Top 5…crystal & gemstone books

1)  The Crystal Bible, by Judy Hall  

Layout: Alphabetical order, Healing-Oriented  

Brief Info about each stone: Color, Appearance, Rarity, Source  

Detailed Info about each stone:  

• Attribues: the healing properties of the stone, in term of psychological and mental help
• Healing: more about the physical health benefit of the stone, such as which illness it is helpful for
• Position: where is the best part to wear the stone for optimal performance
• Specific Colors: many stones are available in various colors, for which the healing properties will be different

Additional Information:  

• Crystal Healing
• Crystals and the Zodiac
• Crystals and the chakras
• Crystals and the auras
• Crystal Shapes

Summary:  Great book for in-depth knowledge about crystals and as reference for inquiries about healing aspect of crystals. Something that you can spend the whole Sunday afternoon reading!  
 

2)  Healing Crystals & Gemstones From Amethyst to Zircon, by Dr. Flora Peschek-Bohmer & Gisela Schreiber  

Layout: Alphabetical order, Healing-Oriented but with some history information 

 

Brief Info about each stone: Where found, Color, Chemical composition, Hardness, Available forms, Crystallization 

Detailed Info about each stone:  

• History and legend
• Healing properties
• Chakra classification
• Star sign
• Application and care

Additional Information:   

• List the main gemstones that are beneficial for each Zodiac sign and even a description of the characteristics of that sign! 
• Gemstones & the Chakras

Summary: Love the large photos and the clean and simple layout that allows reader to quickly understand whether the particular crystal is suitable for him/her.  

 

3)  The Encyclopedia of Crystals, by Judy Hall  

Layout: organized by colors, which is a great source of stone color combination when designing 

Brief Info about each stone: Crystal system, Chemistry, Hardness, Source, Chakra, Number, Zodiac sign, Planet, Beneficial for (lists out all the physcial, mental, psychologically & emotional benefits, so easy to quickly pick out whatever you need to know)  

Detailed Info about each stone: a paragraph mainly focusing on the healing aspect of the stones  

Additional Information:   

• The history of crystals
• Quartz tools

Summary: It’s the largest out of the 5, so it’s so it contains the most number of crystals and minerals variation, even those that are not typically seen in bead forms.   

 

4)  Crystals, by Jennie Harding   

Layout: organized by colors, which is a great source of stone color combination when designing 

Brief Info about each stone:  Form & Structure, Color, Geographical Sources, Rarity (great for getting idea of the value and price of the stone), Hardness, Physical/Emotional Uses, Healing Effects & Personal uses  

Detailed Info about each stone:   

• background information about the stone, such as where its history, its stone family
• healing aspect, such as where to put it, its benefits

Additional Information:   

• Crystals & Colors
• Crystals in your life
• Crystal Healing
• Crystals for physical health (list of physical conditions and the suitable cyrstals for the healing process)
• Crystals as birthstones
• Zodiac Sign List
• Quartz tools

Summary:  For most stones, it will have photos of the stones in both raw and polished forms, really interesting to see.  Very all-inclusive book, no matter whether you interest is more healing or geographical, you will enjoy this colorful crystal book.  

 

5)  Guide to Gems, by Cally Oldershaw 

Layout:  organized according to stone family groups, such as garnet, beryl, chalcedony.  It’s more science-oriented 

Brief Info about each stone:   chemical composition, color, refractive index, specific gravity hardness, crystal group, cleavage, fracture, tenacity, luster, transparency, dispersion, birefringence, pleochroism, location  

Detailed Info about each stone:  talks about which mines the stone can be currently found at, its use in jewelry, its presence in history 

Additional Information:   

• Color Guide (7 pages displaying stones grouped together by color tone)
• EXCLUSIVE!  map of the world showing where different stones can be mined
• Fashioning and Cutting: in-depth explanation about the different types of stone cutting styles and even the stages in faceting a brillant diamond
• Imitation and Synthetic Stones
• History of gems

Summary:  Unlike the other 4 books, this one steps away from the healing aspects and instead talks about the stones’ presence in history and in the present.  Also, it also shows lots of gorgeous jewelry made of various gems! 

Do you have a favourite gemstone book too?  Share with us! 

Order does not reflect preference, each one has something different to offer!  

How to…use Crimp Tubes

The other method to finish beaded necklaces and bracelets is to use crimp tubes.  The advantages of using crimp tubes, especially ones made of sterling silver, are that they are extremely strong and that you can use crimp covers over them for a more polished look.  Although the idea of having to use a criming plier is frightening at first, once you understand the simple steps of using one, you’ll find it no harder than flattening crimp beads with a chain-nose plier.   

Crimping Pliers come in 3 sizes:  micro, standard and mighty.  You’ll probably be using the standard-sized one the most, which works for 1x2mm, 2x2mm and 3x2mm crimp tubes, so it’s not necessary to get all three.  Looking at your crimp plier, you will see two slots.  You’ll be using the inner one first and then the outer one after. 

Supplies Needed:  1 spool of Flexible Beading Wire, 2 pieces of crimp beads, 2 pieces of crimp covers,  beads, clasp of your choice and crimping plier. 

Basically Steps 1 & 2 will not differ from those listed in the How to…use Crimp Beads.

Step 3:  String 1 crimp tube onto the wire.

Step 4:  String on one end of your clasp.  If using a toggle, it’s easier to start with the bar end than the ring end.

Step 5:  Form a loop with the wire by bringing it back into the crimp tube and at least, 1-2 stone beads.  The reason why we put the wire back into the last couple of beads is to create a professional finish and to prevent the wire from scratching your clothing or skin.   

Step 6:  Place your crimp tube in the First Slot of the crimping plier.  Make sure that it fit perfectly or else it will not work!!  If the slot seems too small or too big, then maybe you have the wrong size of crimping plier.  Press down on the plier.

 

Step 7:  Turn your folded crimp 90 degrees and place it in the second slot and press down. 

Step 8:  Technically, you are done at this stage!  Do Step 9 if you want to add a Crimp Cover. 

Step 9: Place a crimp cover over top of the finished crimp tube.  Place this combination in the Second slot of the crimping plier and then press and rotate until the crimp cover is fully circular. 

And you have it, a professionally finished piece!

How to…use Crimp Beads

Now that we know the difference between crimp beads and crimp tubes, let’s talk about how to actually use them.  For most beginner beaders, crimp beads are definitely easier to use.  In fact, some people after having tried both technique become a “crimp bead lover” because of their ease of use.

Supplies Needed:  1 spool of Flexible Beading Wire, 4 pieces of crimp beads, beads, clasp of your choice and chain-nose plier. 

Step 1:  FREE your beads from the temporary string and empty them onto a non-slippery mat.  Unspool a piece of flexible beading wire and starting the fun of beading!  I usually do not cut off a piece of wire since it’s much easier to add more beads on if you want a longer necklace.  Of course, plan out your design on a beading board before you start stringing.

Step 2:  String, string, string…until you are satisfied with the length.  Remember to keep checking on your design pattern as you are stringing. There’s nothing more unhappy than having to string back on that one bead you missed the first time :P

Step 3:  String 2 crimp beads onto the wire.

Step 4:  String on one end of your clasp.  If using a toggle, it’s easier to start with the bar end than the ring end.

Step 5:  Form a loop with the wire by bringing it back into the 2 crimp beads and at least, 1-2 stone beads.  The reason why we put the wire back into the last couple of beads is to create a professional finish and to prevent the wire from scratching your clothing or skin.   

Step 6:  With the loop facing up, flatten BOTH crimps with a chain-nose plier FIRMLY but NOT too hard (remember how little the crimp beads are!!).

Step 7:  Pull on the clasp to test if you have flattened the crimp beads well enough.  The crimp beads should look like flat little rectangles.  If the clasp doesn’t move, then you have successfully crimped your wire!!  If not, it’ll be better to redo your crimps (meaning to take out these ones and redo Steps 3-6).  Repeat the same for the other end. 

To crimp or not to crimp….?

This is an question ask by many first-time beaders.  First of all it depends on which stringing material you are using:

Nylon, silk or polyester cord: NO CRIMPS NEEDED because cord can be easily finished by tying it together and adding some glue on the knot.

Flexible Beading Wire: CRIMPS NEEDED since flexible beading wire is made of multi-strands of stainless steel wire twisted together and wrapped by an outer layer of clear or colored nylon.  Due to the nature that flexible beading wire is duo-layer, it’s not possible to finish by tying the wire together, instead we use crimps, either in the form of beads…

or tubes…

So you wonder, what’s the difference between the two? 

1)  Tool used: Both types of crimps can be flattened with a chain-nose plier.  However, we typically use a crimping plier on the bead tubes.

2)  Appearance (both before & after):  as the names suggest, the crimp beads look like round metal beads, whereas the crimp tubes are more tubular-looking. 

After being crimped, the crimp beads become rectangular-shaped and the crimp tubes remain more a tubular-looking.

3)  Ease of use:  for the crimp beads, you simply flatten them with chain-nose plier.  For the crimp tubes, you will finish them in a 2-step process with a crimping plier

4)  Ability to take on a crimp cover: since the crimp tubes finish looking more tubular, it is very usually to use a crimp cover on top of them for a more professional look.  On the other hand,  crimp beads take on a flattened rectangular shape, which makes it hard to put a round cover on top of it. 

5)  Ro0m for mistake: if anything goes wrong (missed a bead or strung too few beads) the crimp beads can be easily destroyed by using a chain-nose plier and squeezing them in all direction.  In no time, they will fall apart and then you can start over.  However it is better not to overdo this because the wire may get damaged.  The crimp tubes are much less forgiving.  If you make a mistake, you’ll have to start over!  BUT, don’t be afraid of using crimp tubes because of this fact since once you get the hang of it, they are great for heavy pieces since they are so strong.

Either way, you will have great jewelry that is secure to wear everyday~!

The Start

 There are so many reasons to bead!  It’s…

…fashionable, nowsaday, no outfit is complete without the complementary jewelry pieces.  It’s unique and personal when you make specific jewelry pieces to match the new dress you just bought or that pairs of shoes you have forgotten about in the back of the closet. 

…therapeutic, beading not only calms you down but also allows you to take your mind of whatever you are worrying about.  You don’t even need to tell yourself to stop worrying because when you bead, your mind automatically switches to relaxing mode.  Plus, just looking at beads ranging in all kind of gorgeous colors is simply a color therapy in itself. 

…creative, before picking up beading, I didn’t know I am actually creative.  When I play with beads, somehow, creative neurons in the right hemisphere of my brain suddenly unite and send out juicy and wonderful new design ideas and at that point, nothing will stop me from immediately putting the pieces together.  I believe that all you need to do is play around with your beads, slowly and gradually you too will realize how creative you can be and where your imagination leads you will amaze you.

So start beading and enjoy the pleasure of beading!