Ancient Beaded Jewelry: Roman Glass

Ancient Beaded Jewelry: Roman Glass

Looking at Roman glass is like looking at time. Centuries in the soil gave it a ghostlike patina, colored shadows glowing on the surface. It's amazing that so fragile a material survived, which is why museums treasure their ancient Roman glass objects.

Upscale glass in Rome

Glass-working was slow to come to Rome, but travelers to the east, especially Syria, were fascinated by it and soon imported glass was all the rage. It wasn't cheap. One rich man was entertaining Emperor Augustus at dinner when a slave dropped a glass goblet and broke it. The rich man immediately had the slave killed. Augustus may have been a battle-hardened general, but this was too much. He said nothing, but proceeded to pick up and drop every remaining goblet, smashing the entire set.

May 28, 2015 — SWCreations Jewelry
Famous Gems and Beaded Jewelry: The Sancy Diamond

Famous Gems and Beaded Jewelry: The Sancy Diamond

Here it is!  There it is!  Who has it now? 

Keeping up with the 52-carat Sancy Diamond was like playing a game of hide and seek.  Probably of all the Famous Gems and Beaded Jewelry: The Sancy Diamond has passed through more hands and disappeared more often than any other gem.

Summer Weddings and Handmade Jewelry

Summer Weddings and Handmade Jewelry

What did we do before we had the internet and the ability to locate amazing, unique gifts for special occasions? We gave run-of-the-mill, been there done that, standard and forgettable gifts.

Summer is around the corner and that means the month of June is almost here. June is known as the summer wedding month. Brides, a new mother-in-law, and maids of honor need to take a look at handmade jewelry for the most memorable gifts to mark the special day.

Jade: Gemstone of Spirit and Virtue

Jade: Gemstone of Spirit and Virtue

Long associated with Chinese culture, jade is an ancient and beautiful gemstone. The characteristic green color of the stone (which can range from very pale, milky green to very dark green) is caused by its iron content. More iron results in deeper green color. This extremely durable stone has been used to make tools and beaded jewelry, along with other objects used for ornamental or spiritual purposes, for at least 7000 years. Fine examples of jade jewelry and artifacts, both modern and historic, have been found all over the world.
gemstones

Five of the Most Famous Gemstones of All Time

Nature makes them.  Men sweat for them, cut them, polish them, steal them and also kill for them.  Gemstones impress everyone, but some stones seem to take on a life of their own.  These famous gemstones still fascinate us today.

Probably the most famous gemstone in the world, the Hope Diamond hides quite a tale in her lovely steel-blue facets.  Mined originally in India, the owner sold it to the French King Louis XIV in the mid-1600s.  About 100 years later when Louis XVI lost his throne and his head, the diamond disappeared along with the other French crown jewels.  

Famous Gems and Beaded Jewelry: Koh-i-Noor Diamond

Famous Gems and Beaded Jewelry: Koh-i-Noor Diamond

In the history of famous gems and beaded jewelry, the Koh-i-Noor Diamond stands out for its dark tales of tragedy, torture, and murder, of thrones, lost and gained. The legend is that whoever holds the diamond will be invincible, and men who believed the legend was willing to slaughter thousands for it. Even now, the gem is at the center of a dispute.
April 30, 2015 — Stephanie White
wedding something blue

Something Romantic and Blue History

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a silver sixpence in your shoe” Have you heard this old rhyme, or a variation and wondered to yourself - why? Well, we've done some research into the history of this rhyme and would like to share what we've found.

The rhyme is believed to date back at least to the time of Great Britain's Queen Victoria, who was born in 1819 and ruled from 1837 until 1901. She and her consort, Prince Albert, were married in 1840 and began one of the great love stories of all time.

April 26, 2015 — Stephanie White
The History of Beads in Beaded Jewelry

The History of Beads in Beaded Jewelry

It is amazing how far back in time that beads of all sizes, shapes, colors, and materials have been the desired collectible and how they have been used not only for personal adornment and jewelry but also as “money” to use in trading for goods and services, as good luck talismans, for religious ceremonies, and in a large variety of spectacular crafts.
April 23, 2015 — Stephanie White
Jewelry Extenders Extend Beaded Jewelry Perfectly

Jewelry Extenders Extend Beaded Jewelry Perfectly

If you have ever received a beautiful item of beaded jewelry that simply didn’t fit, it is highly frustrating. You would like to dress in that lovely necklace since you also adore it and it matches your outfit perfectly.  However, it is only far too snug to be comfortable for you to wear. Anyone truly is unable to put it on if it is too small because you could end up taking it off not to mention it may break and you could lose it.  Should you tuck it into a drawer and forget about it or possibly pass it on to another person?
April 18, 2015 — Stephanie White
The Unpredictable Beauty of Lampwork Beads

The Unpredictable Beauty of Lampwork Beads

Lampwork beads are a special kind of alchemy produced when fire meets the glass. They're tiny masterpieces of color and technique, each made by hand through a painstaking process of many delicate steps. Look closely at the jewelry made from lampwork beads: The beads may match, but they're never quite identical. Each one is a miniature sculpture of glassworking art.
history of lampworking glass beads

The History of Lampworking Glass Beads

One of the most unusual and exquisite types of jewelry is lampwork beads, which are made from glass. If you've wondered about the process of making lampwork jewelry, and how the ancient art of lampworking began, here’s what’s involved and its history.
April 04, 2015 — Stephanie White
The History of Jewelry Designs: Five Archaeological Finds That Included Jewelry

The History of Jewelry Designs: Five Archaeological Finds That Included Jewelry

The history of jewelry designs is fascinating. Past centuries of people created, traded, and wore incredible bracelets, necklaces, rings, and earrings. More importantly, they felt a need to protect their belongings hence why treasure seekers unearth so many items each year.

Five 20th century and 21st-century archeological explorations that included jewelry were found:

April 04, 2015 — Stephanie White