buying jewelry for friends

4 Tips for Buying Jewelry for Your Friend

So you want to make your friend feel special by gifting them something thoughtful. How about some precious jewelry pieces that will remind them of your loving bond? But you have to be careful when selecting this gift, or you’ll end up wasting your money and effort.
February 10, 2022 — Jonah Truong
A History of the Color Purple - Jewelry & Lampwork Beads

A History of the Color Purple - Jewelry & Lampwork Beads

In jewelry, there are many gorgeous purple gemstones, some of the most popular including amethyst, tanzanite, and lolite. The shades vary greatly from tanzanite’s almost blue color to amethyst’s bright hue to the translucent lavender of taaffeite, but they all have their own special, unique feature. In the Lampwork glass world, there are a wide range of purple glass colors that can be used to create lampwork beads.
Beaded Jewelry Trends in 2023

Beaded Jewelry Trends in 2023

The jewelry world is set for a shakeup in the coming decade. Tired of the trend for minimalist necklaces, bracelets and earrings that defined much of the 2010s, designers and fashionistas alike are starting to have more fun with color, size and styling. If you’re wondering how to keep on top of the latest jewelry fashions in the coming months and years, we’ve put together a quick guide to some of the biggest emerging trends.

August 28, 2020 — SWCreations Jewelry
Ice Cold Winter Jewelry Colors that Are Hot Hot Hot

Ice Cold Winter Jewelry Colors that Are Hot Hot Hot

It has long been known that people who are considered to have a winter complexion look best in deep blues, reds and even hot pinks.  Winter people will be happy to hear that the hottest colors for winter 2016-2017 jewelry collections will rock their world!

Sapphire blue's with their ever-so deep and brilliant hues top the list of what's trending. Beads and gems that in the blue spectrum come in many shapes and sizes; all are pleasing to they eye. At the edge of blues are the deep purples that are just as desirable in bracelets and charms.

Next to beautiful blue you'll find ridiculous reds. Gems with super-deep, multi-layered tones that scream "pick me!" are ready to make their appearance as the snow falls.

January 26, 2017 — SWCreations Jewelry
Choosing a Summery Color Palette for Your Jewelry

Choosing a Summery Color Palette for Your Jewelry

Deep, rich colors are popular in the winter - particularly if they're in warm tones! However, now that summer is here it's time to trade in those deep colors for a less rich palette. Think light, bright, and fresh colors for summer. If your accessories were food, now is the time to trade in hearty stews for refreshing salads.

With that in mind, may we suggest these colors for your summer jewelry?

July 27, 2016 — SWCreations Jewelry
Summer is Anklet Time!

Summer is Anklet Time!

Your flip-flops have never looked so good! This summer, pair the perennially-popular beach shoes with beaded handmade anklets.  Summer sandals or shoes take on a more important look with the right anklet. Even bare feet look stylish and chic when they're adorned with a little shimmer and shine.

But not just any anklets. You want something fun, sophisticated, and totally you -- and well-made, hand-beaded anklets are perfect. You can even order your special colors, beads, and stones for a one-of-a-kind treasure. Here are a few suggestions for adorning your summer tootsies.

July 17, 2016 — SWCreations Jewelry
Summer Jewelry Trends: Time to Sparkle!

Summer Jewelry Trends: Time to Sparkle!

Summer is time for fun.  So for summer jewelry trends, forget your favorite pearls or your grandmother's cameo brooch.  It's time to sparkle.  It's time to shine.  It's time to be a little frivolous, even whimsical.  

Summer is big, bright, and colorful.  Flowers are blooming; butterflies are flying.  Your jewelry should be bigger, brighter, and more colorful than you might normally wear.

June 27, 2015 — SWCreations Jewelry
Winter Fashion Pallet—With Three Great Exceptions

Winter Fashion Pallet—With Three Great Exceptions

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 are fewer autumn leaves and winter cheer and cozier 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.
October 12, 2013 — Stephanie White
Unique Handcrafted Beaded Jewelry Article

Unique Handcrafted Beaded Jewelry Article

Handmade jewelry is an extension of your personal trait. As a reflection of your own character, it’s a total injustice if your jewelry was just made from imported common stuff. It is worse if your jewelry collections are just the standard off-the-shelf items that everyone wears or buys at the big chain stores.
July 05, 2013 — Stephanie White
How to Choose Jewelry by Color

How to Choose Jewelry by Color

When the hankering to buy some new handmade jewelry hits you, chances are your brain thinks more in terms of “earrings” or “necklace” than in terms of “violet” or “nectarine.” But choosing jewelry based on color families adds a dash of whimsy to your shopping list and injects a large dose of fashion into even the most monochrome of wardrobes.

When choosing colors for your jewelry, always remember Pantone. What began as a printing company in the 1950s, Pantone now dictates what hues will be hot in the fashion and design industries in each upcoming season.

July 03, 2013 — Leslie Patrick
The Fashion of Wearing Beaded Jewelry

The Fashion of Wearing Beaded Jewelry

Jewelry and ornamentation have been a part of cultures all over the world probably since it began.  As people began to experiment with the resources around them—stones, trees, plants, clay, etc, they began to see great opportunities to create beautiful things.  In tribes of old, the spiritual and political leaders of the community were sometimes designated by the kind of jewelry and accessories they wore.  It was a sign of something special—of social advantage, or of power.  
July 14, 2012 — Stephanie White
The Timeless Handmade Jewelry Article

The Timeless Handmade Jewelry Article

Jewelry has always been essential to people who love to accessorize. One special piece can make such a difference in the presentation of the same outfit. There are so many different variations and handmade jewelry stands out because of its uniqueness. Beaded, carved, filigreed, engraved, sequined, knitted, and painted, various techniques for handicraft arts have been continually developed in all cultures throughout time, which certainly expand the variety of handmade jewelry.
February 13, 2012 — Stephanie White