Gailavira - Handcrafted Artisan Jewelry

20% OFF SALE in all of my shops!

2013-01-09T13:51:00.000-05:00

From now till January 23, 2013, if you use the coupon code FLEX20 in any of my shops you'll get 20% off your order!

Discount does not apply to shipping costs.

This coupon code is good at all of the following sites:
Gailavira Jewelry
Gailavira Tutorials
Gailavira Tutorials on Etsy
Shut Up and Cuff Me (Handmade Ear Cuffs and Other Fashion Accessories)
Shut Up and Cuff Me on Etsy

Custom Ear Cuffs from the Week 12 Giveaway that were Never Claimed

2012-12-18T10:29:00.003-05:00

After several attempts to pick the third winner of the week 12: Custom Ear Cuffs Giveaway, I have still not found someone who would respond. I'm not sure if it's because the emails are going to their spam folders or because people decided they just didn't want the prize after all. So, in order to finally give away the last pair of ear cuffs in that giveaway, I'm going to hold a mini giveaway today.

All you need to do to enter is make a comment on this blog post. I'll pick a winner at random from all the comments.

This will be open for 24 hours only! I'm starting this at 10:30am ET on December 18th. All comments must be made by 10:30am ET on December 19th to be eligible.

One thing though, I need to have some way to contact you in case you win. You do not need to post your email address, but if you have an account on a website that has a private message system (like twitter, facebook, etsy, etc..) you can post which site and your username on that site so that I can find you there.

Click here to see what options are available for the custom ear cuffs. You'll be able to pick one style for the ear cuff, plus one style for the drops/charms.

Giveaway Week 16: Sterling Silver and Swarovski Crystal Necklace

2012-12-10T12:20:00.000-05:00

This week's giveaway prize is a Sterling Silver and Swarovski Crystal Necklace.

Use the rafflecopter widget below to enter the giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms and Conditions

1 Winner will receive a Sterling Silver and Swarovski Crystal Necklace.

You can enter by commenting on this blog, tweeting about the giveaway (must use the default tweet in the widget), by following @gailavira on twitter, or by "Liking" the Gailavira Jewelry facebook fan page, or the Shut Up and Cuff Me facebook page.

All entries will be verified. If an action cannot be verified the corresponding entry will be disqualified.

To make sure you receive the notification in case you win, please make sure that promotions@gailavira.com is on your email program's list of approved senders.

The winner will have 48 hours to respond after notification has been sent. If there is no response from the winner within 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited and a new winner will be chosen.

Relatives of associates of Gailavira Jewelry are not eligible.

Week 15 Giveaway: Copper and Green Aventurine Necklace!

2012-12-03T20:00:00.002-05:00

This week's giveaway prize is a Copper and Green Aventurine Necklace.

Use the rafflecopter widget below to enter the giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms and Conditions

1 Winner will receive a Copper and Green Aventurine Necklace.

You can enter by commenting on this blog, tweeting about the giveaway (must use the default tweet in the widget), by following @gailavira on twitter, or by "Liking" the Gailavira Jewelry facebook fan page, or the Shut Up and Cuff Me facebook page.

All entries will be verified. If an action cannot be verified the corresponding entry will be disqualified.

To make sure you receive the notification in case you win, please make sure that promotions@gailavira.com is on your email program's list of approved senders.

The winner will have 48 hours to respond after notification has been sent. If there is no response from the winner within 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited and a new winner will be chosen.

Relatives of associates of Gailavira Jewelry are not eligible.

Week 14 Giveaway: Immortality - Sterling Silver and Quartz Necklace

2012-11-26T07:13:00.000-05:00

This week's giveaway prize is a sterling silver and quartz necklace.

Use the rafflecopter widget below to enter the giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms and Conditions

1 Winner will receive a Quartz and Sterling Silver Necklace. Value: $251

You can enter by commenting on this blog, tweeting about the giveaway (must use the default tweet in the widget), by following @gailavira on twitter, or by "Liking" the Gailavira Jewelry facebook fan page, or the Shut Up and Cuff Me facebook page.

All entries will be verified. If an action cannot be verified the corresponding entry will be disqualified.

To make sure you receive the notification in case you win, please make sure that promotions@gailavira.com is on your email program's list of approved senders.

The winner will have 48 hours to respond after notification has been sent. If there is no response from the winner within 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited and a new winner will be chosen.

Relatives of associates of Gailavira Jewelry are not eligible.

Week Giveaway 13: A Full Collection of Tutorials from Gailavira Tutorials!

2012-11-19T08:01:00.000-05:00

Since this will be the last tutorial giveaway of the year, I have decided to make it a big one! For this week's giveaway, 3 winners will each receive one FULL COLLECTION of tutorials published by Gailavira Tutorials. That means that each winner will receive a copy of every tutorial I have ever written!

Use the rafflecopter widget below to enter the giveaway!
(don't forget to read the terms and conditions below the widget before entering)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms and Conditions

3 winners will each receive one FULL COLLECTION of tutorials from Gailavira Tutorials.

Prize will be awarded in the form of a 100% off coupon code that can be redeemed at http://tutorial.gailavira.com. Any tutorials from the collection that are not on the web-site will be emailed to the winners in PDF format.

You can enter by commenting on this blog, tweeting about the giveaway (must use the default tweet in the widget), by following @gailavira on twitter, or by "Liking" the Gailavira Jewelry facebook fan page.

All entries will be verified. If an action cannot be verified the corresponding entry will be disqualified.

To make sure you receive the notification in case you win, please make sure that promotions@gailavira.com is on your email program's list of approved senders.

The winner will have 48 hours to respond after notification has been sent. If there is no response from the winner within 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited and a new winner will be chosen. The coupon can be used any time before December 31st, however, the winner MUST acknowledge receipt of the prize within 48 hours.

Relatives of anyone associated with Gailavira Jewelry are not eligible.

Week 12 Giveaway: Custom Made Ear Cuffs from Shut Up and Cuff Me!

2012-11-13T09:19:00.000-05:00

This week's giveaway prize is a custom pair of handmade ear cuffs from Shut Up and Cuff Me!

3 winners will each receive one custom made pair of ear cuffs. Winners will be able to choose from 3 different styles of ear cuffs and will be able to choose from several styles of "charms" to hang from the ear cuffs.

Use the rafflecopter widget below to enter the giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms and Conditions
3 winners will each receive one custom made pair of ear cuffs. Winners will be able to choose from 3 different styles of ear cuffs and will be able to choose from several styles of "charms" to hang from the ear cuffs.

You can enter by commenting on this blog, tweeting about the giveaway (must use the default tweet in the widget), by following @gailavira on twitter, or by "Liking" the Gailavira Jewelry facebook fan page, or the Shut Up and Cuff Me facebook page.

All entries will be verified. If an action cannot be verified the corresponding entry will be disqualified.

To make sure you receive the notification in case you win, please make sure that promotions@gailavira.com is on your email program's list of approved senders.

The winner will have 48 hours to respond after notification has been sent. If there is no response from the winner within 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited and a new winner will be chosen.

Relatives of associates of Gailavira Jewelry are not eligible.

Giveaway Week 11: Copper and Black Onyx Necklace

2012-11-05T06:03:00.002-05:00

Don't forget! Gailavira Jewelry is having a 40% off sale!

This week's giveaway prize is a Handmade Wire Wrapped Copper and Black Onyx Necklace!

This is one of the necklaces that was featured in a tutorial I wrote for the Spring 2012 Issue of Wirework Magazine.

To enter the giveaway, use the rafflecopter widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms and Conditions

1 Winner will receive a Black Onyx and Copper Necklace. Value: $160

You can enter by commenting on this blog, tweeting about the giveaway (must use the default tweet in the widget), by following @gailavira on twitter, or by "Liking" the Gailavira Jewelry facebook fan page, or the Shut Up and Cuff Me facebook page.

All entries will be verified. If an action cannot be verified the corresponding entry will be disqualified.

To make sure you receive the notification in case you win, please make sure that promotions@gailavira.com is on your email program's list of approved senders.

The winner will have 48 hours to respond after notification has been sent. If there is no response from the winner within 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited and a new winner will be chosen.

Relatives of associates of Gailavira Jewelry are not eligible.

Week 10 Giveaway: 4 $40 coupons to Gailavira Tutorials

2012-10-29T06:03:00.000-04:00

This week I'm giving away 4 $40 coupons to Gailavira Tutorials!

Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter!
(don't forget to read the terms and conditions)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms and Conditions

4 winners will receive one $40 gift certificate each to Gailavira Tutorials. The gift certificate can only be used for TUTORIALS.

You can enter by commenting on this blog, tweeting about the giveaway (must use the default tweet in the widget), by following @gailavira on twitter, or by "Liking" the Gailavira Jewelry facebook fan page.

All entries will be verified. If an action cannot be verified the corresponding entry will be disqualified.

To make sure you receive the notification in case you win, please make sure that promotions@gailavira.com is on your email program's list of approved senders.

The winner will have 48 hours to respond after notification has been sent. If there is no response from the winner within 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited and a new winner will be chosen. The gift certificate can be used any time before December 31st, however, the winner MUST acknowledge receipt of the prize within 48 hours

Relatives of anyone associated with Gailavira Jewelry are not eligible.

Week 9 Giveaway! Gift Coupons to Shut Up and Cuff Me!

2012-10-22T00:00:00.000-04:00

This week I'm giving away 3 $40 gift coupons to my ear cuff shop, Shut Up and Cuff Me!

Use the rafflecopter widget below to enter the giveaway.
Don't forget to check the Terms and Conditions before entering!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms and Conditions

Three winners will each receive one $40 gift coupon to Shut Up and Cuff Me.

You can enter by commenting on this blog, tweeting about the giveaway (must use the default tweet in the widget), by following @gailavira on twitter, by "Liking" the Shut Up and Cuff Me Facebook page, or by liking the Gailavira Jewelry facebook fan page. You may do all of these to receive more entries.

All entries will be verified. If an action cannot be verified the corresponding entry will be disqualified.
To make sure you receive the notification in case you win, please make sure that promotions@gailavira.com is on your email program's list of approved senders.

The winner will have 48 hours to respond after notification has been sent. If there is no response from the winner within 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited and a new winner will be chosen. The Gift Coupon can be used anytime before December 31st.
Relatives of associates of Gailavira Jewelry are not eligible.

Giveaway Week 8: Sterling Silver and Crystal Necklace and Earrings Set

2012-10-15T00:00:00.000-04:00

This week's giveaway prize is a Handmade Sterling Silver and German Crystal

Necklace and Earring Set from Gailavira Jewelry.

Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter the giveaway.

Plus, all handmade jewelry at the Gailavira Jewelry Shop on Etsy is on sale! Everything has already been marked down to 40% off the regular price.

Please note that there is no coating on this crystal. The rainbow effect you see in some of the photos is caused by the light refracting through the crystal.

Don't forget to read the Terms and Conditions below the widget before entering!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

TERMS and CONDITIONS
1 Winner will receive a Sterling Silver and German Crystal Necklace and Earrings Set. Value: $119

You can enter by commenting on this blog, tweeting about the giveaway (must use the default tweet in the widget), by following @gailavira on twitter, or by "Liking" the Gailavira Jewelry facebook fan page.

All entries will be verified. If an action cannot be verified the corresponding entry will be disqualified.

To make sure you receive the notification in case you win, please make sure that promotions@gailavira.com is on your email program's list of approved senders.

The winner will have 48 hours to respond after notification has been sent. If there is no response from the winner within 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited and a new winner will be chosen.

Relatives of associates of Gailavira Jewelry are not eligible.

Week 7 Giveaway! 3 $40 TUTORIAL Gift Certificates!

2012-10-08T07:53:00.003-04:00

In this week's giveaway I'm giving away 3 gift certificates to Gailavira Tutorials!

****NOTE****
These gift certificates are good for use on TUTORIALS only. If you are not interested in learning to make your own wire wrapped jewelry, please do not enter this giveaway.

Just use the rafflecopter widget below to enter.
Please read the terms and conditions (located below the rafflecopter widget) before entering.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms and Conditions

3 winners will receive one $40 gift certificate each to Gailavira Tutorials. The gift certificate can only be used for TUTORIALS.

You can enter by commenting on this blog, tweeting about the giveaway (must use the default tweet in the widget), by following @gailavira on twitter, or by "Liking" the Gailavira Jewelry facebook fan page.

All entries will be verified. If an action cannot be verified the corresponding entry will be disqualified.

To make sure you receive the notification in case you win, please make sure that promotions@gailavira.com is on your email program's list of approved senders.

The winner will have 48 hours to respond after notification has been sent. If there is no response from the winner within 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited and a new winner will be chosen. The gift certificate can be used any time before December 31st, however, the winner MUST acknowledge receipt of the prize within 48 hours

Relatives of anyone associated with Gailavira Jewelry are not eligible.

40% Off Sale!

2012-10-05T14:37:00.000-04:00

My Holiday Sale is starting early! All handmade jewelry in my Etsy shop is now marked 40% off!

Right now, ALL items in my shop have been marked down to 40% off! This includes clearance items as well.

Shop now at GailaviraJewelry.etsy.com.

To see more of my work, or to learn to make jewelry yourself, you can also check out my Handmade Jewelry website, Gailavira Jewelry

Giveaway Week 6! Win a Spider Web Ear Cuff from Shut Up and Cuff Me!

2012-10-01T00:00:00.000-04:00

****IF YOU FOLLOWED THE LINK HTTP://GIVEAWAY.GAILAVIRA.COM AND ARE LOOKING FOR THE CURRENT WEEK'S GIVEAWAY, PLEASE REFRESH YOUR BROWSER'S CACHE AND TRY THE LINK AGAIN****
I apologize for the inconvenience.

It's October now. That means that Halloween is just around the corner. So this week's giveaway prize is perfect for the season!

This week I'm giving away Spider Web Ear Cuffs from Shut Up and Cuff Me! I only have two of these ear cuffs, so two lucky winners will get one each.

Prize: Copper Spider Web Ear Cuff
Value: $40

To enter the giveaway, use to rafflecopter widget below:
(psst.... don't forget to read the terms and conditions below the widget)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms and Conditions

Winner will receive a Spider Web Ear Cuff from Shut Up and Cuff Me.

You can enter by commenting on this blog, tweeting about the giveaway (must use the default tweet in the widget), by following @gailavira on twitter, or by "Liking" the Gailavira Jewelry facebook fan page. All entries will be verified. If an action cannot be verified the corresponding entry will be disqualified.

To make sure you receive the notification in case you win, please make sure that promotions@gailavira.com is on your email program's list of approved senders.

The winner will have 48 hours to respond after notification has been sent. If there is no response from the winner within 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited and a new winner will be chosen.

Relatives of anyone associated with Gailavira Jewelry are not eligible.

Mixed Metal Swirl Earrings - Tutorial on the way.

2012-09-27T08:30:00.000-04:00

I don't make earrings that often. I usually wear ear cuffs instead, so I tend to forget that there are other types of ear jewelry. So I kind of surprised myself when I actually wanted to make a pair of earrings one day.

I actually made the copper and coral first (the last photo). I liked them so much I decided to keep them. Then I made the copper, silver and blue earrings, which gave me the idea to make them with just mixed metals and no beads. I think I like the one without beads best.

And, yes, there is a tutorial on the way for the mixed metal version. I've already edited the photos for it. I just need to find time to put together the final document.

Necklace Giveaway! Sterling Silver and Opalite Crystal Point

2012-09-24T07:44:00.000-04:00

This week's giveaway prize is a beautiful, almost glowing, Opalite crystal point wrapped in Sterling Silver and accented with little blue crystals.

Pendant is approximately 1/2" (13mm) wide and 2" (51mm) long. Necklace is 17 1/2" (43.75cm) long with a 2" extender chain.

Prize value: $86

*****
Relatives of anyone associated with Gailavira Jewelry are not eligible.
*****

Please remember to read the terms and conditions before entering (found in the widget below).

To enter the giveaway, use the rafflecopter widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TERMS and CONDITIONS

Winner will receive an Opalite and Sterling Silver Necklace from Gailavira Jewelry. The necklace being given is pictured in the following blog post:
http://gailavira.blogspot.com/2012/09/necklace-giveaway-sterling-silver-and.html

You can enter by commenting on this blog, or by "Liking" the Gailavira Jewelry facebook fan page. All entries will be verified. If an action cannot be verified the corresponding entry will be disqualified.

To make sure you receive the notification in case you win, please make sure that promotions@gailavira.com is on your email program's list of approved senders.

The winner will have 48 hours to respond after notification has been sent. If there is no response from the winner within 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited and a new winner will be chosen.

Relatives of anyone associated with Gailavira Jewelry are not eligible.

Giveaway Week 4! 2 $40 gift certificates to Gailavira Tutorials!

2012-09-17T00:00:00.000-04:00

This weeks giveaway will have 2 winners. Each winner will receive a $40 gift certificate to Gailavira Tutorials!

Just use the rafflecopter widget below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway Week 3! Ear Cuffs from Shut Up and Cuff Me!

2012-09-07T16:34:00.001-04:00

This week's giveaway will have THREE winners! There are several prizes to choose from, so the first winner drawn will get first pick, the second winner drawn will get to pick second, then the third winner drawn will get to pick from the prizes below.

Use the rafflecopter widget below the photos to enter!

P.S. Shut Up and Cuff Me is having a sale this week. All items are 15% off the regular price!

Brass and Red Glass Steampunk Style Ear Cuff and Earring set.

Blue crystals and woven gold colored ear cuff.

Gold colored and glass beads earring and ear cuff set.

Blue glass and silver colored steampunk style ear cuff.

Blue glass and silver colored steampunk style ear cuff #2.

Sterling silver treble clef ear cuff.
(there is more than one of this style available)

Quartz crystal point and vintage brass colored woven ear cuff.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This Week's Giveaway - A Necklace from Gailavira Jewelry!

2012-08-31T08:28:00.001-04:00

This week's giveaway prize is a beautiful sterling silver and Lapis Lazuli necklace! See terms below the rafflecopter widget.

A deep blue Lapis Lazuli cabochon, wrapped in oxidized sterling silver wire, hangs from a black organza neck cord.

Pendant is approximately 11/16" (24mm) wide and 1 1/4" (32mm) long. Necklace is 17 1/2" (43.75cm) long with a 2" extender chain.

Prize value: $60

To enter the giveaway, use the rafflecopter widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winner will receive a Lapis and Sterling Silver Necklace from Gailavira Jewelry. The necklace being given is pictured in the following blog post: http://goo.gl/fjXy3

To enter you must comment on this blog post. This will earn 2 points. More points can be earned using the other entry options available through the giveaway widget.

For users who choose to earn extra entries through twitter:
All new follows and tweets will be verified. If the tweet and follow do not remain on the users profile for the duration of the giveaway, the corresponding entry for that tweet will be removed.

The tweet must contain the following info to be eligible:
"Win a necklace from Gailavira Jewelry! http://goo.gl/fjXy3"
User may add to the tweet if desired, but the line above must be unaltered for the tweet to result in a valid entry. If the above information is intact and the entry is deemed valid, user will receive 2 entry points for the tweet.

Relatives of anyone associated with Gailavira Jewelry are not eligible.

A Space just for Me

2012-08-29T18:40:00.005-04:00

Ever since I started making jewelry again I've been collecting "stuff". Stuff which most people would consider invaluable tools of their trade. Unfortunately for me, it has been utterly useless stuff. Why? Because until now I've had absolutely no space to use it. For the last 9 years I've been living in a 720 square foot apartment. With such a small number there, you can guess that the rooms are pretty small. I'm also sharing that apartment with a teenager who is a space hog and 5 precious little monster kitties. The only place I was able to keep everything safe was in my bedroom. Well, since I had to have a bed in there, a dresser, and all the other things that go in an average bedroom, that left little space for me to work. Out of a 10ft x 10ft room, I had about a 4ft x 4ft space to work in, take photos, and store all of my supplies. As you can imagine, that left little room for me to play with everything.

So, since the apartment next to mine was empty, I decided I needed it. Desperately! And now I have many rooms to work and play in. One room is for wirework and photography (pictured above). I'll be setting up the kitchen for metalwork and polymer clay (It's a BIG kitchen). One room is set up for packing and shipping orders. And I'll still have two more rooms left to play with.

I've only been working there a few days now, but it already feels like a second home. I still need to finish getting everything set up. What's in the photo is temporary. I need to somehow get my big sturdy desk that I hammer everything on over there (any big strong men want to volunteer?). And I need to decorate (at least new curtains and a very large area rug to cover up that hideous yellow carpet). I think I'll enjoy finishing setting it up and decorating as much as I'll enjoy working in it.

P.S. Don't for get to enter this week's giveaway! $50 worth of tutorials from Gailavira Jewelry

Shelter from the Storm

2012-08-28T17:09:00.000-04:00

You know how it is when you are so tired you can't see straight and all you want to do is close your eyes and go to sleep. But then, the moment you close your eyes you see something painted on the inside of your eyelids. You open your eyes and try so hard to remember what it was. You grab a piece of paper and a pencil as quick as you can. You touch the tip of the pencil to the paper. And suddenly, you don't remember what it was you saw.

I don't know about you, but usually, that's how it goes for me. This, however, is one of those few times when the image stuck with me. Not just long enough to get a piece of paper. Not even just long enough to do a rough sketch of what I thought I saw. I never even had to look at the sketch to finish this necklace. I was worried I wouldn't be able to figure it out, but as soon as I picked up the Amethyst crystal point it all came together.

This is actually the first serious piece of jewelry I've made in a while. Over the summer I just had too much going on around me to relax and play with wire. Kids running around, places to go, things to do, all of that stuff. So, on the first day that my daughter went back to school I did nothing else. This necklace took me all day to make, but it felt like only a few minutes from start to finish.

I wanted to make the clasp so that it followed the flow of the focal, but I didn't want to make it overbearing. I settled on a woven hook style clasp with coiled tendrils matching the ones on the pendant. Both the pendant and the clasp are accented with tiny Purple Velvet Swarovski Crystals.

You can find this piece for sale in my Etsy shop, Gailavira Jewelry

Don't forget to check out this week's giveaway.

Tutorial Giveaway!

2012-08-24T17:50:00.002-04:00

This week I will be giving away $50 worth of wire wrapped jewelry tutorials from Gailavira Jewelry to one lucky winner! This giveaway will start this evening and run through Friday August 31st.

Login to Rafflecopter using the widget below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winner will be able to choose from the tutorials available on my web-site or in my Etsy tutorial shop.
Gailavira Tutorials
http://gailaviratutorials.etsy.com

My First Published Tutorial!

2012-03-18T20:03:00.005-04:00

I've just had a tutorial published in the Spring 2012 Issue of Wirework Magazine!

I've had a couple of smaller tutorials published in a book before (3 very simple projects in Denise Peck's book, Wire Style 2), but this is my first tutorial to be published in a magazine. I'm really excited about this one too. This is the kind of work that I love to do. Lot's of graceful curves, weaving, coiling... And, since it's more or less a collection of techniques it's a very versatile design. The tutorial gives you specifics for one size of stone, but it's easy to adapt this design to lots of other shapes and sizes.

I even got a small spot on the cover!

You can order the magazine from Kalmbach Publishing here: http://www.kalmbachstore.com/wrk120301.html.

Who Makes the Bigger Statement, Your Jewelry or You?

2012-02-22T19:45:00.002-05:00

When I design jewelry for other people, I have to keep in mind the type of personality the person who will be wearing it has. Are they confident enough to pull off big and bold designs? Or would something smaller and a little bit understated be less overpowering to them. I often see people wearing jewelry that just does not suit them. It's not that the pieces they chose don't look good on them, just that they themselves get lost behind those pieces.

Growing up my mother always told me, "You wear the clothes, the clothes don't wear you". In reality, this has nothing to do with the clothes, but the attitude of the person wearing them. All too often people wear certain clothes thinking that by wearing them, they will project the attitude they want to have rather than who they really are. The problem is that when you do this people only see who you obviously aren't.

People often ask me how to choose what jewelry best suits them. I tell them to pick what they want to wear, whether it's clothes, make up, shoes, jewelry or anything else, the same way they would pick their best friends. Would you be friends with someone who made you look like you didn't know what you were doing? Or someone who tried their best to take everyone's attention away from you so that they could be in the spotlight all the time while you stand there lost in their shadow? Probably not. So don't let what you wear do that either.

I'm not saying that people shouldn't wear big, bold, outrageous fashions. It's fun to wear and fun to see other people wearing. Just make sure that above all of that, you are the one being noticed.

New Tutorial! Hyacinth House: Woven Donut Wrap

2012-02-17T15:13:00.000-05:00

I finally got around to finishing another tutorial. This is one that I know several people have been waiting much too long for! To those of you who have been requesting this one since the original one was posted last year, I am so sorry to have made you wait this long. Hope you enjoy it.

In this lesson I will teach you how to make a unique and extremely versatile woven wrap for a donut bead. The instructions show a very basic version of the pendant, however there is no end to the ways to alter this design.

The cost for this one is only $4. Right now it is only available on my web-site, http://www.gailavira.com/tutorials/index.html.

This pendant is the original “Hyacinth House” pendant and was inspired by a song from The Doors by the same name. This lesson teaches you how to make a pendant that is using just the base design for this pendant, however there are tips at the end of the lesson to help you come up with ideas for several variations of the base design.