April’s Brilliance: Dazzling Diamonds
The diamond’s claim to fame outshines every other gemstone. From ancient times, it’s been associated with strength and beauty. People have decorated themselves with diamonds in handcrafted and beaded jewelry, and used them for more spiritual purposes, for thousands of … Continue reading →

The History of Swarovski Crystal
The History of Swarovski Crystal By Leslie Patrick Chances are the name Swarovski conjures images of dazzling, brightly hued stones in your mind’s eye. For nearly 70 years, the Swarovski name has been synonymous with sparkling jewels, but the real … Continue reading →

10 Reasons Why Your Wardrobe Needs Handmade Jewelry
Handmade to Your Closet: 10 Reasons Why Your Wardrobe Needs Handmade Jewelry By Leslie Patrick Walk through any mall in America and you’ll see a treasure trove of jewelry. A kaleidoscopic array of baubles, bling and accessories cascade from every … Continue reading →

Famous Gems and Beaded Jewelry: The Hortensia Diamond
How do famous gems and beaded jewelry pieces get their names? Many are named after their owners, or after a famous place or incident. The Hortensia Diamond was named after Hortense de Beauharnais, a French woman who led an adventurous and … Continue reading →

Aquamarines: The Splendor of March
Aquamarines: The Splendor of March By Leslie Patrick Gaze at an aquamarine and you can’t help but marvel at the tranquil beauty of the blue green stone. The color, resembling the most tropical of oceans or a morning sky on … Continue reading →

SWCreations Customer Review
Hi Stephanie! Thank you so much such a gorgeous piece! My husband was thoroughly pleased with the piece and the presentation! We will definitely order again. And now, he can order on his own! You have a great talent and … Continue reading →

Amazing Amethysts – Valentine’s Day Gifts
Amazing Amethysts By Leslie Patrick With their mesmerizing violet hue and deep historical significance, it’s impossible not to fall in love with February’s birthstone, the amethyst. Long known as a color to represent royalty, the rich purple gemstone has adorned … Continue reading →

Diamonds Fit for a Queen: The Jewels of Marie Antoinette
Pomp and extravagance, political dissent and undeniable terror – these might be good words to describe the period of the French Revolution.  Calm and self-assured, outspoken, yet highly fashionable might be a few adequate adjectives to describe Marie Antoinette, who … Continue reading →

Famous Gems and Beaded Jewelry: The Curse of the Black Orlov Diamond
Let’s add the Black Orlov Diamond to the growing list of gems and beaded jewelry rumored to be stolen from Indian statues. I’ve featured several others on this blog. The Black Orlov is also known as the Eye of Brahma, … Continue reading →

A Girl’s Guide to Garnets
A Girl’s Guide to Garnets By Leslie Patrick Move over diamonds, come January it’s the multifaceted face of the garnet that’s taking over the limelight in popular beaded jewelry designs. Despite popular presumption, January’s birthstone exist not only in the … Continue reading →