DJAjewels

Beaded Eyglass Chains

2012-01-15T07:45:00.000-08:00

Just listed today in my Etsy shop - three new beaded eyeglass chains!

Antique Silver & Jet Black Beaded Eyeglass Chain

Glass Hearts Beaded Eyeglass Chain

Gunmetal & Antique Silver Beaded Eyeglass Chain

Visit my Etsy shop to see these eyeglass chains and all of my Victorian/vintage style jewelry!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012

2012-01-01T05:16:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! Wishing a wonderful 2012 to everyone!!!

Celebrate December Birthdays with Sapphire Blue Glass Jewelry

2011-12-01T04:56:00.000-08:00

December is here and it's all about Christmas! But I don't want to neglect all those people who have birthdays in December and get overlooked because of the Holiday madness. So this post is dedicated to my jewelry designs made with sapphire blue beads and stones...sapphire is December's birthstone.

Art Deco Choker Necklace

Victorian Blue Glass Necklace

Close-up View Victorian Blue Glass Necklace

Victorian Blue Glass Teardrop Necklace

Blue Glass Art Deco Earrings

Art Nouveau Blue Glass Teardrop Earrings

Blue Glass Art Nouveau Earrings

Be sure to visit my Etsy shop to see these and other vintage style designs!

If you like to make your own jewelry, I found many of the beads, stones and stampings in these designs at VintageJewelrySupplies.com.

The Origin of Christmas Colors and The Christmas Tree

2011-10-23T05:56:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder why the colors of red, green and gold are used at Christmas? And how the Christmas tree became such a part of the Christmas tradition? Well, following is a brief summary of the origins of these practices.

The Origins of Green and Red as Christmas Colors:
During the 4th century, the Church adopted the practice of celebrating December 25 as the birth date of Jesus Christ. Christians were already accustomed to hanging wreaths of holly in their homes during this time to celebrate the winter solstice, and they eventually began leaving the wreaths up during Christmas. This lead to the association of green with Christmas. The circular shape of the wreath became associated with the eternal of life of Jesus Christ as well as representing the crown of thorns placed on his head during his crucifixion. The red holly berries represented the blood shed by Christ.

The Origins of the Christmas Tree Tradition:
The color green became a permanent part of the Christmas tradition over the next few centuries. More specifically, the evergreen tree was associated by early Christians with eternal life.

The production of Miracle Plays by the Church during the 14th century led to the tradition of Christmas trees. The purpose of Miracle Plays was to educate the mostly illiterate public about Christianity. One such play called The Paradise Play, traditionally performed each year on December 24, told the story of Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden. Since there were no apple trees available that time of year, apples were hung on a pine tree to represent the Tree of Good and Evil.

Eventually churches began using pine trees decorated with apples as part of their Christmas celebrations. Families soon adopted the practice putting pine trees with apple decorations in their own homes at Christmas.

Thus was born the tradition of using the colors green and red at Christmas, as well as the use of evergreens as part of the Christmas celebration.

How Did the Color Gold Become Associated with Christmas?
Over the course of time, the color of gold was added as a Christmas color to represent the Gift of Gold from one of the Three Kings.

This post is meant to be only a very brief summary of the origins these Christmas colors and traditions. There are many other events and pieces of information that can be linked to our current Christmas customs and rituals. Here are some helpful informational links I used in writing this post:

The Origin of Christmas Colors
The Colors of Christmas: Red, Green and Gold
Christmas Wreaths (Its Meaning, History and Types)

2011 Christmas and Holiday Wine Charm Collection

2011-10-12T05:17:00.000-07:00

With the upcoming Holidays, it is time to start thinking about parties, gifts and celebration. This time of year, I always enjoy making wine glass charms. They are fun to design and are traditionally some of my top selling Christmas and Holiday items. So I thought I would share some of my 2011 Holiday Wine Charm Collection - available now in my Etsy shop's Wine Charm section.

If you are interested in making your own wine charms, be sure to check out my Tutorial for Making Beaded Wine Charms post from October 2010. This is a great step-by-step set of instructions!

And be sure to stop by my Etsy shop and check out my beaded Wine Charm section to see all my wine charm designs!

DJAjewels 2011 Holiday Wine Charm Collection:

Santa Claus Wine Charms

Christmas Wine Charms with Clay Charms

Christmas Ornament Bell Wine Charms

Cloisonne Bell Wine Charms

Antique Gold Christmas Wine Charms

Antique Silver Christmas Wine Charms

Swarovski Crystal Antique Silver Wine Charms

Helping Uganda - Paper Beaded Necklace Design

2011-10-08T03:23:00.000-07:00

In one of my earlier posts, I wrote about "My Gift From Uganda" - a necklace beaded with handmade paper beads from Uganda. Well, I ordered some of the beads and have beaded my first jewelry design - this necklace pictured here. I used a combination of red and purple beads accented with a few clear Czech glass crystals and antique silver beads.

I ordered my beads from Outreach Uganda. This non-profit organization's mission is to help Ugandans, particularly women, overcome poverty by empowering them through education and promotion of self-sufficiency. There are three beader groups, all run like small businesses and all following fair trade practices. Each group decides how to allocate their group monies including giving small loans to members within the group.

The organization's online shop offers items such as beads, finished jewelry designs, purses and scarves. According to their website, money from sales is allocated as follows:

40% to the actual beader
30% for special products of the beader groups
15% shipping
15% direct selling costs

The necklace I designed this week is now on sale in my Etsy shop. I am happy to have helped this worthy organization through purchase of these beads. When this necklace sells, I will also donate 50% of the sale price to help buy three textbooks for a beader's child.

Donating is easy. Several a la carte options are offered in their store ranging from $10 to help buy one textbook for a child, to $250 to buy a small plot of land for a beader to build a home on.

I look forward to designing more unique jewelry designs using these interesting and colorful beads!

Personalized and Handstamped Jewelry - An Increasingly Popular Trend

2011-10-05T04:54:00.000-07:00

Personalized Initial Necklace - Red Patina

There is no doubt about the increasing popularity of personalized jewelry. Hand stamped jewelry designs are one of the most popular trends today and likely to become a major Christmas and Holiday favorite this year.

This week I have introduced my first Etsy shop designs in my Handstamped and Personalized Collection. These pieces are so much fun to create, and they have such endless possibilities! One's imagination is really the only limit.

My personal favorite so far is the Personalized Initial Necklace with Red Patina pictured above. I used antiqued brass charms which I personalized with an initial. Then I added a deep red patina using Gilder's Paste and textured them with a hammer. (For more about using Gilder's Paste, read my earlier post on Antiquing Jewelry with Gilder's Paste.) The color is then sealed with a glossy glaze. I love the rustic antiqued appearance that results from this process. Gilder's Paste comes in an array of colors so the patina can be individualized and customized.

Below are a few of my first designs, but more are to follow. So be sure to check back in the Handstamped Personalized section of my Etsy shop from time to time!

Simple Initial Necklace

Double Heart Brass and Silver Necklace

Hand Stamped Awareness Necklace

Hand Stamped Bronze Sun Necklace

How to Make Upcycled Washer Earrings

2011-09-26T04:55:00.000-07:00

Distressed Brass Washer Earrings

Designing and creating jewelry is so much fun. But I also enjoy shopping for my jewelry components and findings. Most of my components are found from various sites on-line - and I have just about as much fun choosing what to order as making the items once they are here! I actually can get "lost" on a site imagining all the beautiful things that could be made with a particular bead, stamping, or other component. This week, though, I decided to challenge myself a bit and try using some non-conventional components. So while I was in my local Lowe's Home Improvement store, I visited the hardware department and picked up some round brass and zinc washers to see what I could do with them.

For these earrings, I used the following items:

Round brass washers
Gilders paste (I bought mine from VintageJewelrySupplies.com)
Craft glaze such as Diamond Glaze (I used one from SunAndMoonCraftKits on Etsy)
Antiqued brass chain, jump rings and earring wires

Gilder's Paste is a wonderful medium that I have only recently discovered. It can be used to change, enhance and highlight the color of many materials. See my previous post for more about this incredible paste!

Here are the brass washers as they appeared right out of the package:

Raw Brass Washers (Before Hammering and Glazing)

Instructions for preparing the washers:

1. Hammer the brass washings to give them texture - I used a checkered head hammer to add texture, but you can use a plain household hammer over something like plain concrete to give texture. If you are hammering inside, use a sturdy table or surface. I used a wood chopping block which I set on top of a kitchen counter top. I textured both sides, but you can choose to only do one side if you like.

2. Apply Gilder's Paste to brass washings (I used a combination of "Verdigras," Penitage," and "Antique Bronze." Simply rub the paste onto both sides of the washer using a soft cloth - a cotton T-shirt works very well, or use an old washcloth.

3. Let the paste dry about 10 minutes.

4. Then rub again with the cloth to remove excess. Sand the surface and sides of the washer with either fine sandpaper or a nail file - I used a four sided file that had different levels of courseness and did not use the most course side.

5. Polish with a polishing cloth - I used an unused pad from a makeup powder compact.

6. Seal with Diamond Glaze or a lacquer sealant for metal. (I used ) I sealed one side and let dry about one hour, then glazed the other side.

Here is a picture of the washers after hammering and coloring, then sealing with the glaze:

Textured and Glazed Washers

To make the earrings, use any design of your choosing. I used antiqued brass chain to loop and stack the washers together onto the earring wires. Here is a picture of my finished design:

Finished Upcycled Earrings

You could put together any variation of your choosing - add some Swarovski crystals or other beads if you like, or add different colors and sizes of washers. The possibilities are endless!

Also, in my last post about Antiquing Jewelry with Gilder's Paste, I showed how I made a pretty carved rose pendant using Gilder's Paste. Here is the finished design:

Carved Rose Necklace (View 1)

Carved Rose Necklace (View 2)

Be sure to visit my Etsy shop to see these designs and more!

How to Antique Jewelry With Gilder's Paste

2011-09-25T06:33:00.000-07:00

I have just begun experimenting with Gilder's Paste. What an incredible material for antiquing and enhancing jewelry! Gilder's Paste is a wax based medium that can be applied to jewelry and other crafts to create unique colors and patinas. I bought mine from VintageJewelrySupplies.com in several colors: Antique Gold, German Silver, Verdigris, and Pinotage.

I am still experimenting with it but have started on a few pieces. The first is a pendant I created using an antiqued silver stamping and a rose station carved from white bamboo coral. The silver stamping is from VintageJewelrySupplies.com, and the carved rose is from FireMountainGems.com.

Antique Silver Setting
(VintageJewelrySupplies.com)

Carved Rose Station
(FireMountainGems.com)

I used E-6000 glue to bond these two components together and let dry for 24 hours. E-6000 glue can be purchased at any craft store.

The result was rather plain, so I decided to embellish these pieces with some Gilder's Paste. I applied a combination of Pinotage and Antique Gold colors to create a rosy, golden highlighted patina.

To apply Gilder's Paste, use a soft cloth (I like to use an old cotton T-shirt because it is lint free.) Rub the paste onto the surface and let dry about 10 minutes. Then rub again to remove excess and lightly sand - I used a manicure buffing block with medium to fine sanding surfaces. Next, polish with a polishing cloth or use what I did - an unused pad from a cosmetic powder compact.

Finally seal the paste with a glaze such as Diamond Glaze - I substituted a glass and craft glaze from SunAndMoonCraftKits on Etsy - it is less expensive than Diamond Glaze and works just as well! Let dry for 24 hours before handling.

Here is the finished pendant:

Finished Rose Pendant

I will post pics of my finished necklace design soon, so be sure to check back to see the finished piece!

VICTORIAN VINTAGE IMAGES

2011-09-18T04:31:00.000-07:00

VICTORIAN VINTAGE IMAGES | Vintage Clip Art Vintage Ephemera Vintage Scrapbooking

I just found this great site for downloadable victorian images. These images are great for making vintage style jewelry and crafts, labels, scrapbooking and more. Images are reasonably priced at about $1.00 per download or you can subscribe for a full year at $36.00 and receive unlimited downloads.

Learning to Use My New Hips

2011-09-10T07:53:00.000-07:00

I am now 12 days post-op from hip surgery. I have two new hips now which I am slowly getting used to. I cannot deny it has been hard to rehab - and I still have a long way to go! But progress is being made daily. I will need to use my walker for about two more weeks until I see my orthopedist - can hopefully advance then to a cane. I can drive after six weeks. Just went up the stairs in my house for the first time yesterday - with the help of my physical therapist - scary but I did it!

Re-training my muscles to walk with a normal gait after having such an abnormal gait for so long due to the arthritis is proving to be a true challenge. But I am intent on doing it! I am receiving in-home physical therapy for now and will progress to more agressive outpatient therapy after seeing my orthopedist in two weeks.

Just re-opened my Etsy and ArtFire shops after having them on "vacation mode" for the past 12 days. It is truly good to be involved with my shops again. For now, I have not added any new designs, but will be doing so soon!

Updates to follow.

Preparing For My Surgery

2011-08-28T05:00:00.000-07:00

Busy day today! Getting ready for some long awaited surgery. Tomorrow, I undergo bilateral hip replacement. I am admittedly nervous but ready to proceed.

It seems a million things need to be done. Of course, getting my pre-operative medications filled - have already done. Making sure all the bills are paid up as I am the one that manages the bills in our household. Stocking groceries as I will be unable to drive for six weeks. Of course, my husband will be around to help, but I feel I need to have things as organized as possible while our routine is disrupted a bit.

One of the hardest things is putting my jewelry business on hold for a short while. I just placed my Etsy and ArtFire shops on "vacation mode" with messages that I will be unavailable for, hopefully, no more than a week. If all goes well, which it should, I will be able to at least be back on the computer and able to manage e-mails, etc by the end of a week. Still, I will miss this daily interaction with Facebook friends, customers, etc.

I guess the hardest part of doing this is giving up my sense of control over my life. Putting one's life under the care of others is a difficult thing. But, I am certainly doing something that many others before me have done. And I know it must be done. After stopping my anti - inflammatory medication last week (because it can increase bleeding during surgery) I have been miserable from an orthopedic standpoint. Going to the grocery store yesterday was agonizing just walking around the store! Getting in and out of the car, going up and down stairs - almost impossible. So, I now intend to focus only on the post-operative aspect. In another week - it will all be over and I will be rehabilitating and starting life with new hips. And I know from talking to many others who have undergone the same procedure, I will likely wish I had done it years before.

So, next week I will give an update on my life with new hips - see you then!

Custom Designed Eyeglass Chains

2011-08-21T07:27:00.000-07:00

This week I made two custom design eyeglass necklaces for one of my customers. She wanted something vintage/Victorian style for both pieces. I love to custom design jewelry for others - the process is very interactive. This customer lives far away and found my shop on Etsy, so I have never actually met her and all communication was through e-mail

As she told me the kinds of things she liked, I would e-mail pics of specific beads and components which she would then tell me which ones she really liked. The whole process was quite interactive as the design evolved from sets of loose beads and components to the finished designs.

She specifically wanted to be able to wear both designs with other gold and silver jewelry pieces. Other requests were for pink and white, cloisonne and heart components. Here are some pics as these pieces were constructed.

My customer likes pink and white - so I started with this selection for her to view

She also likes cloisonne - so another set for her to choose from

Selection of silver beads to consider

"Rough draft" layout of potential design

Finished design with antiqued silver, cloisonne, pink glass beads and garnets

Initial finished design of second necklace with antiqued silver eyeglass loop

Finished design of second necklace - changed to antiqued brass larger loop to accommodate her extra wide sunglasses (Gunmetal chain, cloisonne and Czech glass garnet beads, and Swarovski crystal pearls)

My Gift From Uganda

2011-08-07T05:27:00.000-07:00

I received a gift this week that I want to share with you. It is a necklace hand beaded in Uganda. The beads are all handmade with paper and painted in bright beautiful colors. The person who gave me the necklace has a daughter who spent about two years in Uganda, and she brought several pieces of jewelry and other items back with her. I have learned that Uganda is an extremely poor country. Many of the women there make beads and jewelry to eke out a living for themselves and their families.

I was so curious about the origins of my new necklace that I went in search of more information. There are several groups that help these women sell and market their goods. Outreach Uganda is one such group and is a non-profit organization based in Colorado whose mission is to empower Ugandans and help them rise out of poverty. Their focus is on education, women's empowerment, and promoting self-sufficiency through job creation. They have three beader groups and follow fair trade practices. Each beader group is run much like a small business with the women choosing how to allocate their group monies and making decisions such as giving small loans to members within the group.

Today I ordered some loose beads and am looking forward to creating some beautiful designs with them. Remember, these beads are all handmade from paper!

Bright Purple Paper Beads

Bright "Red Hat" Paper Beads

Bright Green Paper Beads

I encourage anyone who wants to help with the Ugandan cause to visit Outreach Uganda where you can learn much more than what I have described here. You can also visit their online store and purchase loose beads as well as finished designs such as necklaces, earrings, eyeglass lanyards, beaded purses and more!

After I receive my beads I will start beading, then post some pictures of my finished designs!

How Arthritis Helped Me Start a Jewelry Business

2011-07-31T06:57:00.000-07:00

In just another month, I am "going under the knife" so to speak - getting both of my hips replaced. It has been a long four and a half year road arriving to this point, but I am ready both mentally and physically now to do this. You might ask, "What does bilateral hip replacement have to do with my jewelry blog?" Well, nothing actually, but the process that brought me here has everything to do with how I ever started making and selling jewelry.

I started having pain in my right hip first about four years ago, but then not long afterward also developed pain in my left hip. At first, I thought I just had strained my self overdoing. After all, I have always been extremely active. I worked out regularly, walked my black labrador retriever "Buddy" three to five miles daily several times per week and did a lot of yard work. Other than routine soreness, I had never had much trouble.

Well, my pain and soreness this time did not improve as it had in the past, and in fact steadily worsened. Ironically, my dog Buddy also developed hip problems about the same time and we both became less able to do the things we once so enjoyed. Buddy died about 2 1/2 years ago, and I along with my family grieved and still miss him. But, we do have another dog now named Jenny who is an absolute delight.

Back to my story, though. X-rays done four years ago when I first became symptomatic showed some mild arthritis in my hips. I was 50 years old at the time. Over the next couple of years, my pain increased as my mobility decreased. My x-rays now show severe osteoarthritis - or degenerative joint disease. What I now know, is that I have a condition called hip dysplasia - which means my hip sockets are more shallow than they should be. This condition inevitably leads to arthritis as the too shallow hip sockets lose their cartilage with increased wear and tear.

As I became increasingly unable to be as physcially active as I once was, I began to seek mentally challenging activies. I started making very simple jewelry designs at first, gradually adding more complex designs as I improved my skills. I started first selling my jewelry on Ebay in 2007, later moving to Etsy and ArtFire. I now also sell my designs in a jewelry and art gallery in Charlotte, NC called Ruby's Gift, and will soon be selling in another local store in the town of Clover called Crafty on Main.

Now I do not mean to say I am totally sedentary. In fact, I still continue to work 36 hours per week in an urgent care facility as a nurse practitioner. Although there have been days this has been physically depleting for me, I have not missed a single day of work ever during the past four years. I am glad to have had the chance to continue working, enjoying the sense of camaraderie I have with my co-workers and the opportunity to work and interact with a wide variety of wonderful patients.

During my days off and early in the mornings when I just could not sleep because of pain, I have continued to nurture and develop my jewelry business. And I must say, it has become a passion for me. Looking back, I do not think I would ever have started down this path of jewelry design had I not had the need to look for a pastime to fill my time.

So, now in another four weeks, I get my new hips. My hope is to regain my previous level of activity. I want to walk my dog Jenny again, get in my yard and do my yard work. I want to work a full day without going home physically exhausted from suppressing and "tuning out" pain. I want to be able sleep without pain. I want to be able to go up stairs easily, get dressed without difficulty and a whole host of other everyday activities that right now require a lot of energy and effort. I look forward to getting that part of my life back!

But I do not mean to evoke sympathy or pity because I also look forward to continuing on with my jewelry business. It has now become a part of me that I choose not to give up! It would honestly be like cutting out a part of me now. So even though dealing with my hip arthritis has been life altering, I choose to see the positive in it all. I would not have this fulfilling passion and part of my life now if it had not happened.

My surgery is scheduled for August 29 - I will have turned 55 by then. I will have to be out of work totally for eight weeks, and then will be allowed to work half days for another four weeks before returning full time to my job as a nurse practitioner. During that time, I will convalesce and rehab, but also, what else - work on my jewelry! I look forward to weaving a passion for my jewelry business into a life filled with all my previous physical activities.

Before closing, I want to share some favorite quotes that have inspired me to pursue something that has been very fulfilling for me:

"Show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and I’ll show you someone who has overcome adversity." By Lou Holtz.

"If you don’t like something change it; if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it." By Mary Engelbreit.

"The difference between stumbling blocks and stepping stones is how you use them." Unknown.

Taste of Charlotte and Ruby's Gift

2011-06-26T07:24:00.000-07:00

Haven't posted in a while, so thought I would give an update. Since the last post, I have participated in the "Taste of Charlotte" event (June 10-12) in uptown Charlotte, NC. It was hectic and long with 12 hour+ days. I shared a booth with another jewelry designer and sold a number of items. Here is one of the tables with some of our jewelry displayed:

Taste of Charlotte - June 10-12, 2011

Today, I will be adding some inventory to Ruby's Gift in NoDa. "NoDa" is a historic art district in Charlotte, NC which has been revitalized and is a thriving community filled with artists' shops, galleries and restaurants. Ruby's Gift is a gallery with an eclectic group of artist vendors and has everything from jewelry to pottery to art. If you are in the Charlotte area, be sure to visit! Here are some of the items I will be adding today at Ruby's Gift:

Red Glass Fire Opal Necklace

Red Rose on Black Cameo Necklace

Pink Lampwork Sterling Silver Earrings

Crystal Ball Pendant Necklace

Crystal Pearl/Antiqued Silver Earrings

Dichroic & Czech Glass Beaded Necklace

Swarivski Crystal Heart Necklace

Lampwork & Antiqued Silver Necklace

Chocolate Lampwork Beaded Earrings

Amber Glass & Antiqued Brass Earrings

Sapphire Blue Teardrop Necklace

14K GF & Gold Foil Lampwork Earrings

What Are Your Favorite Jewelry Supply Shops?

2011-04-24T05:32:00.000-07:00

I thought today I would share my top favorite sites for purchasing jewelry supplies. These sites are listed in alphabetical order - not in order of preference. I find that I move back and forth between these sites depending on what items I am buying, how many items and when. I also try to take advantage of sales and specials when available.

ArtBeads.com:

Good selection of beads and findings.
Prices fairly reasonable - better with sales and coupons - which are frequent. Quantity discount given for multiple units per item purchased. Be sure to sign up for email newsletter to receive coupons and sales announcements.
Good instructional videos and tutorials about jewelry making are also available on their site.
Free shipping on all orders over $10.

BestBeads.com:

Absolutely the bottom line pricing I have found for fashion chain! They do not offer sterling silver, solid gold, etc. but have an outstanding selection of high quality electroplated base metal chain. I love their antiqued silver, antiqued gold and antiqued brass chains!
Wholesale account required - you must create a wholesale account and provide your retail license number to be able to view prices and make purchases.
I have not ordered anything other than chain from them, but they do offer a somewhat limited selection of beads and findings.
Shipping is based on weight of the order and is reasonable.

FireMountainGems.com:

Extensive inventory of beads and findings. They also carry gemstones - but somewhat limited selection.
Their "All Assortable Pricing" strategy makes them the bottom line pricing for staples that I use over and over such as earring findings, headpins, jump rings, etc. Pricing is listed for 1-14 units, 15-49 units, 50-199 units and 200 or more units. The best part is that unlike many sites where quantity discounts are given based on the number of each item you purchase, at FireMountainGems you can combine all units. In other words, you don't have to buy 200 pairs or earring wires to receive the 200 unit discount. For example, you could buy 50 units of earring wires, 50 units of headpins, 25 units of Czech red beads, 25 units of blue beads, 30 units of Swarovski crystals, and 20 units of sterling silver beads.
Good tutorial and instructional source.
Shipping is $5.00 per order if you choose FedEx - no matter how large your order! There is also a $2.65 handling charge - total shipping and handling is $7.65.

FusionBeads.com:

Good selection of beads and findings.
Prices are fairly good but not the best. Sign up for their newsletter to take advantage of sales for best pricing. Quantity discount available based on number units per item purchased.
Very good Tutorial site! Find easy to follow instructions on techniques here.
Free shipping on all U.S. orders.

JewelrySupply.com:

Decent selection of beads and supplies.
Prices are reasonable. Quantity discount given based on number of units per item you purchase.
Shipping is reasonable, but not free. They do ship fast - I always receive my order quickly!

VintageJewelrySupplies.com:

Absolutely my favorite site for vintage style jewelry supplies. Although not actual vintage pieces, many of their stampings and designs are from the original dies of the Victorian era.
Prices are very reasonable. Although no quantity discount is available, I find the prices are quite fair and have never been disappointed with the quality of their products.
No wholesale account required.
Excellent links for tips, tutorials and inspiration ideas!
Free standard shipping on all US and international orders. I have found their shipping to be prompt and accurate - usually receiving my order within 3-5 days of placing it.

These are some of my favorite sites for larger volume orders and staples I use a lot of. I also have several Etsy sites I have used for specialty items and smaller orders. Here are a few of my "faves" that have excellent products as well as great customer service:

Adidit: Beautiful digital collage sheets - mostly with vintage style themes.

YadanaBeads: Large selection of beads and jewelry components.

YummyTreasures: Specializes in vintage beads and supplies.

Please feel free to share your experiences about these or other sites for jewelry supply shopping!

Turquoise Beaded Necklace

2011-04-12T16:46:00.000-07:00

As promised, here is my finished turquoise design following up on my previous post about turquoise!

Necklace with Matching Earrings

You can find this necklace and more Victorian and vintage style jewelry in my Etsy shop:

DJAjewels.etsy.com!

About Tuquoise

2011-04-11T03:49:00.000-07:00

This weekend I started working on a turquoise beaded necklace. Still working out the exact design but thought I might write a post about this beautiful stone.

Color: Turquoise colors range from sky blue to blue-green to apple green. The most valuable is pure blue, and it is also the most rare. Most stones will have a matrix of other minerals throughout them that appear in the form of brown, gray or black veins.

History: The use of turquoise dates back at least to the time of ancient Egyptians when Pharaohs often adorned themselves with turquoise jewels. The ancient Chinese also favored the use of turquoise using it almost as much as jade. Turquoise was also very popular during the European Victorian era. And Native Americans in North America began mining and cutting their own turquoise to create beautiful jewelry several centuries before the arrival of Europeans.

There are several forms of turquoise found in the jewelry market:

Natural turquoise is the most valuable and most expensive. Representing less than 3% of the world market, it is usually a vivid blue with a fine delicate pattern of veins. It is cut and polished without any further treatment or compounds being applied.

Stabilized turquoise is the most common form of turquoise used today. It is less expensive than natural turquoise, but it is still very beautiful and more valuable than dyed turquoise (as described below.) Stabilization is achieved by infusing the stone with a clear epoxy resin which hardens the surface and enhances (as opposed to dying) the color. Whereas natural turquoise will deepen in color over time, the color intensity of stabilized turquoise will not change because of the hardened surface.

Treated and dyed turquoise pieces are very common in the jewelry market, are less expensive but also less valuable. These stones are first stabilized and then dyed resulting in a less natural and somewhat artificial appearance.

Reconstituted turquoise is often referred to as chalk turquoise. It is the lowest grade turquoise and hence the least valuable and least expensive. The process is applied to lower grade stones and involves first grinding the stone into powder, then applying a resin and dye to form a thick paste. It is then pressed into forms and molds and allowed to harden. It is then cut and carved into various shapes and sizes. Reconstituted turquoise is usually easy to identify because it has none of the characteristic veins or matrix found in natural and stabilized turquoise.

Turquoise jewelry is highly popular in today's market. Before buying turquoise, ask about the quality and treatment of the stone as a reputable jeweler should disclose this information.

As for the necklace I am working on, I will post when pictures and description when completed!

About Czech Glass Beads

2011-04-02T05:37:00.000-07:00

Czech Glass Beaded Earrings
By DJAjewels on Etsy

I use a lot of Czech glass beads in my jewelry designs - like the one pictured here. So I decided to learn a bit more about these beautiful beads.

Czech glass beads are, of course, made in the Czech Republic. Sometimes we hear these beads referred to as Bohemian glass since this area used to be called Bohemia. During the 1800's, the Bohemian and Venice glass makers competed intensely against each other for the glass market. Industrialization, however, during the 19th century brought about major changes in the way Bohemian glass makers produced their glass. During this time, Venice continued to produce handmade glass beads, while the Czechs perfected the art of mass producing them using machines. These machines pressed molten glass into heated molds producing many glass beads at once instead of one at a time.

World Wars I and II nearly caused a collapse in the Czech bead industry but it survived and was even thriving again by the 20th century. Today the Czech Republic dominates the mass production of glass bead making, and they are known for their highly consistent quality and wide array of finishes. Some of these finishes include:

Aurora borealis (AB): An iridescent somewhat metallic finish with a highly reflective quality. The beautiful shimmer of these beads is obtained by applying the finish to only some areas of the bead.

Fire-polished: Faceted beads polished by tumbling them in a heated container. This process adds sparkle to the facets.

Crackle: These beads have a crackle appearance obtained by heating the glass until it cracks and then re-heating it enough to create a smooth finish on the surface. The crackles are then visible beneath the surface.

Matte: Non-shiny appearing beads. These beads have a softer look than the shimmering AB beads. Other names include Satin and Frosted finishes.

Vitrial: Reflective glass beads with a silver colored coating applied to a portion of the bead's surface.

The many colors, finishes and shapes of Czech glass beads available today allows jewelry designers to create unique, interesting and even one of a kind designs!

Glass Fire Opals

2011-03-21T05:06:00.000-07:00

Glass Fire Opal Necklaces by DJAjewels on Etsy

Many of my jewelry designs such as the one pictured here are made using glass fire opals. Also known as Harlequin Glass Art, these are some of my favorite man-made stones!

Glass fire opals are handmade, so no two are exactly alike. Each one has it own unique combination of color flashes. Glass artisans make these glass gems using molten glass to which various metals are added producing the brilliant flashes of color inside them.

I found other jewelry designers on Etsy also using glass fire opals, so I put together a Treasury. I hope you will check out my Glass Fire Opal Treasury!

Lover's Eye Jewelry

2011-03-01T04:00:00.000-08:00

Lover's Eye Jewelry Pendant

Recently a friend of mine's husband asked if I had ever thought about making "Lover's Eye Jewelry." My answer was, "No" since I actually had never heard of this particular design. I was none the less curious so set out researching a bit and became fascinated with this unique type of design.

Lover's eye jewelry was popular during the late 1700's and early 1800's. Usually these designs were miniature portraits of the eye of a loved one framed within a brooch or stick pin setting. Many of these settings were ornate and elaborately framed with jewels such as pearls and even diamonds.

There is some controversy over the origins of this design. Some say they represented the eye of a secret lover, showing only the eye rather than the whole face - thereby keeping secret the actual identity of the lover. Others contend the eye was one of a dearly departed loved one, keeping the loved one close to the heart and worn as "mourning jewelry." One thing for certain is that original antique pieces from this era are often highly valuable and often sell for up to $6000 or more.

I thought it might be fun to experiment with creating my own version of Lover's Eye Jewelry. Though not as valuable as an original from the past, here is my first finished design:

In case you are wondering whose eye this is, it is mine.

To see images of original antique Lover's Eye Jewelry from the past, click here.

References/Links:
http://www.georgianjewelry.com/reference/helpful_terms

http://www.janeausten.co.uk/magazine/page.ihtml?pid=202&step=4

Beaded Eyeglass Chain Tutorial - Jewelry With Purpose

2011-01-30T12:08:00.000-08:00

This weekend I made something for myself - a beaded eyeglass chain. As I was making it, I decided to take some photos and post a tutorial on it. Beaded eyeglass chains can be more than just something to hang your glasses from - they can be beautiful pieces of jewelry!

For my project I wanted a vintage style design, so I used black gunmetal chain, jet black Czech glass beads, and a Victorian style antiqued silver drop as my eyeglass loop.

Materials:

Chain - I used black gunmetal rollo style with 3mm links
Czech glass beads in jet black - two 10mm and four 6mm size for this design
Gunmetal wire for wire wrapping - I used 20 gauge
Antiqued silver Victorian style drop
Two antiqued silver jump rings

Tools:

Round nose and needle nose pliers
Wire cutters
Emory board or fine sandpaper

Steps:

1. I selected a Victorian style antiqued silver drop for my eyeglass loop, but it was longer than what I wanted for my design. Remember it is always okay to customize a component to suit your tastes or the needs of a particular project. To modify this piece, snip off the top using your wire cutters. Use a nail file or sandpaper to smooth any rough edges after cutting. This piece is sold by Vintage Jewelry Supplies - one of my favorite on-line jewelry supply sources.

Original and Modified Component

2. Now decide how long you want your finished eyeglass chain - I decided on a 29 inch length which will slip easily over my head so no clasp is needed. Then cut your sections of chain. I used six 2-inch pieces of chain and one longer 12-inch piece for the middle part which will drape around the back of the neckline.

3. Cut six pieces of wire into 2 1/2 inch lengths. Now you are ready to wire-wrap your beaded links. I like to wire-wrap my links directly to the chain for added security - but you can also use jump rings to attach them. To bead the links directly into the chain, make a simple loop, then before wire-wrapping it, slide one end of a piece of chain onto the loop. Then wire-wrap the loop, add your bead, then repeat for the other end, making sure you attach the next piece of chain to the loop before wire-wrapping.

4. Continue making wire-wrapped links and connecting all pieces of chain. For this pattern, you will end up with a long piece of beaded chain ready to connect to your eyeglass loop.

5. Now connect the two loose ends to your eyeglass loop using jump rings.

Here is the finished design ready to wear:

This project can be modified and adapted into many different designs and patterns - just use your imagination!

Be sure to visit my Etsy shop to see more beaded eyeglass chains:

DJAjewels.etsy.com

Valentines Day Facts and Trivia

2011-01-23T09:54:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is one of the most popular and well-celebrated holidays in the U.S. and the world. I did a little research on the history of this holiday and found some interesting facts along the way!

History of Valentine's Day:
Ever wonder how Valentine's Day came to be? Well, truthfully no one knows for sure and there are many stories and theories regarding the origin of Valentine's Day. One popular hypothesis is that it began during the Roman Empire era under the reign of Claudius II, 270 AD. Since the emperor thought that single men made better soldiers than married men, he forbade any soldiers to wed. One bishop, however, performed secret wedding ceremonies against the emperor's wishes. Bishop Valentine was jailed and eventually executed (on February 14, 270 AD) for his crime, but while in jail he wrote a love note to the jailor's daughter and signed it "From your Valentine" - an expression that, of course, eventually became a common Valentine's Day phrase.

Interesting Facts and Trivia:

Think that only men buy flowers on Valentine's Day? Think again! While 73 percent of people who buy flowers for Valentine's Day are men, 27 percent are women, and 15 percent of U.S. women send themselves flowers on Valentine's Day!
But women buy a lot of Valentine's Day cards - 85 percent of all Valentine's Day cards are purchased by women.
While Christmas is the largest seasonal card-sending Holiday, Valentine's Day is second with about 1 billion Valentine's Day cards being sent.
About 64 percent of U.S. men make romantic plans for Valentine's Day.
Cupid became associated with Valentine's Day because he is the son of Venus, the Roman god of love and beauty. According the Greek mythology, Cupid used magical arrows to inspire feelings of love. Many a Valentine card shows Cupid holding his bow and arrow.
During the late 1800's of the Victorian era, Valentine's Day cards became quite popular. Many of these cards were considered to be indecent and obscene and many countries banned the exchange of Valentine cards. The Chicago Post Office rejected more than 25,000 cards.
Today the average American consumer spends about $123.00 on Valentine's Day gifts.

Information links:
SheKnows.com
corsinet.com
ok50.com
AssociatedContent.com

VALENTINES DAY SALE

2011-01-22T08:41:00.000-08:00

Everything in my Etsy shop is now on sale for 20% off right now through Sunday January 30!

Check out these earrings I made just for Valentine's Day:

Valentines Day Red and Black Gothic Style Earrings

These earrings - and EVERYTHING in my shop - now marked down 20%. So shop now:

DJAjewels.etsy.com

I have an upcoming post on "INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT VALENTINES DAY" so check back soon!