Jewelry Articles
Unique & Handcrafted Beaded Necklaces
Beaded jewelry has a long and colorful history dating thousands of years back to ancient times. Since then, uncountable variations of the craft have been created, worn, and passed down through the generations. Even today, beaded jewelry is as prevalent and widely worn as it has ever been. The sheer variety of possibilities have continued to inspire and make the craft worthwhile for creators and wearers alike.
Artisan Jewelry vs. Mass Produced Jewelry - What's The Difference?
Walk through any mall, and you'll see store after store carrying mass produced jewelry, most of which looks pretty similar. But visit an online or brick-and-mortar specialty boutique, street fair or festival that features artisan jewelry, and you'll find original eye-catching designs made with unique components.
A Fall Color Palette in Gemstones…
Discover the True Beauty of Handcrafted Jewelry
Beaded Jewelry Color of the Year: Violet
Ahh... lovely violet! The color of mystery, of deep dusk, of sweet woodland flowers. Violet is calmly regal where haughty purple demands respect.
Violet lacks the rich, vibrant warmth of purple which lies closer to fiery red on a color wheel. Instead, it's a cooler, quieter color because of it's proximity to calming blue. Violet is the color of the gemstone tanzanite and also of iolite. In fact, the Greek word 'ios' (which gave iolite its name) means violet.
The History of Swarovski Crystal
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 story begins long before that.
In the late 19th century, Daniel Swarovski worked in his father’s glass cutting factory in Wittens, Austria. Fascinated by the trade, Daniel practiced his skill with verve and acuity, and by age 30 had invented his own glass-cutting machine
Personal Thought and Care in Handmade Jewelry
There is nothing more heartfelt than the care that goes into handmade jewelry. Sweet precision blossoms as a beautiful decoration when talented hands form an accessory for your neck, ears, wrist, or ankle. Everything about this specific craft caters to your personal interest right from the start.
Rather than towing away in a factory, tousling with a machine, these beauties embed a personalized touch. Through an impressive glasswork method called lampworking, each ornament has been assembled with individuality in mind for you. The eye-catching results are on par with hidden treasures, giving you a sense of decorum. Anyone can appreciate that kind of dedication behind every thoughtful piece.
Color Focus: Ethereal, Mysterious Violet
Bright, captivating colors are the focal point of any beaded jewelry piece. From delicate earrings to exquisite lampwork beads, color sets the tone and style of each handmade treasure.
The color violet is a rarity in nature. Sweet-smelling lavender embodies the ethereal quality of the color, while lilacs, sweet peas, and orchids represent sanctity and fragility. The oceanic calm of blue blended with fire red balance harmoniously in each bead. Purple tones are the mark of a free-spirit. The range of hues -- from soft pastels to deep, midnight ultraviolet...
Handmade Jewelry: Past, Present, and Future
3 Unique Ways to Wear Beaded Anklets
Lampwork Beads For A Unique Pair Of Earrings
The art of lampworking is a centuries-old technique for creating beautiful and unique works of glass. Traditionally, the process involved using oil lamps to carefully and precisely mold liquid glass into intricately designed pieces. For most of its history, this technique was restricted to only a handful of artisans in Europe, but the quality of the pieces it produced was too eye-catching to ignore.
Lampworking caught on slowly in America with artists working from scratch to perfect something they had no formal instruction in. Today, the process has been refined enough that lampwork glass beads can be used for just about any kind of jewelry.
