Mary Kay's Handmade Mother of the Bride Jewelry Inspiration

In the previous post on Lauren's Handmade Wedding Jewelry Details, I shared the details and inspiration for the Bridesmaids Jewelry and Maids of Honor Jewelry. This particular custom wedding jewelry group was large enough that it needed to be broken down into various posts. But, that works perfectly because then I get to individually highlight the jewelry and design details of both the Bridesmaids, as well as, the Mother of the Bride.

When Mary Kay and I first communicated, she provided me some details on her dress and also said she would be wearing her mothers' diamond ring and earrings (which were in white gold). She wasn't sure if she should have silver or gold custom jewelry created to coordinate with the white gold heirloom jewelry.

This was going to be the first time I've created handmade beaded jewelry to coordinate with existing fine jewelry pieces. To be sure I created pieces that would be perfectly paired, I asked for pictures, of both the dress and the heirloom jewelry -and it's a good thing I did.

It just so happened the diamond ring design was in the currently popular Halo style. While searching for those just right components I love to add to my jewelry designs, I happened across a clasp that I felt would be a perfect pairing to the ring.

Mary Kay's Mother of the Bride Jewelry would be designed around two elements: her dress and her mother's diamond ring and earrings. The dress was a combination of both soft chiffon and rich lace in a champagne color. I suggested Mary Kay go with the same pearl color that the wedding party jewelry was being designed with because: (1) it would complement the fact that she, as the Mother of the Bride, was connected to the bridal party, (2) because it appeared her dress was in the same color family and (3) the chiffon top of her dress was a direct complement to the chiffon bridal party dress.

Although I had seen a picture of her dress, I asked for a sample of the fabric just to be sure we'd chosen the right Swarovski Pearl color (plus I had a secret design idea brewing in my head....). The custom pieces Mary Kay requested were a crystal and pearl bracelet, hair pins and a brooch.

My goal with the beaded bracelet was to create a design that she could easily wear after the wedding, whether with casual or formal wear. It was also in my plan to incorporate both gold and silver into the bracelet design. This custom jewelry order will also be the first where I've been asked for hair pins (bobby pins) and a brooch!

Stay tuned to see how the jewelry turned out......

Lauren's Handmade Wedding Jewelry Details

In the Spring of this year, one of my favorite customers contacted me and I was so thrilled to hear from her and to hear the good news. Mary Kay's daughter, Lauren, was getting married! Both her and her daughter wanted to explore handmade wedding jewelry options for two Maids of Honor, three Bridesmaids and the Mother of the Bride.

I've worked with Mary Kay many times over the past eight years for gemstone jewelry, as well as, custom handmade jewelry. I was so excited to be able to work with her again and to be a part of Lauren's, wedding planning. Working with Brides is so much fun. I love hearing about all the wedding details!

bridesmaids gown source
artist's rendition hand sketched necklace

Bridal Party Wedding details:

• 2 Maids of Honor
• 3 Bridesmaids
• Jewelry sets with necklaces and earrings
• Maids of Honor jewelry sets would be slightly different than Bridesmaids
• Allure Bridals chiffon dress #1369 in burgundy (shown above in champagne)
• Bridal party would be wearing nude shoes
• White Calla Lilly flowers
• Groomsmen will be in slate blue

While out shopping together, Lauren had found a necklace style that she really loved and wanted to use as inspiration for her custom bridesmaids jewelry. I had my close and dear friend, Barb Deuel of Bronson Hill Art and Photography create an inspiration sketch of that very necklace (shown above). Thank you Barb!!

When the three of us met, I presented Lauren with a narrowed down selection of Swarovski Crystals and Pearls that I felt best fit her wedding vision. We discussed various design elements and bead setups that would most closely resemble the inspiration necklace that Lauren had seen. The final detail was for Lauren to decide if she wanted gold or silver metal. With her wedding colors of champagne and burgundy, she decided on gold metal.

My only disappointment with the creation of these custom wedding jewelry pieces was that Swarovski did not have a larger selection of burgundy crystals. But, that didn't stop this creative mind!

There were so many beautiful details put into the design of Lauren's Wedding Jewelry that I am going to be breaking them up into separate posts.

The History of Swarovski Crystals

Handmade jewelry receives added dimension and style when crystals are added to the design. With nearly all Crystal Allure Beaded Jewelry Designs incorporating Swarovski Crystals, we wanted to put together this handy guide to assist you with a better understanding and appreciation for the beauty that only Swarovski Crystals offer.

The History of Swarovski Crystals

Swarovski (Swore-off-ski), founded by Daniel Swarovski in 1895, is the luxury brand name for the range of precision-cut lead crystal glass and related products. Crystallized - Swarovski Elements is the branch of the Swarovski company that offers crystal beads and rhinestones for use by manufacturers, artists and consumers in their designs.

Swarovski crystal sets itself apart from the competition by offering an exceptionally exquisite, quality crystal with incredible brilliance. As well, the delicate color palette is another quality that sets Swarovski crystal components apart from others. For these reasons, virtually all beaded jewelry by Crystal Allure uses genuine Daniel Swarovski crystal -either exclusively or in combination with other stones.

The Swarovski Company uses only high lead content crystal glass. Typically, a full thirty-two percent of the glass is lead and lead oxide. The presence of lead increases the glasses refractive index, bringing it closer to the same sparkle that a diamond has. By cutting the glass in just the right way, internal reflection from inside the shiny surfaces of the glass cause the light to reflect internally. This internal reflection results in sparkle as the glass is tilted, adding to its beauty and to the beauty of our jewelry.

The demand for Swarovski crystal unfortunately can create a host of imitators. So how can you ensure you are getting the real thing?

How to Identify Genuine Swarovski Crystals

For starters, Swarovski crystals are perfectly uniform. Since they are machine cut, each crystal is the same. This means that the height, width and slope are consistent. A hand polished imitator bead will not have as uniform a cut.

Swarovski uses machinery that precisely cuts each crystal. According to Swarovski, "cutting hard materials such as crystal and gems, in such a way that they have a hundred identical facets in several directions, is a very complicated task; each direction of the reflected light must first be calculated by computer, then this has to be simulated in 3D, optimized and finally converted into control programs for complex machinery." This is just part of the technology that gives Swarovski crystals their unbelievable sparkle.

The precision cutting of Swarovski machinery allows each crystal to have its facet juncture "pointing up". This means the facet junctures all meet at precisely the same point. This is a similar aspect of diamond faceting.

For Swarovski crystals with the AB (aurora borealis) finish, these will have a uniform surface luster. There are no swirling marks from the vacuum process that produces the AB finish, and generally there are no scratches. The "imitations" often have scratches, swirl marks ("oily" looking surface). Some of these imperfections, in the "imposters", have to do with the lower quality of the finish.

Other helpful tips include:
~When you look inside the crystal, you will see no bubbles. If you see any bubbles, you know immediately that it is a fake.
~Because of its special glass compounds, Swarovski crystal will out-sparkle a bead of lesser quality when placed in a side-by-side comparison.

Other crystals on the market:
Celestial Crystals are hand-cut, hand-polished lead crystal glass. Celestial crystal beads are highly reflective and offer a cascade of sparkling color in jewelry designs.

Preciosa Crystals are machine cut crystals referred to as the "cadillac of czech glass beads". Preciosa crystal beads and pendants are characterized by their sheer variety and versatility of cuts, colors, and coatings. Preciosa crystals follow centuries old Bohemian glass traditions to ensure vibrant quality and incredible value in every genuine crystal produced.

How to Measure for Handmade Beaded Anklets

Anklet Measuring Standards Guide

Anklets have a long and rich history across the globe. Over the years, women from many cultures have used beaded ankle bracelets to create a sexy appearance, show their wealth, signal marital status, attract a suitor, and/or attract attention to their lovely, well groomed, feet. Consider that the use of anklet bracelets may have been the precursor to the modern pedicure, painted toenails, and high heels.

Anklets, of any design or style, can be worn above or below your ankle bone. The sizes listed above (in the diagram) are typical sizes, but, are no means completely accurate. The best measurement for handmade beaded anklets is one that is taken with a flexible measuring tape.

Measuring for your Handmade Beaded Anklet is as easy as measuring for a new bracelet. Simply wrap a string or soft measuring tape around your ankle (either above or below the bone, where you are most comfortable wearing it). Take that number and add 1/2" to 1" for overall comfort. That is your anklet size.

For example: If your anklet measures 8" then your anklet size will be 8.5" to 9".

Don't have a flexible measuring tape? Use a piece of string or ribbon instead and then use a ruler to measure the length of the string.

Did you know?
In the United States both casual and more formal anklets became fashionable in the late twentieth century.

If you have any questions on measuring for our handmade anklets, please feel free to contact us.

How to Choose Necklaces for Different Necklines

Ever wonder what necklace would look great with a square neckline? Or a cowl neckline?

Well, I wondered too! So, rather than re-invent the wheel, I looked to Imogen Lamport, Image Consultant, and author of the Inside Out Style Blog. Imogen put together a fantastic visual of what necklace shape looks best with different necklines (see below).

To get the most style impact from your Crystal Allure handmade beaded necklace purchase:

Turtle necks – look best with longer necklaces; long chains or pendants.

Crew necks – best with short necklaces such as ‘collar’ or bib styles.

Scoop necks – fill in the space with multiple strands of beads or larger scale pendants; think shorter pendants but with volume.

Strapless – look great with chokers (leaving your lovely decolletage bare).

Square necks – look for pendants with an angular finish to harmonize with the angular neckline.

Off Shoulder or Asymmetric necklines – best with necklaces that aren’t symmetrical; a necklace that has its' own asymmetry works as a great compliment to the asymmetry of the neckline; alternatively a long string of different sized and shaped beads can work equally as well.

Halter necks – create a narrow V neck, so look for a narrow pendant with a sharper end.

V neck – this most common neckline looks best with a necklace that matches the shape of the V.

Collared shirt (button down) – typically do not have much space for anything too wide, so a choker style works best with a long neck; if you have a short neck, a slimmer pendant that sits above the last open button.

Boat neck – a long string or two (or three!) of beads is ideal for this neckline.

Cowl neck – this already detailed necklace has volume, so either a short and small pendant or a pair of feature earrings instead of a necklace.

Sweetheart – a curved necklace with width that will ultimately balance the open decolletage of this neckline.

source

View All Handmade Beaded Necklaces or Bead Pendants.

November's Birthstone: Citrine & Topaz -The Golden Healers

Both Citrine and Topaz are associated with November's birthstone, however, each possess their own qualities to both the wearer and in jewelry design.

TOPAZ

Topaz and Citrine Gemstones

While many birthstones have kept changing over the years, the topaz is one gemstone that has been universally accepted as the modern birthstone for November. And in keeping with both ancient Egyptians and Romans who connected the topaz with the sun god, the modern day topaz is also known as Sunday's gemstone -a reminder to its' association with the sun.

The days of the week were named for the Sun (Sunday), the Moon (Monday), and five planets: Mars (Tuesday), Mercury (Wednesday), Jupiter (Thursday), Venus (Friday) and, Saturn (Saturday).

Topaz makes an ideal birthstone because of its' hardness, rich rainbow of colors, abundance and availability. Prized for several thousand years in antiquity, all yellow gems in antiquity were called topaz. The most prized color of topaz are golden-orange with pinkish undertones, called Imperial Topaz, after the Russian Czars of the 1800s. Topaz also comes in yellow, pink, purple, orange, and the many popular blue tones.

Did you know? Some Imperial Topaz stones can fade on exposure to sunlight for an extended period of time.

The name "topaz" (Topaze French, Topas German, Topacio Spanish) is derived from the Greek "topas" or "to seek" -the ancient name of St. John's Island in the Red Sea, which was difficult to find and from which a yellow stone was mined in ancient times. Topaz, itself, was not really known about before the classical era. The word topaz is related to the Sanskrit word "tapas" (meaning "heat" or "fire"). There was an ancient belief that this stone of fire could control heat and had power over boiling water, which is reason enough to believe that anyone who wears a topaz can control his anger or fever in the body.

The shades of topaz range from amber gold to fine cognac, from a pink-orange hue to peach, and all different tones of brown. Blue Topaz is another variety of this gem that has gained much popularity in recent times.

Healing properties of topaz
Topaz has always been greatly valued for its stunning hues and mystical powers. The Egyptians believed that the gem protected its' wearer from any harm. The golden glow led Romans to associate the gem with Jupiter, who is God of the Sun. The gemstone is also held symbolic of strength and intelligence and it is even believed that the gem has calming effect on its wearer. In crystal healing, topaz is said to help with gout, blood disorders, hemorrhages, poor appetite, tissue regeneration, tuberculosis, aging (reverses), endocrine system, asthma and insomnia.

Genuine topaz gemstone is rivaled by the consistency of cut, color, brilliance, quality and affordability of the topaz Swarovski Crystal.

CITRINE
The traditional gemstone Citrine has a golden hue and is similar in appearance to the modern (yellow) topaz gemstone. While these gemstones may appear similar there are some differences. Topaz scores an 8 on Mohs scale of Hardness whereas, citrine is relatively soft and also lacks the brilliance of a topaz.

The earthen toned citrine gemstone derives its name from the French word Citron, which means lemon. It gained much popularity in the retro jewelry of the 1940s and was often paired with peridot, ruby and aquamarine in brooches, necklaces and other jewelry of that era.

Due to its resemblance to topaz, citrine was also called quartz topaz and has even been sold as topaz gemstones. Citrine can be found in a variety of shades ranging from pastel yellow to dark brownish orange.

Healing properties of citrine
Citrine is known as the "healing quartz". This golden gemstone is said to support vitality and health while encouraging and guiding hope, energy and warmth within the wearer.

Citrine is sometimes used by healers to help with digestion as it is considered beneficial to the endocrine and digestive system - cleansing, purifying and eliminating poisons that have built up. Citrine is an excellent stone to calm and soothe distressed conditions. Some use it to help relieve depression and digestive problems (including constipation and diabetes).

Other fun November Birthday Facts:
-The November birthstone flower is Chrysanthemum.

Topaz is the gemstone for those born under the zodiac sign of Sagittarius (November 23rd-December 21st). Blue topaz is the suggested 4th anniversary gemstone; citrine is the 11th and 13th anniversary gemstone; Imperial topaz is the 23rd anniversary gemstone and golden topaz is the suggested 50th anniversary gemstone.

Guide to Cancer Awareness Ribbon Colors

We are often asked, "What colors are associated with different cancers in jewelry?" So, it was a great reason to create this comprehensive cancer colors guide.

Most of us have been touched in some way by cancer, whether through family, friends or co-workers.
Compiled below is a guide to cancer awareness ribbon colors which is an excerpt from the popular Awareness Ribbon Colors and Meanings Guide.

Find below the awareness ribbon color for each corresponding cancer. This is a living document, in that, it will be updated as new colors are discovered for the various cancers.
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  General (Unspecified) Cancers -Lavender
  Appendix Cancer -Amber
  Blood Cancer -Red
  Brain Cancer -Grey
  Breast Cancer -Pink
  Bronchial Cancer -White (Pearl)
  Cervical Cancer -Teal
  Childhood Cancer -Gold
  Colon Cancer / Colorectal Cancer -Blue (alternate: brown)
  Endometrial Cancer -Peach
  Esophageal Cancer -Periwinkle
  Gall Bladder / Bile Duct Cancer -Kelly Green
  Gastric Cancer -Periwinkle
  Gynecological Cancer -Teal
  Hodgkin's Lymphoma -Violet
  Kidney Cancer -Orange
  Leiomyosarcoma -Purple
  Leukemia -Orange
  Liver Cancer -Green / Emerald Green
  Lung Cancer -White
  Lymphoma -Lime Green
  Melanoma -Black
  Multiple Myeloma -Burgundy
  Ovarian Cancer -Teal
  Pancreatic Cancer -Purple
  Prostate Cancer -Light Blue
  Sarcoma / Bone Cancer -Yellow
  Small Intestine / Stomach Cancer -Periwinkle
  Testicular Cancer -Orchid
  Uterine Cancer -Peach

If you find a cancer missing from this list, please email me for possible inclusion in this cancer color guide.

This article was last updated August 3, 2015.

Bracelet Sizing Standards Guide

Not all bracelets are the same. For example, a size 7-1/2" bracelet with a traditional lobster clasp will typically measure as a 7-1/2" from end to end. However, a bracelet designed with a toggle clasp may measure at an 8" but fit comfortably a 7-1/2" wrist. This also holds true for bracelets designed with larger beads and gemstones. These bracelets should be purchased at a 1/4"-1/2" larger than needed size so that it fits comfortably on your wrist.

To help assist you, use this Bracelet Sizing Standards Guide to properly size your handmade beaded jewelry bracelets from Crystal Allure Beaded Jewelry.

All Crystal Allure Beaded Jewelry handmade bracelets are measured from end to end including the clasp and some designs are available with an extender chain to allow for adjusting the length. To ensure that your bracelet will fit you when it arrives, use this guide and/or sizing chart below and keep in mind (from above): The chunkier the beads, the smaller the fit (i.e., an 8" chunky bracelet, which might be a lampwork bead bracelet, will fit more like a 7-1/2").

Measuring for your Handmade Beaded Bracelet

Step 1: Measuring Your Wrist
To determine the bracelet or watch size you need, measure your wrist with a soft flexible measuring tape -just below the wrist bone (see illustration below). If you do not have a measuring tape you can use a ribbon or piece of string. Mark the length then measure with a ruler. This measurement gives you your actual wrist measurement.

Step 2: Accommodating For The Clasp
To allow for movement and flexibility, bracelets with a toggle clasp should be ordered larger and you should add 1" to 1-1/4" to your actual wrist measurement (from Step 1 above). For bracelets with a lobster clasp, add 3/4"-1" to your actual wrist measurement.

How to Choose a Size for a Gift Bracelet

Jewelry makes a wonderful gift, but sometimes it's difficult to guess your gift recipient's wrist size. If the bracelet is a gift and you don't know their wrist size, refer to the bracelet size chart below and estimate. The average person is generally 7.25-7.5".

Extra Small: 6-6.5 inches
Small: 6.5-7 inches
Medium: 7-7.5 inches (Standard)
Large: 7.5-8 inches
Extra Large: 8-8.5 inches and up.

If you are still not sure, buy a small or medium bracelet with an extender chain. A bracelet extender not only adds versatility to the length, but it's also a nice decorative touch. At Crystal Allure Beaded Jewelry, I try to offer an extender chain on most bracelets that will accommodate one. Our extender chain adds anywhere from 1" to 2.5" to the length of the bracelet. This guarantees your bracelet will fit.

Feel free to refer to this jewelry article when you are buying from any online jewelry designer. And remember that when you buy from a handmade jewelry designer, you have more control over the specifics of your jewelry (size, color, etc). When you shop at Crystal Allure Beaded Jewelry, I want you to be happy with your purchase. You can feel comfortable emailing me prior to placing an order with any questions you might have.

Please refer to the custom jewelry policy when considering what size to order for a custom design or for a bracelet you may be gifting.

Please note: Due to bead size variations most Crystal Allure Beaded Jewelry have an ~1/8" tolerance in sizing. Also, if the beads, pearls, gemstones or other adornments are very large, the room for your wrist may decrease.

Silver Metals Used in Handmade Jewelry

You may recall the article Part 1: Types of Metals Used in Jewelry: Gold. This is a continuation of that same idea except in this jewelry article we will be looking at silver metals used in handmade jewelry. By far, I believe silver is the more popular metal to use in handmade jewelry.

Below is an outline of some of the more common silver metals used in handmade jewelry design, ranging from fine jewelry to fashion jewelry. At Crystal Allure Beaded Jewelry, I have worked with a few different metals throughout the years and although I have no particular preference of one over the other, my unique handmade designs currently showcase either sterling silver, 14 karat gold-fill and/or vermeil (pronounced vehr-MAY).

There are times when a particular component I would like to use can only be found in pewter, silver plate or gold plate. When I use a metal other than a precious metal, I always state as such in the description of the jewelry piece.

RHODIUM PLATE - Rhodium plating is occasionally used on white gold, silver or copper and its alloys. A barrier layer of nickel is usually deposited on silver first, though in this case it is not to prevent migration of silver through rhodium, but to prevent contamination of the rhodium bath with silver and copper, which slightly dissolve in the sulfuric acid, usually present in the bath composition.

Rhodium is a metal derivative of platinum and is very white, reflective, extremely hard and virtually tarnish proof. It presents outstanding chemical inertness (will not react or change easily) thus, rhodium will not tarnish whereas silver will. It is very expensive, so only a very thin plate is applied to reduce the amount of metal used in the bead or component. If not subject to excessive friction and wear, rhodium plated jewelry will retain their look indefinitely.

Rhodium is also hypoallergenic. Rhodium protective coating is useful for white gold which often contains nickel to give it a white sheen look. It is well known that nickel is not bio-compatible and approximately 15% of people suffer from some kind of allergies to nickel. Thus rhodium serves as an additional layer between skin and base metal preventing skin from irritation.

Rhodium is the most common plating material used to plate Sterling Silver because it provides a bright mirror like finish and it is also silver in color. An article of yellow gold jewelry can be made to look like it is white gold by having it Rhodium plated. A Rhodium plated item may retain its finish for a lifetime or for only a short period of time, depending upon factors such as the type of metal being plated, the amount of wear the article is subjected to, each individuals body chemistry and the thickness of the plating. The good news is that if the rhodium finish on a piece of jewelry wears off over time, it can be re-plated to look brand new and the process is not very expensive.

STERLING SILVER - Pure silver, also called fine silver, is relatively soft, very malleable, and easily damaged so it is commonly combined with other metals to produce a more durable product. The most popular of these alloys is sterling silver, which consists of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. Although any metal can make up the 7.5 percent non-silver portion of sterling, centuries of experimentation have shown copper to be its best companion, improving the metal's hardness and durability without affecting its beautiful color.

The small amount of copper added to sterling has very little effect on the metal's value. Instead, the price of the silver item is affected by the labor involved in making the item, the skill of the craftsman, and the intricacy of the design.

Sterling silver is a white and highly reflective precious metal. It can be antiqued or given a high polish. Crystal Allure Beaded Jewelry uses both antiqued and polished sterling silver beads and components. A silver anti-tarnish cloth can be used to clean the outer edges of the sterling beads and leave the inner antiqued crevices antiqued. Do NOT use a Sterling Dip to clean your antiqued jewelry.

Sterling silver is the standard for beautiful high-quality silver jewelry. It's over 90% pure silver, mixed with alloys to add strength and durability. And it won't wear down, as silver plating can.

PEWTER - Pewter is an alloy of tin, lead, antimony, and a bit of silver or copper. Pewter was the most widely used metal in America between the early 1700 and 1800's. The best pewter is achieved using a low lead content and a high tin content. As you would expect, U.S. pewter manufacturer's today are required to make lead free pewter. Both copper and antimony are added to the tin to make a harder metal alloy.

BASE METAL - Non-precious metals used as a core for plating and gold-filled items. Brass and nickel are common base metals in jewelry.

SILVER PLATED - A fine silver film deposited on a base metal by electrolysis, in the same kind of electrically-charged bath used to make gold electroplate. The film can be as thin as seven millionths of an inch. A silver plate item cannot be called sterling or bear a marking of "silver".

Historically, silver plate was used to provide a lower cost version of items that might otherwise be made of silver, including cutlery and candlesticks.

History of the Awareness Ribbon

The very first meaningful awareness ribbon in history was a yellow ribbon that was tied (no pun intended) to a copyrighted, military sung, marching song in 1917 by George A. Norton. The title of that song was "Round Her Neck She Wears a Yeller Ribbon".

source: unknown

But it is the early 1970s song "Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Ole Oak Tree" that you might be most familiar with. The wife of a hostage, held in Iran, tied yellow ribbons around trees in illustration for her husband to be released and come home. This event was listed as the first time a color ribbon was used, and recognized, as a symbol of awareness.

Throughout the years since, many individuals as well as organizations have used color ribbons to raise awareness of various concerns, health issues, charities, support, and hope. One of the more prominent events took place in 1991, when a New York based group of artists and AIDS activists, created and began using a Red Ribbon -demonstrating compassion for people living with AIDS and their caregivers.

In 1992, it was declared as "The Year of the Ribbon" by the The New York Times.

Fast forward and a Red Ribbon has now become an internationally recognized symbol and icon for over 35 different causes that include: AIDS, Cardiovascular Disease, DARE, Red Ribbon Week, Heart Disease, Lymphoma, and MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) -to name a full. See the full list of Red Ribbon Causes.

Today, Awareness Ribbons have become symbols drawing attention to health and human issues, as well as, social concerns. There are even some ribbons with patterns, such as the Autism Awareness Ribbon displays as a multi-colored puzzle piece. In the United States, the Yellow Ribbon, symbolizes military service. However, the most widely recognized ribbon is the Pink Ribbon in support of those with Breast Cancer Awareness.

How to Care for Your Handmade Jewelry

Upholding the highest standards possible in the craftsmanship of my hand crafted crystal and gemstone sterling silver beaded jewelry is extremely important to me. For this reason, I feel it's equally important that you know and understand the longevity of your handcrafted jewelry will depend on the care you give it.

Nearly every single piece of handmade jewelry that leaves the Crystal Allure Studio has Crystals by Swarovski incorporated into the design. I use Crystals by Swarovski because they are known for their purest quality, luminosity and clarity. The following few simple steps will help you enjoy the brilliance and dazzle of your handmade designer jewelry for years to come.

Caring for Handmade Jewelry:

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Care: The single most important step you can take to preserve the beauty and longevity of your handmade jewelry is to clean your jewelry piece, each time, after wearing it, with a soft cloth before putting it away. This one step helps to remove the oils from your skin and debris picked up throughout the day and helps to prevent tarnish*.

Also remember to apply lotions, oils, perfumes, hairspray, and other products before putting on your handcrafted jewelry.

Cleaning: The safest method of cleaning most handmade jewelry, gemstone jewelry and jewelry made with Crystals by Swarovski is to use a soft, lint-free jewelry cloth. Some jewelry cloths have two sides; one for lint-free cleaning and one for polishing. Use the polishing side for any sterling silver components in your handmade jewelry.

If your handmade jewelry requires a little more cleaning (i.e., maybe you spilled something on the jewelry piece) you can use a mildly sudsy warm water, rinse with cool water, and pat dry with a soft cloth. As a general rule, do not soak your jewelry. It is especially important to not soak jewelry that contains soft opaque stones such as opal, coral, fluorite, lapis lazuli, pearls, turquoise, malachite, and onyx. Extended soaking may harm the polish on these stones, or may even cause discoloration. Instead, if it is needed, you can use a soft, moist cloth or even baby wipes to clean these stones.

Always remember handmade beaded jewelry and gemstone jewelry will need to be cleaned differently because of the presence of the beads, semiprecious gemstones and crystals. Generally, you should not use a jewelry cleaner or 'jewelry dips', as these can damage the finish, beads and stones.

It is also recommended that you do not dry sterling silver beads or components with paper towels or tissues because they can scratch the silver. Always use a soft cloth.

Damage Prevention: Take off jewelry before showering and never wear your jewelry while swimming, soaking in the hot tub, sunbathing or cleaning; exposure to chlorine, saltwater, sunlight and harsh chemicals can cause damage to your handmade jewelry. If you have an active lifestyle, take extra precaution in wearing your jewelry, as some gemstones can easily chip and become damaged. Do not sleep with your jewelry on as movement causes stress on all moving parts and they could easily get snagged on blankets.

Storage: When not wearing your handcrafted jewelry store it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Never store sterling silver pieces in open air, as this will cause them to tarnish quicker. It is highly recommended that you store your sterling silver jewelry in airtight plastic bags to slow down the tarnishing* process (do not store pearls in a zip log bag). Store jewelry pieces separately to avoid scratches.

If you have any further or more specific questions about cleaning your Crystal Allure Beaded Jewelry or any handmade jewelry, please feel free to contact me.

The above information is general care and not to be assumed for the care of a specific piece of jewelry. If you have any doubts on cleaning your jewelry, contact me, your local jeweler, or clean at your own risk.

*Tarnish is a naturally occurring process of Sterling Silver called oxidation. Tarnish begins to appear as a golden tone, then quickly gets darker. Simply wearing your Sterling Silver jewelry will reduce the rate of tarnish, as body oils slow the rate of tarnish.

Necklace Lengths Standards Guide

Crystal Allure handmade necklace designs - be them pendants, lariats, multi-layers or strands of pearls - add instant style to any outfit. My artisan crafted necklaces come in all varieties of chain, length, metal, gemstones, pearls, crystals and beaded designs. As well, many of my necklaces are made with extenders, allowing you to easily adjust the length of your necklace to suit your outfit or comfort level.

Traditionally, necklaces come in seven lengths. When choosing one of my handmade necklaces or bead pendants, remember that the length will determine where it falls on your chest. In general, longer lengths emphasize the bust while shorter lengths accentuate the neckline.

The diagram below illustrates how necklaces of different lengths will hang. Keep in mind that a necklace's length can vary according to your neck size and the width and flexibility of the necklace. Feel free to shop my beautiful collection of designer beaded necklaces offered here at Crystal Allure.

Necklace Lengths Guide

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Collar (12-13 inches)
Collar necklaces encircle the middle of the neck and can be made up of one, two, three or more strands. Collars go best with elegant V-neck, boat neck or off-the-shoulder fashions.

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Choker (14-16 inches)
A choker is perhaps the most classic and yet versatile of all the single strand lengths. It lies just above the collarbones and emphasizes the neckline. Chokers are a beautiful choice for many bridal and bridesmaid dresses.

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Princess (17-19 inches)
The princess length necklace is the most common necklace length and hangs over the collarbones. It is best suited for crew and high necklines. It also complements low plunging necklines. Pendants, lockets, charms or other embellishments are great ways to add to the allure of a handcrafted princess necklace.

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Matinee (20-26 inches)
The matinee necklace falls to the top of the bust and looks wonderful with a variety of necklines. It is an ideal choice for casual or business attire, looks best with high necklines and adds sophistication to a professional look. The matinee necklace also flatters bigger busts.

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Opera (28-36 inches)
The opera's impressive length allows for a variety of wearing options. When worn as a single strand, it is refined and perfect for high or crew necklines. When doubled, it serves as a versatile two strand choker. It can be knotted at the neckline or just above the bust for yet another look. Traditionally, opera length necklaces are worn with eveningwear, although using them to accessorize more casual attire has become a fresh, cutting-edge fashion statement.

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Ropes and Lariats (45+ inches)
The luxurious ultra-long rope necklace can be both elegant and sexy. It can be made with several clasps placed in various locations around the necklace which enables it to be broken down into different necklace and bracelet combinations, or doubled and even tripled to create a stunning multi-strand choker.

Lariats are another long-length necklace that are unattached at one end so that you can tie them in various ways to deliver sexier results. Lariats look best with low necklines and off the shoulder styles.

Why Red and Blue for Pulmonary Fibrosis?

Ami Temerantz, is a young girl who lost her dad, Robert, to pulmonary fibrosis when she was just 15 years old.

Almost a year after his death, Ami made up her mind to make a difference. Starting in July 2004, Ami planned and executed 6 different events to raise money and awareness of pulmonary fibrosis. One of the ideas she had was to sell awareness ribbons.

She purchased red and blue ribbon to symbolize the oxygenated and unoxygenated blood going to the lungs*.

What is Pulmonary Fibrosis?
The American Lung Association states pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease, is marked by tissue deep in the lungs that have become scarred. This scarring is the "fibrosis" of the disease name. Once lung tissue is scarred it can make it difficult to breathe.

Other facts:
-When no known cause can be found it is called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
-There is no cure.
-Many with the disease only live 3-5 years after diagnosis.
-Once lung scarring has taken place it cannot be reversed.

*Information provided by Jennifer Bulandr, advocate of pulmonary fibrosis research and raising awareness.

Awareness Ribbons by Cause Color

The following is a comprehensive guide of awareness ribbon colors and their associated cause(s). Use this guide to discover the cause(s) associated with a specific color of awareness ribbon.

This extensive list has been an internet-wide reference tool for ribbon cause colors since 2004. Many groups have adopted color ribbons as symbols of support or awareness, and as a result, many causes often share the same color. As well, there may be more than one color associated with a cause, in which case, it is up to you on your ribbon color preference in support of that cause.

If you did not find the ribbon color or corresponding cause you were looking for, please contact me. Or you may wish to search for your ribbon color by cause, using our alphabetical Awareness Colors and Meanings guide.

Feel free to contact me about a custom awareness bracelet design or cause jewelry.

This article was last updated: September 21, 2015

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AMBER Awareness Ribbons: Appendix Cancer
BLACK Awareness Ribbons: 9/11 Awareness, Accidents, Amish Support, Anti-Terrorism, Gang Prevention, Gun Control, Melanoma, Mourning, Narcolepsy, Prisoner of War (POW) / Missing in Action (MIA), Primary Biliary Cirrhosis, Sleep Apnea, Sleep Disorders, Students for Gun Control, Trauma, VA Tech Massacre
BLACK and BLUE Awareness Ribbons: Loss of a Brother, Mourning a Brother, Loss of a Father, Mourning a Father, Loss of a Male, Mourning a Male, Loss of a Son, Mourning a Son
BLACK and GOLD Awareness Ribbons: Platelet Donor
BLACK and PINK Awareness Ribbons: Loss of a Daughter, Mourning a Daughter, Loss of a Female, Mourning a Female, Loss of a Mother, Mourning a Mother, Loss of a Sister, Mourning a Sister
BLACK and RED Awareness Ribbons: Murder Victims, Murdered Children, Self-Injury (alternate color: Orange)
BLACK and WHITE Awareness Ribbons: Anti-Racism, Carcinoid Cancer, Diversity, Transitions, Vaccine Awareness
BLUE Awareness Ribbons: Alopecia, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), Arthritis, Brachial Plexus Injuries, Bring Home Our Troops, CA Anti-Second Hand Smoke, Canada Anti-Tobacco, Child Abuse, Child Neglect, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS), Colon Cancer (alternate color: Brown), Colorectal Cancer (alternate color: Brown), Crime Victim's Rights, Crohn's Disease (alternate color: Purple), Drowning, Dysautonomia, Dystonia, Education, Epstein-Barr Virus, Erb's Palsy, Free Speech, Guillain Barre Syndrome, Huntington's Disease, Hurricane Awareness, Hurricane Katrina, Hystiocytosis, Ichthyosis, Langerhans Cell Hystiocytosis, Leukodystrophies, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), Myositis, Police Officers Lost in Duty, Responsible Use of Public Land, Restless Legs Syndrome, Reye's Syndrome, Save The Music, Short Bowel Syndrome, Springomyelia, Steven Johnson Syndrome, Teens Against Smoking, Transverse Myelitis, Victim's Rights, Water Accidents, Water Quality, Water Safety
BLUE and SILVER Awareness Ribbons: Coping with Cancer
BLUE and WHITE Awareness Ribbons: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), In Memory of Columbine, Lou Gehrig's Disease, Teen Cancer
BLUE and YELLOW Awareness Ribbons: Designated Drivers, Down Syndrome
BROWN Awareness Ribbons: Anti-Tobacco, Familial Polyposis, Great American Smokeout, Tobacco Awareness
BURGUNDY Awareness Ribbons: Adhesions, Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome, AV Malformation, Blood Factor Disorders (alternate color: Red), Brain Aneurysm, Cesareans, Coagulation Disorders (alternate color: Red), Cystic Hygroma, Disabled Adults, Factor V Leiden, Hemangioma and Vascular Malformation, Hereditary Hemochromatosis, Hirschsprung's Disease, Hospice Care, Hughes Syndrome, Hygroma, Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura, Lymphatic Malformation, Meningitis, Meningococcal Meningitis, Misdiagnosed or Undiagnosed Children, Multiple Myeloma, PHACES Syndrome, Post-Polio Syndrome, Sepsis, Sickle Cell Anemia, Sturge-Weber Syndrome, Thalassemia, Thrombophilia, William's Syndrome
COPPER Awareness Ribbons: Menkes Disease
CRANBERRY Awareness Ribbons: Fibromyalgia (alternate color: Purple), Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ) Awareness
CREAM Awareness Ribbons: Paralysis, Spinal Cord Injuries, Spinal Disorders, Spinal Muscular Atrophy
DARK BLUE Awareness Ribbons: Colitis Awareness
GOLD Awareness Ribbons: Childhood Cancer, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma, Neuroblastoma
GOLD and SILVER Awareness Ribbons: Hearing Disorders, Hearing Impairments, Meniere's Disease, Tinnitus
GRAPHITE Awareness Ribbons: Lead Poisoning
GRAY Awareness Ribbons: Allergies, Aphasia, Asthma, Brain Cancer, Brain Tumors, Diabetes, Mental Illness
GREEN Awareness Ribbons: Bipolar Disorder, Bone Marrow Donation, Cerebral Palsy, Childhood Depression, Depression, Environmental Concern/Protection, Eye Injury Prevention, Fanconi's Syndrome, Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva, Glaucoma, Growth and Rebuilding, Homeopathic Medicine, Kidney Donation, Literacy, Liver Cancer, Liver Disease, Living Organ Donor, Manic Depression, Mental Health, Mental Retardation, Mitochondrial Disease, Nephrotic Syndrome, Neural Tube Defects, Neurofibromatosis, Organ Donation, Organ Transplant, Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, Renal Cell Carcinoma, Safe Driving, Save Darfur, Spinal Cord Injury Research, Stem Cell Donor, Stem Cell Research, Tissue Donation, Tourette's Syndrome, Transplant, Traumatic Brain Injury, Von Hippel Lindau, Worker Safety
HOT PINK Awareness Ribbons: Cleft Palate / Cleft Lip, Eosinophilic Disease (alternate color: Periwinkle), Eosinophilic Disorders (alternate color: Periwinkle), Inflammatory Breast Cancer
INDIGO BLUE Awareness Ribbons: Targeted Individuals Awareness
KELLY GREEN Awareness Ribbons: Gallbladder / Bile Duct Cancer
LAVENDER Awareness Ribbons: Cancer (general, unspecified), Caregiver Appreciation, Epilepsy (alternate color: Purple), Foster Care, Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis, Infantile Spasms, Rett Syndrome
LIGHT BLUE Awareness Ribbons: Addison's Disease, Behcet's Disease, Chronic Illness, Cushing Syndrome, DiGeorge Sequence, Graves Disease, Hyperaldosteronism, Klinefelter's Syndrome, Lymphedema, Men's Health, Pro Choice, Prostate Cancer, Scleroderma, Shprintzen Syndrome, Spay/Neuter Pets, Thyroid Disease, Trisomy 18, Velo-Cardio Facial Syndrome
LIGHT GREEN Awareness Ribbons: Celiac Disease, Chronic Pelvic Pain, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), Sexually Transmitted Diseases - STD's
LIME GREEN Awareness Ribbons: Adult Stem Cell Donor, Duchene Muscular Dystrophy, Lyme Disease, Lymphoma, Muscular Dystrophy, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Osteosarcoma, Sandhoff Disease, Support for Adoptees Rights
MARIGOLD, BLUE AND PURPLE Awareness Ribbons: Bladder Cancer
MINT GREEN Awareness Ribbons: Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease, Congenital Hepatic Fibrosis, Genetic Disorders, Ivemark Syndrome
MULTI-COLOR Awareness Ribbons: Multiple Cancers, Autism
ORANGE Awareness Ribbons: Agent Orange, Animal Protection, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), Cultural Diversity, Feed the Nation, Feral Cats, Hunger, Kidney Cancer, Kidney Disease, Leukemia, Motorcycle Safety, Racial Tolerance, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome (RSD)
ORANGE and RED Awareness Ribbons: Kawasaki Disease, Myeloproliferative Disorders, Polycythemia Vera
ORCHID Awareness Ribbons: Testicular Cancer
ORCHID and ORANGE Awareness Ribbons: Eczema, Psoriasis
PEACH Awareness Ribbons: Endometrial Cancer, Uterine Cancer
PEARL Awareness Ribbons: Emphysema, Lung Cancer, Lung Disease, Mesothelioma, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia
PEARL and WHITE Awareness Ribbons: Non-Smoker Lung Cancer
PERIWINKLE Awareness Ribbons: Acid Reflux Disease, Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Eating Disorders, Esophageal Cancer, Gastric Cancer, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pulmonary Hypertension, Small Intestine Cancer, Stomach Cancer
PINK Awareness Ribbons: Breast Cancer, Nursing Mothers
PINK and BLUE Awareness Ribbons: Amniotic Fluid Embolism, Baby Safe Haven, Birth Defects, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Genital Integrity, Hyperemesis Graviduram, Infant Loss, Infertility, Male Breast Cancer, Miscarriage, Pregnancy Loss, Premature Birth, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), Stillbirth, Twin to Twin Transfusion
PINK and GOLD Awareness Ribbons: Phyllodes Tumors
PINK and TEAL Awareness Ribbons: Hereditary Breast Cancer
PLUM Awareness Ribbons: Cancer Caregivers
PURPLE Awareness Ribbons: 9/11 Victims, Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, Alzheimer's Disease, Animal Abuse, Anti-Violence, Arnold Chiari Malformation, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Cancer Survival, Chronic and Intractable Pain, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, Cystic Fibrosis (CF or 65 Roses), Domestic Violence, Headaches, Homelessness, Leimyosarcoma, Lupus, Macular Degeneration, Migraine Awareness, Mucolipidoses, Mucopolysaccharidoses, No Unattended Kids in Cars, Pancreatic Cancer, Pancreatitis (Chronic), Religious Tolerance, Sarcoidosis, Sjogren's Syndrome, Thyroid Cancer, World Trade Center (WTC) Victims
PURPLE and BLUE Awareness Ribbons: Pediatric Stroke, Rheumatoid Arthritis
PURPLE and BURGUNDY Awareness Ribbons: Chronic Migraines Awareness
PURPLE and TEAL Awareness Ribbons: Domestic Violence (Sexual Assault)
PURPLE and YELLOW Awareness Ribbons: Autoimmune Hepatitis, Chemical Injury, Lupus with Endometriosis
RED Awareness Ribbons: AIDS, Blood Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease, Congestive Heart Failure, Diamond-Blackfan Anemia, Driving Under the Influence (DUI), Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE), Epidermolysis Bullosa, Evans Syndrome, Factor XI Deficiency, Go Red for Women, Heart Disease, Heart Transplant, Hemophilia, High Blood Pressure, HIV, Huffing, Hypertension, Inhalant Abuse, Long Q-T Syndrome, Marfan Syndrome, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Pierre Robin Sequence, Project Red Flag, Pro Life, Red Ribbon Week Awareness, Rosacea, Sniffing Abuse, Stroke, Substance Abuse, Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT), Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, Tuberculosis, Von Willebrand's Disease, Wolf-Parkinson-White (WPW)
RED and BLUE Awareness Ribbons: Congenital Heart Defects (CHD), Congenital Heart Disease, Hypo Plastic Left Heart Syndrome, Noonan's Syndrome, Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF) Awareness, SADS
RED and WHITE Awareness Ribbons: Aplastic Anemia, Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), Head and Neck Cancer, Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia, Oral Cancer, Squamous Cell Carcinoma
RED and YELLOW Awareness Ribbons: Hepatitis C, HIV / HCV Co-Infection
RED, WHITE and BLUE Awareness Ribbons: Fireworks Safety, National Support, World Trade Center (WTC) Heroes
SILVER Awareness Ribbons: Bell's Palsy, Brain Disabilities, Brain Disorders, Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease, Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI), Disabled Children, Dyslexia, Elderly Abuse, Encephalitis, Neurological Disorders, Niemann-Pick, Parkinson's Disease, Pseudotumor Cerebri, Schizophrenia, Sciatic Pain, VACTERL, Young Onset Parkinsons Association (YOPA)
TEAL Awareness Ribbons: Agoraphobia, Anxiety Disorder, Batten Disease, Cervical Cancer, Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH), Dissociative Identity Disorder, Ectodermal Dysphasia, Food Allergies, Fragile X, Gynecological Cancer, Interstitial Cystitis, Myasthenia Gravis, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Ovarian Cancer, Panic Disorder, Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Rape, Sexual Assault
TEAL, PINK and BLUE Awareness Ribbons: Thyroid Cancer
TEAL and YELLOW Awareness Ribbons: Military Sexual Assault
TURQUOISE Awareness Ribbons: Addiction Recovery, Native American Reparation
VIOLET Awareness Ribbons: Hodgkin's Disease, Hodgkin's Lymphoma
WHITE Awareness Ribbons: Adoptee, Adoption, Anti-Child Pornography, Anti-Pornography, Anti-War, Blindness, Bronchial Cancer, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning (alternate color: Yellow), Child Exploitation, Child Sexual Abuse/Assault, Community Support, Congenital Cataracts, Elderly Affairs, Gender Violence, Hereditary Multiple Exostoses (HME or MHE), Hernia, Holocaust Remembrance, Hope and Support, Innocence, Internet Safety, Lung Cancer, Molestation Survivor, On-Line Sexual Predator Awareness, Opposition to the War, Osteoporosis, Postpartum Depression, Retinoblastoma, Right to Life, Scoliosis, Stalking, Student Sexual Assault, Teen Pregnancy Prevention, Victims of Terrorism
YELLOW Awareness Ribbons: Adenosarcoma, Adoptive Parents, Amber Alert, Bone Cancer, Bone Disease, Canadian Cancer Society, Chondrosarcoma, Complementary / Alternative Medicine, Deployed Soldiers, Endometriosis, Equality, Ewings Sarcoma, Gulf War, Hydrocephalus, Missing Children, Myxoid Liposarcoma, Osteosarcoma, Obesity, Remembrance, Sarcoma, Spina Bifida, Suicide, Troop / Military Support

The Butterfly: A Symbol of Lung Transplant

Everyone loves butterflies and there are many symbolic meanings associated with the butterfly but none so profound as its' symbolism to new life through lung transplantation. If you have cystic fibrosis, at some point your doctor will discuss with you the need for a lung transplant. It is our hope the following story behind the symbol of newly transplanted lungs will provide you with hope and inspiration as you begin your transplant journey.

The Butterfly: Life has wings...or rather life should have wings. When Cystic Fibrosis damages the lungs with scarring from past infections, and antibiotics no longer give the relief they once did, and the quality of life is stalled, or the length of life is shortened when you are told, "you have only a couple of years left", you want those wings back to fly. Lung Transplantation is the option to get those wings once again and live your life dreams.

For those who are fortunate enough to witness the actual lung transplantation surgery, they will describe it as a moving experience that is emotional and awe inspiring. When the old lungs are removed, appearing much like raw liver, and the new lungs are taken from the cooler they have been transported in, the light pink, white new lungs are in such contrast to the old. But the more breath taking experience is to see the new lungs take life when they are connected. It is described as "like beautiful butterfly wings, opening for the very first time, they expand and you can see the beauty in life and in good lungs". Like butterfly wings opening for the first time, so is the size and shape of the new lungs...a comparison that has great meaning to those with Cystic Fibrosis who get the gift of new lungs and a chance to live their dreams.

For this reason, nearly all Crystal Allure transplant awareness beaded bracelets are adorned with our signature sterling silver butterfly charm. It is our hope the transplant awareness bracelets and butterfly jewelry offered at Crystal Allure Beaded Jewelry will give its' wearer hope and peace of mind during their transplant journey.

Gold Metals Used in Handmade Jewelry

At a recent show, while discussing one of my handmade beaded jewelry designs with a customer, the question was asked, "What is the difference between gold plated and gold filled metal?" After explaining the difference to her, I thought this topic would make a great jewelry article to share for general knowledge purposes, especially if you are looking to purchase handmade jewelry.

Each jewelry designer has his/her own preference of metal they like to use in their jewelry designs and some will even mix metals, making the design even more unique. There really is no one good metal over another, in terms of the design itself. The choice of metal used in a design really depends on the purpose and interpretation of the jewelry piece, the designers preference, and at times, cost. It's a pretty simple equation, the better the metal, the more cost involved.

For many people, wearing a piece of jewelry made with pewter components as opposed to sterling silver, makes no difference. For them, it's really about the design of the piece and how it makes them feel. Although for others, the wearing of non-precious metals can cause skin irritation and/or a rash. This group of shoppers will naturally prefer a precious metal such as sterling silver or 14 karat gold.

Below is an outline of some of the more common gold metals used in handmade jewelry design, ranging from fine jewelry to fashion jewelry. At Crystal Allure Beaded Jewelry, I have worked with a few different metals throughout the years and although I have no particular preference of one over the other, my unique handmade designs currently showcase either sterling silver, 14 karat gold-fill and/or vermeil (pronounced vehr-MAY).

There are times when a particular component I would like to use can only be found in pewter, silver plate or gold plate. When I use a metal other than a precious metal, I always state as such in the description of the jewelry piece.

GOLD - A precious metal that does not oxidize or tarnish as most other metals do. It has been used for over 6000 years in coins, jewelry and ornamental objects. Gold is very malleable and can be melted and cast into both small and large objects. It is also forged into very thin sheets called gold leaf and used to cover the surface of less valuable ornaments.

Gold is alloyed with other metals like silver, copper or nickel to make it harder. The ratio of gold to other metals is what denotes the karat content.

Common gold alloys are made by mixing gold, silver, copper, and/or other metals to produce 14K, 18K and 22K gold, white gold (gold and nickel or palladium), rose gold (gold and copper), green gold (gold with silver or silver and cadmium) , and blue gold (a recent gold color perfected by only a few jewelers). Example: 14kt-by weight 14 parts gold to 10 parts other metals, or 58.33% pure gold.

VERMEIL -(pronounced vehr-MAY) is a process that combines precious metals to produce semi-fine quality jewelry. The inside core is .925 sterling silver, the outside is a thin coating of 14 karat gold plate. Where the gold plating has not completely bonded with the sterling silver, the silver will eventually tarnish. Therefore, overtime, expect vermeil to darken slightly with age. Since vermeil is electro-plated, not fused like gold-filled, the plating will eventually wear off. This usually happens in a year or two. It takes longer to wear off than costume gold-plate because the plating on vermeil is considerably thicker than that on costume jewelry.

The combination of metals in vermeil produces jewelry that looks and feels like pure gold.

GOLD FILL - (also called "gold overlay" and "rolled gold") Gold fill beads are made by applying a layer of gold, using heat and pressure to permanently bond the gold, to a core of brass or other base metal. This produces a much thicker surface of gold than gold plating. The minimum layer of karat gold must equal at least 1/20th of the total weight of the item. Use care when buffing gold fill beads and components to avoid removing the gold layer.

When a company is manufacturing gold-filled beads and components, it is their choice as to how thick a layer of gold to place over the base metal material. Thus, you can have two gold-filled pieces and you may have the gold layer wear off more quickly on one piece than the other. It is difficult, unfortunately, to be able to tell whether the purchase price of any piece reflects its true value.

Sometimes, you will see a notation next to the Gold-Filled label indicating the relationship between the weight of karat-gold and the weight of the brass core material. For example, if you see the notion "14/20 Gold-Filled" this means that the piece is 1/20th 14 karat gold. The 1/20 notation refers to the ratio of the 14 karat gold layer to the brass layer by weight, which is 5%.

What is important here to the jewelry designer is less the content of gold, but rather more the color of the gold-filled piece. 14/20 gold fill will be more golden, darker, mellow; whereas, 12/20 gold fill will be brighter, brassier, yellower.

Why use Gold Filled?
First, Gold Fill is less expensive than pure Gold - making jewelry more affordable. Second, of the alternatives (Gold Plate or Gold Vermeil), Gold Fill will not tarnish, turn green, or wear off and can be worn as "every-day" jewelry. In any case, gold-filled is a much more durable product than gold-plate or vermeil. Gold-filled jewelry is economical, and enjoys the rich look of gold at a fraction of the cost.

GOLD PLATE - Gold plating is a method of depositing a thin layer of gold on the surface of other metal, most often copper or silver but can be brass as well, usually by electroplating or an electrochemical process. A second chemical is used as a finishing to give the color a "brightness".

The gold color and brightness wears off pretty quickly, much more quickly than gold filled, when interacting with the wearer's skin salts or the pollutants in the air. On an average person in an average environment, the brightness finish fades in about 3-6 months, and the color fades in 6 months to a year. If the environment is very humid or very polluted, this can happen much more quickly. Some people have either ammonia's or sulphides in their sweat. These chemicals dissolve one or both of the chemicals in the plating and/or finishing.

However, if you are on a handmade jewelry budget, or just want to experiment it’s the perfect metal to work or start with!

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An alloy is a solid solution or homogeneous mixture of two or more elements, at least one of which is a metal, which itself has metallic properties. Alloying one metal with others often enhances its properties. This statement of information on alloy was referenced from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alloy

Learn About Birthstones and their Meanings

The wearing of birthstones is thought to bring good luck and good health. Astrologers long ago attributed supernatural powers to certain gemstones.

The birthstones we associate with certain months now are not necessarily the same ones as in ancient times. Once, color was the most important feature of a stone. Ancients did not distinguish between a ruby and a garnet, for example.

The names used in history may not relate to the stone we think of with that name today. For example, a sapphire in the Bible was probably what we know today as lapis. Diamonds were probably a white sapphire or white topaz. The stones originally assigned to each month related to the stones appearing on the breastplate of a Jewish high priest.

Birthstone Meanings by Month

January's Birthstone, garnet, is a fiery burgundy red color. A symbol of friendship, loyalty and devotion. It is also believed to keep the wearer safe during travel.

February's Birthstone, amethyst, has long been considered a stone of royalty, found in crown jewels. At one time, only royalty could wear the gem. A symbol of wisdom, strength, confidence and sobriety (against intoxication). In fact, amethyst comes from amethystos, a Greek word meaning "sober."

March's Birthstone, aquamarine, brings to mind clear blue waters. Early sailors believed that aquamarine talismans, etched with the likeness of the sea god Neptune, protected them against ocean dangers. Thought to symbolize peace, tranquility and happiness.

April's Birthstone, diamond, is treasured for its' elegance, brilliance and is the most desired gemstone in the world. Regarded as the ultimate symbol of everlasting love, fidelity, and was once thought to bring courage. High-quality diamonds have a good balance of the Four Cs -cut, color, clarity and carat weight.

May's Birthstone, emerald, is a definitive rich green color and was one of Cleopatra's favorite gems. A symbol of fertility, rebirth, love and strength. The mesmerizing hue of this stone brings to mind regeneration of life in spring and hope of new possibilities.

June's Birthstone, pearl, has long been a symbol of purity, modesty, love, success, and happiness. Pearls have been a jewelry wardrobe essential for generations of women around the world for their unique iridescent luster.

July's Birthstone, ruby, a fiery crimson red signifies love and passion. This gemstone is associated with courage and power. It is also called the "king of gems" because it was believed to protect its wearer from evil.

August's Birthstone, peridot, treasured for thousands of years, symbolizes strength. It is sometimes called the evening emerald for its light green color. When set in gold, this gem was said to ward off evil and protect the wearer from nightmares.

September's Birthstone, sapphire, comes in more colors than the traditional velvety blue hue; it can also come in green, white, pink and even yellow. A holy stone to the Catholic church, blue sapphire symbolizes truth, sincerity, commitment, purity, and loyalty of the heart.

October's Birthstone, tourmaline, exhibits the broadest spectrum of colors. It is thought to promote balance and strengthen the body. This gem was worn to gain inspiration, to attract favors, and to secure friends.

November's Birthstone, citrine, derived its name from the French word for lemon 'citron' and is considered a gift from the sun. Symbolizes truth, integrity, youth, health, and fidelity.

December's Birthstone, turquoise, is regarded as a love charm. It is also a symbol of good fortune and success, and it is believed to relax the mind and to protect its wearer from harm. Turquoise rings, in particular, are thought to keep away evil spirits.

Browse all Birthstone Jewelry

What is the Awareness Ribbon Color for my Cause?

On a Facebook group that I belong to, someone asked the question, "Does anyone know the color ribbon for lung transplant?" I was actually surprised to see many responses that were either guesses or just not the correct color. The conversation then expanded into other related diseases and the awareness color for them.

Having designed awareness jewelry for the past ten years, I have become quite familiar with awareness colors and their disease designations. What better inspiration for personalized jewelry than just about any color imaginable!

I thought this was the perfect topic to blog about because it is such an important one. I'll review some of the awareness ribbon colors for the diseases/causes mentioned and then also provide some links to related articles. First, I'll address the question and then I will address two myths that came up during this discussion.

So what awareness ribbon color represents transplant? The nationally recognized color for transplant is GREEN. Appropriately, green is also the awareness color for organ donation -which really makes sense because these two things do go hand-in-hand. To further expand on transplant awareness, did you know the butterfly is the national symbol for lung transplant.

The Butterfly: A Symbol of Lung Transplant

Myth #1:
Awareness ribbon colors represent diseases only.

Actually, that may have been the belief of a small number of individuals back when awareness ribbons first came into popularity. However, today, awareness ribbon colors represent causes, as well. The point behind awareness ribbons and the wearing of them is to RAISE AWARENESS of a particular cause or disease. In fact, many different causes and diseases can belong to the same color.

Although this is not always the case, but, typically colors are designated by the cause or reason for the need or desire to raise awareness. Take for example, the yellow ribbon. This color ribbon became synonymous with troop and military support. How did it become the designation for this cause? The wife of a war hostage tied them around trees to raise awareness and bring attention to his release. Her actions resonated with many people across the world and the color yellow quickly became nationally recognized for raising awareness of troop and military support.

Ever wondered about the History of the Awareness Ribbon?

Myth #2:
An awareness color is set because it is the brand color of the related charity or organization.

It is likely any charity may take a nationally recognized awareness color and adopt it as their brand color. One such organization is Lungs for Life. They serve both the cystic fibrosis and the transplant communities and as such, have adopted the purple and green awareness colors for their brand.

However, it is less likely to be the case that a color became nationally accepted because a charity used it in their brand and marketing efforts. Truth be told, there are so many causes, diseases/illnesses that affect so many people -it's highly unlikely these days that a color has not already been designated.

From my past experience, I've come across the following two examples:
1) The color purple is nationally accepted and recognized as the awareness color for Cystic Fibrosis. Yet, a small percentage of people think blue represents the awareness color for CF. They believe this because the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's brand color is blue. All this means is if they happen to purchase CF awareness products that are blue, they are simply supporting only the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation mission.

2) The colors red and blue are nationally recognized and accepted as the awareness colors for Pulmonary Fibrosis. In fact, with this particular disease, there is a touching story behind why those colors are nationally recognized. But, some believe the color is teal and that is because the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation has adopted teal as their brand color. Again, any awareness products in teal for PF are supporting only that charity and their mission.

Why is Red and Blue the Awareness Colors for Pulmonary Fibrosis?

Following a charities brand color as raising awareness for any cause, with probably the exception of Pink, can really limit: the power of a donors' dollars; the effectiveness of a volunteers' precious time; as well, it could limit the resources a cause recipient might benefit from.

There is no shortage of information (or opinions) on awareness colors. Some causes/diseases have adopted many colors for the different disease sub-groups. You can see this with cancer and the many cancer subsets. For this reason, I have published a Guide to Cancer Awareness Colors. I hope you find it helpful!

If I didn't mention your cause or disease in this post, feel free to read our jewelry articles on Awareness Colors and Meanings and Awareness Ribbons by Cause Color for a more comprehensive article on nationally recognized awareness ribbon color(s).

Feel free to revisit these articles, from time to time, as I am always updating the information contained in them. I'd love to hear what cause you support! Leave a comment below.