Kung Hei Fat Choy - Happy New Year!

Year of the Tiger, How to make an Amethyst Necklace, Royal Amethyst & 15% offer

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For the HTML version with color pictures click http://www.mrbead.com/january10.htm
For your lucky New Year jade Tiger pendant click MrBead.com or MrBead.co.uk

Year of the Tiger
Amethyst for February - The Royal Popestone
How to make an Amethyst Necklace
15% offer

Year of the Tiger

MrBead is based in Hong Kong, where the main annual holiday is Chinese New Year. Called "Spring Festival" in Mainland China. Lion dancers and carnivals take to the streets and fireworks to the skies. However, your orders will only be slightly delayed over this period. In Mainland China many people work inside large prosperous cities in the South East, a long way from their poor native village homes. Over Spring Festival hundreds-of-millions commute back to their village to be with the family. It's always a big strain on the railway and airways, and often made worse by severe snow cutting off power lines and runways!

The Chinese Year of the Tiger begins on 14th February 2010. People born in the Year of the Tiger are said to be lucky, vivid, lively and engaging. Tigers are also incredibly brave and fearless to engage in battle. Maybe he’s so brave because he is lucky, but the Chinese say a Tiger in the house is the very best protection against fire or burglary.

Tigers don’t crave power or money, and are honest about how they feel and expect the same of you. However, they seek approval from peers and family. Generally, because of their charming personalities Tigers are well liked. Failing at a given task, criticism from loved ones or being unproductive in his professional life can cause a Tiger to be depressed. Still, like all felines, Tigers always land on their feet, ready for their next act in life, pursuing it with unyielding energy and hunting it infallibly.

Tigers are very competitive - never missing a challenge, especially when honor is at stake, or they are protecting loved ones. Tigers are unpredictable, looking cool, but with the Big Cat's instincts to pounce. Natural leaders with a strong sense of their own dignity, and if they find themselves in the ranks, they can be stubborn and obstinate. Tigers are intelligent, alert, and farsighted. They have their fingers on the pulse. Good strategists and tacticians, but often with hidden agenda. As long as they do not risk their luck too often and control their restless nature, their tactics usually pay off in life.

Western counterpart: Aquarius

Tiger Years - If you were born in any of these years, then you are a Tiger: 02/08/1902 to 01/28/1903, 01/26/1914 to 02/13/1915, 02/13/1926 to 02/01/1927, 01/31/1938 to 02/18/1939, 02/17/1950 to 02/05/1950, 02/05/1962 to 01/24/1963, 01/23/1974 to 02/10/1975, 02/09/1986 to 01/28/1987, 01/28/1998 to 02/15/1999, 02/14/2010 to 02/02/2011

Famous Tiger People: Agatha Christie, Crystal Gayle, Cybill Shepherd, Demi Moore, Diana Rigg, Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, Hilary Swank, Jodie Foster, Marilyn Monroe, Mary Queen of Scots, Norma Shearer, Penelope Cruz, Queen Elizabeth II, Rosie O'Donnell, and Tom Cruise.

For your lucky New Year jade Tiger pendant click MrBead.com or MrBead.co.uk

Amethyst: The Royal Purple Pope Stone

Amethyst is the Birthstone for February, the purple variety of quartz. If it was not so widespread, amethyst would be very expensive. Its name comes from the Greek, meaning "not drunken". Perhaps due to a belief that amethyst would sober the effects of alcohol, or maybe referring to its wine-like color. Although amethyst is always purple, it comes in shades of pale lilac to deep purple. Deeper colors are more valuable, “milky” amethyst is the cheapest.

According to Greek mythology, Dionysius, the god of intoxication, was angered by an insult from a mere mortal and swore revenge on the next mortal that crossed his path, creating fierce tigers to carry out his wish. Along came unsuspecting Amethyst, a beautiful young maiden on her way to pay tribute to the goddess Diana. Diana turned Amethyst into a stature of pure crystalline quartz to protect her from the brutal claws. Dionysus wept tears of wine in remorse for his action at the sight of the beautiful statue. The god's tears stained the quartz purple, creating the gem we know today.

Purple has long been considered a royal color, featured in the British Crown Jewels and a favorite of Catherine the Great and Egyptian royalty. Leonardo Da Vinci wrote that amethyst could dissipate evil thoughts and quicken the intelligence. Because amethyst was believed to encourage celibacy and symbolize piety, it was very important in the ornamentation of Catholic and other churches in the Middle Ages. Amethyst is still the stone of bishops who often wear amethyst rings. Even in Tibet, amethyst is considered to be sacred to the Buddha.

Healers and New Agers believe certain gemstones heal on a metaphysical level, because of the earth's energy that has been absorbed by these stones. Amethyst is considered to have healing powers of purifying and pacifying - with the ability to transform lower energies into higher, healing at all levels of mind, body and spirit. Amethyst’s sobering and calming qualities associate it with peace. It is known to calm those with constant rigorous mental activity. Called "nature's tranquilizer", because it also relaxes the whole nervous system. Amethyst reduces negativity and brings mental strength, stability, and vigor. Plus understanding to all that is transitional, especially death and rebirth, providing peace of mind when a loved one is lost. As an elixir, amethyst can help toothache, bone and joint discomforts and problems with the stomach and digestive tract. It has also been known to treat various types of blood disease and balancing blood sugar.

In yoga, amethyst aids the 6th Chakra, the Third Eye, center of the body’s spiritual power. Because amethyst heightens awareness, both spiritual and psychic - increasing intuition and psychic development and transition from a normal state of consciousness to a deeper awareness. Amethyst is mined in South American and African countries. African is the best, but mined in smaller sizes. Very dark amethyst, mostly in small sizes, is also mined in Australia.

To see our amethyst beads click MrBead.com or MrBead.co.uk

How to make an Amethyst Necklace

These are the steps of MiMi making an amethyst necklace using our amethyst nuggets and fancy drop beads (numbers are as pictures).

Note the crystal rondell beads and gold stardust used as spacers. Click the HTML link for pictures of this.

1) Get all materials ready: nylon wire, crimping beads & 5mm stardust gold spacers, crystal rondell beads, crimping pliers, wire cutter, catches, all beads.
2) Slide 2mm crimp bead onto wire and insert wire into eye on clasp.
3) Loop and connect crimp bead.
4 & 5) Crimp attached to eye on clasp, and squeezing crimp bead closed.
6 & 7) Thread the beads into the wire.
8) Repeat steps 2 to 5 to secure the other end of the necklace.
9) Cutting off excess wire
10) Finished.

15% Discount

For 15% off anything in our main stores, key the code "amethyst" in the box at checkout (without the commas), and click "redeem coupon". No minimum order. Note: offer ends Thursday 4th February 2010, so claim now!

For MrBead.com, MrBead.co.uk, AwesomeRings.com or OnlineOriental.com only (not eBay or our MarketWorks stores)

To see What's New click MrBead.com or MrBead.co.uk
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