Thanksgiving is almost here!
Come check out our NEW selection of Thanksgiving beads and jewelry!
Excellent for gifts to those you are thankful for, or decor around the table.
*Fun idea:
Try our stretch bracelets as napkin holders that your guests can keep!
Aluminum wire now available in our findings room
Brand new and available NOW:
Aluminum wire in tons of COLORS!
Try it in your next wire working project! It’s light weight, costs less, and just as twist and turnable and copper!
It is an excellent choice as an alternative to sterling-silver wire.
Happy birthday to all the September Sapphires out there! Sapphire is the birthstone for the month of September, and we have NEW gorgeous SAPPHIRE BEADS in our store, available NOW in our gemstone case.
How well do you know this famous gemstone?
Take the quiz below to find out!
(answers are listed below photo)
Scoring: 1)Ruby; 2)Padparadscha; 3)True; 4)Helena, MT; 5)Blue stone
For more info about sapphires, check out our source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapphire
What is a shell pearl?
Shell pearls are man-made, but don’t let that fool you. These modern wonders are not glass or plastic. They are carefully constructed in laboratories from the shells of oysters. The inner linking of oyster shells, also known as Mother of Pearl, is what forms pearls in nature. This inner lining is used to create the bead, which is coated and polished to create the shape and texture desired.
Why are shell pearls preferred?
Due to the manufacturing process, shell pearls can be found in uniform shape and size at an affordable price, and stand the test of time much better than other pearl alternatives or even the real thing.
The shell pearl is more durable, as it will not be damaged by perfume or sweat (unlike standard pearls, which are very delicate and highly porous), and will keep its color and shine (which can fade in standard pearls, and wear or flake away in glass or plastic substitutes)
This process also allows pearls to be made in a much wider color spectrum than cultured pearls, which gives jewelry makers more room to flex their creativity muscles.
Pearls never go out of style, so come have a look at shell pearls for yourself, available in a variety of colors in our store now.
To get an idea of the colors and textures that are being favored by designers this summer, just imagine scuba diving in the Caribbean…the turquoise water, white sand, red coral, iridescent sea shells, and brightly colored fish darting by offer a splash of jewel tones.
The use of rope, ribbon, and other fabric with wood, shell, pearls, coral, turquoise and textured stones are shaping summer styles.
The variety of textures and warm colors come together to make earthy, touchable pieces.
So let your creativity flow and experiment with natural elements this summer.
Have a favorite trend this summer? Let us know! Comment below!
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM), so now is an excellent time to collect the materials you will need to make Awareness jewelry for all those wonderful women in your life.
Brand new this week we have fabulous glass and porcelain beads featuring the pink ribbon symbolic of breast cancer awareness, as well as great BCA charms.
Here is a little more information about NBCA:
Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) (also referred to in America as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM)) is an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure. The campaign also offers information and support to those affected by breast cancer.
As well as providing a platform for breast cancer charities to raise awareness of their work and of the disease, BCAM is also a prime opportunity to remind women to be breast aware for earlier detection.
For more info about breast cancer and BCAM check out our source at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breast_cancer_awareness
Or check out the National Breast Cancer Foundation to learn more or to donate to help save lives:
http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/How-To-Help/?gclid=CJCWwI-EwKoCFcl66wodcEF37A
This semi-precious gemstone is a type of chalcedony, and a part of the Silica group of minerals, along with its agate and quartz cousins.
Its characteristic warm red, orange and yellow hues come from the presence of iron oxide within the stone.
The name Carnelian is comes from the word Latin word for flesh, caro, in reference to the flesh-tone that can be found in some carnelian specimens.
This stone is no stranger to fame. It use in jewelry and décor has been traced all the way back to the 4th millennia BC.
A valued tool in crystal healing, this crimson gem is used to stimulate the metabolism, enhance creativity, and relieve tension and stress.
Beware of imposters: Chalcedony is often dyed to resemble carnelian. If the color is suspiciously uniform throughout a strand of beads (the beads lack the natural range of colors from yellow to orange and red), or there appears to be settled dye in the cracks within the stone, it is most likely dyed.
Click the image above to see our selection of carnelian beads and jewelry.
The Basics:
Turquoise is one of the oldest and most recognizable stones around.
Its coveted blue color is the result of water percolating through rock that is high in copper and aluminum, and the presence of iron lends adds greenish hues.
It is always opaque, with rough texture that is typically polished to a smooth and glossy finish for jewelry and beads.
The most highly prized variety is solid robin’s-egg-blue, without impurities, and is known as “Sleeping Beauty Turquoise”. This type costs a pretty penny, and is rarely found in bead-form.
The US is the largest producer of turquoise today, and boasts the majority of highest quality turquoise in the world.
Enhancements:
Turquoise is a porous stone, and is often infused with wax or resin to increase its hardness and prevent it from staining.
Turquoise is often dyed to enhance or maintain its color, as it fades with light exposure.
Doppelgangers:
Magnesite and howlite are stones that are often dyed to mimic turquoise. They are great for fashion jewelry pieces because they are much less expensive, but still give that great turquoise look and feel.
Check out our NEW ARRIVAL BEADS! Available on the New Arrivals wall in our store!
This week: Genuine Arizona Turquoise Nuggets!!!
Source for turquoise info:
http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/gemstones/sp14-95/turquoise.html
Red coral jewelry is going to be red hot this summer!
The organic shape and texture of the coral, combined with the warm bright color is a welcome relief from the muted nudes and grays of winter.
Try red coral with turquoise and some hints of silver for a summer piece with an Old West feel, or with pearls for a modern and elegant play on textures.
Check out some of our coral beads and jewelry too!
Songs have been written about them, movies named after them, and people everywhere have coveted them for thousands of years – Oh, and don’t forget they’re the birthstone of April – they are DIAMONDS.
Just try to imagine Western Civilization without these shiny bits of carbon.
What would Marilyn Monroe have sung about?
What would Elizabeth Taylor have had such a lasting love affair with?
What would ingenious cat burglars steal?
And what would women everywhere Google when a celebrity announces her engagement?
Ok, so maybe we could survive without them, but life wouldn’t be nearly as sparkly and fun.
Diamonds are the hardest known natural material and are usually colorless, but can also be found in yellow, pink, blue, and green.
In healing and magic, they represent purity and courage and are said to bring clarity and love to relationships.
Diamonds are also believed to clear physical and emotional pain, as well as bring new beginnings. Sounds like a good reason to make it the preferred stone in engagement rings, doesn’t it?
