Something new from the hands and mind of Madame Magpie:

Colors as fresh and delicate as newly melted snow.

Spring is beginning to show here in the desert.  Grass is putting up little green shoots and the trees by the river have turned palest green.

I’ve been working with the fun, new things I picked up in Tucson at the gem shows including some pretty little faceted aquamarine beads I selected just for March.  They go beautifully with silver-white freshwater pearls and pale turquoise silk.

Aquamarine
The blue variety of the mineral Beryl and stone for March and the sign Pisces

Hardness:  7 1/2 to 8
Toughness:  good
Color:  Greenish-blue to blue-green, usually light in tone
Usually eye clean and commonly available in large sizes

Care:
Ultrasonic:  usually safe
Steam:  usually safe
Warm, soapy water:  safe

Stability:
Heat:  generally not heat sensitive unless liquid inclusions are present
Light:  stable
Chemicals:  attacked by hydrofluoric acid

Common sources:
Brazil, Nigeria, Zambia, Madagascar, United States, Russia

Treatments:
Heating is common to remove the greenish cast.  The treatment is common, stable, and usually undetectable.

Micro-Loans
Thanks to your patronage we can make a difference in the lives of enterprising women around the world.  Madame Magpie’s Shiny Things makes a new loan through Kiva International every month.  The latest was made to Rafatou Tchedre in Togo, Africa.  Go here to see the other loans we made.

Events
The Rincon Valley Farmers Market has been a delight to attend, so I will be making regular appearances on market days.  Tentatively planning on the first and third Saturdays of the month.  More here.

Join us at Bizzart Gallery on the secnd Saturday of every month for the Bisbee After 5 Art Walk.

Keep in touch:
Website:  MmeMagpie.com
Facebook:  facebook.com/MmeMagpie
Twitter:  twitter.com/MmeMagpie
Calendar
Email:  magpie@mmemagpie.com

Wishing you a glorious spring!