Jade Co Hobby

Peter R Stewart asked:


Jade Mountain Resort is a recent addition to the Luxury Hotel in St Lucia market, having been open since late 2006.

It is one of the most perfect places imaginable as a honeymoon resort, and whilst St Lucia can lay claim to be one of the world’s leading destinations, and a top honeymoon destination anyway, there is little doubt that for years to come Jade Mountain Resort will be the place for your St. Lucia Honeymoon.

This is an exclusive resort with a slight difference in that it is a luxury exclusive resort within a luxury resort. What that means is high above the Caribbean Sea yet still within the famed Anse Chastanet Luxury Resort. Jade Mountain Resort is a really romantic place to be, and as a setting it is without equal in St Lucia, with 24 spectacular suites, starting with the Star, then the Moon, followed by the Sun, according to the floor space and the position, and therefore the price. The Sun has the best views.

Each suite is known as a sanctuary, and they are indeed spectacular with 5metre ceilings, the outside wall missing to expose possibly the most spectacular view imaginable of the Caribbean from any hotel, if not views in the world. The twin Pitons dominate the view, which takes nothing away from the huge infinity pool which appears to be suspended in space. The sanctuaries also have a large living areas using a selection of renewable hardwoods, and all have their own individual characteristics.

As you might expect the bathrooms are pretty spectacular as well, with a rain shower and a chromatherapy two person whirlpool tub with panoramic views. Quite amazingly for such a 21st century Luxury Hotel, the Jade Mountain Resort is in fact very low-tech, and this is something added that makes it so very suitable for a St Lucia honeymoon. There are no telephones, , radios or televisions, and no children under the age of sixteen, which makes it undoubtedly a real romantic getaway. Each Sanctuary has a unique bell pull cord to summon a dedicated room service and housekeeping team.

Guests at the Jade Mountain Resort have a good choice of dining options. You can eat in your sanctuary off the extensive suite service menu at any time of the day or night. Then you can eat at the Jade Mountain Club which is at the very top of Jade Mountain. This is an exclusive area for Jade Mountain Resort guests with Dining and bar areas, and a communal infinity pool. You can have a drink or a meal, as it serves breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner, as well as an a la carte menu available all day.

Higher up is the Celestial Terrace which is a relaxation area for sunbathing.

Of course Jade Mountain Resort guests can use all the facilities of Anse Chastanet Resort, which means two beaches, pristine coral reefs for snorkelling or scuba diving, watersports, tennis and sunset sailing on the hotel yacht.

You get the best of all worlds at the Jade Mountain Resort, with all the facilities of a luxury resort in Anse Chastanet, whilst maintaining the exclusivity of the perfect romantic hideaway for a top class St Lucia Honeymoon.

For more information go to Caribbean Hotel Hideaways at http://www.worldwidevacationspots.com/categories/Caribbean-Hotel-Hideaways

jairae11 asked:


I have a Jade and it’s viney. Three indidual plants sprouting upwards, should they be close together, like a cluster? or should I individualize them?

Lee Dobbins asked:


Bonsai trees are a great way to have a healthy thriving plant as well as exercise some of your creativity and one of the best plants to start with is the Baby Jade. A Succulent bonsai, this plant is sometimes called the Elephant Plant or the Small Leaf Jade and is native to South Africa. It is quite tolerant to under watering and is a good beginner plant for home or office.

Baby Jade is a rather new bonsai which develops quite quickly and, unlike other types of Bonsai, can go for long periods without water. It can grow to 3 or 4 meters in the wild and being a succulent, it stores it’s water is the trunk, branches and leaves.

This lovely plant is easy to care for and style and great to look at too! The young plant has green bark which turns reddish brown and then slate gray as it ages. It has fleshy round leaves that range from pale gray to blue-green to dark green which are complimented by reddish colored stems. It blooms with tiny star shaped pinkish purple flowers. The trunk and branches can be droopy and make lovely long cascades.

The Baby Jade Bonsai is a tropical plant the doesn’t do well in climates that get below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. If you live in a warm climate it will do well outdoors in full sunlight, but if you are in a colder area it is best to keep your Bonsai inside in the winter and Baby Jade will the fine as long as you provide it with enough light. Watering should be done regularly – water until the soil is moist and let the soil dry between waterings. Don’t add too much water so that there is a standing puddle in the pot.

Pruning and shaping your bonsai is part of the fun and you should be sure to let the soil dry before you cut off roots or heavy branches. After you have made any cuts, water sparingly until the cut heals over. If you want to stop a branch from growing longer, remove the terminal bud. To shape the tree, pinch the buds and branches that are growing where you don’t want them. Be sure to pinch gently with your fingers. Baby Jade is a fast grower and will need to be pinched quite frequently during the growing season. Use a 1mm aluminum wire to rotate branches and leaves.

You should repot your Baby Jade bonsai every 2 years. This is best done in the early spring. Befor repotting, dry the soil out thoroughly. After repotting, keep Baby Jade in a shady spot until you see some new growth and once you do start to water it again as usual.

Namom asked:


I was just given a baby jade plant. I would liketo put it in larger plant with another succulent (aloe, cacti,). I’ve never cared for succulents so don’t know what wouls be a “good mix.” Also want to cover with decorative pebbles if possible. Any info, picutures, links would be great!

Kassy M asked:


I just bought this pretty jade green dress, with some floral design in beading and I don’t know what color shoes to wear with it.

Miel asked:


I heard jade can be enhanced to be greener.

JsWhite asked:


From time immemorial, jade has been closely associated with the Chinese culture.

To the Chinese people, it has the power to protect body and spirit for both the living and the deceased; they also treat it as talisman. In the West, jade is sought after for its elegance, mystique and romance.

Jade can be classified into two different types, nephrite and jadeite. They are two totally different minerals. Colours of nephrite include translucent white, yellow, green, black and the colour is always evenly distributed. Colours of jadeite include white, purple, yellow, green and others; evenness of colours varies with different textures.

Most of the jades yielded in China are nephrite. Among highly treasured pieces of nephrite are some described as “mutton fat”. As the description implies, these are pieces creamy white in colour and uniformly translucent. The majority of fine-carved jade artifacts are made of nephrite.

Jadeite is mainly produced in Burma.Since it is more prominent than nephrite in different aspects, such as texture, colour and price, it is used almost exclusively in jewellery setting, which also lead to a large demand in the market, so we will confine our discussion to jadeite.

Jadeite is also known as fei tsui. The criteria we employ for its appreciation are : colour, transparency, clarity, cutting and flaws.

COLOUR

Colour is of paramount importance. We examine the colour of fei tsui according to the following criteria:

1.Purity

Purity refers to the proportion of the prime and the secondary colours. Let’s take green fei tsui as example, the most desirable is pure green; in descending order of desirability are green tinted with yellow, blue and grey.

2.Intensity

The more saturated the green the better the jade. However, an overdone intensity is of only middling quality.

3.Vividness

The colour should be vibrant and lively. The presence of grey and black makes the green dull without altering its tint.

4.Evenness

The more even the colour, the more desirable the jade and the higher the value.

 

TRANSPARENCY

 

Transparency of fei tsui affects the refraction of light and its beauty. When light enters a transparent fei tsui with fine texture, it sparkles; if light enters an opaque fei tsui with coarse texture, it refracts dull light to the eye that reduces attractiveness.

 

CLARITY

Clarity refers to inclusions, which cohered with jade during the formation process, mainly in black and white. In general, white inclusions are less distracting than black ones and, of course, the less visible the inclusion the better.

CUTTING

Fei tsui is usually worked into two categories: plain polished shapes such as cabochon and carved designs. Plain polished shapes require higher grade material without flaws, and with good proportion, symmetry as well as appropriate thickness. For example, a well-cut cabochon should be neither too thick nor too thin in relation to the area of its top surface. Its “bulge” should be centered, prominent but not exaggerated.

Carved designs are often used to eliminate or minimize the effect of flaws and cracks. They are assessed on their aesthetics and the workmanship of the details.

FLAWS

Flaw lines are value-detractor of fei tsui.Fei tsui can be cracked and even broken when crashed. We can use a torch to examine cracks and flaws, so consumer should pay special attention when making purchase.

High quality jade can be sold at desirable price, however, it has a limited supply. To maximize profit, some businessmen proceed artificial treatment to jade before putting them on the market. Jade is then categorized into “A” jade, “B” jade and “C” jade.

Treated Jade

“C” Jade

“C” jade is dyed jade. During the treatment process, dyes are injected to colourless jade under a high temperature and high pressure environment. The jade will be wholly or partly be dyed into green or purple colours, however, by and by the colour of “C” jade will become dull and fade.

“B” Jade

The treatment process of “B” jade involves removing inclusions and impurities near the surface by bleaching or other chemical means, leaving mainly green and white material. Polymer resin, a chemical that solidifies into an almost colourless, clear mass, is then injected into the stone to fill up leftover space and enhance translucency. Since the structural integrity of jade is damaged during the process, flaws will appear very easily. If dye is injected during this treatment process, it can be categorized as “B + C” jade.

Natural Jade

“A” Jade

“A” jade is natural and untreated jade. Chow Sang Sang do not condone treatment processes, so we carry only “A” jade.

Jade Simpson asked:


An estimated 27 million Americans have thyroid disease, and more than half are undiagnosed. Frequently misunderstood, and too often overlooked and misdiagnosed, thyroid disease affects almost every aspect of health. Taking care of it with good nutrition is a smart step in the right direction. Here are some superfoods that research has shown can nurture a healthy thyroid, as well as some ones to avoid.

Coconut and coconut butter, or more commonly known as coconut oil, has been used as a food and medicine since the dawn of history. Unlike saturated animal fats found in meats and dairy products, coconut butter is a raw saturated fat containing fatty acids which the body can metabolize efficiently and convert to energy quickly. Research also shows it helps to regulate thyroid function.

Kelp is a stellar, nutrient-dense sea vegetable. It is also known as Laminaria and contains a natural substance that enhances flavor and tenderizes. Kelp works as a blood purifier, and promotes adrenal, pituitary and thyroid health. Its natural iodine may help normalize thyroid-related disorders, like overweight, and lymph system congestion.

Turkey is one of the leanest protein foods and is low in calories, making it an excellent healthy food choice. Turkey also contains selenium which has been shown to inhibit cancer development, improve the immune system, and aid in the metabolism of our thyroid hormone. Thyroid patients should avoid the consumption of goitrogens, substances that suppress the function of the thyroid gland, and which can also cause an enlargement of the thyroid. Goitrogens are in foods such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, mustard, kale, turnips, and canola oil. Soy and peanuts also include goitrogens and should be avoided.

Both copper and iron are so important for thyroid function, so thyroid patients should take time to make sure they’re getting enough in their diets. Foods such as organ meats, oysters, clams, crabs, cashews, sunflower seeds, wheat bran cereals, whole-grain products, and cocoa products are all rich in copper. Foods like leafy green vegetables, beans, shellfish, red meat, and poultry are high in iron. Complement your iron intake with adequate amounts of vitamin C from foods such as citrus fruits, red berries, tomatoes, potatoes, and bell peppers to help maximize your body’s iron absorption efficiency.

Isadore Chait asked:


Jade is one of the most-loved collectibles. Its origins are ancient, its properties both medicinal and decorative. Though revered around the world, jade is most commonly associated with China, where it has been known for 8,000 years. The early Chinese called it yu and saw it as a “living stone,” radiating with an inner glow.

       

Often ground, mixed with wine and fed to the emperors, jade was believed to increase imperial longevity. Symbolically, a court gentleman, on reaching 80, was allowed to carry a jade pigeon on a pole. Concubines received jade scepters from their emperors. Mandarin hats had carved small finials on their tops and a jade plume holder in the back. Chinese women decorated their hair with jade. Han dynasty princes and princesses were sometimes buried in suits of jade, a notable feat accomplished by stitching together bits of jade with threads of silver or gold.    

 

Around the turn of the 20th century, we start to see large, fancy and

colorful carvings made for Western consumption.  Table-top and decorative items produced between 1880 and 1900 were often embellished with silver or gold, even enamel. In the second half of the 20th century, traditional styles began to give way to an elaborate new standard.

 

There are two kinds of jade: hard and soft. Ancient jade and hard jade are often referred to as jadeite. Though found in a variety of colors, the most valuable is green. The most valuable green is a near emerald green called Imperial Jade or gem-jade. Other colors, such as yellow jade, have their place in the pantheon of Chinese carvings too. Soft jade is called nephrite. Its coloration ranges from slightly off-white to yellowish white or greenish white. The latter is often referred to as celadon jade.

 

When you see the word jade modified by an adjective?such as serpentine jade, mountain jade, new jade?watch out. These names are often given to pseudo jades. The quality of your collection depends on knowing how to differentiate the real jades from the imposters.  (You will find an entire chapter on fake jades in my book, Collecting Asian Art.)

       

Since jade is an ancient stone, it is useless to try to quantify it by date. Other criteria must be used, and one way is to know the forms that were popular during the different periods. New, machine- made copies of older designs differ from the originals in subtle ways. The most prominent is that new carvings rarely have the same aesthetic relationship to the stone as older ones.

       

To value a jade carving, you must first determine whether it is modern or pre-World War II. If the jade you are viewing has a high sheen, you will do well to err on the side of caution. 

       

The next step is to figure out if the raw material is actually jade or a fake jade. Real jade tends to feel little bit colder than pseudo jade, so give it the touch test.  Next, use a jeweler’s loupe to look for inclusions. There should not be any.  Nowadays, carvers work around black spots and trapped crystalline formations, using holes and other tricks to hide impurities.

 

Finally, determine if the stone has been dyed. Again, get out your loupe. If you see that the color is located only in the fissures, you can safely say the stone has been artificially colored. If you do this and are still not sure, there are tests you can be done at home or in a lab.

 

To begin your comparison of jade carvings, look at the catalog for our upcoming International and Fine Arts Auction, or any of our past sales. We regularly vet and feature collections of fine jade carvings.

Ivy P asked:


I just bought a handsome new jade plant. It’s big, beautiful and lives indoors. Any tips for taking care of a well-established jade? Thanks Lil Kittens!