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.”

As Seen In

Easy Beading Book Vol. 5
May 2009

Adventures in Color
Entwine strands of gemstones, pearls, and crystals in a multihued jewelry set.
Easy Beading Book Vol. 5 May 2009

How to Choose a Handbag to Charm Your Look
by Janet R.

Handbags are very essential especially for women. If you opt to buy a handbag, you should understand that your appearance is at stake when it comes to showing off your handbag. Therefore before buying, you should consider some points that will help you choose the one that will complement your body shape and your outfit. Remember not all purses fit every person’s appearance as well as outfit.

When you are shopping for a handbag, consider removing some options from your favorite handbag list, this can make your work easier when narrowing down your choices. There is a general rule when choosing handbags: Choose Handbags with lines that contrast with your own body shape. The contrastingly shaped handbags will balance your overall body instead attracting all the attention by strengthening the shape in your overall appearance.

Your choice should reflect your size. It is obviously inappropriate when a large person carries a small handbag and a small person carries a big handbag. These are the most common result when you don’t have an idea on how to balance your appearance to your accessory. Both of these cases doesn’t complement each type of appearances where the tall or large person should carry the large one and the small person should carry the small one also.

However, if in case a small person will need to have a more handbag space, a tote style or long clutch is perfect. A low-slung tote with long shoulder handle can add height to short or small person’s appearance, while a tall, thin person can choose handbags with round shapes. They can choose large hobo or slouch style bags.

If your body is more curvy or straight lined. It is more appropriate to choose a handbag with a shape that contrast with your body type. For curvy body, you should pick a sleek shape to make a contrasting appeal between you and your handbag. For example, a pear shaped lady will call attention to her shape with a round handbag while it should be a rectangular medium-sized structured bag. A round-shaped short lady should choose a longer hand clutch with structure or a long handled tall tote that hung from the shoulder. You also consider the shape of the wardrobe you wear when you shop. If it is for a certain purpose, for a special event for instance, think of the shape of the dress that you will be wearing as well.

A short handled purse that rest at the armpit can emphasize the bust line. If you have a large bust lines, avoid using the short handled purse, instead choose a purse with long straps. Trim waists are complemented by purses that are held at waist level by long straps.

When you look for handbags, it is important to consider several factors that can help you choose the one that will balance with your appearance. You can select purses that will complement your body shape as well as your outfit by following some simple tricks. Today, you can find wide variety of choices which not only fits your body but also your style. You can find great choices, the hottest trend today are customized purses like personalized totes, evening bags and even customized sports bags.

An Amazing Purple Semi-precious Stone: the Amethyst
by Priyanka Arora

The term for the semi-precious stone Amethyst comes from the Greek word “Amethystos”, which means not drunken. This stone was actually believed by the Greeks of ancient times to prevent intoxication. It is also the birthstone for those people born in February.

The amethyst is a purple semi-precious stone, with its color ranging from a pale pinkish violet to a very deep purple. It is made from the chemical silicon dioxide. It has a vitreous luster and could be mined from alluvial deposits. The amethyst has a structure that is a trigonal crystal structure and has a hardness of 7 on the Moh’s scale.

This stone has several believed holistic benefits. It strengthens and improves the immune system and can alleviate stress and headache. It also provides inner peace as well as balance of the inner body. It is also believed to be very beneficial for inspiration and intuition.

There is also a Greek legend of the amethyst stone. It was said that the Greek God Dionysus, who was the God of intoxication was angry and vowed to show revenge on all mortals he came across with. Suddenly, ravishing Amethyst came along. She was turned into a gemstone and this saved her from being killed.

The amethyst could be mined in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Namibia, Zambia and in the other African countries.

In history, amethysts have been inlaid along with the jewels of the British crown, Catherine the Great’s jewelry and the personal things of Egyptian royalty. During the Victorian era, the popularity amethyst began to rise.

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.

Turquoise Jewelry Marks December Birthstone In Style
by Melanie Spark

Turquoise is a semi-precious stone, which is commonly opaque (non-transparent) and features a sky-blue or greenish-blue color. Recognized as the birthstone for December, turquoise symbolizes prosperity, which means to succeed or flourish. Perhaps you choose to wear turquoise because of its relation to your birth month or maybe you enjoy wearing it as a reminder of your goals of success but, whatever the case, there are plenty of reasons to enjoy this popular gem.

Commonly used in the popular southwestern jewelry style, turquoise is a must have accessory for many. With a hardness level of 5 to 6, this gemstone offers a lustrous finish filled with natural variations in the color. In addition to its modern presence in jewelry, turquoise is very much a part of history after being valued in ancient times for use in both necklaces and bracelets.

As mentioned earlier, turquoise is available in a variety of colors. The sky-blue variation is the most desired in terms of jewelry, and is often referred to as a robin’s egg blue. Because this mineral is one of great popularity, it can also be very expensive. For this reason, many jewelry lovers turn to simulated turquoise in an effort to enjoy the same look as the genuine mineral at a fraction of the cost. When set in sterling silver, a precious and durable metal, the beauty of turquoise comes to life in all types of designs. From pendants to rings and even earrings, this simulated mineral looks identical to the real thing and can even provide a bolder look for the money.

For those who aren’t already familiar with turquoise, it’s appearance is unmistakable. A smooth rock-like gemstone featuring the color variations mentioned earlier in this article is one way to quickly identify this popular mineral. To the touch, turquoise feels like a polished, tumbled rock and offers a shiny surface. Unlike most other gemstones, turquoise is opaque, which means it cannot be seen through. When you think of a traditional gemstone, you may think of a faceted stone such as topaz, citrine, amethyst, etc. A turquoise, on the other hand, showcases its beauty on the surface alone.

If you are in the market for turquoise, consider both price and style when choosing the perfect jewelry accessory. While the genuine gemstone may be more expensive, the simulated mineral may be more suited to your budget and lifestyle. If you are a lover of blue or green and can appreciate the look of southwestern flair, turquoise may be the choice for you. When set in sterling silver, the true colors of this popular find are more vibrant than ever.

Speaking of sterling silver, this precious metal is both durable and affordable. As that which is stronger than some types of gold, sterling silver is the choice of many who either appreciate the crisp look of a white metal or who simply understand the value of a dollar. Because it is a precious metal, sterling silver is designed to last a lifetime with the proper care. Regular polishing to minimize tarnish and a nice storage area are all that’s needed to keep your sterling silver looking bright and beautiful. When you add turquoise to the mix, you’re sure to have a winning combination.

Amethyst – Tears of Beauty
by Melanie Spark

The Amethyst Gemstone is a semi-precious jewel of violet or purple colour that is available in many different shapes and sizes and is a common form of transparent crystallized Quartz. Amethyst is the Birthstone for the month of February and is mined in Brazil, Uruguay, Russia, Bolivia and Argentina, as well as Namibia, Zambia and a few other African countries, within the United States of America, Arizona is a good source of Amethyst. The purple colouring of the Amethyst is caused by impurities of iron and manganese.

Amethyst compliments both warm and cool colours so it does look good set in white and yellow metals, many of today’s designers favour the Amethyst as the ideal Gemstone for use in Jewelry because of it’s royal colouring and the sheer variety of shapes and sizes available to use. The stone is also very affordable and the wide tonal range from pale lavender to dark purple gives the designer a lot of scope to work with. Stones from South America tends to be available in larger sizes than African Amethyst but the African offerings have a reputation for better, more saturated colours in the smaller sizes. When Amethyst is heated it turns yellow and a lot of yellow Topaz and Citrine seen today comes from the use of this treatment, although Citrine is available naturally it is very rarely found.

Fine examples of this lovely stone are featured in the British Crown Jewels and they were also a favourite of Catherine the Great, as well as Egyptian royalty, it is believed that the tears of the gods had stained the Quartz purple and created the Gemstone we know today. Because Amethyst Gemstones were thought to encourage celibacy and symbolize piety, the stones were very important in the ornamentation of Catholic churches in the middle ages. In Tibet the Gemstone is considered to be sacred to Buddha with rosaries being fashioned from it, therefore the jewel is believed to be an excellent stone for meditation.

The healing power of the stone is said to be good for addictions, helping with arthritis, headaches, blood sugar levels, brain imbalances and a remedy for stomach disorders. The jewel is also said to bring serenity and calm and to better one’s ability to assimilate new ideas. The famous Leonardo Da Vinci once wrote that Amethyst Gemstones were able to dissipate evil thoughts and quicken the intelligence; the stone is also believed to bring money and success to the wearer and to aid in general healing after an illness or operation. The ancient Greeks believed that wearing Amethyst Jewelry would keep the effects of intoxication at bay, so strong were there beliefs that even drinking vessels and amulets were made from this lovely jewel.

It is possible to find Ametrine crystals, these are part Amethyst and part Citrine and often contain a number of inclusions where the colours change. Some examples of this Gemstone have been known to lose colour with continued exposure to sunlight but the original colouring can be restored by x-ray radiation. Like all varieties of Quartz, Amethyst has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale so care should be taken when wearing the stone. Above everything the Amethyst is a beautiful Gemstone and blend this with the fact that it is very popular with designers, means there is a lot of variety in jewelry stores to tempt you to purchase this very affordable Gemstone.