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Treasure Hunting For TurquoisePosted on 10/30/2011 at 10:45 PM - LinkTurquoise occurs as many different types, and thats because each locale from which this stone derives imparts a discernible and unique personality to the stone. The host rock of turquoise has a lot to do with specific characteristics of hardness and color, though turquoise forms in the same basic way, as a Hydrated Phosphate of Copper and Aluminum, in the same basic colors of blue and green, where ever it is found, and that is because of copper somewhere in the nearby vicinity. It is the degraded forms of copper which actually give turquoise its color. As an aside, though related, it is thought that a lot of this same degraded copper material may have also been directly responsible for the rediscovery of smelting, because the powders of malachite, azurite, chrysocolla, and even turquoise were probably used to color early pottery. After the firing of the pottery there were surely metal droplets within the bottom of the furnaces, and this led to the Chalcolithic Period, which quickly became the Bronze Age. Turquoise is possibly the most valuable, non-transparent mineral used in jewelry. It has been mined since at least 6000 BC by Egyptians. Like other opaque such as coral, turquoise is commonly sold by the size in millimeters rather than by weight. Turquoise is usually found sandstone layers and can be seen as splotches or as a network of brown or black veins running through the sandstone. There are many small-scale mining operations that are worked by hand. Only one mine in Apache Canyon California operates at a commercial capacity today. With a hardness of just under 6, about the hardness of window glass, this gemstone takes a good polish. It comes in white, blue, green, brown, yellow and all of the shades in between. The value of the turquoise you will find is determined by the richness of color. Robin¡¯s egg is usually the most valuable. The more of a green hug or lightening of color will decrease the value. Turquoise should never be soft or chalky in color. When you walk through Dillard¡¯s, Macy¡¯s, Nordstrom¡¯s and so forth you usually see a beaded turquoise necklace or bracelet. These stone can vary in value and consistency. For those of us that travel through the southwest we see the same difference in the hundreds of vendors who sell their crafts up and down the Arizona and New Mexico highways. There are variations to consider when choosing jewelry for you or a loved one. Most of the cheaper Turquoise sold in departments is Turquoise from over seas. The Turquoise from over seas is mined cheaper and the jewelry is constructed for a cheaper price so the profit margin can be higher. Once you have looked at enough Turquoise you can tell pretty easily what is Turquoise from over seas and what Turquoise is state side. The Matrix in over seas Turquoise is pretty different. How to Make Polymer Clay BeadsPosted on 10/26/2011 at 10:48 PM - LinkMaking basic beads with polymer clay is a project to do with children or any age group. The process for making a basic polymer clay bead is very simple. When you start making polymer clay beads, you'll find that you can be very creative.Tools You Will Need Polymer Clay Needle-The size of the hole will depend on the width of the wire/cord that you'll using to string the beads. Baking Tray-A small cookie sheet is perfect for baking your beads Varnish/Glaze-You can varnish your beads or leave them unvarnished. The varnish will give them a nice shine and make them more durable. 1. Buy polymer clay from your local craft store or order it online. You can mix as many colours together as you like. This is a good way to use up your leftover clay. 2. Choose one or more colours of clay. Cut off a small piece and work with your hands until clay is soft. Roll into a ball. Continue until you have the number of beads you want. 3. To make the hole, hold your bead and gently make a hole in one side...don't go all the way through because it will mishapen your bead. Go to the other side of the bead and do the same this time going all the way through. 4. You've made the hole, now you can put your beads on a piece of cardboard on the baking tray and set your oven. Cook at the temperature and for the time specified on the polymer clay package wrap. Let them sit to cool. Then you have beads ready for whatever beading project you are making with the handmade polymer clay beads. How to Make Plastic BeadsPosted on 10/24/2011 at 12:07 AM - LinkPlastic beads, the usual name of acrylic beads, are the main trend of 2011. You should have heard them, for they are available in various shapes including round, faceted, flat, heart, leaf, flower, and even glowing beads. They also come in different colors and sizes, you have a wide range of choose from, such as colorful ones, transparent ones, CCB ones, and so on. Plastic beads look beautiful, light and affordable. Their glowing appearance and lesser weight cause them a perfect pink in jewelry by jewelry makers. And plastic beads are very easy to make with polymer clay, plastic bottles and more other ones.One of the easiest and most versatile ways to make plastic beads is with polymer clay. Before polymer clay is baked, it can be formed into almost any imaginable shape. Baking the clay turns it into PVC, a common form of medium-hard plastic that makes sturdy beads. 1. Choose your colors. Polymer clay comes in a wide range of colors, including translucent and opaque colors, fluorescents and metallics. It's also possible to mix colors, so you can get a lot of different results from a few colors of clay. 2. Work the clay in your hands to bring it to room temperature. The more it warms up, the easier it will be to work. If you want to mix colors, work them together at this point, mixing a little for a marbled effect or thoroughly for a more uniform look. 3. Break off small pieces of clay and form them into spheres, cylinders, cubes, or other bead shapes. Use toothpicks to add texture and images to the surface of the beads if you like. 4. Carefully use a toothpick to poke one or more holes all the way through each bead. After baking you can use these holes to string the beads. 5. Bake the beads according to the directions on the clay package. Let them cool thoroughly. 6. Use special polymer clay paints and glazes to add finishing touches if you like. Finally, your beautiful plastic beads are finished. How to Make Gold Filled JewelryPosted on 10/21/2011 at 2:33 AM - LinkGold filled jewelry (also called ¡®gold overlay¡¯ or ¡®rolled gold plated¡¯) consists of several mechanically bonded layers. A non-precious base is covered with the outside layer of at least 10 Karat gold. Manufacturers usually mark their gold filled jewelry with fractions that show the relative amount of gold in proportion to base metal in a given piece, so you know what you buy. So decide what your priority is, the price or durability. If you want to wear the jewelry pretty often, opt for gold filled pieces. You can make gold-filled jewelry with gold-filled beads and jewelry-making supplies, which are accessible at many bead and craft stores.Making Gold-Filled Earrings£º 1. Choose a pair of beads in any color, shape, size and style that you desire. Beads are made of glass, wood, ceramic, plastic and other materials. You may even find gold-filled beads in a variety of shapes. 2. Pick up one gold-filled head pin. Push the head pin into the hole of one bead until the flattened end of the pin meets the bottom hole of the bead. 3. Allow ? of an inch of gold-filled pin to emerge from the top of the bead. Snip off any excess wire with wire cutters. 4. Curl the ? inch of wire emerging from the top of the bead downward to form a closed loop using round nosed pliers. 5. Bend open the small ring at the base of a gold-filled ear wire using flat-nosed pliers. Hook the opened ring onto the closed wire loop at the top of the bead. Close the small ring of the ear wire around the wire loop using flat-nosed pliers. Repeat steps 2 through 5 to make a matching gold-filled earring. Halloween JewelryPosted on 10/17/2011 at 11:44 PM - LinkHalloween is an annual holiday observed on October 31. It has roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain and the Christian holiday All Saints’ Day, but is today largely a secular celebration. Common Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, wearing costumes and attending costume parties, carving jack-o’-lanterns, ghost tours, bonfires, apple bobbing, visiting haunted attractions, committing pranks, telling ghost stories or other frightening tales, and watching horror films. October is the month that children and adults of all ages get dressed up in Halloween costumes ranging from vampires to princesses. Halloween Jewelry can be spooky, scary, ghostly, and spirited. These can be found made from precious metals such as silver and gold or from brightly colored plastics.This type of jewelry is certainly funky, spooky and fun, but you are many times limited on the occasions it can be worn. A lot of people choose Halloween costume jewelry instead of the more expensive jewelry made of precious metals. At online Halloween jewelry store websites you can often find great selections from which to choose. This is probably why costume jewelry for Halloween is such a huge seller. People can easily afford to indulge in some fun-loving jewelry and often throughout the year many people find a few other occasions that permits them to wear these jewelry pieces. A masquerade party is an example of an occasion, depending upon the costume you select, that Halloween jewelry may be appropriate.
What do You Know about Jewely ClaspsPosted on 10/13/2011 at 12:36 AM - LinkA beautiful piece of jewelry represents one's status, and they are almost suited for any occasions such as marriage, engagement, anniversary or any other occasions. However, some types of jewelry, such as necklaces and bracelets require the addition of a clasp. Well, how much do you know about jewelry clasp? Usually, jewelry clasps are twisted and designed to provide you something extraordinary and unique, they are metal component that opens and closes, allowing the jewelry to be put on and taken off with ease. You can find them in variety styles, sizes and materials; including bead clasp, hidden clasps, box clasps, etc. Bead Clasp – Designed to look just like a bead, this clasp is a modification on a tab or magnet clasp. The goal is to allow continuity in flow when one looks at the completed piece. Hidden Clasps - Hidden clasps blend in and seem to disappear when latched, allowing gems and other jewelry components flow uninterrupted around the piece. A safety latch provides additional security. Box Clasps - Box clasps are two-piece clasps that open when you push down on the exterior lever of a wedge-shaped piece of metal, compressing it so that it slides out of the opening. Push it back in and it clicks into place. Box clasps can be plain or decorative and you will find them in a variety of shapes and sizes. You'll see other jewelry clasps styles when you shop for jewelry. There are magnetic clasps that snap together quickly and easily when the two ends near each other; two-piece clasps that screw together; clasps that have a curved hook on one end that fits into a circular opening on the other. |
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