Nancy's Crystal Fantasies Treasure Chest of Handmade Jewels

Amethyst for February

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Russell) — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 04:48:00 +0000

Rich purple, the color of royalty, is the color of the gemstone amethyst which is February's birthstone. Members of the Jewelry on Etsy team have this stone well represented in their shops, so if you or a friend or loved one are celebrating a February birthday, be sure to visit these shops to see the many amethyst selections available.

Amethyst for Februarycurated by Jewelry on Etsy Team on Etsy

What Are You Giving Your Sweetheart for Valentine's?

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Russell) — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 22:19:00 +0000

February is the month for love. It's a time to forget the cold, icy days of winter and warm the heart of that special someone who you love with a special gift that says "I love you", "I adore you," or "You're very special to me." Flowers, candy, cards--popular gifts, yes. But how about a gift that will last, one that she can look at and remember the occasion and the special person who gave it to her? How about a gift of jewelry? Yes, you can go to the local jewelry store and plop down a few thousand bucks for a diamond ring or bracelet. Don't have a few thousand? Consider your artisan jewelers--those who make handmade jewelry and who make it with love and careful attention to detail. Perhaps it will be a one-of-a-kind piece. How very special that would be! Here's a few ideas to get you started. These are pieces from my Etsy shop that were designed especially for Valentine's Day. But there are well over three hundred pieces of jewelry for you to choose from if the traditional heart-shaped jewelry isn't to
your liking. Just visit my shop at www.NancysCrystalFantasi.etsy.com.

Swarovski Heart Necklace Pendant by NancysCrystalFantasi on Etsy

Lampwork Hearts Bracelet Pink and Green by NancysCrystalFantasi

Red Crystal Heart Bracelet Valentines Day by NancysCrystalFantasi

Red and Silver Hearts Bracelet Love by NancysCrystalFantasi

More Exciting Summertime Pieces from the Jetteam on Etsy

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Russell) — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 15:00:00 +0000

I've posted several blogs with lovely jewelry pieces from the very talented group of jewelry artisans on Etsy known as the Jewelry on Etsy team. Here's yet another collection, this one featuring bright, colorful summer pieces from the team members. Browse to your heart's content, and don't forget to visit their shops for many more exciting goodies.

Summer Brightscurated by Jewelry on Etsy Team on Etsy

Perky Peridot - August's Olivine Birthstone

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Russell) — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 21:19:00 +0000

Peridot and Freshwater Pearl Necklace

Since I have an August birthday, I have a particular fondness for the lovely olivine green shade of the peridot gemstone, which is the primary birthstone for August. The vivid green touched with a shade of gold makes it perfect for a summer gemstone to coordinate with the lighter shades of clothing typically worn during those hot months.
The history of the peridot dates back as far as Egyptian jewelery from the early 2nd millennium B.C. The stones used at that time came from a deposit on a small volcanic island in the Red Sea, about 45 miles off the Egyptian coast at Aswan. The peridot is also a thoroughly modern gemstone, for it was not until a few years ago that peridot deposits were located in the Kashmir region; and the stones from those deposits, being of an incomparably beautiful color and transparency, have succeeded in giving a good polish to the image of this beautiful gemstone, which had lost its popularity in previous times. The ancient Romans were fond of this gemstone, largely because of its radiant green shine which does not change even in artificial light. For that reason they nicknamed it the "emerald of the evening". Peridot is also found in Europe in medieval churches, where it adorns many a treasure, for example one of the shrines in Cologne Cathedral. During the baroque period, the rich green gemstone once again enjoyed a brief heyday, and then it somehow faded into oblivion. The peridot is mentioned throughout the Bible, and early Christians considered it sacred. Today still, Catholic Bishops traditionally wear a ring of peridot and amethyst as a symbol of purity and morality. This gemstone has three names: "peridot", "chrysolite", from the Greek "gold stone", and "olivine", for the peridot is the gemstone form of the mineral olivine. In the gemstone trade it is called "peridot", from the Greek word "peridona", which means something like "to give richness". The peridot is one of the few gemstones which come in one color only. The rich, green color with the slight tinge of gold is caused by very fine traces of iron. From a chemical point of view, peridot is an iron magnesium silicate. The intensity of the color depends on the amount of iron actually present. The color itself can vary from shades of yellowish green and olive to a brownish green. Peridot is not particularly hard - only 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale - but it is easy to look after and fairly robust. Peridot is a stone of lightness and beauty. Only spiritual or clear-minded persons should wear peridot. The person with too many earthly problems will not be able to understand the beauty of the peridot. The very spiritual can wear peridot in a necklace with the stone at the base of the throat to feel its soothing effect. Used in a necklace, peridot is a protector against negative emotions. Peridot has been known to have healing effects on the gall bladder and liver.

The JETs (Jewelry on Etsy Team) Have Been Busy

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Russell) — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 02:27:00 +0000

The members of the Jewelry on Etsy Team are such a talented groups of jewelry designers and creators. Here is a page full of representative selections from their shops. Hope you'll visit and look around. https://www.etsy.com/pages/jewelryonetsyteam

Jewelry on Etsy Team on Etsy

More SRAJD Member Beautiful Jewelry Selections from Etsy Shops

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Russell) — Mon, 26 May 2014 22:58:00 +0000

SRAJD Treasury Entriescurated by SRAJD Featured Designs on Etsy

Jewelry for Patriotic Events

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Russell) — Thu, 15 May 2014 18:30:00 +0000

Personalize a scrapbook

The Jetteam Goes Boho

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Russell) — Tue, 13 May 2014 17:26:00 +0000

The Jetteam is a team on Etsy whose team members design and create a wide variety of artfully crafted jewelry styles. A hot trend for 2014 is the Bohemian style, which is well represented by this team of artisans. Here is a collection of some of those designs. Click on any of the pictures and you will be taken to the entire group where you can see many more selections as well as visit individual Jetteam member shops. Happy browsing!

Boho Chic Collectioncurated by Jewelry on Etsy Team on Etsy

SRAJD Jewelry Designs at Their Finest

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Russell) — Mon, 12 May 2014 22:42:00 +0000

I am proud to be a SRAJD member. SRAJD stands for Self-Representing Artists in Jewelry Design, an International organization composed of jewelry designers who create and sell their own jewelry. Purchasing from a SRAJD member means that you are buying directly from and supporting the artist.

The SRAJD members who sell on Etsy are featured in treasury entries of jewelry designs that have been included in treasuries by other Etsians. Here are a few of the designs. I hope you will browse through the entries and enjoy them. Then visit the shops represented here and see what else the artists have to offer in their jewelry selections.

SRAJD Treasury Entriescurated by SRAJD Featured Designs on Etsy

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Russell) — Sun, 04 May 2014 21:19:00 +0000

I created a slide show of some of my summer jewelry pieces. I invite you to sit back, relax, and enjoy the show, then visit my shop on Etsy to see these and many, many more lovely jewelry selections. Enjoy!

A free slideshow by Smilebox

Destination: Beach

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Russell) — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 06:29:00 +0000

As May draws near and thoughts began to turn toward summer and its fun activities, one activity that almost everyone enjoys is a trip to the beach. So to help swing your thoughts and mood in that direction, I have curated a treasury full of wonderful "beachy" items from many talented artisans and sellers on Etsy. Please take the time to visit this treasury, leave a comment or two, and look over some of the featured items.

Destination: Beach

Jetteam Members Have Necklaces, Too!

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Russell) — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 21:44:00 +0000

Necklacescurated by Jewelry on Etsy Team on Etsy

Different lengths, different textures, different colors, different styles. That's what makes the Jetteam so amazing. We have diversity and we can help you find just the right necklace for the right occasion. Here's a link to even more: https://www.etsy.com/pages/jewelryonetsyteam/necklaces?eref=

Jetteam Members Have Bracelets Galore!

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Russell) — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 21:01:00 +0000

Braceletscurated by Jewelry on Etsy Team on Etsy

Like bracelets? The Jetteam has 'em. Plenty of bracelets in all designs, styles, colors, and sizes to choose from. You can see a nice collection of bracelets here: https://www.etsy.com/pages/jewelryonetsyteam/bracelets?eref=

Mother's Day Gift Ideas from the Jetteam

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Russell) — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 20:47:00 +0000

Mothers Daycurated by Jewelry on Etsy Team on Etsy

No matter what lady in your life you are shopping for this Mother's Day, the Jetteam has a wide variety of gift ideas that will give you plenty of ideas to choose from in all price ranges. You can see all the Mother's Day gift suggestions here: https://www.etsy.com/pages/jewelryonetsyteam/mothers-day?eref=

Jetteam Team Page is Live With Plenty of Goodies

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Russell) — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 20:35:00 +0000

Beautiful Bluescurated by Jewelry on Etsy Team on Etsy

The Jewelry on Etsy Team (Jetteam) has a wonderful collection of pieces from its members curated into fabulous sections that highlight various colors, styles, special occasions, and types of jewelry all created by the amazing Jets. This first collection showcases pieces in beautiful blues. It can be seen in its entirety at this link: https://www.etsy.com/pages/jewelryonetsyteam/beautiful-blues?eref=

JETs Jewelry on Etsy Team: Death Toll Rises from Philippines Typhoon Haiyan -JETs Continue Fundraising Effort

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Russell) — Fri, 22 Nov 2013 17:06:00 +0000

JETs Jewelry on Etsy Team: Death Toll Rises from Philippines Typhoon Haiyan -JETs Continue Fundraising Effort

I Would Like to Present . . .

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Russell) — Mon, 09 Sep 2013 07:00:00 +0000

A good friend and fellow Jetteam member on Etsy is Norah Downey, owner of the the shop Silver Initial Jewelry http://www.etsy.com/shop/silverinitialjewelry. Norah's unique, one-of-a-kind initials are crafted by hand making use of eco-friendly, recycled silver made with wax seals, many from as early as the 1800's. Her designs are personalized and can be used as pendants, key chains, charms for bracelets, and many more uses. Both men and women can enjoy wearing one of these designs.

One of my favorite designs is this one, which just happens to be displayed with my initial!

This piece is displayed very beautifully as a silk wrap bracelet.

The crafting of these beautiful initials comes from a very interesting history of wax seals. Most of us are familiar with the use of wax seals to seal letters, many of those between lovers. Norah had eloquently described the history of wax seals in a section of her shop. You can read that history here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/SilverInitialJewelry/about/

These are just some examples of wax seals.

Norah has several sizes of initials ranging from petite ones . . .

to extra large ones . . .

If you are planning a gift for someone special in your life--or yourself--consider one of these lovely initials. It will be an extra special treat. Silver Initial Jewelry by Norah Downey

Cleaning Copper Jewelry

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Russell) — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 18:17:00 +0000

With the price of precious metals, especially gold, so high, many fashion-conscious people are turning more and more to other metals for jewelry. Copper and brass are two of the most popular. But as you probably know, copper tarnishes very quickly and soon takes on a dark appearance. Here are some tips for cleaning copper using familiar household goods.

1. Cut a lemon in half and add a dash of salt to cut side. Rub the lemon over the jewelry piece. You can also add a dash of salt to some lemon juice (enough juice to coat the piece). Dip the jewelry into the juice and let it sit for a few minutes. Rinse the piece off with water and dry it thoroughly with a polishing cloth.

Copper Disc with Crystals

2. Rub your jewelry with a small amount of ketchup or tomato juice. Rinse well and dry with a polishing cloth.

Jasper and Copper Necklace

3. Combine equal parts of lemon juice and baking soda to form a paste and rub the paste on your jewelry. Rinse and dry.

Green Mosaic Turquoise with Copper Bracelet

4. Sprinkle some Worcestershire sauce on your copper piece. Rinse well and dry thoroughly.

Pearls of Wisdom for June Birthday Buying

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Russell) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 06:58:00 +0000

I love pearls. They are such a classic gem, worn for so many different occasions and appropriate for almost any time. They are ageless, too. Pearls have been worn for centuries, at least as far back as the Roman Empire. The only gem that comes from a living sea creature, the pearl is the number one gem choice for the June birthstone. While natural pearls may be bought at an extremely high price, most pearl jewelry today uses cultured pearls that are created in oyster farms.

Pearl and crystal earrings in my Etsy shop

A very lovely alternate birthstone for June is the moonstone. If you love to see a play of color in gemstones, then you will enjoy the flashes and glints of silvery blue that moonstones radiate from their milky white surface. When the stone is moved back and forth, it almost seems as though the silvery blue rays move also.

A necklace in my shop with moonstones

The third birthstone alternative for June is the Alexandrite gemstone. The Alexandrite is a charming, unusual stone, changing in its colors almost like a chameleon. In natural daylight it appears bluish green while under artificial light it appears violet in color. Natural Alexandrite is very rare and expensive, so most Alexandrite birthstones are manmade and it is very difficult to reproduce the color changing ability of the natural stone.

Here is an Alexandrite ring I found in another Etsy shop.

So if you are shopping for that special person with a June birthday, you have several gems to choose from. A hard choice to make since all three are beautiful in their own way. Happy shopping!

Storms in Texas

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Russell) — Thu, 16 May 2013 23:32:00 +0000

I'm sure most of you have heard, seen, read about the devastating tornadoes in parts of Texas last night. One of the worst hit Granbury, about 30 miles northeast of Stephenville, destroying homes and killing six people. It was a night of fear in central and north Texas as swirling wall couds, baseball size hail, thunderstorms, and rain danced all over the area. There are still six or seven people missing in Granbury. The tornado that hit there was rated as an EF4--an EF5 is the worst. Here is a video describing the scene.

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Russell) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 17:09:00 +0000

Wowee! Can't believe how long it has been since my last post. Time gets away from you when you're having fun--and getting older! So I think I will finish up my posts on precious metals and move on to other things.

Today I will cover the gold-colored metals, specifically karat gold, gold filled, and gold plated.

Karat gold is what most people would consider "real" or "solid" gold in the jewelry business. The term karat refers to the amount of gold that is actually present. Higher numbers mean, of course, higher gold content. Here is a chart that gives karat and how much pure gold is contained in the item.

24 karat is 100% pure gold. This would be found in bullion bars and coins, only rarely in jewelry. The higher the gold content, the softer the metal, so pure gold in jewelry would not be very durable.
18 karat is 75% gold and 25% other metals. This is usually the highest gold content found in jewelry.
14 karat is 58.5% gold and 41.5% other metals, also used in jewelry.
10 karat is 41.7% gold and 58.3% other metals, and is usually the lowest karat used in jewelry.

A piece of jewelry made with karat gold will be stamped with the gold amount, usually as 18k, 14k, and 10k.

Of course, karat gold jewelry is usually expensive and has become more so over the past couple of years.

A less expensive form of gold is often used by jewelers, and by us handmade jewelry makers, to help keep the cost of jewelry down to an affordable price range, yet still be durable. That form is called gold filled.

Gold filled components must contain gold that is at least 1/20 the weight of the component. The gold is mechanically heated and bonded to base metal such as brass and is much more durable and long-lasting than gold plated. Like karat gold, gold filled metal will not tarnish. The life span of a jewelry piece made with gold filled metal can be anywhere from 5 to 30 years, depending on how long and how often it is worn and the care given to it. I personally have several pieces of jewelry, including a charm bracelet, made with gold filled metal that are over 40 years old and still as beautiful as the day I received them.

Another economical replacement for karat gold is vermeil (pronounced "vermay"). which is formed by taking sterling silver and coating it with gold that is at least 10 karat and 2.5 microns thick.

Vermeil is very useful for persons with metal allergies, since its base is sterling silver and does not contain nickel, brass, copper, or other metals which commonly cause allergic reactions.

Finally, most costume and/or everyday jewelry items contain gold plated metal. Gold plated means that a microscopic film of gold is adhered to base metal, usually using an electroplating, or dipping, method. Gold plated metal will eventually chip and wear off, and purchasers should be aware that the metal in their jewelry pieces will not last forever.

Cleaning gold jewelry is best accomplished by washing or rinsing your pieces in warm, sudsy water and drying with a soft, lint-free cloth. Karat gold, gold filled, and vermeil will not tarnish, so dipping in a commercial jewelry cleaner is not needed. With plated metal you need to take care not to expose your jewelry to chemicals, bumps, and scratches, as this will cause the plating to wear off more quickly. Just use the sudsy water and soft cloth method to clean your gold plated pieces.

Regardless of what kind of metal is used in your jewelry, the care that you give your pieces will extend their lifetime. Exposure to chemicals, including chlorine in swimming pools, should be avoided, and wearing jewelry while performing manual labor or exercising is not a good idea. So take care of your jewelry, no matter how expensive it is, and it will give you many years of wearing enjoyment.

Metal Choices for Jewelry, Part II

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Russell) — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:17:00 +0000

Most of my morning was spent in a jury pool in our district courtroom--waiting, and waiting, and waiting. Finally, after being told there were two criminal trials taking place this week, about 45 were selected for the jury pool for today's trial. The remainder of us (only about 30) were instructed to return on Thursday, when a jury will be selected from among us for the second trial. Hmmm--12 out of 45 versus 12 out of 30. Looks like my chances of being selected have just gone up! Anyway, looks like a short trial and no jury sequestering! So if I get picked, I'll gladly do my civic duty and serve.

Yesterday I started a blog on metals that are commonly used in jewelry making, beginning with silver, or white, colored metals. I did omit one metal that is commonly used in less expensive jewelry, and that is silver plated metals, and a relative newcomer to the metal world, silver filled.

Silver plated metals are base metals that have a thin, almost microscopic silver coating on them that is usually applied electrically. If the coating is actually silver, the item will match the color of sterling silver. Cheaper costume jewelry may have white-plated metal, which is a grayer color. Some metals are also coated with rhodium, which is a brighter, more silvery color. The base metals that are commonly used in silver plated components are pewter (or pewter alloy), brass, and stainless steel. Like sterling silver, silver plated metal will tarnish, and, because of the thin coating, will usually lose their silver color.

The advantage of silver plate over other silver metals is, of course, its cost. However, do not expect most jewelry with silver plated components to retain its shiny, silvery appearance for a long period of time. These jewelry pieces should be purchased with the understanding that they may not be lifetime pieces, especially if worn often. This is not to say that all silver plated components are bad. I have many beautiful pieces of jewelry with silver or gold plate that I have had for many, many years and they still look almost as good a new. You can pick up a catalog of a famous Texas department store and find jewelry priced in the hundreds of dollars that uses silver (or gold) plated materials. Not all plated metals are created equal, and some have more lasting power than others. So don't shy away from buying jewelry just because of the silver plated materials. Just be aware that it probably won't have the long life that sterling silver, white gold, and platinum have. If you pay $10 for a necklace, chances are $10 worth of wear is what you'll get.

A relative newcomer has appeared on the jewelry scene in response to the rising costs of sterling silver and gold--silver filled. Many of you will recognize the term "gold filled' which has been around for many years. Silver filled metal is basically the same as gold filled, sterling silver that is bonded using heat and pressure to a base metal. The layer of sterling silver is hundreds of times thicker than that used in plating and it does not flake off like silver plate. Also, the appearance is identical to sterling silver, it can be bent and manipulated just like sterling silver, and it is just as long lasting as sterling silver. As of right now, there is no industry standard for silver filled, but most reputable suppliers sell material that is 1/10th sterling silver by weight.

The chief advantage of silver filled over sterling silver metal is the cost--silver filled is 40-60% less than sterling silver.

I have been using some silver filled findings, beads, and wire over the past year and have to say I am very happy with the results. Hopefully as more and more jewelry designers begin to make use of it, more will become available through the suppliers.

In the next post I will talk about the yellow, or gold, colored metals.

Metal Choices for Jewelry

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Russell) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 08:28:00 +0000

In talking with customers, there seems to be some confusion over the different types of metals that are commonly used in jewelry making. I'll try to clear up some of that confusion by describing metal choices that are available, their pros and cons, and even throw in a little information on the care of metals. I'll divide this up into more than one post, since there is so much information about so many kinds of metals.

SILVER METALS--Fine Metals

There are many metals and alloys that are commonly used in jewelry that have the look of a silver, or white, color. The first metal that most people think of is sterling silver. Sterling silver is actually an alloy of pure, or fine, silver. Making up sterling silver is 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metal, usually and most commonly copper. Sterling silver is much harder and more durable than pure silver, which is very soft and malleable. The small percentage of copper does not change the look of the silver, and actually has little effect on its value. Most sterling silver will be stamped with a mark, which is usually .925, sterling, sterling silver, or ster.

Sterling silver is not cheap, so expect to pay a bit more for jewelry that is made of or has sterling silver parts, beads, or findings. Of course, the higher price is offset by the fact that sterling silver is lasting, and with proper care, will endure for a lifetime and will become a family heirloom.

Sterling silver should be cleaned regularly to prevent tarnish and stored away from other metals in a cloth or plastic bag, or kept in a separate compartment in your jewelry chest. Anti-tarnish paper strips made by 3M can be purchased and placed in the bag or compartment along with your silver piece to help prevent tarnish and erosion. Silver should be cleaned with a soft polishing cloth. This is the best method of cleaning sterling silver that is used in jewelry. There are polishing creams and liquids on the market, but be careful when using them. If your silver has any dark, or oxidized, places on it that are put there to shade or emphasize the design, the creams and liquids will remove this oxidation, so unless you want your sterling silver to be totally shiny and bright, stick with the polishing cloth. And clean often. Don't wait for tarnish to build up, but rather remove it as soon as you can see it.

Another fine metal that has a silver appearance is white gold. White gold is actually gold with a white alloy added, such as nickel, palladium, platinum, and manganese. It is then plated with a rhodium metal, which gives it the white, shiny look. White gold does not tarnish like sterling silver, but it is much, much more expensive since it does contain, after all, gold. If you have been watching the price of gold and silver on the market over the past couple of years, you know that gold just keeps increasing in price, so if you want white gold in your jewelry, expect to pay much higher prices.

The most precious, and costly, of all the silver metals is platinum. Unlike gold, which is mixed with other metals before it is cast into jewelry settings, platinum is used in a near pure form--about 95% pure, in fact. Its color is naturally white, so no mixing with other metals or plating with rhodium is needed to give platinum its beautiful shine. Platinum is also heavier than gold and is very durable. It is, however, very expensive--about twice the price of gold!--and is usually used for serious jewelry pieces, such as engagement rings, if you can afford it, that is!

I've spent a bit of time talking about the fine metals with a silver, or white, look. In my next blog post I'll talk about some of the less costly alternatives, including a fairly newcomer to the metal world--silver filled.

Get Your New Year's Eve Bling On

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Russell) — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 19:38:00 +0000

Have a special New Year's eve party or event to attend? Then you'll need some extra bling to help you sparkle and light up your own wardrobe. And what better way to sparkle than with some bling jewelry! You don't have to break the bank either. Nancy's Crystal Fantasies Jewelry on Etsy has plenty of selections that you can choose from. Here are just a few.

Jewelry Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy Russell) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 08:02:00 +0000

To celebrate reaching 500 fans on my Facebook page, I am hosting a giveaway here on my blog. I will be giving away a pair of my Swarovski crystal Christmas tree earrings. Several choices of colors will be given. To be eligible to be entered in the drawing, all you have to do is post a comment about this blog post here on this blog page and indicate which color you would wish to receive if you are the winner. The contest will begin Friday, December 7 and end on Wednesday, December 12. A random drawing will be conducted from which the winner will be chosen and announced on my Facebook fan page. The winner will need to contact me either by email or by private message with his/her mailing address so that the earrings can be mailed to them. Here are pictures of the color choices. Good luck!