Handmade Lanyards – Promote School Spirit, Team Loyalty
In talking to a fellow beader during a beading class, she mentioned a great idea about making lanyards for teens. Girls would be more of a target since they love jewelry, but teen guys could benefit as well.
Handmade lanyards can be customized for subgroups, such as sports teams, band, cheerleaders, chorus or other school groups and organizations. What a great way to build school pride and team loyalty! With so many colorful designs and durable materials, the possibilities are endless as to how lanyards can be customized to fit each school or team!
Ahoy, Mateys!
The Black Pearl is a fictional ghost ship in the popular “Pirates of the Caribbean” films, but you don’t have to be a pirate to own your own black pearl necklaces. Since ancient times, pearls have symbolized purity and perfection, representing the moon and magical powers in some cultures, natural beauty and good luck in others. Some legends of the Orient say pearls represent the tears of an angel or mermaid. Still others maintain that the Tahitian black pearl is an enduring symbol of hope.
Originating in Tahiti, the black pearl has long been a sought-after jewel of the sea. The great gemologist of the 19th century, George Fredrick Kunz, has been quoted as saying, “The pearl owes nothing to man. It is absolutely a gift of nature on which man cannot improve.
A Day at the Artisan Jewelry Trade Show
Sometimes people can have the most outrageous hobbies. My cousin Vinnie enjoys collecting garbage from the streets. You might think that he’s just doing his part to keep our planet clean, but they strange part if he never throws any of it away. He doesn’t even take it to the recycling depot. His cupboards and closets are filled with smelly banana peels, old soda cans, beer bottles, tattered tarp and tire scraps. Disgusting, I know.
My family has devised a plan to empty his apartment of his 3-year-old garbage collection. Because he can’t be swayed to part with this mess, we must be sneaky and clean out his place while he’s not home. I was assigned to be the decoy, so I asked him to accompany me to a artisan jewelry trade show – beads have always made him happy. While we’re gone my aunt Phyllis and my brother Tom will use their spare key to enter Vinnie’s apartment and ransack his stash. When Vinnie and I arrive back at his place, we’re going to tell him that he’s been robbed.
Anklets Aren’t Just for Summer Anymore
Every so often, I decide that my fashion has gotten stale. That’s when I take a trip to the thrift store or head online in search of unique clothing and accessories. It’s astonishing that something as simple as a change of necklace, bracelet or earrings can turn a stagnant look into a dynamic fashion statement. Such was definitely the case when I found a cache of handmade beaded anklets online.
Conventionally speaking, summer is the season when anklets truly shine. Still, the flashy accessory looks great around my ankle while I’m just lounging around at home. Simply swapping from one color of anklet to another is often enough to draw an admiring glance from my husband, and wearing this jewelry helps make me feel young again
Space Age Style
We might not be driving to work every day in flying cars, but there’s no denying that the Space Age has provided mankind with a multitude of discoveries and innovations. Some of these are directly related to space exploration, and others came about almost accidentally. Many of the items that we use regularly in the course of our daily lives were developed for much different reasons.
Dichroic glass is just one example. NASA developed this particular type of glass for use in mirrors on satellites. Today, jewelers craft and sell the result of that innovation: dichroic necklaces. These necklaces feature a unique sparkle that can only be attained through a complex glass-making process involving quartz crystal, metal oxides and an electron beam gun.
Gorgeous Glass Jewelry
While some people think that jewelry has to contain precious gemstones to be beautiful, in truth some of the most gorgeous jewelry is made from plain old glass. Glass, while not representing quite the distinction of a precious gemstone, is a hardy material that has a wonderful luster and can be molded into different shapes. When thinking of glass jewelry, don’t believe that these accessories feature the same clear glass found in window panes. Glass jewelry is much more like a stained glass window than it is a standard window pane. Each piece of glass jewelry contains unique colors, and because of the manner in which glass jewelry is heated, there’s never one piece quite the same as another.
Amongst glass jewelry, you will find glass necklaces, bracelets, and earrings the most common accessories. But glass can be used to create any kind of accessory, and because glass is so malleable, it’s much easier to craft it into a unique shape than a precious stone. Celebrate glass jewelry by giving it to friends and family!
The Underappreciated Artisans
When most people think of artists, they think of painters and sculptors like Leonardo da Vinci. Artists can also create unique handmade beaded bracelets and other jewelry. There are some really great homemade pieces out there on the market. Each necklace, bracelet or pair of earrings is unlike any other, and there’s something to be said in owning a piece of completely unique and beautiful handmade jewelry.
Handmade jewelry is typically unique, as each artisan has a different technique to how they create their personal styles and craft their art. You can find handmade pieces in a variety of places — the internet and outdoor markets, for example. Buying something from an artist is like buying a piece of their heart. The next time you’re looking for a new piece of jewelry, give handcrafted jewelry a try.
Mystical Implications of Gemstone Jewelry
When I was young, I always believed astrology was nothing more than mystical mumbo jumbo. I was so closed-minded that I refused to believe in anything that wasn’t backed up by scientific evidence. This led to skepticism, cynicism and misery. Sure, I had learned from reading Chinese restaurant menus that I was a Libra, but that didn’t mean much to me back then.
Everything changed when I watched a memorable television commercial for celebrated psychic Miss Cleo. She converted me to a belief in all things supernatural and beyond explanation. Suddenly I became interested in wearing gemstone rings to reflect my Libra identity. Green peridot is a classy, understated gemstone anyway, but it’s nice to have such a close, personal connection to the jewel.
Pearls Are Amazing!
Your jewelry collection will not be complete without pearls. You can have pearl bracelets, necklaces and earrings that are matching pieces. Even if your wear them as separate pieces, they will look great. There are so many pearl jewelry items available in the market out there so it will just be a matter of your choice.
Your jewelry collection can eventually become family heirlooms. With the great quality and craftsmanship found in every piece of jewelry, you are sure that they will last more than a lifetime. Your grandchildren’s children will enjoy the investment you made with purchasing elegant jewelry. Diamonds, as well as pearls, are a girl’s best friend.
Wire Wrapped Jewelry
Wire wrap jewelry is wearable art. Learning how to make wire wrap jewelry can allow you to create personalized pieces that show your style to the world. Before you start you’ll need a few tools; pliers, side cutter, a pin vise, a ring mandrel, a rawhide mallet, a millimeter gauge, a needle file, steel ruler, and a steel scribe are all required. Any local craft shop should have these items.
Next you will need wire. You have several choices in this area. Experienced jewelry makers say brass is the best for beginners, but you an also choose from; bronze, gold, sliver and colored niobium.
Beads should be the next item on your shopping list. Large glass beads are the easiest to work with and are great for wire wrapped necklaces. Make sure beads’ holes are large enough to slip into the gauge wire you will be choosing. Start by arranging your beads on a towel in a pattern that pleases you. Leave space between each bead in order to fit the wire through.