A big thank you to all of the wonderful contestants!
Archive for the ‘News’ Category
Our Beading Contest
Monday, October 31st, 2011New Arrivals: Aluminum Wire for Jewelry Making
Monday, October 10th, 2011
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.
New Arrivals: Football Bracelets
Monday, September 26th, 2011Get into the game with our South Sun Football Bracelets!
Color themes to match your favorite NFL or College team, these are a great way to show who’s side you’re on.
Rah rah rah! Cheer your team on in style!
New Arrivals: Halloween Jewelry and Beads
Friday, September 16th, 2011Halloween is fast approaching, and we’re getting in the spooky spirit here at South Sun with NEW Halloween jewelry and bead strands!
Show off your goulish side with ghosts, witches, skulls, pumkins, and more!
*Interesting facts about Halloween:
The tradition of carving pumpkins into Jack-o’-lanterns stems from an old tradition of Catholics in Ireland and Scotland in which they would carve turnips into lanterns on October 31st – the night before All Saints Day – in remembrance of souls held in purgatory.
Jewelry Colors and Textures for Summer 2011
Friday, August 12th, 2011What’s Hot in Jewelry Trends for Summer 2011:
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!
CARNELIAN: Gem of Flesh
Thursday, July 7th, 2011This 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.
Our Gem-Of-A-Movie-Title Competition Results!
Tuesday, June 28th, 2011Thanks to everyone who participated in our Gem-Of-A-Movie-Title Competition on Facebook and Twitter!!!
And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for….Drum roll please…and the winner is…..
“Harry Peridot and the Sapphire’s Stone”
by Mia!!!!!
Here are the other GREAT ideas from our RIDICULOUSLY creative
Moonstone Struck
Amazonite Women on the Moon
Romancing “ALL” the stones
Pirates of the Carnelian
Did You Hear About the Morganites?
Harry Peridot and the Sapphires Stone
Fatal Amethyst
Fried Green Tourmaline
Driving Miss Drusy
Fire green Agate
Some Like it Howlite
Black Serpentine
2001: A Space Obsidian
Crouching Tigers Eye, Hidden Diopside
Magnesite Obsession
Fast Times At Rubellite High
Alexandrite the Great
Catseye on a Hot Tin Roof
Pan’s Labradorite
Snow White and the Seven Diamonds
The Phantom of the Opal
Jasper the Friendly Ghost
Chariots of Fire Opal
Night Of the Living Diopside
Butch Cassidy and the Sunstone Kid
Arsnic and old lace agate
Interview With A Sapphire
The Quartz Whisperer
Sex In the Citrine
Strictly Beryl
Pyrite of Silicon Valley
B.J. and the Beyrl
All the Peridots Men
Clash of the Titanites
Four Weddings and a Fluorite
Alexandrite Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
Not Without My Diopside
101 Dalmation Jaspers
Bill & Teds Excellent Adventurine
Adventurines in babysitting
Dial M for Moonstone
Ruby Blue
Full Metal Jasper
What Ever Happened to Baby Jade
Drusy Dancing
Green Labradorite
Translucent: Dark of the Obsidian
Captain Adventurine!
Staff Contributions:
As Geode As It Gets
To Live And Die In Druzy
Planet of the Apetites
Star Wars: Return of the Jadeite
Have some other ideas for movie titles that incorporate a gemstone? Comment here!
Next top BEADER! 2011, July 31st
Thursday, June 2nd, 2011Join us
here at South Sun
on Sunday, July 31st for our Jewelry-making contest!
Shop, eat, and make jewelry for a chance to WIN BIG!
3rd place winner will receive a $100.00 ‘Shopping Spree’
South Sun Certificate!
2nd place winner will receive a $250.00 ‘Shopping Spree’ South Sun Certificate!
And the GRAND PRIZE winner will receive a $500.00 ‘Shopping Spree’ South Sun Certificate!
So Here’s How It’s Going To Work:
Signing up:
• There is no entry fee, but you must sign up in advance to be eligible
(This can be done by calling (858) 309-5050 or coming into the store).
Materials:
• Come in between 10am – 2pm on July 31st when two surprise bead aisles and our entire findings room will be open in the store to buy your materials. Only these may be used for the contest. There will be a discount of 50% on your materials.
• Please bring your own tools & beading boards/mats.
Start Your Beading!
• 3pm sharp on July 31st: Let the beading BEGIN! Contestants will have three hours in the store to complete all projects.
• You will be able to get up twice to buy any extra materials you need.
• When the clock hits 6pm, tools down!
• From 6pm to 7pm enjoy free wine, cheese and other snacks while judges deliberate.
• WINNERS will be announced at 7:00pm!
Terms and Conditions:
• Only one entry per contestant. OPEN TO EVERYONE.
• Entries made or partially-made before or after the allotted in-store assembly period will not be accepted.
• Only materials purchased during the allotted shopping period may be used in the entry piece.
• Entries will be judged by the South Sun management team based on:
Originality of design
Complexity of design
Use of color
Quality of execution
• Winners will be announced at 7:00pm on July 31st and the winning items will be displayed in store.
Turquoise: Gemstones Superstar
Tuesday, May 24th, 2011The 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
Jewelry Trend Report for Summer 2011: Red Coral!
Monday, May 9th, 2011Red 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!
