A Muted Fall/Winter Fashion Pallet—With Three Great Exceptions
- By SWCreations -

This fall and winter, fortune favors a muted pallet.  Those lucky few fashionistas that decide what everyone wears each season have given the new colors spunky names like the light tan “Nomad,” and “Iron” that is, by any other name, dark grey.  Mix these with a light rose pink, a Warm Olive, and a burnt salmon sienna, and this fall is less autumn leaves and winter cheer and more cozy gothic.  But for jewelry lovers this isn’t tragic, it’s lucky.  The muted pallet makes accessorizing with the season’s three more deeply hued colors a cinch.  They can rejoice in the gem colors American Beauty, Purple Heart, and Majolica Blue.

American Beauty is a perfectly balanced true red, flattering all skin tones.  The color is brilliant as glass beads in earrings or on necklaces and goes great with black.  The designers had a patriotic feel in mind for this tone, but this is a new red for rougher times and the tough, but still romantic, strong woman.

Purple speaks of royalty, but this is a new take on the old favorite.  No longer aloof like the old purple, Purple Heart is a little more sensual and a lot more creative.  Think eccentric high school art teacher, but with better taste in earrings.  Think handcrafted beaded jewelry, but refined and runway ready.  This purple borders on lilac but leans toward true royal purple.

Majolica.  Don’t you just want to say the word until it isn’t in season anymore?  Originally, the term “majolica” came from the ceramics of the Italian Renaissance that had an opaque white glaze with a brilliant overlay of colors.  The Victorians used the term for pottery with vibrant leaden glazes.  Majolica Blue is the same, deep, throaty, with a smoky sense of tranquility.  The new blue is a cross between 2008’s teal and traditional navy.  It complements oranges, like Burnt Sienna, and is best as handcrafted beaded bracelets resting on a Warm Olive lap.

Then there is the vixen in a woman who wishes to be covered in vibrant colors, and the mute clothing pallet isn’t good enough.  True red, rich lilac purple and deep teal have their place as overcoats, dresses, and cardigans too.  These pieces need accessories of their opposites, in their muted counterparts.  Balance is the key.  These tones become vibrant as crystal beads and on bold bangles.  Or, when in doubt, wear Majolica and sterling silver as well.

How to Choose a Piece of Handmade Jewelry
- by Kristie Leong M.D. -

When you choose a piece of handmade artisan jewelry, you are purchasing a piece of work directly from the artist’s hands. This gives it special meaning and value. Much thought and design knowledge has gone into creating your special handmade jewelry piece. Here are some guidelines to help you make the best selection:

1. Are you buying handmade jewelry for yourself or as a gift?

Handmade jewelry makes a very special gift. It shows you’ve taken the time to find a piece of jewelry not found in a department store or produced on the mass market. This will be reflected in the beautiful craftsmanship that the individual artist adds to the piece. There’s also the option of having a custom design created by the artisan for a special, one-of-a-kind gift.. When you buy handmade jewelry, you’re getting the highest quality components and design because the artist has complete control over each phase of the process. You’ll have a unique design that you can wear with pride knowing that it won’t be seen on everyone else in town.

2. Do you like a classical look or do you lean more towards a funky, eclectic style?

If you prefer the classics, you may want to consider purchasing a simple, single stranded necklace with matching bracelet and earrings, possibly in a solid color. This kind of look never goes out of style and looks elegant with almost everything you wear. If you lean towards the funky, eclectic look, consider wearing a larger, chunkier necklace or layering several smaller necklaces for a unique and offbeat look. Who says the earrings have to match the necklace? You can choose necklace and earring combination that suits your own unique personality. The sky’s the limit!

3. What is your basic body build? Are you tall or short, petite or big boned?

If you have a petite build you may find more delicate pieces are appropriate so that you aren’t overpowered by your jewelry. A petite woman can look quite dramatic in a large necklace if it’s worn with a solid colored outfit and is the focal point of her look. In a case like this, you might want to choose a smaller, more delicate pair of earrings to avoid looking overdone. If you’re tall or larger boned, the sky’s the limit! You’ll find big and dramatic pieces to be quite flattering and you can easily pull off the layered look. Although the above is a general guideline, there are no hard and fast rules. Jewelry is all about expressing yourself the way YOU see fit!

4. What is your basic skin tone and hair color?

Again, there are no hard and fast rules here at all. Sterling silver can be particularly flattering if you have dark hair or grey undertones. Blondes tend to look stunning in gold, goldtone, and brass shades. Copper shades are just made for the rare redheads of the world, although copper looks great with almost any hair color!

Jewelry is fantastic for drawing the eye to your most flattering features and pulling the eyes away from your less desirable ones. If you have an overly round shape, a round earring shape will only accent it. Why not try an interesting drop style to draw the eye downward. If you have a long, narrow face, you might want to avoid the drop style earring and go for a shorter button type. Do you love your hands? Accent them with a beautiful handmade bracelet! Likewise a nice manicured hand can be accented with a handful of artisan rings.

As you can see, handmade jewelry can change the way you look and feel. Use these guidelines to help you select pieces that are right for you. The result will be a stunning collection of artisan jewelry that you’ll treasure for many years to come.

Pearls: Classic and Stylish
- by Linda Blatchford -

Pearls are June Birthstones: along with Pearl, Moonstone (Traditional: Alexandrite).

There is so much history about pearls that five (5) months claim them as their birthstone: February, April, June (traditional), July and November.

Pearls are an astral stone for the signs Gemini and Cancer are linked to the moon. Pearls have been called the “teardrops of the moon”. Some believe that pearls were formed by the passage of angels through the clouds of heaven.

Spiritual Benefits of wearing pearls:

* Stimulates spiritual transformation
* Promotes prosperity and success
* Encloses you with an aura of calm and beauty
* Helps with stomach, digestion and emotional stress
* Amplifies focus, meditation skills and wisdom
* Helps balance the solar plexus chakra

Over time, the pearl has become the symbol of purity and innocence and it is often sewn into bridal gowns, or worn as jewelry by the bride.

Pearls are classic, elegant and may be expensive. They are very popular at the Gem Shows.

Queen Alexandra’s Pearls*

Most fine jewellery in the 1900s was white and made from either diamonds or pearls. Queen Alexandra initially wore dog collar chokers, called a ‘collier de chien’ to cover a small scar on her neck.

For state occasions and formal events she plastered herself in arrangements of pearl necklaces.  The rarity value of real pearls then was such that an American skyscraper exchanged hands for the price of a pearl necklace . This is not as ridiculous as it seems, since fine south sea pearls still command a high price.

Pearls were very fashionable, but still very, very costly.  After the 1890s, Kokichi Mikimoto of Japan, produced highly acceptable cultured pearls by placing a small bead into an oyster shell. The bead coated itself with nacre (mother of pearl) and so good looking pearl jewels became more affordable.

Various combinations of pearl necklaces come in and out of fashion with regularity so pearls too are a must.  Both fake and real freshwater or cultured pearls are very affordable today. The price of pearls has dropped by about a fifth in the past 10 years and the Chinese are making waves in the pearl world with their cheaper prices. The Japanese have suffered disease in their pearl beds as well as facing competition and are finding it hard to compete with China’s prices.

Value of Pearls

In the early 1900′s, the financier Morton F. Plant exchanged the building for a Cartier two-strand Oriental pearl necklace much coveted by a woman he admired.

A pearl is judged by its luster, size and markings. Although baroque, or unevenly formed, pearls have often been popular, it is the perfectly round ones that are now most desired. The best have a creamy, slightly pinkish glow. Black pearls (actually, a sort of silver-gray shade) are also coveted. Pearls are measured in millimeters, with 7 to 7.5 considered respectably modest while something larger than 10 millimeters becomes pretty important. For the last 70 years, they have been ”farmed,” which means the deformities have been given a helping hand. These pearls are called cultured, and today natural pearls are extremely rare.

Most of the cultured pearls, Mr. Mondschein says, come from Japan, while the largest ones come from the South Seas, Burma, Tahiti and Australia. Pearls should always be kept in a soft pouch; they can be professionally cleaned with soap and water. ”But spray perfume is the killer,” says Mr. Mondschein. ”I’ve seen people ruin pearls that way. And once the bloom is off the pearl, it can never come back.”

Beaded Jewelry
How to Find Lovely Designer Beaded Jewelry
by Imran Ali

Skillfully handcrafted designer beaded jewelry is not difficult to find nowadays. Due to the massive growth of the internet in recent years hundreds of creative jewelry designers from all over the world now display their beautiful work online. One can locate such a jewelry store and buy as many jewelry articles as they want. On these websites you will find all kinds of jewelry articles including bracelets, necklaces, and earrings. Some designers create wonderful beaded accessories such as eyeglass chains and cell phone fobs. One can also find different types of beads and crystals on wholesale to try making these lovely jewelry articles at home.

Handmade jewelry articles are often based on a theme. Antique and vintage themes are quite popular and well-liked by men and women of all ages. In addition to this, seasonal and holiday jewelry articles are also appreciated all over the world. Beautiful colored beads are used on these types of beaded articles to give an overall effect of summer, winter, spring or autumn. Falling leaves in gorgeous orange and cool summer breeze are popular ideas for making lovely beaded articles. You will find many themes in designer handmade jewelry which make them even more striking and wonderful.

Many of the beaded jewelry designers offer free shipping on a purchase of jewelry worth over $50 or $100. Individual bracelets and necklaces are available in the price range of $20 to $50, whereas jewelry sets can be found in the range of $70 to $150 depending on the materials used. Some designers also make use of pure 18k gold in their beaded articles. These bracelets, necklaces and earrings are a bit more costly. If you are looking for affordable designer jewelry, check out the gorgeous sterling silver collection. Stainless steel and titanium jewelry is also available in the designer category.

Designer beaded jewelry is sometimes categorized as chunky jewelry sets, birthstone jewelry, bracelets and anklets, glass jewelry, fossil jewelry, pendant necklaces, survivor bracelets, magnetic bracelets and necklaces, and wedding jewelry. In addition to these, you can also narrow down you search by specifying the color and the material you are looking for. Rare gemstones like cat’s eye, garnet, goldstone, sponge coral, sodalite, peridot and jasper are often used to make these beautiful and one-of-a-kind jewelry articles. You can also find mesmerizing Swarovski crystals in exotic colors, such as copper, Indian pink, brilliant white and emerald green.

Survivor and hope bracelets are becoming popular for spreading awareness of various diseases like breast cancer. These bracelets are made by using special charms and various colored beads. Big and chunky beaded bracelets and necklaces are loved by young girls. These bracelets are made by using large gemstones and crystals. In addition to this, borosilicate glass beaded jewelry is also very popular across the globe. This type of jewelry comes in unique and exciting designs. Grand Canyon and teardrop glass beads are exceptional and very special. If you are looking for unique gift ideas you can check out these extraordinary designer jewelry articles which are easily available on the internet.

A Charmed History: Charm Bracelets Provide Hope and Comfort Throughout the Ages
by Ron Peterson

As far back as the Neolithic era, humankind chose to carry unusual stones or a piece of wood as protection from enemies or evil spirits. During the time of the Egyptian pharaohs, the first recognizable charm bracelets and necklaces appeared. These were elaborate pieces of jewelry made of precious stones and metals. Charms were also used to identify an individual to the gods in the afterlife.

Much later during the Roman Empire, Christians identified one another with the “ichthys,” or fish charm, they carried beneath their garments to gain entry into secret worship meetings, held sometimes in the catacombs. Medieval kings and knights used charms with incantations for protection. Charms could also represent family origin, political standing and profession. During the Renaissance as superstitions faded, charms began to lose favor with the more wealthy and educated. However, in the early 20th century, it was Queen Victoria who began a charm bracelet trend among the European noble class during her reign. The Queen took to wearing a bracelet with tiny charm pictures of her children.

Charm bracelets again found an audience at the end of World War II. Soldiers returning home from overseas brought along trinkets made by local craftsmen to give their sweethearts. The charms represented miniature replicas of notable locations, such as the Eiffel Tower or Big Ben. Stateside jewelers quickly caught on to the trend and began fashioning charms for all occasions. Within a decade, the charm bracelet was the must-have accessory for girls and women. Charm bracelets became popular gifts for 16th birthdays, graduations, weddings, and births of children. These tiny links to one’s personal history became deeply valued for their sentimental and material worth.

More recently, Italian charms became the rage at the turn of the Millennium. A departure from the traditional hanging trinkets, these bracelets snap into the bracelet rather than dangle from it. The flat, modular charms link together to form a bracelet, keychain or other accessory. Zoppini and Nomination are two popular makers of Italian charm bracelets. Fashion gurus like Louis Vuitton and Juicy Couture have also launched their own Italian charms.

Meanwhile, in both Europe and North America, a new modular charm bracelet trend has emerged. These modular bracelets consist of a chain onto which various beads or charms can be placed. Charms are made from gold, silver or Murano glass. The bracelet’s design allows the wearer to interchange the charms and create a totally unique look. Beads can also be worn on necklaces, rings and earrings to make a complete set.

The modular jewelry concept enjoyed acclaim in Europe before coming to the States. Inspired by Greek mythology, it combines versatility with fashion to establish beloved charm and bead bracelets. This jewelry concept also encourages creativity and individuality through its beautiful designs.

Women can create their own look and style for every whim or special moment. For example, you can design the Bohemian romantic, the elegant chic, the raw grace, the 60′s flower power, the charmed sophisticate, the billionaire, the simplistic minimalist, or the pure feminine. Modular jewelry can be used to reflect a change in mood or to express personality.