Purify is a dōTERRA blend, comprised of Lemon, Lime, Siberian Fir, Citronella, Tea Tree and Coriander essential oils. This blend has many uses both mental and physical, but for me, it’s ability to support my physical health is most astounding. Purify, much like the name suggests, is an oil of purification; it can help to deodorise the air and to support with seasonal allergies.
 
A few years ago, my seasonal allergies were completely out of control. I spent weeks confined to my house, unable to open a window and with the air purifier going 24/7 just to keep me breathing. All of this was on top of taking the maximum prescription medication and an inhaler four times a day. It was quite scary, even with all these things in place, I still felt like I was fighting for air.

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Bergamot was one of the first essential oils recommended to me. Over the years, I have delved deeper into the world of aromatherapy, gained knowledge and experience of many essential oils, but bergamot is still my favourite. Most of us aren’t familiar with the bergamot fruit, a citrus native to southern Italy. However, outside of aromatherapy, you may have heard of it in the world of tea; the inclusion of bergamot makes a brew known as Early Grey.
 
I first came across bergamot while trying to find ways to cope with severe anxiety. When the accumulation of stress and trauma in my life became overwhelming, my body was pushed beyond its limits. At it’s worst, my anxiety caused me to shake, tremble and stutter. The doctor gave me beater blockers, a type of medication used to slow down the heart. Unfortunately, I was getting side-effects and I didn’t want to go down a spiral of taking more and more medication, trying to balance various side effects. Instead, I turned to natural remedies.

At the age of seventeen, I sat in a doctor’s office to hear my diagnosis. The relief of knowing what was wrong with me, being able to give it a name, was short lived when he informed me, “You are seventeen and your life is over.” This remark was followed by a long list of things I should give up on, including “pipe-dreams” of further education or ever living independently. There was no hope of healing, no treatment and no cure.
 
While this hit me like a punch in the gut, I remember thinking in that very moment, “What right does he have to decide that my life is over? Nobody gets to decide that but me.”
 
That began my journey into alternative therapies. Changing my diet and how I managed my life, so that I could continue to live it! Living with chronic illness isn’t easy and comes with a great many additional challenges that those blessed with good health don’t usually have to worry about. In addition to my physical diagnosis of Fibromyalgia, my mental health also suffered and that is when I found aromatherapy.

​This design was inspired by my prayers during some particularly hard trials. While enduring cruelty at the hands of others, which impacted my health and made me feel imprisoned, I found myself praying constantly, “Strengthen me, heal me, protect me and release me.” I chose the stones for this bracelet based on that prayer:
 
Black Onyx – known as the “stone of strength.”
 
White Quartz – known as the “master healer.”
 
Labradorite – to protect against negativity and misfortunes of the world; stops others draining your energy.
 
Carnelian – overcoming fear, improving self-reliance and not backing down when you need something; all traits that can help release us from the bonds that others might place on us.
 
Finally, the larger bead was chosen because of the Biblical story of Joseph. In Genesis, Joseph was mistreated by his brothers and sold into slavery in Egypt. Despite his trials, he continued to turn to God, who strengthened and protected him, eventually leading him to be released from the situation.
 
Sardonyx, is the stone for the tribe of Joseph; the tribe of Joseph was later divided into the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh.
 
I created this design to represent strength, endurance and faith. Of course, you don’t have to be religious to enjoy this design or the sentiments of the stones used. I love how the colours complement each other and the variety of patterns on Sardonyx beads which help make each bracelet stand out in it’s own unique way.

Right now, I am making a lot of gemstone lava bead bracelets. I love being able to use different gemstones, like rose quartz and aventurine, or the bright unique beads of striped agate. Even if I repeated a design, the unique composition of natural gemstones mean no two bracelets will ever be exactly the same.
 
​​My love of gemstones began when I was a child, on our family holidays to Charmouth and Lyme Regis along the Jurassic Coast. We would go fossil hunting along the beach, it was like a treasure hunt for long forgotten relics. Then we would go to the little gift shops and fossils shops, for another type of treasure hunt. We would find the gigantic fossils of ammonites and ichthyosaurs on display, that were always a wonder to look at. Huge chunks of amethyst that made me dream of caves lined with crystals. And among the treasures were smaller, affordable pieces; treasures that I could take home with me.
 
I fell in love with the little seaside shops with unique handmade goods, the shell and bead bracelets; even the trips down little cobbled alleyways to find hidden shops added to the magic of these holidays. I remember the joy of finding those little treasures that most excited me, being able to choose a few affordable pieces that I could take home with me. To this day, when people come to my home, they are commenting on the various objects and ornaments that I picked up on my holidays. In 2010, I returned to Charmouth and Lyme Regis on holiday with my mum and finally bought a pair of pink agate bookends; something I had wanted for a long time! I have a small pewter fairy on a chunk of amethyst crystals that I bought when I was little and I very much hope I can return to the Jurassic Coast soon, to find some more treasures!
 
Meanwhile, that's what I want Fairy Cove Curiosities to be; it's a little treasure trove of beautiful things that add a sprinkle of magic to the recipe of life. I have strung beads made of my favourite gemstones to make unique and colourful bracelets! What are some of your favourite gemstones?