Through FIRE to SERENITY

I have loved Ancient Egypt since a child of 9 and my love of stones and handmade jewelry started at the same time. And I love being able to combine the two for myself and others.  When starting a new project I envision what a woman from Ancient Egypt might wear whether she be common, princess or priestess.

New beauties have been dreamed into being, both of these necklaces I beyond adore.  Take a look below at the two new polar opposites yet complimentary creations that spilled forth from Ancient Egypt into my studio recently.

FIRE of ISIS and the ANKH of SERENITY.  

The Fire of Isis is woven from earth brewed Lava, sun born Tiger Eye, and furnace fired Bronze framing a wondrous silver Winged Isis holding the Sun made from Amber.  The Fire of Isis is bubbling with high energy, joy, fiery direction and solar feel goodness; straight from the Sun God, bestowing sunshiny benevolence.

The Ankh of Serenity, a stunning double strand necklace made from one of my favorites; calming, meditative Magnesite dyed a wonderful soul reaching black.  The chunkier strand is made from exquisite Chinese Turquoise, a lush heart enveloping green; interspersed throughout with Pewter beads. This double strand of exquisite stones sets off to perfection a large Egyptian Pewter Ankh with a Sandstone Scarab at its heart.  Talk about a necklace seemingly to flow straight from the Nile to touch the heart weaving love and serenity.

Come check me out on Facebook or my Etsy Store.  I accept custom orders so please feel free to contact me via one of my links below or through the pics above and let me create something magically divine and completely unique whispering of Ancient Egypt for you.

Website:  http://thedreamsofisis.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/thedreamsofisis

Etsy:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheDreamsofIsis

Email:  apryl@thedreamsofisis.com

EXOTICNESS for an ANCIENT QUEEN

Kambaba Jasper and pewter beads frame a large pewter pendant of Queen Nefertiti.  I love the large chunky feeling of this breathtaking stone and exotic Queen from history.  Jasper is found worldwide and has been revered by the Ancient Egyptians and Israelites as well as the modern peoples of Asia and indigenous tribes of North America.

I found working with this stone to be transporting,  Kambaba Jasper is actually fossilized algae mined in South Africa.  Blue-Green Algae once living over 3 billion years ago. Grounding, humbling and keeping me so in touch with the soul of Mother Earth.

This lovely double strand necklace was made to honor the Great Goddess Nephthys.  She whose name means Lady of the House (sky) is the necessary Goddess of transformation the useful Goddess that through liminal corridors bring us to our real lives.

The Great Goddess Nephthys who is so much more than just the twin sister of Isis.  She is the great Goddess who governs decay and the death that is not eternal.  She is the Goddess who birthed the Opener of the Way – Anubis.  She who mourns those who have died yet shows the door to Osiris, the Lord of Resurrection.  She is the bringer of night and the guide to our subconscious that we may find ourselves.

The Eye of Horus – Udjat – the focal for my necklace represents the God Horus – the Falcon headed God of the Sky (house). The Uraeus (viper) and Nekhbet (vulture) patron goddesses of Lower and Upper Egypt.  Unakite is a lovely pistachio green mixed with pale peachy pinks. A wonderful stone  - very soothing and harmonizing, leading us inescapably to our true selves.

Timelessness - Black and White

Time in the studio this weekend has not only been very productive but satisfying from a creative  - spiritual place as well.  I simply adore working with Howlite. The stark white with the pale grey veins draws me into a very creative place. I find I reflect on many things in a calm way, new ideas for my writing always seem to pop up when I work with stones and even more so when I am working with Howlite.

I have coupled my favorite Howlite with another versatile and favorite stone of mine - Magnesite.  I have used black dyed Magnesite in this creation.  Magnesite for me just seems to love being woven into many of my pieces.  Since it can be dyed any color I use it a lot.  Magnesite is calming as well as stimulating for my imagination. What an awesome combination when paired with Howlite.

Peace, calmness and creativity seem to reign in my studio when these two stones make their appearance.  I wove these two stones with pewter beads into a lovely 18" necklace.

The stunning pewter Egyptian cartouche sets off the energy of the Howlite and  Magnesite perfectly.  The Sun God Khepra  - the God of becoming - birth and rebirth.  Khepra is encircled by the lotus flowers and protected by the two Cobra Uraeus Goddesses.  Timeless beauty and energy - each day is new, each new day we are reborn to the possibilities it holds.

Jet - The Black Amber

I have been working with several dark stones of late and one The Dreams of Isis custom order in particular has Jet, The Black Amber, as a major component.  I had not worked with it for several years and I was surprised I did not remember how lusterless Jet can be prior to polishing - yet how enjoyable the energies are - in the manner of amber and petrified wood.  Different from stones such as regular igneous, metamorphic or sedimentary rock Jet is not a true mineral but fossilized wood formed from wood that has been immersed in water for millions of years and subjected to compression,. hard jet is from carbon compression and salt water while soft jet comes form fresh water.  

Jet is called the Black Amber even though it  is not Amber it does emit an electrical charge like amber when rubbed and like amber it is fossilized organic material.  I found the energy of Jet to be a wonderful stimulater of thoughts - making me more alert with solutions to tricky issues coming to mind easily. Jet is wonderful for absorbing negative energy, warding off psychic attack and allows us to uncover past negative issues - dealing with these past life.karmic issues.  Jet is said to not only help with controlling demons but in controlling them as well.

As a wonderful absorber if negative energy Jet is said to be the stone of sympathy helping us deal with pain and suffering giving us the needed support to work though these physical and karmic pains.  "According to legend, jet worn continuously on the body, is thought to absorb the wearer's soul. While this is true of many stones, jet was thought to be especially powerful, and such stones were carefully guarded, for in the wrong hands they could be used to manipulate their original wearer." (Shimmerlings 2012).  I look forward to working with this wondrous "stone" more in custom orders  and personal workings.  I find this fossilized organic material opened new doors in my creative soul and gave me new understandings of the human hearts.

Special Pieces - Special Gifts

Creating special pieces and amulet gifts  have consumed most of my spare time, when I am not working at my regular day job.  My custom pieces have been in the form of metal clay work.  I simply love working with the metal clays – bronze and silver.  Molding the clay then firing the dried pieces has been very therapeutic for me - kiln watching allows me to write.  At least 9 custom pieces I have worked with the metal clay in the past couple of months – all Ancient Egyptian symbols.  Then on to weaving them into lovely bracelets, necklaces and one soon to be anklet with magical gemstones. 

The amulet gifts have not only been my way of helping and giving back but selfishly allows me to work with more gemstones.  I personally feel they all have individual personalities and meeting new stones – rocks – crystals is an honor.  It seems lately friends, friends of friends or fellow followers of the Goddess have need of the assistance that comes from Geb (Ancient Egyptian Earth God) so easily, so powerfully and so abundantly. 

Seems most amulet gifts lately are dealing with protection from unsavory people who know just enough energy working to willfully work icky “magic” on others.  Unfortunately they seem to know enough to be dangerous and possess enough hubris to not care about karma.  However some lovely amulets were woven together – made to be attached to a key-ring, belt loop, zipper pull or necklace.  A few were created for a healthy approach to food with an emphasis on staying positive and having good energy.

I have 2 more customer order to finish this weekend and one new order to start.  Sometimes I wish I could do this full time - but seems my creativity lags when I am home all day to just create – with stones or my writing.  A few more amulets to make too.  And a special request to turn a set of meditation beads into a bracelet that can be worn when it can't be carried in a pocket.  

Serene Highness - Lapis Lazuli

Lapis Lazuli the exquisite gemstone from earliest times  - it stirs our ancient memories conjuring images  of ancient Egyptian temples, lingering incense and the flowing Nile   Lapis Lazuli  - the very name sounds exotic, revealing from our collective memories  beauteous deities, hallowed royalty and monuments that defy time and the elements.  Lapis Lazuli mined for over 6000 years and used extensively in Ancient Egypt and Sumer.  Ancient Egyptian civilization used Lapis in amulets, funerary preparations, decorating deity statues and to adorn the jewelry of royalty.

Lapis Lazuli, showcasing the hallmark blue of sodalite shot through with the gold sheen of  pyrite combines with lazurite, hauyne and calcite making this one of the most beautifully recognizable stones from antiquity.  Lapis is the very epitome of serene highness, expanding our spiritual and physical selves, allowing us to rise to meet its holy vibration.  In that sacred space/time Lapis  imparts ancient wisdom and knowledge, assisting us to shed the past with clarity, objectivity and peace while protecting us from negativity and psychic attack.



Lapis the most beautiful sacred of gemstones, just handling and wearing these exotic stones brings out my ancient goddess.