Laissez Le Bon Temps Rouler, NOLA style

Description

This sweet little necklace reminds me of days spent in the French Quarter in New Orleans years ago when I was a young adult. The easy way about New Orleans with its beautiful iron fences, architecture and gardens. The music, sights, food and a southern drawl that can only be found in South Louisiana. Not to forget the permeating heat and the thickness of the air. Decadence is in everything but so is simplicity - a thing is a thing, important in its own right no matter how large or small.

The asymetrical stones near the pendant are the colors of the Mardi Gras King Cake (purple~amethyst, green~peridot, and gold~citrine, and the blue~aquamarine represents the baby in the cake).

The individually wire wrapped stones include the amethyst, peridot, citrine, and aquamarine as well as garnets which represent the heart of this grande dame of a city.

I have hammered the open frame that the stones are dangling from out of 14 guage sterling silver wire to represent the space for rebuilding that is happening now after Katrina. I have also hand hammered the clasp, which is wire wrapped with lovely pink tourmalines.

Stone Meanings (this one is chock full - it is in fact nearly a full chakra spectrum):
Amethyst is a protection stone, Citrine brings money or positive business ventures, Peridot signals new beginnings, aquamarines are good to wear when you travel over sea or are near water, Garnets are a grounding stone and help their wearer feel a closer connection to earthly matters. And finally pink tourmalines help attract love into the wearer's life.

Additionally 20% of the profits from this necklace will be donated (in the buyer's name if you wish) will go to the Renew NOLA foundation. http://www.renewnola.org/about_us.html

Added on Nov 28, 2009