Gold in Them Thar Hills

The year was 1949. Settlers streamed across the nation in search of gold, after the discovery at Sutter's Mill on January 24, 1848. Over the next few years, over 200,000 arrived in California. Some struck it rich. Others did not, and struggled to survive.

Many were fooled by Pyrite, or Fool's Gold, with its brassy gold glitter.



Miners with get-rich-quick schemes soon and sadly learned that Fool's Gold was worthless. What they did not realize was that Pyrite is normally found around deposits of Copper and Gold. Had they dug deeper, they may have found what they were seeking.

This bracelet is the cemetery left behind, after 49ers moved on and others settled in.



It has nine brass tombstones surrounded by tombstones of Pyrite. There are pyrite nuggets as well, to tempt and to remind.



They are set off with hematite, vintage Czech glass seed beads, and fire polish crystals. And every Cornerstoregoddess bracelet comes with a bead to protect the wearer from the evil eye.





This is my answer to the second EHAG (Eclectic Halloween Artists’ Group) tombstone challenge this month. I’ve always been fascinated by the cemeteries in ghost towns, and, being a rock freak, the ores that drew the settlers there.

Other EHAG-ers created some intriguing tombstone art. Here’s a peek at some of the other offerings.

This one is from Joyce Stahl, who made a tombstone quilt.




This needle punch tombstone is from Sherry Kristoff, of Sherry’s Heart.




Searching EHAG on both ebay and etsy will bring a diverse and creative assortment of hand-crafted Halloween-themed art. Take a look the next time you're feeling ghoulish!