MINERALARTS:

This Two of Hearts Amulet is made from 14-gauge copper and black steel wire, with a double-sided cabochon that I cut from the center of a slab of translucent white Brazilian agate.  The heart-shaped design in the stone is completely natural and literally represents the “heart” of a thunderegg (a solid round agate nodule).  It’s a layer of pale orange chalcedony, and the white chalcedony inside it is speckled with tiny red hematite dots.  A sturdy pendant with an earthy presence that is unusual for heart-shaped jewelry.  Total length is 3.5 inches.  The back isn’t spectacular, but the drilled double-sided cabochon/bead (instead of a traditional bezel setting backed with metal) shows off more of the soft, subtle bluish-white color of the agate.

I cut half a dozen more cabochon blanks from this slab, with different shapes and interesting banded or “eye” patterns in white/red/yellow/black.  I’m working some of them into pieces of jewelry, but I really bought the stone for the the simple, unique heart design at the center.