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handicraftjewelry · 5 years
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6 Types of Metal for Making Jewelry
  Whether you’re a jeweler, a customer, or a soon-to-be customer it is important to be educated on not only the jewelry that you’re wearing but also the jewelry that you’d be purchasing so that you can be an informed consumer. There is a lot of miss information about types of metals out there so this article will go through the 6 types of metal for making jewelry and give you just some things that will be helpful.
Gold
10 karat gold is 42 percent gold and 58 percent metal alloys and 14 karat gold which is 58 percent gold and 42 percent metal alloys. Even 18 karat gold is 75% gold and 25% metal alloys. The reason why you need those metal alloys is for durability. Pure gold is very pliable and you would never be able to wear it for jewelry because it would bend and change shape or even break so we need the metal alloys in our gold. So keep in mind that even when you think you’re wearing “the real thing” you’re really wearing the real thing mixed with some metal alloys.
Sterling Silver
Sterling silver is also an alloy, it has to start with pure silver so it’s 92.5 percent pure silver and it is usually mixed with copper. This is because sterling silver of itself is also very pliable so you need to have some alloy in there in order for it to keep its shape and its form. Sterling silver is still more expensive than silver plated.
Rhodium
Rhodium is a very expensive silver colored metal with the brightness of sterling silver but without the tarnishing effects of sterling silver. In the high-fashion world, they will use rhodium because it’s tarnish resistant whether it’s rhodium plated or actual full-fledged rhodium. So it gives you that silver look but it’s not silver. The great thing about rhodium is that it’s tarnish resistant and I love that about rhodium as a metal I think that’s really handy to know.
Palladium
Palladium is a silver metal with a hardness second to rhodium but with a cost slightly higher than gold. It can also be called platinum. Platinum is also a darker and deeper shade of silver as well so it has a different look. Platinum is what most jewelers will use on the prong settings of centerpiece stones because they need the hardness. The center stone on your wedding sets for example are going to take a lot of beatings so you need those prongs to really be strong. So platinum typically works very well for those prong settings.
Surgical Steel
Most post earrings are made of surgical steel but not a lot of people really know what it is. It is a non tarnishing hypo allergenic metal alloy made up of iron and chromium. This is why for most people, surgical steel works very well when it is going into their ears.
Stainless Steel
This is a steel alloy with chromium that is highly resistant to stain, rust, or corrosion. Stainless steel is very durable and it can be worn a long time.
Don’t be afraid of educating yourself on the types of metals that are out there. If you are a customer reading this all you have to do is ask your jeweler what metal is used in a particular piece that appears in their catalog and they will be happy to get that information to you. More info in this site: https://www.kitco.com/market/.
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handicraftjewelry · 5 years
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The Most Wonderful Time of the Year to Buy Wedding Jewelry
  When you find that special person you want to spend the rest of your life with, the first memory is the engagement ring that marks the lasting promise of love. The wedding proposal is a sincere and moving moment “frozen in time”, that just compares with the exchange of wedding jewelry. The engagement ring and wedding bands are two purchases that will be with you and your loved one forever.
This is why it is required to select what you like most and take your time to choose the designs. Too many brides have come to me crying. Why? As they do not like their wedding bands and have no idea how to change the band without hurting the feelings of the groom. I never want to see a tearful-eyed girlfriend in my office crying again. I just want to see them happy, smiling, and satisfied with this great purchase.
What Is The Best Time to Buy Your Wedding Jewelry?
The best time to purchase your wedding jewelry is between 3 and 4 months before your wedding. In the case of a shorter engagement time, the compromise between the engagement and the wedding is the best; if it is 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding. The main reason to wait before buying is the correct same reason why several retailers who sell the engagement ring are pushing for their instant purchase. The possibilities of the bride knowing the desired design of the wedding band are very tiny at the time of engagement.
Sometimes, brides change their mind about the designs of wedding bands. This is because several women have never before used a diamond ring of this significant magnitude in their daily lives. Both the bride and the groom have to like the design. The bride will require time to wear her beautiful engagement ring for a few weeks or a few months before she can choose the design of the wedding band. You may be surprised how often the design requires and desires of the design change over time. This is the reason why both partners should have enough time to be able to give educated information about each other’s rings and feel confident in their opinion.
Why Is It Better to Buy at Least 3 or 4 Months Before Your Wedding Day?
There are several answers to this question, but two similarly significant main factors are:
There are so many unpredictable variables that will appear the last weeks before the wedding. Give yourself an adequate amount of time, knowing that the wedding bands are chosen, purchased and in your possession will relieve needless stress as the wedding day approaches.
Some wedding bands must be designed in a personalized way so that the process can last several weeks. At the end of the design procedure, the couple must be available for the collection to verify the size and make sure that the workforce is perfect. Your time is valuable as the wedding day approaches, provided your hectic schedules with planning and taking care of the other details.
Summary
Your wedding bands represent your mutual promise. They are a memory of your eternal love. Over the years, you will celebrate a lot of joys by sharing your love. Every time you see and use your attractive rings, you will enter flashback mode once you started your love story together. Your love is forever for your partner and your love for both your engagement ring and your wedding jewelry should also be.
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handicraftjewelry · 6 years
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How to Negotiate On Jewelry
Gold and silver prices are currently very impressive. despite what you might think, silver and gold are doing well right now and even jewelry made from such precious metals are highly sought after. The truth is buying silver and gold jewelry can be doubly special; on one side you have an exquisite piece of jewelry and on the other hand, a very impressive investment. There has never been a better time to invest but what about negotiation on the price of the jewelry? Read on to find a few tips that can help you during your negotiations.
Do Your Research on Costs
You have to know what you’re talking about in order to get the best deal on your jewelry. For instance, you have to know the latest silver and gold prices but if you are buying jewelry with other precious stones then you have to know their values as well. Silver for sale is very popular and there are lots of silver rings and bracelets and necklaces for sale also, however, you have to think about the real value over the jewelry as a whole. You aren’t going to get a thousand dollars off your expensive ring if you have expensive diamonds or stone settings. When you know these average current costs now then you are in a better position to negotiate.
Ensure You See a Certification of the Jewelry Piece (Including Diamonds and Other Stones)
Every authentic and legal diamond is inspected by the GIA – the gemological institute of America or the IGI – International gemological institute so that they are grated and certified. Before you hand over any money, you must first ask to see these certifications. If the jeweler is not willing to show you these, do not buy. You must know what you’re getting before you buy and it doesn’t matter if you know the current Gold and silver prices if you aren’t getting to see the certification. This is important for your negotiations.
Buy in Cash and Let the Jeweler Know you’re paying in Cash
Sometimes, jewelers are a lot more willing to negotiate when they know they are being paid in full and in cash! For some reason, the costs can be higher overall when you buy via credit cards or with a store card and it’s wise to think about paying in cash. More jewelers will be happier to negotiate when they see cash in their hands at the end of the day so make a point in saying you would like to pay by cash. Looking for silver for sale is simple enough but paying is cash can be cheaper at the best of times. Check here.
Get the Best Prices
Despite what you might think, it is very much possible to get a good price for your jewelry pieces even when you’re buying an expensive piece. There are lots of little tricks for you to look into and you can get a great price no matter what you choose to buy. Don’t worry about negotiating as many jewelers will be more than happy to do so if it means a sale. Always know the latest Gold and silver prices so you get a fair price.
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handicraftjewelry · 6 years
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How to Find out if Jewelry is Gold Plated
Jewelry is crafted from a wide variety of different materials, each adding a different look and feel to the piece. Sometimes it’s really hard to distinguish a luxurious piece of jewelry from a constructed fake. If you’re planning on selling some of the jewelry you’ve been holding onto, you might need to check gold and silver prices, as the percentage of actual minerals within the jewelry will determine the selling price.
Look for Gold Plated Jewelry Markings
One of the fastest ways to determine if gold is real or not is to check for any gold markings. There are a few different markings that you may find on your jewelry with these initials; GP, GEP, RGP, HGE, and HGP. The most common marking used on gold plated jewelry is the GP initials, which stands for “gold plating”. The next most common you will see is the GEP marking, which stands for “gold electroplate”. The third most common would be RGP markings which means “rolled gold plate”. HGE/HGP which stands for heavy gold electroplate.
Perform an Acid Test or Magnet Test
The next step to take if you can’t find any sort of markings or indications of gold plating is to consider doing either an acid or magnet test. These tests can help determine if your jewelry is gold plated or made of other materials such as silver, as the price of silver per ounce can still be valuable. An acid test requires that you either buy a kit or take it into the jewelers. It works by selecting a tiny fragment of minerals off of your jewelry and soaking it in acid, if there is a color change, you will be able to identify the metals and materials it is made out of.  Magnet testing is when you try to attract your jewelry to a magnet. This can easily be done at home. Gold does not react to magnetic fields, therefore if your jewelry is attracted to the magnet, the piece may contain other types of metals. However, take this in warning, this just means that the main component of your jewelry isn’t gold, not that it doesn’t contain gold. Check here.
Gold Coloring
Lastly, one of the easiest methods to tell if your gold jewelry is real or not is to look at the color. Real gold jewelry is crafted with gold alloy, giving it a mixture of hardness. Take a good look at your jewelry and see if you can identify any bumps, lumps, or wrinkles. There’s a high chance that if you can that the gold is real and is valued at a higher price.  Any intense yellow colors that appear to be smooth all around are usually gold plated and worth less. Look for chippings in the jewelry as well, sometimes you can see the underlying metal.
Conclusion
No matter what your reason for identifying if your jewelry is gold plated or not, this guide will surely give you some ideas. Just remember that the best method for identifying if the jewelry is gold-plated or real is to give it a magnet or acid test. This was you can distinguish which mineral or metal it may be made out of and get a better idea of the value of it. If you find that your jewelry is made out of silver, which is the most common, you should put your silver for sale instead of pawning it. To find out more, check out http://www.beadandhandicraftjewelry.com/how-to-avoid-white-gold-turning-yellow/
  The post How to Find out if Jewelry is Gold Plated appeared first on Bead and HandiCraft Jewelry.
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handicraftjewelry · 7 years
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How to Avoid White Gold Turning Yellow
When purchasing gold or silver for sale, you may be curious how to avoid having your new precious purchase turn from beautiful white gold into yellow. Although vintage is all the rage, no one wants their special jewelry to look antique before its time. Understanding how it happens and how to help avoid it is important in keeping your white gold in tip top shape and increasing its gold and silver prices on resale.
Why does white gold turn yellow?
It’s important to remember after purchasing your gold or silver for sale that both are metals. This means that they are subject to the normal processes and chemical reactions of any other metal. The most common reason that white gold turns yellow is the natural chemicals produced by your skin – mostly acids and chemicals. Over time, the buildup of these acids and chemicals produces a sort of chemical reaction between your skin and your white gold jewelry, causing it to turn yellow. Other factors that influence your white gold turning yellow and that effect your gold and silver prices are the soaps, lotions, detergents and other chemicals you come into contact with on a normal basis. Even frequent swimmers can see a more quick break down of their white gold due to the salt water or chlorine that they are in contact with frequently.
How can I avoid or slow down the process?
Once you can identify which chemicals are causing the chemical reactions and changing your gold and silver prices, you can start trying to avoid them more. You may also consider removing your jewelry before swimming or showering as well as keeping your jewelry off for longer periods of time after applying lotion. Look at the areas of your white gold that has yellowed and see if you can figure out what is causing the issue. That will help you decide what you can do to make the most difference.
What can I do after my white gold turns yellow?
Even after you’ve purchased your white gold and silver for sale and done everything you can to slow down the process of it yellowing, you may still notice that it happens eventually despite your best intentions. So what can you do? The most common option that people choose to restore their gold and silver prices is a process called rhodium plating. Rhodium is also a metal that is similar in color to white gold. If you take your white gold jewelry to your regular jewelry store, they can place a thin coat of rhodium directly over the parts of the white gold jewelry that is yellowing.  It doesn’t affect the gold and silver prices if you ever resell your jewelry and it adds significant life to your precious items.
After purchasing jewelry, you want to take care of it and keep it looking new for as long as possible. Often, part of the process of white gold is that it yellows. Knowing how to slow this process down as well as to help treat it if it happens is an important part of keeping gold and silver prices high and keeping your jewelry for your lifetime.
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handicraftjewelry · 7 years
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How to Tell If Your Jewelry Is Gold Filled or Solid Gold
Jewelry is a personal adornment worn for ornament or utility, to show rank or wealth, or to follow superstitious custom or fashion. The most universal used forms of jewelry are the necklace, bracelet, ring, pin, and earring. Its use antedates clothing, and it has been made of a variety of materials including berries, seeds, perforated stones, teeth, bone, shells, ivory, and metals. Although bronze and silver have been used by primitive peoples and in modern hand wrought jewelry, gold has usually been the preferred metal.
A piece of jewelry may look like solid gold, but it might be gold filled. Gold-filled jewelry is made by wrapping a very thin sheet of gold around a base made of another material such as nickel or brass. Heat is used to attach the gold coating on top of the non-gold core. Gold-filled items are similar to gold-plated pieces in that they are not solid gold where  gold-plated jewelry, has a much thinner gold coating whereas, solid gold jewelry is made entirely of one material usually, an alloy that contains gold mixed with other metals to make the compound harder and more durable.
Therefore, there are number of ways to determine if your jewelry is gold-filled or solid-filled as follows;
       1.Acid Testing(nitric acid)
This is the most reliable way to find out the gold content of jewelry is to do an acid test. Although you can buy an acid testing kit and perform the test at home, interpreting the results can get tricky depending on the gold alloy examined. The jeweler will take some sample material from your jewelry and then apply acid to it to observe if there is a color change, which will indicate what metals the sample contains. Check here !
Acid testing is used mainly to determine the number of karat of solid gold jewelry, but it can also indicate whether the piece is plated.
Place your piece of gold in a small stainless steel container.
Put a drop of nitric acid on your gold and watch for any resulting reaction to the acid.
A green reaction indicates your item is either a base metal or gold plated. A gold reaction indicates your item is gold-plated brass. Where if a milk colored reaction would indicate gold plated sterling silver and if there is no reaction, you mostly likely are dealing with real gold.
          2.Magnet Testing
Since gold is not magnetic, if your jewelry is attracted to the magnet, the piece must contain some other metal. This test however may not be conclusive for a couple of reasons.
While a reaction of your jewelry to the magnet indicates that the piece is not made solely of gold, this does not necessarily mean that it is plated, it can still be a solid gold alloy that has low purity and contains a magnetic metal.
A piece may be gold plated without being attracted to a magnet if the core metal, which is covered with gold, is non-magnetic.
3.Gold Color as an Indicator
The color of your jewelry can also be used as a clue to whether the piece is solid or plated. Gold-plated jewelry is sometimes covered with 24 karat gold whereas, solid gold pieces are not made of pure gold as it is too soft; they are instead made of a gold alloy that contains metals that give the mixture hardness. So, if your jewelry has an intense yellow color similar to that of pure gold and is relatively cheap, then it may be gold plated.
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handicraftjewelry · 8 years
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Buying Gold Bars and Silver – Which Is the Best Commodity to Buy?
Millions each and every day search for gold and silver for sale and it isn’t hard to see why. Gold and silver are the two biggest commodities of all time and they will remain popular for years to come. Of course there is a big debate over which of the two is better. Most believe gold works but many believe silver is overtaking slowly; so what is best?
Gold Remains Extremely Popular
Buying gold bars remains very, very popular throughout the world and you can’t blame people for snapping them up. Gold has always been a precious commodity and one which is highly sought after. One ounce might not seem much to someone but if you can buy it at a fair price and wait a little while the prices can increase. Gold is popular, very much so today as it always has been but it looks set to continue with newer options to purchase it.
Silver Is a Popular Option
Thousands of people are searching for silver for sale simply because it is a lot more affordable than gold. It’s true; silver prices are affordable more so than gold and it does look as though their valuations are steady. There is such a big demand for precious commodities such as gold and silver [read this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodity_market] and it isn’t hard to see why. The potential for silver is great and more and more people are becoming interested in silver. Yes, the silver prices may not reach the heights of gold but they are still pretty high and you never know what can happen.
Buying Gold Bars and Silver May Be a Good Investment for the Future
Everyone wants to invest if only to leave a little nest-egg behind after they’ve gone or for their retirement years and it does seem gold and silver are extremely popular. To be honest gold and silver prices vary and have done so over the past few years also which means the potential is there. You never truly know how good or bad the future will be when it comes to gold or silver but the prices at the moment look good. If you want to invest you may want to consider gold and silver; they are good options and it does seem as though many look to these also. However, know the risks and be careful.
Which Should You Buy?
It’s very hard to say for sure which commodity is best to buy because they are both fantastic. Gold and silver prices are good now and they look positive for the future. There is potential in both of these and it is almost impossible to choose between them. Yes, gold is the precious commodity of all time but silver can be a little more affordable. At the end of the day it is you who need to make the choice over which commodity you buy. They can both offer you a lot of potential so think carefully before buying.
A Commodity for Life
There are very few things in life which are highly sought after but it does seem as though gold and silver will be the two things that last forever. The great thing about it is that gold and silver usually increase in value so while you might think it’s a hefty investment today, tomorrow it might pay off. You can never be sure and the decision is yours. Buying gold bars can be a great idea but only if it works for you.
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handicraftjewelry · 8 years
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How to Create Lustrous Handmade Pearl Jewelry
  Pearls were once known to adorn the ears, necks, and hands of women with high class. Women who were considered to be part of high society. However, over time, the lustrous pearl lost its status and became a gem the general public could enjoy. The pearl is now so common that you and I could create them ourselves.
The History of the Pearl
Pearls were once so sacred that “the Byzantine empire dictated that only the emperor was allowed to wear pearls, and other societies had rules about who could and could not wear these little treasures.” Ancient societies even believed that pearls symbolized the moon and carried properties to keep women chaste and modest. England historically had a time where only people of high class wore these little gems to signify their prestige in society.
Unfortunately, people in Asia figured out how to create pearls from both freshwater and seawater by cultivating them. Pearls for Girls explains how this process is done:
A cultured pearl is any pearl that was created with the assistance of a human. A pearl is cultured by opening a live mollusk slightly and inserting a small piece of mantle tissue or a small pearl into the mantle of the animal. This nucleation process of introducing a foreign object causes the mollusk to protect itself by covering the inserted material with a substance called nacre. Once “nucleated”, the animal is then attached to a wire frame and the frame is suspended from a float in the water from which the animal came either seawater in the case of salt water pearls or fresh water lakes in the case of fresh water pearls.
Now, nearly all pearls that are sold are cultured. This isn’t necessarily bad news for jewelry makers. Since pearls are cultured at a rate of 40 per mollusk, the price of cultured pearls are low. This gives you an opportunity to create some gorgeous handmade pearl jewelry.
Handmade Pearl Jewelry Ideas
If you happen to be interested in using cultivated pearls for your next jewelry project, here are some ideas your customers will love to wear!
Dangly Pearl Earrings
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These earrings are always a classic! Miss Lovie has a 10 Minute Pearl Earring Tutorial that is easy to follow.
Knotted Pearl Bracelets
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These knotted bracelets are fun and very boho chic. This easy bracelet tutorial will have you creating these in no time.
Pearl Ring
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This simple ring is very elegant and timeless. A very detailed tutorial on the pearl ring will help you get started.
If you’re interested in more pearl jewelry ideas, the Jewelry Making blog has some great ideas.
Pearls are timeless regardless of their current status in society. The global market might have driven the price down, but demand for pearl jewelry has not decreased.
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handicraftjewelry · 8 years
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Stay Calm and Collected with March’s Birthstone – Aquamarine
“A march born shall always be
Soothed by Aqua, gem of sea
This mermaid’s treasured stone you wear
Will bring happiness, love, affection and care.”
(author unknown)
There’s folklore surrounding March’s birthstone, Aquamarine, that the stones are mermaids’ treasure. Since it was believed that these stones came from the sea, many sailors used them as a talisman to navigate the seas. The Greeks believed it had calming powers over the sea and would grant them safe passage on their journey.
The Romans believed that Aquamarine was good for young lovers and often used the stone as a gift for a bride the morning of her wedding. For cultures in the Middle East, this gem was thought to be a symbol of happiness and everlasting youth. In Europe, it was said to be an antidote for poison, which made the stone popular at a time where many royals were being poisoned.
Some people think that Aquamarine will increase courage and help with communication skills. Others believe that it brings the wear or carrier inner peace to deal with challenging situations.
Aquamarine belongs to the Beryl family, which is a group of gemstones that are commonly known to carry metaphysical properties. Other stones in this family include Emerald and Morganite.
Overall, Aquamarine’s color is what makes this gemstone so popular for jewelry lovers. However, the folklore surrounding the stone makes it a very intriguing gift.
Interested in purchasing Aquamarine jewelry? Check out Blue Nile’s collection:
Featured Image Credit
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handicraftjewelry · 8 years
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How to Make Handmade Jewelry Your Friends Will Love to Wear
There is something so special about receiving a homemade gift. I think mothers everywhere will agree. But even receiving a handcrafted gift from a friend has more meaning than receiving a store bought gift. I think this is because it’s so thoughtful. They actually took the time to plan out how to make this gift something that you would love and cherish. They made it with you in mind.
Galentine’s Day is coming up on February 13th – yes, it’s a made up holiday, but it’s also a time for you to celebrate your best friends. This is a great opportunity to learn how to make handmade jewelry that embodies their personalities because it demonstrates that you appreciate them for being who they are. So, I’m gonna give you some ideas so that you can create a gift that says, “thanks for being you.”
10 Handmade Jewelry Ideas for Your Friends
1. Personalized Leather Bracelets
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These cute bracelets are so easy to make and so much to wear! Personalize it to say something only you and your bestie would get or a word that describes them. They’ll love wearing it and others will want to be wearing it.
Laura Gummerman from A Beautiful Mess shares how to make these handmade bracelets: http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2014/10/leather-phrase-bracelet-diy.html
2. Button Earrings
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These adorable earrings are perfect for anyone and everyone. Customize the fabric to fit your friend’s personality. If they’re more vintage, find a pattern that has that motif. If they’re into bright, neon colors, find a fabric that is bold just like them! It’s the perfect jewelry to make for all of your friends because it’s so simple to make.
Claudia Cormier from Country Living gives step by step instructions on how to make handmade jewelry like this one: Cute-as-a-Button Earrings
3. Handmade Beaded Necklace
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This handcrafted necklace is perfect to do WITH your girls! Have a Galentine’s Day celebration where you all learn how to make handmade jewelry and teach them how to make this simple beauty.
Elsie Larson from A Beautiful Mess can kick off the celebration by providing the instructions on how to create this simple beaded necklace.
4. Arrow Earrings
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These stylish earrings are perfect for your friend that loves to wear boho chic. They’re simple, yet fashionable.
Alison Gootee from Studio D tells you what you need to make these chic brass arrow earrings.
5. Hand-Stamped Jewelry
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If you like the idea of personalizing your handcrafted jewelry for your best friend, then you’re doing to love these bracelets and necklaces. These pieces are a little more challenging to create because they require more equipment than the others did, but once you make one you’ll be dying to make another!
Make a friendship bracelet by creating a stamped initial bracelet or produce an engraved necklace with a hand-stamped necklace.
6. Chic Camera Strap
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While this isn’t an actual jewelry piece, I do think it’s the sweetest gift you can make because you’d be thinking of your friend’s interest if you made it. This would be perfect if you had a friend that’s a photographer or who’s interested in becoming a photographer. This gift says, “I support your passion”.
Learn how to make the leather and chain link camera strap here.
7. Rope Necklace
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This piece is perfect for that friend that isn’t afraid to make a statement. She is bold and beautiful. This necklace can be spun different ways and can be created for your more understated friends as well – just use more neutral colored rope.
To learn how to braid this necklace, click here.
8. Bow Bracelet
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This simply adorable bracelet is perfect your girly girl friend. It’s nostalgic of the little girl with the bows in her hair, but mature enough for a woman with a degree to wear.
Learn how to make this handmade bracelet here: http://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/how-to/g1349/diy-handmade-jewelry/?slide=18
9. Skinny Leather Bracelets
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Do you have that one friend that always has scrunchies around their wrist? Help them get into 2016 with these fashionable replacements. I know they don’t tie your hair back, but they’re so much cuter than having a hair tie cutting the circulation from their wrists!
These easy skinny leather bracelets are very versatile as you can design it three different ways with a multitude of color options.
10. Necklaces from Nature
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These woodland necklaces are perfect for the Fall or for a friend who just loves nature! These stylish pieces are simple, yet extremely fashion forward.
These 10 ideas are a great start to learn how to make handmade jewelry that fits your friends’ personalities. Whatever design you choose, remember to think of your friends’ personality and create something that embodies them. I guarantee that they will love whatever you make them because they’ll be able to tell that you put some thought into the finished piece. I bet others will be asking for you to create pieces for them, as well, when they see your friends rocking your creations.
Article Sources:
Country Living
A Beautiful Mess
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handicraftjewelry · 8 years
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Find Peace and Serenity in February’s Birthstone – Amethyst
“The February-born shall find Sincerity and peace of mind, Freedom from passion and from care, If they an amethyst will wear.” (author unknown)
This month’s birthstone, amethyst, is so much more than a beautiful purple gemstone. Some people believe amethyst has sobering qualities and was actually used in history to prevent people from becoming drunk.
Robyn Harton of CrystalsandJewelry.com shares the meaning behind this gem:
Amethyst
Alternate Names & Name Spellings:  “Sobriety Stone”, light Amethyst is also called Cape Amethyst at times
Crystal Meanings Lore of Amethyst
Keywords:  Psychic, Sobriety
Amethyst is a meditative and calming stone which works in the emotional, spiritual, and physical planes to provide calm, balance, patience, and peace.
Amethyst is used as beneficial when dealing with legal problems and money issues, which can lead to prosperity and abundance, though it is not the best known prosperity stone.
In the psychic and spiritual realms, amethyst is an excellent all-purpose stone that can increase spirituality and enhance intuition and psychic powers of all kinds. It does this by making a clear connection between the earth plane and other planes and worlds. Amethyst is also excellent for meditation and lucid dreaming. It is used to open one’s channels to telepathy, past life regression, clairaudience, clairvoyance, and communication with angels. Amethyst also protects against psychic attacks, especially during spiritual work.
Amethyst is not only a psychic protection stone, but is also used to protect one from thieves, and to protects travelers. 
Emotionally, amethyst is used in crystal healing  to help heal personal losses and grief, bringing one gently past. Amethyst has a gently sedative energy that can promote peacefulness, happiness, and contentment. It also is said to bring emotional stability and inner strength. This stability and strength not only helps one hold firm in one’s life, but it can enhance flexibility and cooperation. To be flexible at need is a sure sign of strength.
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Throughout history, this gemstone was used to protect people from getting drunk. Jewelrythis.com provides some interesting facts about February’s birthstone:
Fun facts about February’s Birthstone: The Amethyst
1. The word ‘amethyst’ comes from the Greek word, ‘amethystos’, which means ‘sober’. The ancient Greeks believed that the amethyst protected them from becoming drunk.  In fact, the practice of drinking wine from cups made from amethyst originated from that belief.
2. The amethyst is a quartz stone of the purple variety and is the most valued member of the quartz family. Amethysts must be purple, but they can come in a variety of shades of purple, including lavender, lilac, and mauve. Their properties and textures change with the locations from where they are mined.  The highest quality amethyst is a deep, medium purple with some rose coloring.
3. Amethysts can be found in many regions in the world, but most of these stones come from Brazil and Uruguay.  Africa, Canada, Mexico, Russia, and the USA are also sources of amethysts.
4.  In 1993, a nine-foot cavern was found in Maine containing more than a ton of amethyst crystal.
5. On the Mohs scale of hardness, the amethyst is a seven.
Aside from the interesting myths, legends, and beliefs about this gem, it was worn by royalty since purple is considered to be a royal color. This exquisite gemstone can be used to create the most beautiful jewelry as it can be found in different hues of purple.
Ali Brownrigg from Cut & Polish gives some examples of how this birthstone was turned into jewelry throughout history:
February Birthstone: Amethyst
This purple gemstone ranges in hue from violet to lavender, wine to raspberry, and has been worn as adornment by royalty and religious leaders for thousands of years.
There are many myths and legends surrounded gemstones that over time became associated with birth months, but amethyst has one of the most fantastical. Derived from the Greek word amethystos, which means, “not intoxicated”, and equated with Dionysus (the Greek god of wine known as Bacchus in Roman mythology), the stone was thought to protect the wearer against drunkenness. Chalices were often made from the stone, as were engraved medallions, worn to keep a clear head. Wishful thinking, indeed

History also recounts that St. Valentine wore a carved amethyst amulet and that during the Middle Ages, the stone was given as a token of love and good fortune, perhaps solidifying it as the birthstone for the most romantic month of the year. Tibetan prayer beads are made out of amethyst, as are episcopal rings worn by Roman Catholic bishops.
See full article here

Whether you want to wear this gemstone for it’s mythical qualities or because it’s your birthstone, this extraordinary gem can be displayed on a ring, bracelet, necklace, or pair of earrings.
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handicraftjewelry · 8 years
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Culture Inspired Jewelry
Jewelry has been around forever. Some cultures used pieces of jewelry to distinguish status within clans, while others believed certain jewelry held protective properties within their materials.
Victoria and Alberta Museum in London gives a detailed lesson on jewelry’s history.
A History of Jewellery
Ancient world jewellery
Collar known as The Shannongrove Gorget, maker unknown, Ireland, late Bronze Age (probably 800-700 BC). Museum no. M.35-1948. © Victoria & Albert Museum, London.
Jewellery is a universal form of adornment. Jewellery made from shells, stone and bones survives from prehistoric times. It is likely that from an early date it was worn as a protection from the dangers of life or as a mark of status or rank.
In the ancient world the discovery of how to work metals was an important stage in the development of the art of jewellery. Over time, metalworking techniques became more sophisticated and decoration more intricate.
Gold, a rare and highly valued material, was buried with the dead so as to accompany its owner into the afterlife. Much archaeological jewellery comes from tombs and hoards. Sometimes, as with the gold collars from Celtic Ireland which have been found folded in half, it appears people may have followed a ritual for the disposal of jewellery. See the full history here

In modern times, jewelers often get inspiration from the way different regions incorporate jewelry into their cultures. Including different cultures into the design of jewelry can often be the motif for an entire line of jewelry.
Thomas David, from Primestyle.com, provides some ideas on how to integrate culture into your jewelry creations.
Jewelry Ideas from Around the World
Different cultures have very different ideas about what makes great jewelry. In the western world, a wealthy man might expect an expensive watch as a present. In the eastern world, a hand carved bracelet or necklace might be more appropriate. Different people and different cultures have been creating jewelry for centuries. Here are some of the best jewelry ideas from around the world.
A Mix of Stones
Bracelets or necklaces made of different kinds of stones can look absolutely incredible. Different stones give off different colors and can be used together to create a very artistic or very classy look. You can use different stones to create patterns, to create visual effects or even just create an entire necklace with one kind of stone.
Many of these necklaces will have an emphasis on a center stone. For example, you might use small black onyx stones throughout the necklace and have the centerpiece of the necklace be a white colored gem. The black brings out the white’s color.
Read more at http://www.business2community.com/fashion-beauty/jewelry-ideas-from-around-the-world-0244654#XUVkUQDfPMIVCiFZ.99
It’s beautiful to see different cultures being represented in pieces of jewelry. You can even cultivate a story out of each piece of cultured jewelry you create or wear. What story would you create with your jewelry?
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