Turquoise, a treasured stone

Turquoise is a gorgeous stone to work with. It has a mohs hardness of 5-6, and for that reason is very hard to find in it's natural state. It's one of the only stones I get with an altered nature. I get turquoise in a stabilized state, meaning it is usually impregnated with a plastic coating to improve the hardness. I feel that allows it to be used in bead form. One of the most prized forms of Turquoise is the Sleeping Beauty turquoise of the AZ mines. Boy would I LOVE to get my hands on that! It has a color of a light greenish sky-blue and it is extremely expensive and hard to come by. I tend to aim for a deep vivid green-blue when I use turquoise.

Turquoise connects us to the earth. It's sacred to many American Indian tribes as well (which is how I first became drawn to it). The Indians used turquoise and coral in paintings to bring rain. Others buried it to guard loved ones who had passed on. It's a stone of protection, of healing, courage, and love. It's no wonder I have always loved it. It is said to be able to give courage to those who wear it. It has also been worn to attract friends and money. Some say if you press turquoise to a troubled part of the body, it draws the pain or ailment into the stone. So the next time you feel alone, or are in need of courage or protection, turquoise will help, whether it be a piece of jewelry or simply a chunk that you carry in your pocket.