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Variscite is a relatively rare phosphate mineral. The material is usually veined with other minerals such as millisite or wardite. Colors of variscite vary only slightly between yellow green to slightly darker greens. The material is sometimes confused with turquoise; however, variscite is usually greener in color.

It was first described in 1837 and named for the locality of Variscia, the historical name of the Vogtland, in Germany, where the mineral was first discovered. At one time, variscite was called "utahlite" by the name of the state in the USA where variscite is widely mined. At times, materials which may be turquoise or may be variscite have been marketed as "variquoise".

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Variscite is actually quite rare, it is inexpensive because it is not a well known, therefore there is little demand for it. Appreciation of the color ranges typically found in variscite have made it a popular gem in recent years, it is popular for carvings and ornamental use. Variscite is cut en cabochon (with a round, convex, polished surface) for brooches, earrings, and beads and is frequently substituted for turquoise. It also is carved into bowls or other decorative objects. Because of its porosity, it tends to absorb grease and oil, which discolor it.

Notable localities are Lucin, Utah and Fairfield, Utah in the United States. It is also found in Germany, Australia, Poland, Spain and Brazil. Variscite from Nevada typically contains black spiderwebbing in the matrix and is often confused with green turquoise. Most of the Nevada variscite recovered in recent decades has come from mines located in Lander County.

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Many of the beadwork fans know the name of Betty Stephan, a bead artist from the state of New York. She is a very creative person and over time explored many different venues of artistic expressions, but only beadwork turned from her passion into a fulltime business. We're glad to see Betty in our newsletter!

Betty says, "I was born and grew up in a very "artsy" family. Living on a farm in rural western New York state, my seamstress mother taught me and my four sisters to sew at a very early age. Crafts of all kinds were encouraged in the household and helped to occupy the girls during long winters. Learning the solid basics of hand stitching and how to follow sewing patterns were early skills that could build a foundation for what would later become my passion for beading and bead embroidery.

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As a young wife and mother, I continued to experiment with various arts and crafts. Crochet, knitting, macrame, painting and working with polymer clay were some of my early ventures. In my early 30's I taught myself calligraphy, then taught it to others. Eventually, I started a small home business creating hand lettered wedding invitations, etc. I combined it with paper quilling (paper filigree is an art form that involves the use of strips of paper that are rolled, shaped, and glued together to create decorative designs) and created many quilled borders for my calligraphy works.

But sewing was not forgotten. I've sewn most of the clothes for my two growing sons, as well as backpacks and tents. I even made a red three-piece polyester suit for my husband! It wasn't until I was in my 50's when I combined this skill with the art of beadwork in the form of bead embroidery. After my husband and I retired from our "real jobs" (I worked as an aide in a Preschool for special needs children), we bought an RV (Recreational Vehicle) and spend several months a year traveling around the US.

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Once we attended the Crow Fair - a Pow-wow in Montana. It was here that my passion for bead embroidery was born. Inspired by the intricate beadwork of the Crow tribe, I bought beads and books that very day and began to learn the beading techniques that so intrigued me at the Pow-wow. I'm basically self-taught, and this past year was the first time I has ever taken a real beading class.

These days I have turned my passion into a fulltime business. Still traveling in the RV throughout the US, I participate in about 14 Art and Fine Craft Shows a year exhibiting my beaded pieces. It keeps me busy producing enough beadwork to sell at these shows, as well as participating in several competitions each year, writing tutorials, and teaching..."

Full article by Betty Stephan
 
Bead artwork by Betty Stephan
 
Email: betty.stephan@gmail.com
 
Website: www.bettystephan.com
 
Blog: bettystephan.blogspot.com
 
Etsy: etsy.com/shop/BettyStephanBeadwork
 
Facebook: facebook.com/bettystephanbeadwork

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Born in a small town on the Volga river in the heart of Russia and being an electrical engineer by education, Natalia Zolotova find herself as a crafter working with beads. She doesn't design monstrous items, she tries to reach harmony of geometry in all her beadworks, and Natalia makes success. Happy to have you, Natalia, on our pages! We hope you'll like the style of her designs.

Natalia says, "I inherited love to crafting from my grandmother, also Natalia. She was a simple village woman and knew everything: she could sew a dress for any occasion and a coat, knit a sweater or lace napkin, embroider a firebird. It was she who taught me how to handle a needle and hook, and other craft tools.

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As I can remember, my hands were always busy. As a child I sewed and knitted for my dolls, and after getting married I've done so for my entire family. And then the kids have grown up and I had a lot of spare time that I was trying to fill in with origami, scrapbooking, cross-stitching, and other activities. Once on the Internet I came across a website by Albina Polyanskaya about beading, and fell in love with that craft. So, beads came into my life.

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Since I didn't have any beading experience, I had to learn. Beading school by Valentina Pomeschikova and classes by Galina Pchelkina gave me a lot and I am grateful to my teachers that they generously share their knowledge, experience and skills with others.

Who inspires me in my creativity? There are many excellent bead artists whose work I don't get tired to admire. Simply impossible to list all whose work touches my soul. And no matter that they are working in different techniques and create not only jewelry, but also accessories and objects, each artist has its own peculiarity. I try not to imitate recognized masters, and learn from them - learn to work with color, texture and form.

Generally, when I create a piece of jewelry I have no single algorithm. For me, the main thing is to "see" the image of a future beadwork. Often it takes a lot of time. Sometimes a form of stone becomes the starting point, as it was with my necklace "Frosted Ornaments." I bought a triangular cabochon of moss agate and immediately understood how the necklace would look like..."

Full article by Natalia Zolotova
 
Beadwork by Natalia Zolotova
 
Email: nzol1@yandex.ru
 
Online shop: livemaster.ru/nzol11
 
Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php

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