Jewelry Articles

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. 

The fall season is just around the corner and we can expect cooler weather and shorter days. The lush green leaves on trees will begin to shift into shades of yellow, orange, and red shades. Gardens hues will change into fall flowers that thrive in cooler temperatures like the orange chrysanthemums and purple pansies. Worldwide color authority Pantone® recently released its choices for the fall color trend report.

The new fall Pantone colors are Russet Orange, Crocus Petal, Valiant Poppy, Ultra Violet, Ceylon Yellow, Martini Olive, Quetzal Green, Nebulas Blue, Limelight, and Red Pear. Check out these new fabulous top color picks for this next season. 

Jewelry is an expression of your personality. Big and bold, calm and quiet, sophisticated, urbanite, country girl... Which of these describe your unique personality? If you're shopping at a store or local craft fair you can probably find a piece of jewelry that sort of gets you and your uniqueness. But if you want jewelry that really showcases your personality, a piece of custom handcrafted jewelry is a unique and totally original way to do just that.

If you have a sophisticated yet bold personality, a large piece of jewelry featuring Alexandrite may be the way to go. This rare gemstone changes its colors depending on the lighting. 

Summer is here and it's time to let the legs out! The fun sunny season brings skirts, shorts, sandals, bathing suits, and a whole new opportunity to sport your style. After you treat your feet to a pedi and a polish, why not top it off with some new ankle bling? 

Anklets have a long and interesting history going back centuries to Pre-Dynastic Egypt, and though historically worn as a symbol to represent marital status, this adornment has evolved into simply a fun fashion accessory in most parts of the world today.

Anklets are an often unexpected way to call attention to your pretty feet during warmer months. Both sexy and playful, wearing an anklet is a unique way of expressing your style and showing off your fun personality. Here are 4 great ways to wear your anklets this season. 

With Bare Feet on the Beach

Give your feet a little flash when you're digging your toes into the warm sand this summer. Glass beads reflect the sun's rays and bring a little bit of sparkle anywhere you are sitting. 

Anklets have been around for longer than high heels and toenail polish. They have been used to attract a partner, to show that you have a partner, or just to flaunt wealth.

The oldest anklets are said to be more than 8000 years old. They were much more than just fashion jewelry then. Women in Mesopotamia used to wear them to show off their husband’s fortune. They have been common throughout the Middle East for many years.

Bead jewelry can adorn much more than your wrist, ankle or neck; it can be one of the best adornments for your home! A handmade beaded accent is an unexpected addition to any room and the result is something both unique and trendy.

Home Decor To Stand Out

The spring and summer months are on their way and many of us are getting ready for the hot and humid weather. While we might not all enjoy the heat, most of us certainly enjoy a cooling breeze. For those of us with ceiling fans, SWCreations crafts just the thing to make that drab mechanism a bit more personal: beaded fan pulls. 

Snowy-white pearls are back in fashion for this winter, according to Vogue. Chunky and funky strings layered with petite and pretty, over a sweater and showing under your favorite coat, puts you at the cutting edge this season. Chokers are back, too, with a goth/punk edge, silver-dipped or leather, or massive pieces that keep your chin up this winter.

Single, high-impact earrings, like a chandelier-style dangle, make everyone take a second look. Even better, wear two different earrings you love to light up your mood in the darker days of the year. You'll smile every time you look in the mirror.

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.

Have you received handmade, beaded earrings? If so, you know the time and creativity spent in making those earrings. However, you also relish in the thoughtfulness of the person who gave them to you. It takes a special person to pick out the right set of earrings for a person.

Handmade, beaded earrings, are one of a kind. An artist makes these gems and is not in the business of "mass production." Each piece is cleverly designed, knowing that the person who will receive the earrings will love and cherish the unique gift.

Are you a winter person?  Cool icicles, frosty snowballs...If you love the ice and snow, we have the perfect winter jewelry so you can show off your cool side all year round.

Snow

White pearls give us the impression of smooth, new-fallen snow across the hillsides.  

You can capture that new-snow feeling with twisted white pearls wrapped around your wrist. We make it to order and add your family's birthstones, interspersed with our beautiful twisted pearls.  

When you think of candy, do you think of handmade jewelry?  Maybe you should!  Many of our jewelry designs look nearly good enough to eat.

Rock Candy

Can anyone see those and not want one?  That little stick with the ball on the bottom, and that crunchy colorful sugar on top! Reminiscent of chunky, sparkly rock candy, this Pink Jade Gemstone Magnetic beaded bracelet is hard not to lick!  Gracing your wrist will be tanzanite purple and peach faceted beads with sterling silver spacers.

Ah, flowers! The jewels of nature, flowers come in every color from the purity of white to the deep darkness of near black with every sparkling color in between. Whatever tint or hue of color you can imagine, there is a flower to match.

Perhaps that is why flowers have inspired artists and designers throughout the ages. From early Minoan pottery to Claude Monet's exquisite paintings, flowers have inspired beautiful artwork. They've also inspired another art form - 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?

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.

Sometimes nature sparks my creativity. Consider the night sky...a sweeping wonder of light from distant, spinning galaxies. Imagine grasping that light, compressing it, and placing the miniaturized glow around your neck!

The Art Bead necklaces I make give reality to that beautiful wreath of captured light. 

If a galaxy consists of gravitationally bound systems of stars, stellar remnants, interstellar gas, dust and dark matter, my handmade necklaces consist of systems of equally remarkable seed beads, Swarovski Austrian crystals...