Dragonskin

Okay, before we get to the topic of today's entry, did you note the new Way Cool Banner on my blog? Did you? Go look, go look!! This was a surprise from Rachel, aka Fancy Pants. Last night, she emailed me and told me to look in her flickr account where I found my new banner. Rachel is busy with her own brand new blog, Sugar Toppers. She was doing some work on her blog and decided to create a new banner for me, too, while she was working on it. Wasn't that nice of her? Thank you, Rachel! (By the way, if you are a sugar-head the way I am, you should so go look at her blog right now - she has the most fabulous cupcake designs you will ever see in your life. My favorite is the one that looks like a cupcake topped with elaborate quilling - believe me, you'll know it when you see it.)

Now, back to our topic. I was working on the Bead Exploration Collaboration last night and I ran out of eyepins, so I was forced to stop by the local bead shop to pick up those and a few more items today. As you can imagine, this was an extreme hardship for me (the LBS is a ten minute walk from my house), as was discovering that the owners had replenished the 50% off table that they so cunningly place right by the entrance to the store, where no one could possibly miss it. In a fit of self-control, I walked right past it while averting my eyes, as I really did need a few things to finish the BEC pieces (which will be published on the blog on Sunday, incidentally). However, once I had everything on my shopping list in my paws, I raced back to the sale table and ended up finding the strand pictured above. Do you know what this is? I didn't. At first, I thought it was some kind of exotic shell. I finally asked one of the ladies working there who informed me that it's dragonskin jasper. I love it. I love the name, love the beautiful mottled design of the stone. I have never ever heard of dragonskin jasper before. So I appeal to you fellow beadheads - anyone have any information on this stone? Upon close inspection, the mottled design gives off an almost cellular feel, as if this stone grew like quartz. Anyone have any idea? I feel this strand would be perfect for the summer necklace I'm supposed to be creating for Beadstyle, if only I could get my act together.

Have a great weekend, everyone! Thanks for stopping by.

ps. D'oh, as soon as I finished writing this, flickr went down, and the new Way Cool Banner is now unavailable. How annoying. Hopefully it will be back up by the time you read this.