Another Springtime feature

Don't ask me why but these candles form Reef Botanicals make me think of spring. I like the colors and even though I can smell them from the picture, I can only imagine how beautifully they smell. 

When I think of spring I also think of flowers, so the print of this beautiful peony caught my eye immediately
Couldn't resist sharing. It's from a handmade Artist shop called Fabric of my mind. Larissa is a multi talented artist and she never ceases to amaze me with her energy and creativity.

Last but not least, this beautiful multicolored shell bracelet form Yankee Burrow creations . Very pretty, flirty and fun. I just love the assortment of colors. I can just see myself playing with those shells on my wrist.

Precious Metals

There are several different types of precious metals: gold, platinum, and silver are the most common. They are used for many different things including, of course, jewelry. Sterling silver is commonly used for both jewelry and things like serving dishes and silverware. Sterling silver is over 90% silver and contains other metals, usually copper. The reason it is mixed with copper is because fine silver is too soft to hold up to daily use and the copper adds strength to the mental. The term “Sterling Silver” has been around since 13th century. From this term stems the name of the “Pound Sterling” in the U.K. Although, the first mention of something like sterling silver comes from a few centuries prior in 1078 A.D. Other forms of silver that are commonly available include: Mexican Silver, which has a much higher pure silver content than sterling silver. Mexican silver contains 95% or more of pure silver and it is also mixed with copper for strength. Sterling silver or fine silver are often used in handmade jewelry because they are significantly less expensive than gold. Fine silver is used to describe silver in its finest form ( 99.99%). 

Britannia Silver is also available and contains slightly more pure silver than either Mexican silver or Sterling silver. It was the common plate for Britain from 1697 and 1720. German Silver is the other more common form of silver that is available on the commercial market. It is used for many things, flatware, serving dishes, dog chains, and horse bits are some of the more common uses for German silver. Probably the most common use for silver in recent times has been for dinning. With more than 200 patterns available, from simple to lavishly decorative…silver dinnerware has been the standard since 1840 when it was considered a requirement for any house of standing. It was used to complement dinners that ranged from three courses to sometimes ten full courses, each with its own utensil(s). In the last several years, the use of sterling silver in jewelry ( handcrafted jewelry included) and fashion has skyrocketed. Quality silver jewelry is easy to take care of and lasts a life-time. To minimize damage your silver should always be stored in a jewelry box or soft cloth pouch. As soon as any tarnish becomes visible, you should clean your silver with one of the many polishes available in grocery stores, hardware stores, and specialty craft stores. You can even store your silver in a ziploc bag, and it will be tarnish free for a long time.

Gold is probably what most people think of when they think of precious metals. It is highly sought after and has been almost romanticized by a colorful history of events like the Alaskan and Californian gold rushes. Sometimes, people are said to be “bitten by the gold bug”. Gold comes in varying degrees of softness, the lighter the gold the more silver it contains and the stronger it is, since gold is softer than silver…the silver adds strength to the gold. Gold is used for many things, jewelry, coins, and dental fillings…just to name a few. Gold also backs currencies such as the British Pound and the Swiss Franc. Gold is measured in different weights called Karats. The higher the karat is in weight, the softer the gold, and also the more pure.

Do you have a preference of precious metal as far as jewelry is concerned. I wear a lot of silver jewelry but it doesn’t really matter. I tend to buy according to what I like.

A creative sister

Last December I went to the Ivory Coast in Africa with my whole family to visit. It was so nice to see my family again after a while, and it was the first time my children were meeting their aunties and uncles. Needless to say it was a very fulfilling trip! So before returning, my older sister gifted me with this beautifully crossed-stitched Advent calendar. I just loved it as soon as I saw it. I think she did a beautiful job. It takes a lot of patience to do this can of work. My sister has been very creative, for as long as I can remember. I know, I've always try doing whatever craft activity she was doing. This is how I started doing crochet at a young age. I tried cross-stitching later on, but drop it really quickly lol... Anyway, here are a few pictures of the canvas she gave me. I intend to frame it and put in somewhere in my house. So, do you creative or crafty siblings? What kind of talent do they have?

  First picture taken above. 

The canvas was a little wrinkled, so I ironed it a little bit and took more pictures. Below!

A spring highllight / Feature

 Spring is here; well sort of lol...So it is time to feature some beautiful creations with the Spring spirit.I have picked a couple of items from some very talented artists to showcase here. Some colors remind me of spring, and sometimes there are pieces of jewelry that I would love to wear during the seasons. Below are some of my favorites.

This beautiful seaglass necklace is from Making the Best of it.

I just love the soothing colors and weathered look of sea glass, and this necklace is just elegant, and of course it reminds me of the beach.

My second selection is this gorgeous round maille bracelet by Chainmaille by MBOI  I just love this bracelet. I feel like it is a unisex bracelet! it can be worn by either a man or a woman, and the shiny silver make it even more appealing to me.

In keeping with the theme, I selected this Aquafrost necklace from my website as well. Although it is a frosted glass pendant, it has the same feel as the first selection. So these are my spring selection, and I think it would perfectly compliment any outfit for the season. So do you wear different type of jewelry for each  season? 

Newest jewelry design from April

So I had these beautiful Emerald color green Onyx that I bought a while ago, and I could not wait to make something with them. So a few weeks ago, I finally got a chance to sit down and create this necklace. I used fine silver and sterling silver. The shape of the necklace just mimics the shape of the stone, and I really like how it came out. I love the pop of green against the silver. It will definitely be noticed when worn. I am not a green person, but I just love this color. What do you thing? where will you wear this necklace to go?

Happy birthday Emerald people

The birthstone for May is Emerald!!

Possessing a big, perfect emerald can hold almost as much value as possessing a small diamond.  Emeralds have 6 sides, and typically come from Colombia.
According to the American Gem society, Emerald symbolized rebirth and is believe to grant good fortune, foresight and youth. So, happy birthday to you all born in May, and do you happen to love Emerald as a stone? or the emerald color?

What's costume jewelry?

A little background on custume jewelry

The term “Costume Jewelry” started in the in the early 20th century, when it was used to compliment outfits while the more costly and precious “real jewelry” was left at home. Costume jewelry is usually made out of base metals, glass, and synthetic stones so it is inexpensive. In most cases, it is very flashy. Many stars and political figures have contributed to the rise in popularity of costume jewelry. These stars include Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Coco Channel, and Jackie Kennedy Onassis. Costume jewelry is said to have gotten its name from its place in theater productions. Today, it is a common replacement for jewelry made from precious metals and stones. Often times, the super wealthy will have replicas of their “real” jewels made into costume jewelry. They wear the fakes in place of the real items for security, both for themselves and for the jewelry. There are many different styles and types of costume jewelry, of course…the more real it looks, the more it costs. Everything from pearls to “diamond” rings can be found in costume jewelry as well as handmade jewelry. It is also very common for brides today to wear costume jewelry at their weddings in the form of pearl necklaces, sapphires, and diamond tiaras. It allows for a highly glamorous appearance without breaking the budget. Another way to have something very unique for a wedding is also wearing Handmade jewelry crafted by a skilled artisan. Costume jewelry can be handmade or mass produced.

     Probably the biggest name in costume jewelry is Kenneth Lane, who has designed jewelry for the Duchess of Windsor and Barbara Bush. Costume jewelry can be found pretty much anywhere, including jewelry boutiques and chain stores alike. The internet, of course, is a huge source to purchase costume jewelry without leaving the comfort of your home. Some costume jewelry is even plated with real gold and sterling silver to lend a more authentic appearance. Laboratory created stones are also sometimes used in the more valuable pieces. These pieces are usually passed down through generations much like its much more costly cousin. Like most things, if it is well taken care of, quality costume jewelry’s value does go up with time. There are many types of costume jewelry, including “Victorian”, “Classic”, and “Contemporary”. Older jewelry is referred to as “Estate Jewelry” or “Vintage Jewelry”, which usually leads to a higher selling price in the end. Not all costume jewelry is made from fake materials. Sometimes it is just made from less precious stones and is plated with precious metals instead of being made from them. This technique for making the jewelry not only makes it look real, it also makes it more valuable from an investment standpoint. A lot of jewelry made with birthstones is considered costume jewelry ever since the change from precious gemstones to semi-precious gem stones was made by the society that controls the sale of gemstones. If you care to do a little research, you may find that your birthstone was originally considered to be something very different than it is considered today. For example, the birthstone for August is currently the peridot, which is a grass green semi-precious stone. Originally, the birthstone for August was the ruby, which is far more rare and valuable than the peridot. I sure do like some costume jewerly. These are the first pieces of jewelry that I bought on my own :-)

Do you like costume jewelry? where do you wear them to go?