The Science of Gemstones

Crisp, cool fall weather is here and the trees are almost bare here in the mid-western USA, which means a lot of us who live in cool winter climates will be spending more time indoors.  Many of us are baking cookies and other yummy delicacies to share with our holiday visitors or to serve at family gatherings.    Winter is also a good time to study and learn about our varied interests.  Gemstones have always been a passion for me and I'm always hungry for more knowledge about them.  I spend many hours researching different precious and semi-precious stones for the Gemstone Forum I moderate at http://wirejewelrybootcamp.com.  Providing valuable content for the members there has been a huge learning experience for me.  Last week, as I was researching an unusual gemstone, I found a sweet treat that I want to share with you.

Barbara Smigel, who is an Emeritus Professor at College of Southern Nevada, is offering a series of her college lessons online and the entire course is absolutely free.  These are the same lessons she uses in her college Gemology classes which she teachers from a scientific point of view.  Whether you work with gemstones or just love wearing them, this is invaluable information.

You can get all the college-level lessons here:
http://www.bwsmigel.info/






I should also mention that if you have an interest in learning to make wire jewelry, you'll find the best online learning experience at http://wirejewelrybootcamp.com.  I have referred many people to the site because I believe it's the best way to learn to make jewelry at home.  I hope you'll check it out too. 



Now these are the kind of treats that can be enjoyed without any guilt!