10 Reasons Why Your Wardrobe Needs Handmade Jewelry

10 Reasons Why Your Wardrobe Needs Handmade Jewelry

Walkthrough any mall in America and you’ll see a treasure trove of jewelry. A kaleidoscopic array of baubles, bling, and accessories cascade from every shop window, their inanimate voices practically screaming “buy me”! Trouble is, that while these pieces may look nice and the price may even be appealing, there are various hidden factors involved when making a purchase from a chain or department store. 

October 08, 2013 — Leslie Patrick
Agate, the Force Field of Ancient Times

Agate, the Force Field of Ancient Times

Today, we have home security systems that set off an alarm if an intruder enters. In the future, we will be protected by a force field, like the one Scottie switches on when the Klingons are at the backdoor of the Enterprise and Captain Kirk starts getting nervous.

In ancient times, say roughly 20,000 B.C. the Stone Age people found comfort in agates, as a form of protection.

 

September 27, 2013 — Stephanie White
Chalcedony: History, Healing & Spirituality

Chalcedony: History, Healing & Spirituality

Distant, milky, mysterious – Chalcedony is an enigmatic gem, with more than a hint of the magical about it. Though there are no myths or legends directly attributed to this gauzy stone, chalcedony is wrapped in rich folklore and is said to have a huge number of potent powers. But before we delve into the mysterious world of chalcedony, let’s take a look at a little of the science behind the stone.
September 23, 2013 — Stephanie White
10 Handmade Gifts Ideas for Any Occasion

10 Handmade Gifts Ideas for Any Occasion

You know the drill. Your friend’s birthday is next week, Mothers’ Day is coming up or Christmas is suddenly once again around the corner. Gift buying panic soon sets in as you ponder the perfect present. But instead of buying another obligatory gift certificate or hurriedly stuffing cash in a card, take a few minutes to consider a handmade gift.

September 14, 2013 — Leslie Patrick
Attractive Jewelry Extenders Lengthen Beautiful Pieces Article

Attractive Jewelry Extenders Lengthen Beautiful Pieces Article

Jewelry extenders in the past have often been plain and without an attractive appeal. However, today’s extenders are perfect for fancy pieces of jewelry of all kinds.  The clasp style of these extenders varies greatly so that it will match any handcrafted jewelry you might own that is just not quite long enough to sit well on an outfit perfectly.  Sometimes when you receive beaded jewelry gifts, you might find that it’s not quite long enough, so adding a little extra length to the quality handcrafted jewelry makes it fit just right. Most extenders will fit any type of beaded and especially necklaces.
September 12, 2013 — Stephanie White
Amethyst: The Myths, Legends & Magic

Amethyst: The Myths, Legends & Magic

According to the 16th Century French poet, Remy Bellau, Bacchu the Greek god of wine, revelry, and debauchery was once captivated by a beautiful maiden by the name of Amethyste. Bacchus pursued the fair Amethyste relentlessly, chasing her for mile after mile. Desperate not to become the prey of the lustful god, Amethyste called out to the goddess of chastity, Diana, for help. To protect Amethyste’s treasured virginity, Diana turned the maiden into a stone of the purest white. Humbled by her sacrifice, Bacchus poured a libation of his symbolic wine onto the stone, staining Amethyste the most glorious purple.

Tips for Buying Handmade Jewelry

Tips for Buying Handmade Jewelry

In an outcry against the monotony of mass production, the trend toward buying local, small-batch, and handmade is heating up. Handmade jewelry is no exception. Not only is a handmade necklace or bracelet a one-of-a-kind piece that highlights your individual style, but the quality of the item is bound to be superb to those produced by the thousands in obscure and possibly questionable factories abroad.
September 05, 2013 — Leslie Patrick
Dazzling Drusy Crystal: A Hot Item in Today’s Jewelry Market

Dazzling Drusy Crystal: A Hot Item in Today’s Jewelry Market

One form of quartz crystal that is becoming more popular among jewelry designers today is known as the Drusy (pronounced DREW-zee) mineral. Oddly enough, there are many different spellings, including “druzy,” “drusie,” “druse,” and even “drusies.” The word itself originated from the German word, druse, and is defined as a beautiful grouping of very tiny crystals that grows on the surface of a stone. It is also not uncommon for drusy to form in the cavity of a geode or larger pocket of a mineral deposit.
August 26, 2013 — Lisa Vella
History of Murano Venetian Glass Beads

History of Murano Venetian Glass Beads

Anyone who has ever worn a necklace created with Murano glass beads knows that they are some of the loveliest and highest quality beads in the world. In addition to their esthetic qualities, perhaps something else that makes these beads so unique and interesting is the history that they represent.
August 25, 2013 — Lisa Vella
Famous Gems and Beaded Jewelry: The Amber Room

Famous Gems and Beaded Jewelry: The Amber Room

In 1716, Prussia gave Peter the Great of Russia an extravagant gift honoring the peace between their nations - an entire room made of amber and encrusted with beaded jewelry. The panels were backed with gold leaf, which made the entire room glow with a topaz-like warmth.

The gorgeous Amber Room, made of real amber and beaded jewelry, glows like citrine or topaz. Image from Imaging-and-Art.com.

It was called the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” Historians estimate that today it would be worth $146 million.

Handcrafted Lampwork Beads as Tiny Works of Art

Handcrafted Lampwork Beads as Tiny Works of Art

Creating beaded jewelry is so much fun to do. It allows for an opportunity to use all sorts of findings and a little creativity to design original pieces of art. But what’s something else that’s interesting is that many of the beads designers use in their jewelry are also tiny pieces of art themselves. In many cases, another individual using their own intricate creative processes created the beads designers use. This is definitely the case when it comes to jewelry designed with lampwork beads.
supporting local artists

Supporting Local Arts: Why You Should Buy Handcrafted Jewelry

If you are just now starting to get interested in handmade jewelry, you probably have a few questions. When you are searching for handcrafted pieces, you will be in a total different environment from your typical jewelry store and you’ll be looking at a completely new style. Why walk out of the department store and start looking at handmade beaded jewelry?
August 22, 2013 — SWCreations Jewelry