 
Beadwork by Svetlana Dubinsky
 
Beadwork by Ulyana Moldovyan
 
Beadwork by Aleksey Soloviev

miser purse pics

Bags come in many form, are called many names, and are made with almost every material available. Bags have been regarded as status symbol for women of yesterday and today. Famous designers have been trying to create fabulous bags that are functional and fashionable in every sense and have historically been both the carriers of secrets and the signifiers of power, status, and beauty.

Beaded handbags have long story from the ancient beaded bags of African priests to the haute couture tote of the modern lady of leisure. In the 1300's when the glass making industry revived the evolution of bags touched beaded bags, too. In the Victorian era they have been an ever present accessory for many woman in the society.

Anything made by the hand has its certain appeal to customers, from handmade cards, handmade pair of shoes, and handmade beaded bags. It requires careful planning in your mind and creative hands to create such beautiful crafts to reality. Handmade beaded bags can be difficult to do; they can be painstakingly hard to create just one piece but the end result is worth every drop of sweat.

Full article about miser beaded purses
 
Miser Purse with Cut Steel Beads from Zoya Gutina's collection
 
The Ubiquitous Miser's Purse by Laura L. Camerlengo

Virginia Christmas Market

November 11-13, 2011
Dulles Expo and Convention Center
Chantilly, VA

It's Northern Virginia's grand opening celebration of the holiday season! The Northern Virginia Christmas Market returns to the South Hall of the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, VA featuring 300 fine artisans from more than 25 states. Readers of Sunshine Artist Magazine voted this popular event as one of the 100 best arts and crafts shows of 2009. 300 artisans will offer a diverse selection of fine arts, pottery, jewelry, stained glass, wood, photography, fiber arts, as well as thousands of one-of-kind Christmas collectibles.

November 25-27, 2011
Virginia Beach Convention Center
Virginia Beach, VA

The Virginia Beach Christmas Market features more than 250 fine artisans and crafters from more than 25 states. Readers of Sunshine Artist Magazine just voted this show #47 in their 100 Best Arts and Crafts Shows in the USA poll. Featured artisans will offer fine arts, pottery, jewelry, stained glass, wood, toys, photography, fiber arts, thousands of Christmas collectibles and much, much more.