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Archive for August, 2009

Fair trade wooden: crocodile box

Sunday, August 30th, 2009

As well as having a beautiful range of silver  fair trade jewellery, Indigo Ocean has a real treasure trove of wonderful fair trade wooden gifts for children.

Fair trade wooden gifts: crocodile box: £7.99

Fair trade wooden gifts: crocodile box: £7.99

This brightly hand painted and carved crocodile box is produced by a family in Bali, Indonesia. The family are paid a fair wage in exchange for our orders which include other kinds of hand carved wooden objects including jointed wooden zebras.

This crocodile box has hinged jaws that open to reveal a secret box with teeth which are quite sharp so care must be taken! This item is particularly popular with little boys for storing secret objects!! Size: 20cm long **FOR CHILDREN 5+ ONLY**

Fair trade wooden toys: train jigsaw

Sunday, August 30th, 2009

Indigo Ocean has some really nice wooden toys for boys and girls.  I love this fair trade wooden toy train jigsaw puzzle made from rubber wood so its really robust.

Fair trade wooden puzzle: £4.60

Fair trade wooden puzzle: £4.60

It is made by a small fair trade craft enterprise in Sri Lanka and has been exchanged for a fair wage. It is brightly painted with 6 pieces. The dimensions are 120×110mm and is suitable for children 2+.

We have other puzzles which would delight most children!

Watch this space

Fair trade wooden toys: Noahs Ark

Sunday, August 30th, 2009

Indigo Ocean had a wide selection of fair trade wooden toys and gifts for children, both boys and girls, ranging from pencils, moneyboxes, magnets and even  fair trade wooden Noahs arks!

I wanted to share this one with you as I have 2 young nephews and every time I look at this it reminds me of them. They are in America so I do not get to see them very often so its nice to be reminded of them.

Fair trade wooden toy, Noahs Ark : £26.50

Fair trade wooden toy, Noahs Ark : £26.50

This fair trade wooden toy made from MDF by craftspeople in Sri Lanka who receive a fair wage in exchange for their products. This beautifully painted ark comes with Mr & Mrs Noah plus 10 pairs of animals. The ark has a removable roof and top deck, along with a stern that slides out to become a ramp allowing the larger animals to enter the lower deck. Dimensions : Size: 280×150x190mm. Recommended for age 3+.

Fair trade moneyboxes

Sunday, August 30th, 2009

As well as providing fair trade jewellery, Indigo Ocean also has a wonderful selection of fair trade moneyboxes which I absolutely adore!

They are skillfully  handcarved in wood and painted carefully in an artistic and creative way to depict animals such as giraffes moneyboxes, zebra moneyboxes, cow moneyboxes  and cat moneyboxes too!! They are great fun and would bring a smile to most people’s faces!

Fair trade moneybox carved giraffe : £8.50

Fair trade moneybox carved giraffe : £8.50

This wonderful graiffe money box is handmade in Bali, Indonesia. It is produced by an extended family and all their hand crafts are purchased for a fair wage so the family can have a better standard of living. This giraffe money box is carved from wood then painted in durable black and brown paint and has a string tail. Slide the door to get your money out! Height 29cm.

Fair trade moneybox carved into a cow: £8.50

Fair trade moneybox carved into a cow: £8.50

This fair trade money box carved and painted as black and white cow is made by the same family from Indonesia. The cow stands at 18cm and also has a string tail.

Fair trade moneybox carved as a zebra : £8.50

Fair trade moneybox carved as a zebra : £8.50

As  with the cow, this zebra moneybox has a string tail and is painted in black and white  to give a realistc looking animal which will look after your money!

We have other wonderful hand carved products so watch this space for further information and pictures!

I love fair trade and really am passionate about sharing these wonderful creations with you.

Fair trade silver jewellery: red onyx

Monday, August 10th, 2009

Silver fair trade stud earring with red onyx : £12.75

Silver fair trade stud earring with red onyx : £12.75

 

Onyx is a banded variety of chalcedony, a cryptocrystalline form of quartz and can be found in a wide range of colours which are often layered.

Like the other stones in the chalcedony family, onyx has a smooth, waxy luster. Onyx can be found in a wide range of colours, often layered. When one or more layers are of carnelian or sard, the stone is called Sardonyx. Sard is a rich brown colour which is normally red and if held against the light shows a red hue.

 Indigo Ocean has a elegant and modestly priced range of  fair trade silver jewellery handmade in India. Our broad range of fair trade jewellery earrings and bracelets are inlaid with various combinations of semi precious gemstones. We have fair trade silver stud earrings, fair trade hook earrings, silver pendants and fair trade silver bracelets. We have a great selection of fair trade silver jewellery with stones such as red onyx, apatite, blue chalcedony, malachite, lapis lazuli, tiger’s eye, moonstone, moonstone rainbow, black star, labradorite and rose quartz. All of our fair trade silver jewellery is exchanged for a fair wage. We have included in this article a selection of fair trade silver earrings inlaid with red onyx so you can see the beauty of the designs available.

Silver fair trade earrings with red onyx : £7.49

Silver fair trade earrings with red onyx : £7.49

ORIGIN

Red onyx is mined in India and South America , Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, and Madagascar. 

Fair trade silver earrings red onyx : £7.99
Fair trade silver earrings red onyx : £7.99

HISTORY

The word onyx is believed to be derived from the Greek onux, meaning”fingernail” (the aspect of certain kinds of this stone recall the colour and layering of fingernails, even though the word now often applies to a deep black stone).

In addition, ‘Onyx’ was the word used by Romans to describe a variety of stones including alabaster, chalcedony and what is now known as onyx marble. Notably, Roman soldiers wore sardonyx talismans engraved with heroes such as Hercules or Mars, god of war. They believed that the stone would make the wearer as brave and daring as the figured carved on it.

 

Fair trade silver earrings with red onyx : £7.49
Fair trade silver earrings with red onyx : £7.49

Furthermore, during the Renaissance, red onyx or sardonyx was believed to bring eloquence upon the wearer and was also regarded with great value by public speakers and orators so it was incorporated in large amounts of jewellery pieces.

Sardonyx at one time was truly believed to be more precious than gold, silver, or sapphire and Sardonyx has always widely used in cameos and intaglios.

 

Fair trade silver bracelet with red onyx : £47.49
Fair trade silver bracelet with red onyx : £47.49

 FOLKLORE

Many people believe in the healing power of gemstones and in this context the power of onyx include protection and was often worn in long ago battles to protect against danger. Onyx is also strongly believed to aid regeneration, intuition and instincts and helps to curtail desire and change bad habits. It is particularly helpful during times of physical and emotional stress to help the wearer cope with fears and worries.

Onyx has served as a bead making stone for centuries. It harmonizes the physical with the spiritual and helps alleviate fears and worries as well as during periods of strong overwhelming emotions. This mineral helps us in our efforts to be balanced and in maintaining positive outlook at our life and environment. Onyx increases concentration and devotion, relieves tension especially in marital life.

This gemstone eliminates negative thinking, it is also believed to sharpen the wits of the wearer. Onyx is said to bring spiritual inspiration. It is a great assistance in holding emotions and passions under control.

Fair trade silver earrings with red onyx : £10.99

Fair trade silver earrings with red onyx : £10.99

BIRTHSTONE

Sardonyx is the birthstone of Leo (Lion): July 23 - Aug 22

 
 
 
 
 

FAIR TRADE JEWELLERY: Apatite Earrings

Saturday, August 1st, 2009

Fair trade silver earring, apatite and moonstone : £10.99

Fair trade silver earring, apatite and moonstone : £10.99

PROPERTIES

Apatite is a calcium phosphate which interestingly can be found in approx 65% of the bones and teeth of humans and animals including fish and dinosaurs!

The colour of Apatite is normally green but can also be blue, yellow, reddish-brown, violet (one of the rarer but more popularly demanded colours), yellow-green (”asparagus stone”), colourless or multi-coloured. The colour formation is determined by the natural presence of rare earth elements since it is made up from three kinds of minerals. The colour will depend on the highest density of either fluorine, chlorine or the hydroxyl group so although all three are present in every specimen the colour depends on the percentage of mineral density which determines the colour itself.

Fair trade silver earring with apatite : £7.49
Fair trade silver earring with apatite : £7.49

The name Apatite is a derivative of the Greek word “apatao,” meaning “to deceive,” as Apatite can be notoriously difficult to distinguish for example from other gemstones such as tourmaline, peridot  and topaz.

The properties of Apatite give it a softness and brittle structure and could explain why it is not so found as a common gemstone in jewellery. For example, the most appropriate use of Apatite for jewellery seems to be earrings and necklaces or pendants rather than rings and bracelets  and this may be explained by its  vulnerability to damage.

Indigo Ocean has a beautiful range of modestly priced fair trade silver jewellery handmade in India. Our broad range of fair trade jewellery are inlaid with various combinations of semi precious gemstones. We have fair trade silver stud earrings, fair trade hook earrings, silver pendants and silver bracelets. We have a great selection of fair trade silver jewellery with stones such as apatite, blue chalcedony, malachite, lapis lazuli, tiger’s eye, moonstone, moonstone rainbow, black star, labradorite and rose quartz. All of our fair trade silver jewellery is exchanged for a fair wage. We have included in this article a selection of fair trade silver earrings inlaid with the blue-green Apatite so you can see the beauty of the designs available.

Fair trade silver earring with apatite : £8.59
Fair trade silver earring with apatite : £8.59

ORIGIN

Apatite is mined in Brazil, Madagascar (where blue apatite is most commonly mined), Mexico, Mozambique, Norway (blue-green), Sri Lanka, Russia, Canada, Mexico, Spain (where the yellow-green variety is found, aptly named  the ‘Asparagus stone’), Brazil, and the United States (note, Apatite’s most famous crystals hail from the aptly-named Mount Apatite in Maine.

FOLKLORE

In folklore through the ages, Apatite is believed to stimulate thoughts and ideas through increasing intellect, imagination, and intuitive awareness. Wearing Apatite in some kind of  jewellery form is believed to help to dilute hostility and prejudice bringing the wearer harmony on all levels promoting an ‘inner peace’.