Sunday 28 February 2010

Ways to Clean CZ Jewelry

Store-bought Cleaning Solution
CZ jewelry cleaning products can be purchased in jewelry stores or jewelry department of most superstores. These products usually come in the form of liquid, and they are placed in small bottles. Each bottles cost about $10 or $15. Cleaning procedure normally involves the help of a cotton ball or cotton swab. Firstly, the cotton material has to be soaked in the solution and then taken out. After that, rub the soaked cotton material over the cubic zirconia to remove any dirt or residue buildup. There is another kind of cleaning substance which you can just drop the jewelry into the liquid and leave it in for a while. Typically cleaning solutions come with clear instruction on the bottle, and if not, make sure to ask the sales representatives for more information.Canary Oval Three Stone CZ RingHomemade Cleaning Solution
It is also possible to make CZ jewelry cleaning solution at home. Firstly, fill the sink with 2 inches of lukewarm water and stir in a few drops of liquid dish detergent until soap suds form. The dish detergent works to break up dirt and buildup without leaving streaks or greasy residue behind. Soak the CZ jewelry in this solution for 15 minutes, and then use a soft-bristled brush or toothbrush to clean the cracks and crevices of the jewelry. Rinse the jewelry with tap water and let it air dry. Be careful when cleaning small jewelry items such as earrings and rings because they can be difficult to find if they happen go down the drain.

Steam Cleaning
Many elements can diminish the bright luster of Cubic Zirconia jewelry. Daily skin care products like lotion, perfume, and hand cream can cause cubic zirconia to become dull, so as the sweat and oils that our body naturally releases can affect the shine of the stone. Cleaning products and chlorine in swimming pool water can also take the brilliance off cubic zirconia. In these cases, where stains on the jewels can be hard to remove, professional steam cleaning may be needed in order to bring cubic zirconia jewelries back to its original state. Take the jewelry to a local jeweler, and they should be able to steam-cleaned it in just a few moments.
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Feldspathoid Minerals – Lapis Lazuli

The feldspathoids is a group of minerals very similar to feldspars, including solidate, hauyne, nepheline, lazurite, leucite, cancrinite, and nosean. They are all minerals that would have become feldspars if there was more silica present when formed. Feldspars tend to contain three times as much silica, so feldspathoids do not occur in silica-rich rocks such as granite but typically form in volcanic lavas.

Its beautiful, rich blue color makes lazurite one of the most distinctive and attractive of all minerals. Its chemical make-up is quite complex, but the blue color comes from the sulphur that takes the place of some silicate atoms. It is soft and brittle and easily ground to make the rich blue pigment ultramarine, but it is most famous as the major ingredient of the gemstone Lapis Lazuli, famed since the days of Ancient Egypt. Little spots of gold pyrite look like starts in the deep blue lazurite of Lapis Lazuli.

Lapis Lazuli is one of the oldest, most treasured of all gemstones. Its name is a combination of the Latin Lapis for ‘stone’ and the Arabic Azul for ‘sky’ or the ancient Persian Lazhuward for ‘blue’. It usually occurs as lenses and veins in white marble. Consisting largely of Lazurite with spots of pyrite, it has a mottle look. Crystals are sometimes found, but more usually it is massive, and carved to make jewelry, cups and other decorative objects. It was first mined over 6,000 years ago at Sar-e-Sang in the Kokchua valley in Afghanistan, still the source of the world’s finest and most sought after Lapis Lazuli. The ancient royal tombs of the Sumerian city of Ur contained over 6,000 beautifully carved lapis lazuli statues, and it was a favorite stone of the Ancient Egyptians, much used in the tomb decorations of Tutankhamun. The Roman writer Pliny the Elder described it as ‘a fragment of the starry firmament’.

Today, lapis lazuli is mined near Lake Baikal in Russia and at Ovalle in Chile as well as in Afghanistan.

Lapis Lazuli: Wisdom, intuition, awareness, objectivity, clarity, creativity, expanded consciousness, dreams, purity, courage, serenity.
Pearl: Purity, faith, charity, innocence, integrity, focus, wisdom, spirituality, sincerity, fertility.



Custom designed gemstone jewelry available at our website.
Research from various gem-rock-mineral books.
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Saturday 27 February 2010

Chinese Silver Metal Beads

While on my trip to Tucson this year, I saw a lot of Chinese dealers that have what they are calling “Chinese Silver Beads”. What caught my attention the most is how shiny and very light they are. When I inquired about the difference of this metal, I was told it’s a thin base metal from Copper that is laid over resin or plastic hollow beads. This makes them very light and easy to use verses Sterling Silver, however, I’m not sure I’ll be buying them anytime soon, as the metal is an alloy….read on to see the entire story provided by Lee our resident Gemologist, who was kind enough to do some research for me when in Tucson on some things!

“Chinese silver is an alloy used for costume jewelry. Its composition is 58% copper, 17.5% zinc, 11.5% nickel, 11% cobalt, and 2% silver, whereas the mix rate is 92.5% silver to 7.5% copper. This is why sterling silver is often stamped with “925” somewhere on the piece, and why it is graded as such. Because of the high copper content of Chinese Silver, once the protective lacquer coat and the thin silver finish wears off; many people turn the material green. Another drawback is that with the nickel content, again when the finish wears off, the nickel is exposed and many people have allergic reactions to the nickel.
For collectors and the public, the word "silver" might bring to mind an English tea set or a Continental soup tureen or maybe a patriotic silver tankard by Paul Revere. Less familiar to collectors and the public, but well known to jewelers, is a world of silver that is not Western, but Chinese. Chinese export silver was made for Western tourists in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, featuring designs that include Chinese dragons rather than Western motifs such as goats and grapes.

"With the China trade, tourists were coming to China and they loved to shop," explains Stuart Slavid, director of fine ceramics at Skinner, Boston. "They would go to trading centers such as Canton, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. Many of the ships returning home took silver as well as tourists."

All Chinese silver until recently was made by hand, with its elaborate designs hammered out by master Chinese craftsmen. The silver depicts flowers, birds, landscapes, dragons and human figures, the patterns that collectors seek out most often. Since Europeans would spend weeks or months aboard ship to travel to China, they would often spend months there. That was long enough to choose a pattern that could be custom-made while they holidayed. "Many of the pieces you see for sale today were made to order," Stuart says. "It was primarily for foreigners. The elaborate designs of most of the export silver weren't to the Chinese tastes." It's important to note that the Chinese did not use the same standard of silver that was used in the West, so silver content is not something buyers need to consider. "Every piece might have a different level of purity," Stuart says, but that doesn't affect the value of any particular piece. Another nice thing about Chinese export silver is that it uses English hallmarks. "They make it very easy to distinguish the different makers," Stuart says. "Nobody knows exactly who suggested the Chinese use the English marks but it's been a tremendous aid to many today." Chinese silver is also a specialty that has very few fakes. "I don't think collectors really have to be concerned about that in the same way they do in other silver markets," Stuart assures collectors.

While there are a few books that offer guidance, Stuart notes that the best way to make sure that what you're getting is real is to work with someone you trust. Many Silver US Trade Dollars were melted down by the Chinese to make their Chinese Silver, thus why when separated from the other metals; it is much purer than the native Chinese Silver.

Today, “Chinese Silver” not only refers to the old craft items which are rare and hard to find, but to a new generation of molded items, many now in plastics, to which Silver is plated over the formed piece.”

Just be aware of what you are buying and understand the make-up of the metals before purchase. There are Pros and Cons to buying metal beads made from Chinese Silver, and cost is not always one of them; in Tucson I saw them run as much per gram as Sterling Silver and by the strand or bag for small quantities. I encourage you to do your homework before purchasing any type of metals, stones, lampwork, or any raw materials, your customers are the ones that are going to want to make sure they are getting something that will not only last, but that they can also wear.
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Friday 26 February 2010

Fashions for the Hijabi in Mind

Ok, here are a few colllections for both muslim and christian hijabis in mind. For those of you who do not know, there are christian women who wear hijab (which is just the arabic word for head covering) based on the scriptures in 1 Corinthians 11. There are also jewish women who wear hijab, Although over here in the west part of the world (the Americas for those who did not pass geography), christian hijabis are less common. Anyways enjoy the fashions!


















 


 


 


 


 
 


 


Items in this set:
Bodycon Maxi Dress by Boutique
Skin Alice Jean75 GBP
PATENT LEATHER BALLERINAS, 210 GBP
Mark Davis Bakelite bangle Ruby & diamond, 2.065 GBP




 


 
 


 
 


 
 


 
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Modest Fashionista On a Budget

On a budget? Still want to look cute? Ok well I have some options that will keep you fly, and with a few dollars in your purse. Check these out!


























































































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Thursday 25 February 2010

Bracelets for Moms

If you want to get a bracelet for your Mom, make sure the style and the length of the chain will fit her well. Too long of the chain will be difficult for her to wear and it will also look dragging. With so many options available, you can choose according to her personality, taste or preferences. Here are some suggestions of bracelets that can serve as a great gift for Mom on Mother's Day.

Pearl Bracelets
Throughout the time, pearls have always been classic and elegant. This is a great gift for mom on Mother’s Day. The color and the shape of the pearls vary, but they are all beautiful. Natural pearls are much more expensive than the man-raised ones, however, you can’t really tell the difference by their appearance. With so many designs available, you can definitely find the right one for your mom.

Sterling Silver Charm Bracelets
Sterling silver charm bracelet has always been a popular piece of jewelry, and it would be a great gift for Moms on Mother’s Day. It’s a kind of bracelet that you can mix and match depending on mood and outfit of the day. Mom would love this as a new addition to her jewelry collection. Besides the classic Tiffany style, Thomas Sabo and Swarovski both have a fine line of charm bracelet.

Diamond Bracelets
This is probably the most expensive category of all the bracelets. The long-lasting beauty and the preciousness of a diamond make it an ideal gift for special people. It’s important to be selective when choosing diamond bracelets because the price varies significantly depending on the quality of the diamonds. Due to high profitability, there are many fake diamond bracelets flowing around on the market as well. Thus, it’s probably wise to go to an authorized diamond dealer when you are serious about making a purchase. Don’t forget to look for diamond certificate because real diamond should come with it. For your future reference, the certificate will also serve as a guarantee for the purchase.

Article source: Bracelets for Moms
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Anatomy of a Console Table



Generally speaking, there are precious few "rules" when it comes to decorating. After all, taste isn't really a matter of following a prescribed list of "do's" and "don'ts", but instead a more elusive art form: it is emotional rather than logical. There's an often repeated mantra that good taste can't be taught -- and perhaps that is in fact the case. However,I firmly believe that if we take the time to train our eyes, we can learn short cuts and handy tricks that can at the very least help us approximate good taste, even if it isn't innate.

One area of decorating that appears to have surprising uniformity is styling a console table. A console table is the true workhorse of occasional tables -- it works equally well behind a sofa as it does in foyer -- and it's also an amazing opportunity to practice styling on a small scale. For many designers, the task can even be broken down into a rather simple arithmetic formula. Take for example Sara Gilbane's alcove (shown above). The classical elegance of the console table is anchors the statement-making gilt mirror. A pair of tall vases flank either end of the table and help bridge the space between the mirror and table top. Smaller-scaled picture frames and a decorative bowl fill in the center of the table and create further symmetry. This symmetrical arrangement is then echoed on the lower shelf with two small plants flanking the inlaid box.

Following this symmetrical formula is a simple and guaranteed way to achieve a visually pleasing arrangement. A few more examples from some of my favorite designers to illustrate some of the many variations on this theme:

Hillary Thomas Designs

John Willey Interior Design





Meg Braff

Ashley Whittaker

Miles Redd

If you have a longer wall to fill, follow the lead of Miles Redd (above) and Sally Steponkus (below) and try flanking the console table with a pair of smaller chairs. When company comes, you'll have the extra seating, but otherwise the chairs will be out of the way for day-to-day activities.

Sally Steponkus

If you're ready to move on to the next level, try breaking up the symmetry a bit, which can create a far more interesting (and less "decorated") look. The key to your success though will be to maintain the balance. Here, Kristen Hutchins uses only one table lamp (a good choice as the console table is on the small side), but balances it with a small floral arrangement at the other end.


Here, the very symmetrical arrangement of mirrors above the console is loosened up by the more haphazardly arranged orange boxes below. If the boxes had been stacked more tidily, the overall effect would have been far too geometric, which would have felt too studied and not in keeping with the more organic qualities of the decorative objects on the table itself.

Ruthie Sommers

If you're trying to break up the symmetry a bit, I'd suggest keeping at least one element symmetrical, as Ruthie Sommers did here with the pair of sconces flanking the mirror. This is a simple trick to bring balance back to an asymmetrical space. [Random aside: Did you notice the adorable dog lounging on the stairs in the mirror's reflection?]

Lindsey Coral Harper

Sometimes a simpler, less cluttered arrangement is best, particularly in a small entryway or hallway. Here, Lindsey puts the emphasis on the vertical space of the room rather than the horizontal by using highly reflective elements (the metallic wall paint, the gilt mirror, the glittering wall sconces). The effect is further realized by placing the mirror and sconces higher up on the wall. A word to the wise though: when hanging wall art, mirrors, sconces, etc. it's best to keep them below the height of the door or window frame.


Time for the masters' class! In this vignette by Tim Clark, nothing is symmetrical and yet the arrangement is still highly successful. The red rattan chair is balanced by the palm in the red pot and the height of the pot is similar to the height of the floor lamp behind the chair. The green stools echo the color and shape of the small vases on the opposite side of the console table. As each side speaks to the other, the eye moves back and forth across the vignette.

Amanda Nisbet

A final point to consider is that sometimes fewer, larger pieces are far more effective than a bunch of small tchotchkes. In this vignette by Amanda Nisbet, the scale of the mirror, lamp and bust create a lot of drama without creating a lot of visual clutter. The neutral palette also ensures that these disparate pieces work harmoniously together.

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