May is filled with green, both outdoors and in my beading studio! (Just check out this month’s Emerald Tassel Necklace to see what I've been up to!)

Let’s learn a little more about the emerald, a gemstone that has been mined since around 330 BC. Cleopatra loved her emeralds, and claimed ownership of all the emerald mines in Egypt.

Color: light green to a deep, rich dark green
Care: keep away from extended exposure to light, chemicals, & oils; use warm, soapy water and a soft cloth to clean, as ultrasonic cleaners can cause fractures (which are common in emeralds)
Meanings/Properties: a symbol of rebirth, loyalty, and new beginnings
Uses: believed to grant the wearer foresight, good fortune, and youth
Zodiac Sign: Taurus
Chakra: heart

Because real emeralds are rare as well as pricey, I used a variety of green glass and green iris coated hematite beads in this month's birthstone project. Click the image on the right for free instructions to make your own Emerald Tassel Necklace.