Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Garden Summer SeriesA beautiful Paua shell pendant surrounded by Mother


Garden Summer Series






A beautiful Paua shell pendant surrounded by Mother of Pearl tubes & chips, Florite chips, Freshwater Pearls, czech glass & seed bead mix. Sterling. Matching Ankle bracelet and cluster earrings (not pictured).

Peach milk glass butterfly pendant surrounded by AB glass chips and seed bead mix. Notice how I gave her antenna... Sterling. Matching ankle bracelet.

These will be one of a kind.

jeanettedesignstudio@gmail.com (~jeanette design studio~)

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Goldilocks and the Three Apartments Our lease is coming up


Goldilocks and the Three Apartments
Our lease is coming up for renewal, so lately we've been looking around town for reasonably-priced exciting rentals to replace our comfortable, but plain and boxy, current apartment in Alexandria.

Well, we found exciting. We looked at a castle:

071506_003b

And a gorgeous townhouse:

townhouse080806_7b

And looked through a number of Craigslist ads. Sadly, the castle was falling apart inside, and the townhouse was way too expensive. We've decided that the apartment complex we live in, though, is just right, so Goldilocks might be upgrading to a two-bedroom apartment in October. We'll see how prices run after Labor Day. Like airlines, our complex changes its prices daily.

Monday, August 28, 2006

Last minute show added I know this is short notice,


Last minute show added
I know this is short notice, but I’ll be displaying some jewelry at the Art Walk in Sausalito, CA next Wednesday, July 12th, frorm 5:00-7:00. I posted some new resin pieces at my yahoo blog. Most of my resin pendants are $40 (price includes black cord - silver chains available for an additional charge). Drop me [...]

Sunday, August 27, 2006

Meet High Snobiety?s Newest Writer: Me! Check it out my


Meet High Snobiety?s Newest Writer: Me!
Check it out my friends! My first column over at High Snobiety is up and running. David tapped me and two other very cool chicks to pen a lady’s streetwear column. My first post is up and it is called Why Quality Matters or How Ladies Will Save Streetwear

Saturday, August 26, 2006

The Camera Saga Continues After giving the camera a couple


The Camera Saga Continues
After giving the camera a couple of days to dry out, it seems to be cooperating again. Yay! I give it a provisional bill of good health until I run it through another jewelry photo shoot.

What Designer Handbag Are You Sporting This Fall? Couture in


What Designer Handbag Are You Sporting This Fall? Couture in the City Fashion Blog

Hot bag looks for fall 2006.


Socoley - Large Bubble Bag $470



Features a hand-braided strap, hand-braided detailing, and a gold-plated Socoley signature buckle.

This gorgeous Golden Bleau tote has a detailed quilted that lines the exterior and matching copper rings and studs.



Kooba Ginger in Suede $575



Beautiful soft chocolate suede leather bag with suede lining.


Kooba Maria in Terraine $485



Maria is one of the hottest new bags from Kooba! A smaller version of the Kooba Carla Bag.


Bulga Slouchy Shoulder Bag $575



Soft leather bag in a luxurious tan. Extra thick strap with decorative woven leather detaling.

Technorati Tags: handbags designer handbags LeFashionista fashion expert weblogs accessories shopping

lefashionista@gmail.com (Editor)

Friday, August 25, 2006

Conjecture 4 Art ShowThis is the first time I've set


Conjecture 4 Art Show

This is the first time I've set up using panels, rather than a table, for display.

The panels are 4' x 4' pegboards (on a 2x4" frame), and arranged in "bays". I got two panels-- the ones I used were right under a light.

Most of my jewelry was mounted on pieces of ceiling tile, using T-pins and jewelry u-pins. I have a "bin" that holds my business cards. I had planned to use a certain size of hook to hold up the displays, but those hooks did not fit the art show's peg boards, so I had to use bulldog clips to hang them instead.

kaytee

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Jade & Coral Necklace, with instructionsA substantial necklace.... Focal piece


Jade & Coral Necklace, with instructions

A substantial necklace.... Focal piece is about 3" long. Directions, and "ingredients" for making this necklace are in "Comments".

04-07 $75

kaytee

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

The Sea Cliff CollectionThere is nothing quiet about the Sea


The Sea Cliff Collection


There is nothing quiet about the Sea Cliff Collection. The pieces are bold and unique, with an aquatic twist. One-of-a-kind sea creatures accent necklaces and rings with unusually-shaped beads and precious and semi-precious gemstones. The impressive result is a collection full of fun and charm that truly captures the trappings of the good life.

Stay tuned for the launch of John S. Brana due out in mid-August.

jbrana@johnsbrana.com (John S Brana)

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Sapphire (Part 1)The production of gem-quality sapphires in the United


Sapphire (Part 1)
The production of gem-quality sapphires in the United States is not new or recent. In 1865, the first U.S. sapphires were found in the gravels of the Missouri River in Lewis and Clark County, Montana. This was followed by subsequent discoveries on Dry Cottonwood Creek in Deer Lodge County in 1889, on Rock Creek in Granite County in 1892, and in Yogo Gulch in Judith Basin County in 1895. Additionally, small amounts of sapphire are recovered from Quartz Gulch in Granite County, Pole Creek in Madison County, the Missouri River in Chouteau County, and Brown's Gulch in Silver Bow County. Furthermore, corundum crystals, from which star sapphires have been cut, are found in Beaverhead and Madison Counties. Also, in 1895, the first sapphires were produced from........

To continue reading about Sapphire (Part 1), please visit our Beading Newsletter Archives section located at the left hand side of our homepage or simply click here.

blog@houseofgems.com (House Of Gems)

DIY Light Box: Better Jewelry Photography in Half an Hour


DIY Light Box: Better Jewelry Photography in Half an Hour

Light Box
Originally uploaded by Angel's Lens.
Because that's how long it took me to make this light box. No, really.

Although there's a funny story lurking here. As a devotee of the Container Store, I was there on Saturday drooling over all the fun little gadgets and storage stuff. I decided to get a box to make this light tent while we were there and spent ten minutes puzzling over exactly the right box in the shipping materials aisle, unable to find anything that exactly suited my needs.

Eventually my long-suffering husband pointed out that the big cardboard box full of small plastic boxes, already in the cart, was exactly the shape I was looking for. Oops.

Anyhow, the whole thing took exactly half an hour to make. Slice out the sides with an Exacto knife, tape on some tissue paper (which I had on hand, being the Queen Pack Rat) and stick a $5 bendy lamp on each side. Voila! Doesn't look like much, but works really well.

I still need to get another bendy lamp high enough to bend over the top, and a piece of posterboard for the inside to replace the white fur that's currently there. It would also help to have the box in a place where I can poke the camera down through the top, but the only place to put it right now is on the filing cabinet where it's pictured, which puts it at eye level. A good start, though. I'll post a few of the photos I took this morning.

It's Crazy Chicken time!I had a job interview today at,


It's Crazy Chicken time!
I had a job interview today at, of all places, El Pollo Loco. No, I'm not vying for the head chicken cooker position (shut up, Sparkle). The job is at their corporate headquarters where I would be an executive administrative assistant supporting two VP's and a director. It seems like the interview went well and I should hear something back by the end of the week so keep your fingers crossed! A steady paycheck means I'll be able to afford bead inventory and actually get this blog and jewelry business back up to speed.

In the meantime, I celebrated by hitting the anniversary sale at Nordstrom's where I picked up these to-die-for Calvin Klein boots. I know, I know, they really are utterly fabulous and what a deal at that price! Now, if it would only get to be fall weather so I could wear them to my (hopefully) new job as part of an equally fabulous outfit.

Carrie Bradshaw eat your heart out!

KJ

Silver Parrot

Monday, August 21, 2006

Jewelry Photography: Part 1 Photography Originally uploaded by Angel's Lens.


Jewelry Photography: Part 1

Photography
Originally uploaded by Angel's Lens.

Photography
Originally uploaded by Angel's Lens.
I've been getting lots of Google hits from people searching for tips on jewelry photography, so it's time I pulled together a post about how I do it. You can click on any of the photos to see a larger version.

Every artist you talk to will have a different method of taking pictures of their work. Other people use scanners, light boxes, and other methods. This is what works for me, so keep in mind that one way won't work for everyone. My way also happens to be very inexpensive.

I use a digital camera to take my photos. Mine is a several-year-old Olympus Camedia. It's a mid-range point-and-shoot digital, but cheaper cameras will work too.

I sometimes use a tripod as well - a cheap one from Wal-mart that stands about two feet high. My current setup doesn't have room for it, so it's tucked into a corner until I need it again. Tripods are handy for jewelry photography because they keep the vibration of your hands from making the shot blurry.

As far as physical setup, I use two bendy-neck lamps (also cheap and from Wal-mart) and a piece of white fur or fabric. Other than that I use what I have on hand. The whole thing stays on the top of a filing cabinet.

Today's Shoot

I generally use white necklace and earring stands to support the jewelry, but they all currently happen to be over at the coffeehouse with my consignments. So on this particular shoot, I just laid the necklaces out flat. I still had a bracelet cone around (you can see it at left above) and I used a flat piece of glass (from a picture frame) to hang the earrings on (also above).

I use my camera's "Auto" setting and flood the area with as much light as possible. Keeping the camera still and steady is extremely important: unlike artistic shooting, you want every detail to show up clearly. I tend to let pieces build up and do them all at once rather than do a shoot every day.

So there's my setup. It's pretty simple, but it works well, and I can use anything I like as a prop. I've used everything from glass to pottery to sand to seashells to feathers to support the jewelry and help create an atmosphere.

I'll be covering how I work with the digital images I've produced in the next post. Stay tuned!


TB introducing Jessica ElliotWith no formal fashion or jewelry training,


TB introducing Jessica Elliot
With no formal fashion or jewelry training, and only one class in metal fabrication, some have even called it a Cinderella story. The designer likens her tenacity and passion to a family trait. For me, finding an interesting chain, mixing gold and silver in an unusual way, using delicate stones with bold shapes these fill a creative need for me that just kind of happened accidentally. I didn t grow up thinking I wanted to be a jewelry designer. JESSICA ELLIOT the company came about from a really fulfilling hobby and went from there.
Her pieces can be seen on shows such as Desperate Housewives , Will and Grace and many more. For the woman in a $10,000 dress and the lady in jeans on the street, each JESSICA ELLIOT piece is made to stop traffic.

Sterling Handcuff Choker

The Sterling Handcuff Choker by Jessica Elliot is handmade from sterling silver and is modeled after handcuffs from the 1970s. Necklace measures 16. made of sterling silver necklace with chain measures 16". $168.00

Large Vermeil Antique Key Necklace

The Large Vermeil Antique Key Necklace features a large gold vermeil antique key on a 24 textured gold-filled chain. Key measures almost 3 long. As seen in January issue of Lucky Magazine. made of gold vermeil on a 24 textured gold-filled chain. $180.00

Small and Medium Antique Key Necklace

Small and Medium Antique Key Necklace is a unique piece from designer Jessica Elliot. This necklace contains two sterling silver antique keys on a 24 ball chain necklace. The small key measures 1 1/2 x 1/2 and the medium key measures 2 x 1. made of sterling silver on a 24 ball chain. $188.00
Sponsored by
CoutureCandy - The Sweetest Fashions on Earth

Editor

Sunday, August 20, 2006

Studio MessI swore I was never going to leave it


Studio Mess




I swore I was never going to leave it without cleaning up, but when your working till 2am you kind of run out of steam! My cat manages to jump through the mess to find a little corner to keep me company. She follows me everywhere! We saved her from the pound about 8 years ago, her name is Sabrina. So if I'm not posting, it's hectic and busy! Running three kids around and the end of the school year craze.

jeanettedesignstudio@gmail.com (~jeanette design studio~)

Saturday, August 19, 2006

Bead Show List UpdatedMany new shows have been added to


Bead Show List Updated
Many new shows have been added to the Bead Show List on the Kintera Arts Website. I didn't have all the states listed on previous releases. I'm now working diligently to add the rest. The most recent addition is Minnesota. Michigan and Missouri will be up by tomorrow. California still ranks highest for having the most bead shows. Kinda make me want to live there.

Anne

Metallo BiancoFor Cassandra Wanick, metalsmithing is the ultimate creative outlet.


Metallo Bianco

For Cassandra Wanick, metalsmithing is the ultimate creative outlet. Her jewelry at Metallo Bianco, incorporates her fine metalsmithing skills into luscious, wearable pieces using both sterling silver and 14k gold with precious and semi-precious stones. Her style is edgy and contemporary with a hint of natural elements carefully placed.

bonnindesigns@yahoo.com (bonnindesigns)

Friday, August 18, 2006

And another thing......and this one's for the guys...Don't, I repeat,


And another thing...
...and this one's for the guys...

Don't, I repeat, DO NOT pick your nose on international (or any other) television! I saw this guy being interviewed on CNN (hence the "international" part of this commandment) this morning and right in the middle of the interview he reaches up and goes digging in his left nostril. HE DIDN'T EVEN STOP TALKING WHILE HE DID IT!

I was all "wait, did he just...no, I don't believe...oh man, that guy JUST PICKED HIS NOSE ON CNN!"

I mean, these interviews are like 60 seconds long. He can't wait that long for the red light to go out before he goes nose-spelunking?

Ugh.

KJ

P.S. You know his buddies Tivo'd this and will replay it ad nauseam for the rest of his life and you know what? He deserves it because he PICKED HIS NOSE ON CNN!

Silver Parrot

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Bead Show ListI've put together that bead show list I


Bead Show List
I've put together that bead show list I mentioned a week or two ago. You know, the one that lists all the bead and jewerly making supply shows that I can find. I'll keep this one current and updated just like the contest list. It's not quite finished yet, but it is usable in it's current state and there is quite a bit there. It's already the longest web page I've ever created and I've still got a LOT to add to it. You can find it at http://kinteraarts.com/bead-show-list.shtml.

Anne

Welcome to Crystal Allure's Jewelry blog!Welcome to Crystal Allure's Jewelry


Welcome to Crystal Allure's Jewelry blog!
Welcome to Crystal Allure's Jewelry blog!

stephanie@crystalallure.com (Stephanie Jean)

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Upcoming Show Don't forget -if you live in Roches...Upcoming ShowDon't


Upcoming Show Don't forget -if you live in Roches...
Upcoming Show

Don't forget -if you live in Rochester, New York stop by the Chil-E Festival to see all of the wonderful jewelry and accessories from Crystal Allure Creations!!

Saturday, July 22nd ~ Chil-E Festival
11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Memorial Park ~Rochester, NY
For directions, contact (585) 889-3550

Whether you live here or not you can always shop my online boutique at Crystal Allure Creations.

Methods of payment that will be accepted at this show include: cash, check, mastercard and visa.

stephanie@crystalallure.com (Stephanie Jean)

Plus a Change, Plus C?est la M me Chose Recently I


Plus a Change, Plus C?est la M me Chose
Recently I was browsing though old photos from last Fashion Week when I ran across a photo of myself in the tents. I feel like things have changed so much since February. It has been literally years in internet time since the fall collections were shown and yet this photo only feels a little dated [...]

Monday, August 14, 2006

The Beauty of a NecklaceFor me, the real beauty of


The Beauty of a Necklace

For me, the real beauty of a necklace is that it usually doesn't get in the way of doing things throughout the day the way that a bracelet can. But I am a bracelet person through and through. Sometimes I have to stop and work on making necklaces - to match bracelets - or just to "even" out my inventory. I 've been working with coral and with turquoise so I incorporated both into the necklace that you see above. That's pink angelskin coral with some nice large stabilized turquoise nuggets that I've had, and of course, I had to add some lampwork beads. One of the problems I have with necklaces (that I don't with bracelets) is that I'm bothered that on many people the back of the necklace will never be seen.

The second necklace I'm temped to keep for myself. I adore lapis and the lapis in this necklace is especially good with lots of the glittering gold pyrite that I like so much. And while carnelian is great with lapis, turquoise is wonderful when paired with lapis. I've also used lots of vermeil because lapis and gold are just scrumptious!
I'm trying to slow down a bit and take a little holiday. I only have one auction on Ebay this week, and summer is slow anyway. I'm going to try to stay in the pool some (if I can tear myself away from my beads), put in a new closet, and do various things that I've been ignoring for ever so long. It's amazing how much jewelry I can make while the house falls down around my ears!
Turquoise and Coral Jewelry by Cluny Grey
The Jewelry Blog necklace beads beading jewelry weblogs jewellery turquoise coral lapis gold silver

clunygrey@yahoo.com (Cluny Grey)

The adding of handfelt embellishing adds so much t...The adding


The adding of handfelt embellishing adds so much t...

The adding of handfelt embellishing adds so much texture to the ArtDolls. This is my Cottage Garden Muse PRICE: $95.00 Posted by Picasa

mossdesigns15845@yahoo.com (Stephanie Distler)

Saturday, August 12, 2006

Fashion Archives6/3/06 Bridal Jewelry Trends4/20/06 Spring Forcast 2006Anne

Earrings - Seeing Double Making sets - necklace, earrings, bracelet


Earrings - Seeing Double
Making sets - necklace, earrings, bracelet - can be a great way to create multiple sales. When I worked in retail, that was always a big whoping deal. You never wanted the customer to leave the store with just one item in her bag. However, one down fall to making sets is that it’s not unusual [...]

May is National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month C...May is National


May is National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month C...
May is National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) affects approximately 30,000 children and young adults in the United States. CF causes a sticky, thick mucus to line the lungs, small intestines, sweat glands and pancreas. This results in the deterioration of lung tissue making it difficult to breathe. It also prevents necessary nutrient absorption in the small intestine and blocks pancreatic ducts from releasing digestive enzymes. 1 in every 23 Americans are symptomless carriers of the CF gene.

Crystal Allure Creations is a proud supporter of the Lungs for Life Foundation. LFL provides assistance and services to those living with cystic fibrosis and their families. CAC has made significant strides in raising awareness of this hereditary disease since 2004 with the sales from our Cystic Fibrosis Awareness bracelets. For every bracelet sold a portion of the proceeds gets donated to the Lungs for Life Foundation.

As one who was personally affected with cystic fibrosis in my family I know all to well the struggles one faces daily with trying to live life and manage their health. My brother passed away in 1998 after fighting cystic fibrosis for 33 years. It was after seeing his daily struggles that I founded and continue to support the Lungs for Life Foundation.

Be a part of making a difference in the life of someone with cystic fibrosis with your purchase of any cystic fibrosis awareness product. Remember, a portion of the proceeds will be donated directly to LFL.

Thank you in advance for your support and generosity.

Link to the Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Collection at Crystal Allure Creations.

stephanie@crystalallure.com (Stephanie Jean)

Plus-Size Fashion Old-school Lane Bryant Originally uploaded by coma_high. As


Plus-Size Fashion

Old-school Lane Bryant
Originally uploaded by coma_high.
As a large-scale woman, I'm particularly interested in fashion for those of us who are average or larger. Most modern fashion is based on women who could blow away in a slight breeze. I think I'm going to devote some blogtime in the near future to ferreting out some plus-size fashion trends and news.

I got a catalog in the mail from Lane Bryant the other day and rushed off to the local store to see if I could get a pair of pants in time for the 4th of July weekend.

Alas, no pants for me. It seems that Lane Bryant is not actually affiliated with the catalog they send out, which can be found at Lane Bryant Catalog. The only thing they share is the brand name. I think it's more than a little misleading.

Also, Lane Bryant Catalog doesn't use plus-size models for their clothing, unlike Lane Bryant. This actually backfires a little, as some of the clothes designed for large bodies look very silly on the skinny models. Also, a lot of the models look miserable in the photos.

LBCatalog's prices are pretty good, though, so I ordered a few things. We'll see how they look when they come in in around 10 business days.

As for the LB store, after confusing the poor salesladies with my requests for clothing "I saw in the catalog," I discovered they had a rather nice clearance sale going on and spent a good bit of time trying on clothes in my search for one decent pair of casual pants before the weekend. Nothing fit, so I came away with T-shirts. Ah well.

Thanks to coma_high for the great vintage LB photo. Click on it to explore more of their photos.

Friday, August 11, 2006

There were 21 new products added to the On Sale!


There were 21 new products added to the On Sale! p...
There were 21 new products added to the On Sale! page today.

Some of these products are one-of-a-kind and others will not be available again once they are sold out because they were holiday designs. And the prices just can't be beat! You really must take advantage of this great sale!

Check it out for yourself: On Sale!

stephanie@crystalallure.com (Stephanie Jean)

The Sky at Night PendantBased on Remy's tutorial, this pendant


The Sky at Night Pendant

Based on Remy's tutorial, this pendant is made of sterling silver which has been hand-woven to create an intricate effect. I *love* this style and I'm so proud of this pendant!

deadlydesignzuk@gmail.com (Nikki)

FAQ: Do you run your jewelry business full-time?There are many


FAQ: Do you run your jewelry business full-time?
There are many of us small-business owners out there who are still working at a "Day Job". Only recently did I cut back my hours at the DJ -- and it was a very tough decision!

Now, I had spoken to life coaches, gone to small business seminiars, got my tarot read, anything to help give me guidence on what to do with my growing jewelry business. I think there was a couple of factors that were making me hesitate to fully embrace my little business:

1) Financial security. If you really want your business to work, this is a MUST before making a drastic business decision! A life coach once said that if you're making as much money with your business as you do your salary, you are close to being able to transition to the business. But not to forget things like health insurance and other benefits a salaried job provides! Create a business plan, visit your local SBA office and learn learn learn.

2) Disappointing family. I come from a background where the careers of Doctor and Engineer were pretty much the only careers of merit. To have artistic aspirations and not have a traditional "job" are quite intimidating (see #1).

3) Passion. Was this something I really wanted to do? Was I able to embrace the accomplishments I had achieved so far in my business and accept that I may really want to design jewelry for a while? Strangely enough, hard to do. To go off and run your own business is a lonely thing to do. My brother's friend called it "entrepreneurial lonliness". I needed to give myself permission to risk (see #2).

How did I reconcile these feelings? I was lucky in that I had a DJ that has allowed me to go part-time (for a while, I was thinking I'd work at the local coffee shop to help pay the bills!). One thing was for sure -- I couldn't continue to work 24/7, it was driving me nuts. Something had to give, and a major revelation was coming to the realization that I didn't want my business to be the part of my life to change!

Part time is wonderful -- I still have that community of work/coworkers, plus I have a little more time to work on my business at normal business hours! But the rest is up to me -- setting new goals, using my time wisely, and not getting complacent. Now, more than ever, my passion is my business, and I need to make it work! And those choices are entirely up to me.

plcpeggy

reality check You see, I rarely dread work like I


reality check
You see, I rarely dread work like I did earlier today. I have such a full plate, and the tech acting all crazy and and and. The boy and I had just grabbed a late dinner and were on our way home. We parked my car on the street and were walking the block or so [...]

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Angel Pendants/Angel PinsYou have to check out the design gallery


Angel Pendants/Angel Pins

You have to check out the design gallery & angel gallery at HHH Enterprises! Click on their banner below. I haven't seen anything quite like the angel gallery... just in time to get ready for the holidays (yikes!). You can make angel pendants for necklaces or angel pins. Isn't she sweet?


click on their banner below:

125x125 Banner

jeanettedesignstudio@gmail.com (~jeanette design studio~)

Everything Else7/11/06 Not allowed to make jewelry...5/31/06 Jeep Rally Uses

Sapphire (Part 6)The Rock Creek sapphires are very similar to


Sapphire (Part 6)
The Rock Creek sapphires are very similar to the sapphires from the Missouri River but differ in the general shape of the crystals. The stones are basically crude hexagonal plates about the same dimension in width and height, with a much higher percentage of the material being well rounded water worn pebbles. There appears to be more of the larger sized (greater than 12.7 millimeters) material. Additionally, it is reported that the Rock Creek material has a greater percentage of stones that can be heat-treated for color enhancement.

During the past several years, there has been only a single producer on Rock Creek. The producer operated both a commercial recovery plant and a fee recovery area. The fee recovery area sold buckets of gravel for washing and also offered, for a predetermined fixed fee, the output of one day's operation of the commercial wash plant. There is work underway which would result in a second, much larger producer, opening an......

To continue reading about Sapphire please visit our Beading Newsletter Archives section located at the left hand side of our homepage or simply click here.

blog@houseofgems.com (House Of Gems)

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Survivor BraceletSad news from a dear friend this week. She's


Survivor Bracelet

Sad news from a dear friend this week. She's been diagnosed with breast cancer and is going to start chemo on Monday. Unsurprisingly, she's approaching this with the same bravery and sense of humor that she applies to the rest of her life. But I still want to do something for her. Since we live pretty far apart and casseroles don't tend to hold up in the mail, I decided to send her the next best thing: jewelry, of course. There's more than meets the eye with this seemingly simple and fun accessory. Look a little closer and you'll see that it's actually a pretty powerful talisman...
  • Eight focal beads represent the number of treatments she'll undergo. The word "suvivor" is also eight letters long.
  • Millefiori means "a thousand flowers" in Italian. For this bracelet, the thousand flowers represent my friend's huge network of supporters and well-wishers.
  • The colorful beads are a reflection of my friend's warm, friendly personality. You might choose crystals, ceramic beads or unusual lampwork beads if those suit your friend's style and personality better.
  • Each bead is different, in honor of the way each treatment will be just one page in this chapter of her life.
To design your own survivor bracelet, get out your bead board. Place the number of focal beads on the board that correspond with the number of treatments. Lay the clasp on the bead board along with the focal beads, then use smaller beads to fill in the target length. This version of the bracelet is 7" long. I used .024" diameter Beadalon 49 wire and an EZ-Crimp toggle clasp (yes, I'm addicted to those EZ-Crimps). It's important to use thicker wire since bracelets receive a lot of wear and tear.


Katie Hacker

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Saintly jewelsWorking on some religious items, this is St. Joseph


Saintly jewels






Working on some religious items, this is St. Joseph on leather (needs finishing). Some crackle glass bracelets.

Items are not yet listed on website. I hope to be working very hard finally getting everything cataloged and the website completed.

jeanettedesignstudio@gmail.com (~jeanette design studio~)

Save 35% On All Swarovski Crystal JewelryStill trying to find


Save 35% On All Swarovski Crystal Jewelry
Still trying to find the right piece of jewelry to go with your favourite party dress? Why not try a beautiful Swarovski crystal necklace? Or a pair of Swarovski crystal earrings? With hand-crafted designs and the added bonus of saving 35% on all Swarovski crystal jewelry, finding the perfect piece is only a click away!

Night or day, casual or dressy, Swarovski crystal jewelry is a great addition to any outfit. Add some sparkle to that dull work outfit with a chunky crystal bracelet. Show some pizazz for a night out on the town and wear an intricately designed Swarovski crystal necklace that will definitely get you a lot of looks!!

Maybe you're not looking for yourself? For birthday presents, wedding gifts, or just a token of appreciation, Swarovski crystal jewelry is a wonderful display of gratitude and affection for that special person. Get them a piece of jewelry as unique as they are and treat yourself at the same time by saving 35% on all Swarovski crystal jewelry!

Ashlynn

Monday, August 07, 2006

So Steve Jobs Enables My Life Or Lingerie Models And


So Steve Jobs Enables My Life Or Lingerie Models And Beatz
So I have been playing around with Revver.com which is being billed as the Youtube killer and I must say I am impressed. They did Web 2.0 right with the mantra of microchunk, monetize, distribute or you click on it, and it makes you money. So with the help of a laptop, a digital camera, access [...]

Self-Representing Artist - Jewelry DesignerLaura Bracken of Bracken Designs deserves


Self-Representing Artist - Jewelry Designer
Laura Bracken of Bracken Designs deserves much credit for starting this new organization. Laura describes this mission, as follows:

"We are an organization trying to raise awareness for the customers so they can begin to tell the difference between someone who makes and sells their own items versus someone who is merely a middleman and sells items made by others (often slave labor)."

Laura purchased the domain name, donated the website space, created the logo, responds to all the applications, investigates all the websites, answer emails, etc... along with taking care of her family, going to her full-time office job, running her business, and running an online dicussion group.

Laura recommends the best thing we can do at this point is to spread the word!

http://www.srajd.com

You can see my new logo at the right!

Thank you so much for your time, Laura!

jeanettedesignstudio@gmail.com (~jeanette design studio~)

Sunday, August 06, 2006

Something Altogether UnrelatedI admit, this is just filler. Kinda fun,


Something Altogether Unrelated
I admit, this is just filler. Kinda fun, though, but not terribly fashiony.

Currently, in my fashion meditations, it's the question of cogs posed by Susie over at Style Bubble. Trying to work up the energy to attempt to do a post on the subject, while in the back of my mind wondering if I really don't need to go shopping (I'm noticing some of my favorite things really need to be demoted to oil rags.)

While you are waiting for my cog post, and don't hold your breath, you may enjoy checking out this cog post by a mother of pre-schooler and Danielle's cogs, which she terms "mechanical".

















Your Linguistic Profile:


50% General American English
20% Upper Midwestern
10% Yankee
5% Dixie
5% Midwestern


Rebecca

Jeep Rally Uses Beads to Raise Money for Food BankThis


Jeep Rally Uses Beads to Raise Money for Food Bank
This Saturday is the third annual Topless Jeep Poker/Bead Rally in New Mexico. Going topless means taking the top off the Jeep Wranglers. They then drive the Jeeps through the towns of Portales and Clovis, collecting poker cards and beads at specified stops along the way for a total of seven cards and eight beads. At the finish, the Jeep with the best poker hand winds. The beads are strung into a Mardi-Gras style necklace for the participants to keep. The main goal of this rally is to raise money for the Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico.

Anne

Fantasy Jewelry Ahoy! Originally uploaded by Angel's Lens. I haven't


Fantasy Jewelry Ahoy!
The Wood-cutter's Wife
Originally uploaded by Angel's Lens.

I haven't gotten a single second to work on the Fantasyjewelry.net site, but I have had a chance to confer with a good friend, and there are great things in the works.

Jamaila, of Ancestral Pile, not only makes jewelry, but knows the DC-Baltimore fantasy and sci-fi circuit inside and out. With her expertise and my accessories we're going to try our hand at doing some fantasy shows in the area this year and next. It looks like our first one will be Capclave, in October.

She's having fun planning the booth and what events to do, and I'm (eventually) going to have fun making things and setting up the website. Life is good.

When The Times Tolls It Tolls For Thee A great


When The Times Tolls It Tolls For Thee
A great fashion blogger pastime has always been ridiculing the New York Time’s Style section. What supposedly new trend will they uncover this week? Big sunglasses? Cowboy boots? How about skinny jeans? This time I am, ironically, a little behind the Times in responding but better late than never. Last week the Times Magazine turns [...]

Man Made Diamonds, The Affordable Alternative.

Diamonds may be a woman’s best friend, but modern man made diamonds are so good as to be indistinguishable from real diamonds. And when you look at the huge savings on price, man made diamonds may be a woman’s best decision.

Increasingly, engaged couples are considering the cost of some wedding jewelry. In today’s high pressure high cost lifestyle couples are really wondering whether or not it is appropriate to spend big on, say, a diamond engagement ring.

The more spent on wedding jewelry the less available later for the important things in the marriage, like a house. Or the kids when they arrive. Is it responsible to spend so much to buy a diamond engagement ring when these more important things may need to be compromised later?

Especially when you consider that good quality man made diamonds cannot be distinguished from real diamonds, even by jewellers.

Faux diamonds are big business. The pearl jewelry industry was revolutionised by the advent of cultured pearls. Synthetic diamonds are doing the same thing to the wedding jewelry business.

There are a range of ways to produce synthetic diamonds. Modern technology is very adept at making any product which will sell well and faux diamonds are no exception. And the quality is so good that many of the alternatives to diamonds perform exceedingly well when compared to diamond using the common diamond quality tests.

In such tests as hardness, refractive index, fire, brilliance, luster and others the man made diamonds perform admirably. Sometimes even better.

Brilliance is a test of the amount of light which enters the stone and gets reflected back. It is affected by the quality of the cut of the stone.

Fire is the ability of the stone to break light down into it’s component colors and is also affected by the cut. “Fire” can be seen as color coming out of the stone.

Luster is the amount of light reflected back from the surface of the stone.

Moissanite, for example, outperforms diamond in brilliance, fire and luster and is only very slightly lower on the hardness scale. In fact a special piece of testing equipment had to be designed so that jewellers could tell moissanite from diamond as so many were unable to.

And, of course, moissanite is much cheaper than diamonds. And if most jewellers cannot tell it apart from diamonds, could you?

There are a range of different processes used to produce a stone which is a good diamond alternative. Most produce fine quality stones which produce stunning quality jewelry which any woman would be proud to wear.

Moissanite is not strictly a man made diamond though, as it is, in fact, naturally occurring. Unfortunately it doesn’t occur in sufficient quantities to be commercially viable for mining. But technology has come to the rescue by devising a method of producing high quality crystals.

Our preference for the best alternative to diamonds? Moissanite. A fine jewelry stone which will make a stunning engagement ring, or other jewelry piece. And you can buy moissanite wedding jewelry at a fraction of the price of diamond wedding jewelry.

And when the kids come along, buy them something extra from us from the money you’ve saved.

About the author:

Find out more about Moissanite Stones at Peter's website the Magic of Moissanite, at http://www.magic-of-moissanite.com as well as moissanite engagement rings, moissanite bridal rings and many other types of moissanite rings at http://www.magic-of-moissanite.com/moissanite-engagement-rings.html
© 2005 Peter Crump.

Are You An Amber Gal?

Amber is a beautiful gift from mother nature. It comes in many different colors - yellow, orange, red, white, brown, green, blue and almost black. It may be transparent or clouded. Transparent tones range from pale to dark yellow, to yellow light brown. Cloudy amber comes in many colors.

Amber is fossilized resin of ancient trees that grew in “amber forests”. Through various physical and chemical changes the resin becomes Amber. Amber is unique because it is able to preserve the organic tissues in it. It is very common to find pieces of plants and insects, trapped in amber making it extremely valuable to both collectors and the scientists. A beautiful and fascinating gem!

Amber is found in various parts of the world. The largest amber deposits are off the shores of the Baltic Sea. Baltic Amber is the most sought after and valuable for making amber jewelry.

Baltic Amber has been used for decorative items since prehistoric times. A Baltic amber amulet has even been found in Egyptian tombs . Amber was also very popular in ancient Rome during the reign of Neron when: jewelry, ornaments, amulets, and even dice were made from amber. During the Middle Ages, amber prayer beads were exported. From the 16th century into the 18th century item made from amber included jewelry, dishes, buttons, pipe mouth pieces, chess sets and a host of other fine products.

The majority of Baltic amber comes from a 400-square-mile area - the Samland Peninsula, now known as the Kaliningrad region. The Kaliningrad amber mine supplies 99% of the Baltic amber. Up until the 19th century amber was retrieved manually from the sea. During the latter part of the 19th century operations became much more sophisticated as they began dredging and mining for amber. Since then millions of pounds of Baltic amber have been mined.. A small town in the Kaliningrad region has the world’s largest amber mine.

Amber has a special beauty in its ability for each piece to be truly original in nature and content. The downfall to amber is like anything organic it does not last forever. Baltic amber is known to have the longest life expectancy. Taking proper care of your amber will result in enjoyment for many years, sometimes thousands of years as seen with the recovery of jewels from the past.

Some important tips for caring for your amber:
  • Never store amber where it may rub against hard surfaces such as metal or other jewelry.

  • Do not expose amber to harsh chemicals such as soap, jewelry cleaners, perfumes, hair products.

  • Do not expose amber to direct sunshine or heat.

  • To clean your amber wash in lukewarm water. Use a soft cloth to wash and dry. To restore the shine polish with pure olive oil.

  • Treat your amber like any fine gem.
Where amber with pride, add it to your jewelry wardrobe and be sure to make your fashion statement!

About the author:

Sher from Estate Jewelry International has been serving customers for over 20 years, providing fashion, jewelry,and wedding help. Please visit us at http://www.estatejewelryinternational.com/

Hot Wedding Trend: Platinum Wedding Rings

In our hungry-for-anything new pop culture world, celebrities are often the ones that can start a hot fashion trend seemingly overnight. With their heavy media exposure, they are often photographed wearing the latest styles in fashion and jewelry.

Platinum engagement and wedding rings are the latest celebrity trend that has taken the jewelry industry by storm. Several high-profile newlyweds have taken a shine to the cool elegance of platinum.

“Platinum is like our relationship in that it is strong, precious and timeless,” says Nick Lachey about the custom made platinum wedding rings he and his wife Jessica Simpson tied the knot with.

It seems that view of the lustrous metal is shared by other celebrity couples as well such as: Russell Crowe and Danielle Spencer, Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale, Adam Sandler and Jackie Titone, as well as, popular actresses Reese Witherspoon and Kate Hudson.

Celebrities are especially fond of pairing fancy colored diamonds with their platinum rings. Also, the three diamond platinum engagement ring has quickly become all the rage among new brides.

So, if you’re looking to buy diamond jewelry online, whether it’s for a special occasion like a wedding, or a gift for a special person, consider platinum jewelry as one of your best and brightest options.

About the author:

Copyright 2004
Donna Monday
One special moment. One special ring.
http://www.1-love-rings.com

Tips For Buying Estate Jewelry For Your Mother

Estate Jewelry is the perfect gift for your Mom whether it’s for Mother’s Day, her birthday, or Christmas. Mother’s will always enjoy a lovely piece of jewelry. But there are some things you should know before heading out to buy that jewelry to make sure you don’t pay too much or don’t land up with a fake piece of jewelry. Estate jewelry is always an excellent choice because your Mom may have personal attachments to a certain piece or style. Follow these tips for buying jewelry for your Mother.

Check around!

Quality jewelry isn’t cheap so before you even start shopping check around with co-workers, friends, and family and see which stores or web sites they recommend for purchasing fine jewelry from. Also take note of the ones they tell you to stay away from. Other peoples experiences are a great method of finding the best jewelry store available.

Get it Written Down

If you’ve been talking with a sales rep then have them write down all the information they’ve given you including the stores policy on refunds and returns. If you are buying online then print out all the detailed information supplied on the web site including contact information, return policies, and refund policies.

Watch The Markings

Gold plated is not 14 karat gold. Some might try to lead you to believe this but its just not so. 14K jewelry is made of 14 parts of gold combined with 10 parts of a base metal. Gold plated means that the cheaper base metal has simply had a layer of 10K gold bonded to it. Eventually the gold will wear away and leave you with the ugly base metal. How long it takes to wear away will depend on how well it is plated, how often you wear it, and how your skin reacts to it.

Watches

There are two different watch styles, the battery operated and the winding style. You’ll have to decide which type is best for your Mom. You’ll also want to find out how long the warranty is and what it covers. A personal experience with a higher end watch maker left me rather amazed. I had managed to wear the gold plating off the band which was listed in the life time warranty as covered. However upon sending it in for replacement I found out I had neglected to read the fine print that had a list of exclusions on the life time warranty. So the moral of the story is read and read it all. Don’t have a big surprise later on. That replacement band cost me half the value of the original purchase price. Ouch!

Understand Gems

You need to understand the different between a natural gem that comes from mother earth and a synthetic or laboratory created gem that is man made. To look at them side by side you cannot visually see any differences. But the biggest difference is in the price. Natural gems cost a great deal more. So if you really want a natural gemstone then you’ll have to pay more. When buying a natural gem make sure that you understand what you are getting. Natural gems can have treatments that enhance their beauty. Enhanced natural gems are not worth the same money as a natural natural gem and they may also require special treatment so that they don’t become damaged or loose their luster.

Pearls

You can buy beautiful real pearls and imitation pearls. Real pearls come from oysters or mollusks where imitation pearls are man made. Cultured pearls come from oysters or mollusks but man intervenes by adding an irritant to cause a pearl to grow within the shell. Pearls that are natural and not cultured are rare and very expensive and there really isn’t any difference except for mans little bit of intervention.

Diamonds

Diamonds are forever is deep in meaning. One being that a diamond will quite literally last forever. You need to consider cut, color, clarity, and weight when choosing a diamond. Each of these factors will affect the price of the diamond. Color can be graded on a scale but the scales are not consistent as there is no industry standard scale so make sure you understand the scale for the specific diamond you are looking at.

Chains

A chain is always a wonderful choice for a jewelry gift for your mother. Either gold or silver are excellent choices. Chains are available in many lengths so you can choose a length that is appropriate for your Mom. You can also boy many different styles from the very dainty to bold and noticeable. Add a pendant if you like.

Follow these tips for buying jewelry for your Mother and you’ll have purchased the perfect gift. So whether you purchase a new jewelry piece or a beautiful estate jewelry piece it will be treasured by your Mom for years to come.

About the author:

Sher from Estate Jewelry International has been serving customers for over 20 years, providing fashion, jewelry, and wedding help. Please visit us at http://www.estatejewelryinternational.com/

New Low Cost Jewels Make Luxury Affordable For All

For centuries sparkling, beautiful jewels have been THE sign of wealth and luxury the world over. Wearing quality jewelry makes just about everyone feel special and look better. Jewels have had such a long and lasting importance in our world that we give them as a sign of our most treasured possession - a long-term relationship.

Increasingly, wearing fine jewelry can be a noticeable sign of your success and achievement. Walk into a business meeting wearing an eye-catching ring, bracelet, or watch and your stature immediately rises as perceived by those around you. Your ideas seem more important and your power to prevail increases.

Centuries ago only Kings and Queens could afford jewels. Even in recent years, only the well-healed could afford a nice selection of quality jewels.

You could expect to pay anywhere from $800 to $5,000 for a nice piece of jewelry. That meant either wiping out your retirement account or making monthly payments, sometimes for years.

Today all that has changed for the better. Recent changes and discoveries in the jewelry market have made wearing fine jewelry more affordable than ever in history. Gold rings with genuine stones can now be purchased online and elsewhere for well under $100. I recently found a genuine white gold diamond ring for just $129.99.

Another option that is used today to keep the costs affordable is to use a sterling silver base and coat it with gold. Prior to this method, the only affordable jewelry was to use sterling silver but it had the disadvantage of tarnishing. This new method offers many advantages. It does not tarnish because it is gold plated, it is more beautiful than sterling silver and it is certainly more affordable.

Those kinds of prices put fine jewelry in a whole new light. For many of us, the $100 to $150 range falls into the realm of an easy purchase. You can buy it just because it makes you feel good without having any impact on your budget.

New much lower jewelry prices mean you can have a different style or color of jewelry to go with each of your suits. You can have a several-piece collection of similar designs to go with each of your favorite dresses.

Perhaps even more important, it's easy to give nice jewelry as a gift, even if for no other reason than you were just thinking how much you value the recipient.

About the author:

Simon Fischer is founder of YourDeamIzHere.com specializing in a very wide selection of affordable high-quality rings, bracelets, earrings, watches and more. Many items are below $100 and $150. See his collection now at http://www.YourDreamIzHere.com

Estate Silver Jewelry Is A Hot Fashion Pick!

Sterling silver is an excellent choice in estate jewelry. Long lasting, easy to care for, and so beautiful. Buying estate jewelry sterling silver can be a lot of fun but it can also be confusing.

Whether you are looking at sterling silver for a gift for that special someone or looking to add to your own jewelry to make that fashion statement, it’s important you understand the terms that are used throughout the industry.

Once you understand the terminology you will be better equipped to choose quality pieces of sterling silver jewelry and you’ll be able to complete your purchases with a lot more confidence.

It doesn’t matter whether you are buying on line or at your local store. It doesn’t matter if you are buying in the USA or Canada or in Europe or China. The terminology used to describe silver are the same around the world.

Sterling silver jewelry has always been popular and remains so today. Sterling silver estate jewelry has also shared it’s time in the limelight but in recent years its popularity has exploded. That’s because buyers are looking for something a little more unique than modern sterling silver can offer.

Everyone knows how beautiful sterling silver is and how durable it is, that’s one of the reasons it’s such a popular choice. And of course let’s not forget how affordable it is!

Silver has it history into ancient times, but has not survived as well as gold. Unlike gold which has no ill effects from age and exposure sterling silver does. It deteriorates over time.

Throughout history sterling silver has experienced bursts of popularity where it was far more vogue than wearing gold jewelry. Today is one of those periods in time!

Silver is the most common of all the precious metals. Fine silver is pure silver but it not commonly used for jewelry because it is way too soft and bends and breaks far too easily.

Instead fine silver is mixed with copper. 925 parts of silver are mixed with 75 parts of copper which is just enough copper to firm up the silver to make beautiful jewelry. This 925 grade is called sterling silver throughout the world and is recognized as the purest form of silver available for jewelry.

This is the mark you are looking for. Either that or the actual sterling mark. Both will guarantee you that what you are buying is sterling silver and not some cheap base metal like nickel which will wear and look awful very quickly.

Silver has many benefits over gold. It is much lighter weighing about half as much as gold. It is much more flexible but not as malleable so it allows for beautiful jewelry creations. Lastly it is much less expensive yet it will last you your lifetime and probably those of a couple of more generations. Two exact pieces one in silver and one in gold. The gold piece will cost 5 to 6 times more than the sterling silver piece.

Current fashion trends which include a lot of black or dark materials have added to the popularity of sterling silver as it looks very well with black. In fact it has much more of a dramatic impact than gold does.

Silver likes to be worn. It helps keep it shiny and beautiful. Left hanging for any length of time means you’ll need to polish it to remove the tarnish. In our fast paced world silver is an excellent choice. Just as we have wash and wear clothing silver is an excellent grab and wear style of jewelry.

So the next time you are in the market for some quality sterling silver jewelry be sure to check out estate silver jewelry!

About the author:

Sher from Estate Jewelry International has been serving customers for over 20 years, providing fashion, jewelry, and wedding help. Please visit us at http://www.estatejewelryinternational.com/

Jewelry For All Occasions

Nowadays it seems everyone is getting body piercing. Belly chains, belly rings, nose rings, ear rings, and other rings are common today. If you like sexy and stylish the online shopping market offers a variety of body jewelry including the “Double Thong Sterling Silver Bali and Hematite Barefoot Sandals” anklets. If you have multiple body-piercing then you may enjoy a “Swarowski Crystal and Faux Pearl Bali Choker/Nipple Chain.” The chain starts as a necklace and crosses down between your breasts, over to nipples, and centers down to the pit of your belly.

Toe rings are also common pieces of jewelry today that provides an exotic sex appeal. Sterling silver toe rings, with special designs can give a sex appeal, and a stylish affect. If you are looking for body chains, belly chains, anklets, toe rings, rings, earrings, and other types of jewelry for all occasions, it makes sense to shop online. Some of the best prices for jewelry are available online. Even if you are looking for Tongue Rings, you can get a good deal at most stores online. If you are looking for great deals, sexy or casual jewelry, shopping online can make your adventure a rewarding event.

The World Wide Web has a wide variety of jewelry to choose from, and offers the best prices on the web. Regardless of the occasion or the need for jewelry, online shopping is easier for selecting the right piece. Everyday a couple is married. If you are searching for that wedding band in the “traditional metal bands,” (also known as the gold bands), or if you prefer diamonds, shopping online is the choice for you. If you prefer the shiny look the “1/10” Carrot “Diamond Chevron Band in 14K White Gold” the ring is available for less than $300. The elegant piece of jewelry is shiny, and has diamonds that circle half way around the ring. Other rings are available for less, while others cost more; it depends on your tastes, style and budget.

The advantage of buying jewelry online is that some of the online stores offer payment plans, making it more convenient for your jewelry need. Jewelry adds style to your everyday or occasional events. Classical jewelry, streamlined, or comprehensive jewelry can make the most of a wonderful or dull moment. Having the right necklace with a perky outfit can set an opinion off right when going for a job interview. Bracelets, rings, and other jewels can also add a charm to your appearance. If you are searching for that special gift, you might want to take a look at the variety of engravings available. Many online shopping stores sell engrave able bracelets, rings, watches, and more, and you get choices between sterling silver, gold, and diamonds. White Gold is also available at many of the online jewelry stores offer an added appeal to all occasions. Whether you are searching for sexy, casual, stylish, or traditional, shopping online is where it is at.

About the author:

Margaret Ellen Sweet is a staff writer for http://www.glamorousshopper.com. The jewlery items she writes about can be view at http://www.glamorousshopper.com/Jewelry-and-Watches.html

Creating Your Own Jewelry

Do you have a better way to accessorize yourself than with a nice piece of jewelry? The problem is that sometimes costume jewelry can also be extremely expensive. Nevertheless, you have another alternative to buying them you can make them. It is easy to learn how to create your own jewelry. And sometimes it is even better than buying them because you can make them to match your outfits and your personality. This way you are not only going to save money, you are also going to have fun.

Are you interested in making necklaces? The simplest way to do this is using beads. You will see that you can create a variety of beautiful necklaces just using some heavy string and a various beads of different colors. In the case you are going to cover the whole circumference with beads you may even substitute the heavy string by a dental floss. You should always bear in mind what are you going to wear the necklace with. This way you can compliment the color of the necklace with the color of the dress you are wearing. Once you know the colors, you should start thinking about the pattern, which can be achieved by alternating colors or shapes, or making all of the beads the same size and color.

The most important thing at the moment of making your necklace is to be creative. But you should not forget to keep the theme in mind when you start making it. When you go to buy beads you can buy the ones you always use plus some focal point beads that are bigger that the rest. These bigger beads can be use when you choose to employ wire instead of string for your necklace, just one or two beads for the whole piece are enough and the wire show through. Usually you can choose from a great variety of attractive beads, such as wooden, ceramic and glass pieces.

If you are thinking of making beads, you have a lot to do. You only need beads and wire to make a great variety of rings. What you have to do is to twist various strands of wire together making a circle that fits your finger. You have to remember to maintain the ends long in order to string beads on the edges. Just make a ball of wire to maintain the final bead on each strand in its place and then keep the beaded strands as individuals strands or twist them into a ball. And use it with whatever you want!

Another option is to make earrings. It is not difficult because the majority of craft stores sell earring components that can be used right away; the only thing you have to do is add the decorations that you choose. You can buy almost twenty pairs of earrings for no more than three dollars. You can also include some ribbons or a strand of beads. Just be creative and you will be able to attend any party.

Similar techniques can be used to create bracelets and anklets. You have just to twist together bare wire and beaded wire to make a nice combination or create attractive wire shapes with just a pair of needle-nosed pliers. You only need to include a nice object that fits and make some loops in the wire and create your own charm bracelet.

It does not matter whether you are a teenager or an adult, you can have a lot of fun making jewelry. It is also a great activity for whole families and a creative way to entertain girls at a birthday party. It is a nice way to create the pieces of jewelry that go with the things you wear. What is more important in creating your own jewelry is that it is a real expression of your creative side.

About the author:
Sintilia Miecevole's resourceful and most interesting site, http://www.fejewelry.com provides you with all kinds of jewelry information such as diamonds, gifts, designer, precious stones, etc... anything to do with gorgeous jewelry. Click on http://www.fejewelry.com for all of your jewelry information and more! You'll be glad you did.

Keeping Good Care for Your Silver Bracelet

A silver bracelet is an elegant piece of jewelry that can be worn with almost anything at any occasion. However, silver is exposed to elements everyday that cause it to tarnish or to oxidize. The catalysts for tarnish include many elements such as oxygen, sulfur, or even the salt residue from your hands. There is some proper care and cleaning that one must know to keep silver looking its best. Here are some helpful tips to keep your silver bracelet looking beautiful.

Preventing Tarnish

There are certain chemicals and products that can cause your silver bracelet to tarnish that should be avoided. Do not apply any sort of sun tan oil, hair spray, hair color, perfume, rubber, and body lotions while wearing your silver jewelry. These all contain chemicals that can potentially cause your jewelry to tarnish. Always remove any silver jewelry when working with chemicals such as bleach, ammonia, alcohol, finger nail polish removers with acetone, and turpentine. Also the acids in tape, cardboard, and newspaper can be harmful to your silver bracelet. Avoid contact with wool and felt (these materials contain sulfur that can cause the silver to oxidize) and do not shower with your silver bracelet on. Keep away from these things to also avoid potential tarnish of your sliver bracelet.

Cleaning

You should clean your silver bracelet regularly to remove tarnish. When cleaning, do not use any materials that are too abrasive and that will scratch the material. Never use a toothbrush, no matter how soft the bristles are suppose to be. Instead, clean your silver bracelet with a soft, cotton, lint-free cloth. Also, wear plastic gloves instead of rubber gloves since the rubber can possibly cause the silver to tarnish.

With your soft cloth and plastic gloves you are ready to begin cleaning your silver bracelet. To begin, remove any dust or debris that could possibly scratch the item. Next, rinse the bracelet with warm water and mild soap (avoid scented soaps) and pat dry. The bracelet is now ready to be polished. Many polishes are available in different forms (i.e. pastes, liquids, and foams). My recommendation would be to use a polish that gives a wax-like finish; this creates a barrier for future tarnish. No matter what you use, be sure to remove all the polish from your jewelry. To finish, rinse in warm water (do not soak) and pat dry.

General Care and Storage

When you are not wearing your silver bracelet, you should always store it in a place that is airtight to avoid oxidization. Do not store jewelry in cardboard boxes or tissue paper. The chemicals from these materials will cause more harm than good. The best way to store your silver bracelet is by placing it in an airtight cabinet or drawer along with anti-tarnishing strips. There are also special silver cloths that can be purchased to wrap your jewelry in for storage. It is best to keep them jewelry pieces separate in order to avoid possible scratching. Remember, one of the best ways to keep you silver bracelet looking good is to wear it! Your body oils act as a shield for many of the catalysts for tarnish.

If you keep good care of your silver bracelet in its cleaning, storage and general care of it, you will be able to wear it for years to come. Just remember to keep it away from harmful chemicals, keep up with cleaning it, and to store it properly. It is important to take care of your jewelry so that it may remain beautiful every time you wear it.

About the author:

Kaitlin Carruth is a client account specialist with http://www.10xMarketing.com. More Visitors. More Buyers. More Revenue. For more information about silver bracelets, please visit http://www.harrismichaeljewelry.com/learning-center/resources/silver-bracelet.html

Earrings The Ultimate Fashion Statement

Earrings are an important part of every woman’s wardrobe, whether we are headed for a day at the beach, to the office, or to a wedding. Your earrings give a subtle hint about your personality.

You can change the entire look and feel of your wardrobe by adding the right earrings. You can bring out your softer feminine side, the sexy goddess, or present simple charm, sophistication, or elegance. For both men and women, today earrings are a definite fashion statement.

Earrings have been a part of human culture since 3000 BC. In past times, earrings actually established your position in society, because only royalty and very wealthy were able to afford expensive jewelry. Fine jewelry was worn by only the wealthy. The rest of the population also wore earrings to decorate their body, but they were replicas of high society jewelry.
There are many styles of earrings. There are quite literally thousands of choices. There is an earring style for every personality. Fine jewelry remains popular with precious stones such as sapphire and emeralds. Semi precious stones are also very popular. But even more popular are the costume jewelry earrings. These are affordable, look great, and are great for staying trendy and in style.

From dangles, to chandeliers, to droplets, to hoops, to studs. The choices and styles are never ending. If you don’t have pierced ears, no worries! These days there is a terrific selection or clip on earrings available. You can be dazzling, subtle, glamorous, sexy. You can be highly refined, professional, high classed, or fun and funky, and trendy!
You can never have enough earrings. Your earrings can add the finishing touches your outfit. Change your earrings and you can change the entire appearance of your look. Think about that little black dress you own. Add a pair of sapphire studs and you’ll be highly refined. Add a pair of large chandelier rhinestones and you’ll be Hollywood glamour. Add a pair of wood dangles, and a pair of flip flops and you’ll look fun and funky. Add a pair of red button earrings with a red bead necklace and you’ll be “so sexy.”

It’s amazing what a pair of earrings can do to your look! So keep a good selection of earrings on hand to meet all your fashion needs. Earrings are the most important wardrobe accessory you can own. You’ll get great value from your earrings. Choose earrings that meet your life style, your personality, and your tastes. There is no point in buying a pair of trendy earrings that you’ll never wear because they don’t feel like “you.”

Earrings also make a great gift as they can be very personalized. Choose a style to meet their personality. From gemstones to beads, you can spend a little or you can spend a lot. The gift recipient will be thrilled that you were so thoughtful as to buy such a personal gift.
Use your earrings to make a lasting impression, from the board room to the beach. Be sure people remember who you are. It’s important to always Make Your Fashion Statement!

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