The Secret In the Shell
So whats the big secret?? The wonderful fabulous treasures found in an oysters shell! I have always been in love with pearls of all kinds and colors, but my most favorite are the oddly shaped also known as Baroque Pearls..in iridescent cremes and pinks...but little did I know that this beautiful creation was a result of the oyster's (pearls can also be formed in other mollusks such as clams and mussels in rare occurances) means of protecting itself from a foreign invader!
SomethingSeablue
Pearls can be formed in both freshwater and saltwater, occur naturally or be cultered by pearl farmers...so basically a foreign substance slips into the oyster between the mantle and the shell which irritates the oyster...kind of like when you get a splinter... the natural reaction is to cover up substance to protect itself. The mantle covers the irritant with layers of nacre, also known as "mother of pearl", which is the substance that is used to create the shell. This eventually forms a pearl, which is a foreign substance covered with layers of nacre. Isn't that amazing!
by hogwildjewelry on Etsy
No two pearls are alike...each differ with their own unique color, texture and beauty...the colors vary from black found in the South Seas to grey, green, blue, peacock, aubergine, pistachio, pink, peach, creme....to various shapes as round, oval, semi round, button, coin , baroque,to semi baroque...as can be seen in the wonderful collection from Etsy jewelry makers..
by surfandsand on Etsy
http://www.etsy.com/listing/60318346/dirty-pearls?ref=tre-4cf69246cf696d91f14b9d35-8
In literature pearls are often symbolic of tears, the Orient, the sea, and a priceless treasure and are referred to often in books and poetry ...."And precious the tear as that rain from the sky, Which turns into pearls as it falls in the sea." --Moore
by LeeOhio on Etsy
"See these pearls that long have slept; These were tears by Naiads wept." --Sir Walter Scott
by Streetmade on Etsy
The making of a pearl can also teach us a life lesson...if an oyster can become irritated and yet cover over the irritant, many many times , for sometimes even years and years, yet the outcome turns out to be so precious and beautiful, we can do the same thing...when someone does something that just "gets under our skin!" we just need to cover over it with love, maybe even lots of times, even for years....but in the end it can produce a beautiful treasure like that "secret in the shell" ---a beautiful friendship.....
by LHJewelryBoutique on Etsy
Thank you to all my fellow Etsians for your inspirations, talent and hard work!!!
Great article! I love your last comment about the irritant becoming something beautiful and relating it to relationships. Perfect! I've experienced such a relationship. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteahhh thanks! Im glad you could relate and appreciate the comparison...we can learn so much from the simple things in nature...well not so simple but things we may at times overlook and take for granted...especially when we are creating a piece of jewelry with the pearls we bought from the local bead shop...we forget that pearl had a story of its own! :)
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