Beadseller Beads & Jewelry Supplies

MAKING A ROSARY

2008-08-08T09:50:00.007-04:00

History of the Rosary

The Rosary (from Latin rosarium, meaning "rose garden" or "garland of roses" is a popular traditional Roman Catholic devotion. The term denotes both a set of prayer beads and the devotional prayer itself, which combines vocal (or silent) prayer and meditation. The prayers consist of repeated sequences of the Lord's Prayer followed by ten recitations of the Hail Mary and a single recitation of "Glory Be to the Father"; each of these sequences is known as a decade. The recitation of each decade is accompanied by meditation on one of the Mysteries of the Rosary, which are events in the lives of Jesus Christ and his mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary.

To make a rosary, you will need the following materials:

59 Beads
3 Jump Rings
1 Y-Connector or Rosary Center
59 Eye Pins
1 Cross or Crucifix with Bail
8 Inches of Chain
One Pair Rosary Pliers or Round Nose Pliers and Side Cutting Pliers

The first step in making a Rosary is assembling the necessary parts.

Step 1

Pick up one of the eye pins and insert it as far as it will go through one of the beads. Then with round nose pliers, bend the straight portion of the wire over at right angles as shown in the sketch.

Note that the bend must be as close to the bead as you can make it.

Step 2

Create an eye with the bend side. The two eyes should be at right angles to each other.

This is the basic process in making a Rosary.

Now, put the pins through all 59 of the beads and form eyes on each one as above, leaving the new eyes open for connecting.

Step 3

Pick up two of the beads and hook the new eye of the first one through the original eye of the second.

This is the first step in assembling the Rosary.

Close the eye.

Using the method described above, assemble five groups of ten and one group of three. You will have 6 beads remaining for connecting to pieces of chain.

Step 4

Cutting the chain is next. Fourteen pieces are required, each two to five links long as preferred. In cutting the chain, be careful to have exactly the same number of links in each of your fourteen pieces.

Step 5

Open one of the small jump rings. Slip the jump ring through one of the upper openings in the centerpiece and one section of the chain and close it.

Step 6

The final assembly consists of joining together the various parts as shown in the picture.
Before making the final assembly of the long bead chain and the centerpiece, hold the bead chain up by one end and let it dangle freely. Then when you attach the free end of the centerpiece, see that there are no twists in the bead chain.

Be sure when you are assembling that every eye is completely closed.

Prayers of the Rosary

1 - Make the sign of the cross
2 - Say the Apostles Creed
3 - Say the Our Father
4 - Say three Hail Marys
5 - Say the Glory Be
6 - Announce the first Mystery and say the Our Father
7 - Say ten Hail Marys while meditating on the Mystery
8 - Say the Glory Be
9 - Say the O My Jesus
10- Announce the second Mystery and say the Our Father
11- Say ten Hail Marys while meditating on the Mystery
12- Say the Glory Be
13- Say the O My Jesus
14- Announce the third Mystery and say the Our Father
15- Say ten Hail Marys while meditating on the Mystery
16- Say the Glory Be
17- Say the O My Jesus
18- Announce the fourth Mystery and say the Our Father
19- Say ten Hail Marys while meditating on the Mystery
20- Say the Glory Be
21- Say the O My Jesus
22- Announce the fifth Mystery and say the Our Father
23- Say ten Hail Marys while meditating on the Mystery
24- Say the Glory Be
25- Say the O My Jesus
26- Say the Hail Holy Queen

Prayers of the Rosary

Sign Of The Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; he ascended into Heaven sits at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting, Amen.

Our Father

Our Father, who art in Heaven; hallowed by Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of god, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.

O My Jesus

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of your Mercy. Amen.

Hail, Holy Queen

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope.To thee we cry, poor banished children of Eve.To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.Turn then most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us,And after this our exile, show unto us the blessed Fruit of they womb, Jesus.O clememt. O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.Pray for us, O holy Mother of GodThat we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Beadseller Beads & Jewelry Supplies

DAISY CHAIN STITCH

2008-08-07T14:02:00.003-04:00

10 - 10mm long Transparent Green Dagger Beads
60 - Size 6/0 White Beads
10 - Size 6/0 Orange with Red Stripe Beads
60 - Size 8/0 Transparent Green Beads
#12 Beading needle
White Nymo D Thread
2 - Gold colored Clamshell knot covers
1 - Gold colored Lobster Claw
1 - Gold colored Split Ring
527 brand or E6000 brand Adhesive
Wax or the thread conditioner of your choice
Chain nose Pliers

Before beginning, please note that this will make a very long (10 inch) anklet. Each set of daisy and stem equal about 1 inch, so you can shorten or lengthen it by adding or subtracting one set of daisy/stem for each inch.

1. Begin by threading your beading needle with about 4 feet of Nymo D thread. We will be working with a doubled thread, so this will be a bit easier to manage than it sounds. Stretch the thread well and pass it over the beeswax or other thread prep product.

2. Knot the end of the thread and place one of the clamshells on the needle, shell opening out, away from the needle. Place it over the knot and add a dab of glue. Close the clamshell with the chain nose pliers.

3. Add 4 transparent green beads to the thread, then add 1 transparent green dagger bead, and 2 more transparent green beads.

4. Add 4 white beads, and 1 orange/red stripe bead. Pass the thread through the first white bead closest to the last green bead strung, pointing the needle back in the direction from which it came. Pull snug.

5. Add 2 white beads to the thread, and pass the needle through the 4th white bead added in Step 4. This will be the bead closest to the red/orange bead.

6. Repeat from Step 3 until your chain reaches the length desired.

7. Add the other clamshell to the end of the thread, shell opening toward the needle.

8. Make a large knot very close to the clamshell, so that the thread holds tight and add a drop of 527 glue. Alternately, if you have trouble getting the knot close enough to the clamshell, cut the thread off of the needle, add a single size 11/0 bead to one of the threads, and tie several overhand knots around the Size 11/0 bead. Add glue to the knot and the Size 11/0 bead.

9. Close the clamshell with your chain nose pliers and trim the threads.

10. Add the lobster claw to one clamshell end, and the Split Ring to the other.

Enjoy your "New Leaf" Daisy Chain anklet. Try using yellow beads for the flower petals with a dark brown center bead, to make a sunflower. Or a dark purple center with light blue petals for a Morning Glory vine! Make them a bit shorter for wear as a bracelet! Pretty cute!

Peyote Stitch TWO - Flat Odd Count Peyote Stitch Beading

2008-08-07T13:38:00.007-04:00

The first two steps, stringing the base row and starting the next row, are the same as in even-count peyote. You may refer back to the even count flat peyote stitch to refresh your mind on these steps. The big difference between even-count flat peyote and odd-count flat peyote comes when you get to the end of the first added row. The problem is illustrated by the following image.

As you can see, there is no next bead to go through! So we need to do a little fancy footwork in order to finish the row and begin the next one. First, when you reach the end of the row, continue through both of the last two beads of the base row. Then pick up the last bead of the new row and go left through the second and third beads from the end in the base row.

Then go up and to the right through the bead above the bead your thread is coming out of and down and to the right through the second to last and last beads of the base row once again. Then go up and left though the bead you added. Your thread should now be in position to begin the next row. You will need to use this technique every other row.

Flowered Mini-Amulet Bag

Let's try something a little more ambitious for practice with this lesson. It is possible to make a bag with flat peyote by working a pattern sideways, "zipping" up the edges to create a cylinder and using brick stitch to close up the bottom. This tiny bag will give you good practice with this technique without being too overwhelming. It's cute too!

First work this pattern beginning from the upper left hand corner. Matte transparent aqua, pink-lined clear, opaque white, opaque light green, and matte transparent dark blue were used.

Once the pattern is completed, you will need to fit the ends together and "zip" them up to form a cylinder. Connect the edges by threading up through the first bead on the other end of the same side of the piece. Then go through the 3rd bead on the original side and so on, back and forth until you get to the top. Then go back down through the beads that were skipped the first time.

Now you will need to close up the bottom. Squeeze the cylinder flat with the flower centered in the front. There should be one bead on each side that kind of sticks out between the two layers. Your thread should be coming out of one of these beads. Weave your way over there if necessary. Pick up a bead and go under the threads that go from the end bead to the beads on each side.

Then go back up through the bead you just added. Continue across the bottom 'till you get to the end.

Then add one piece of fringe for each bead you just added. Start with 5 blue beads and one daisy for the first one, then increase the number of blue beads by 5 each time until you reach the center, then decrease by 5. The daisies are pink with white centers. If you do not know how to make daisies, here's where you can learn the basic Daisy Chain stitch, omitting the dagger bead, unless you want a leafy fringe! After you make a daisy, go back around the daisy to the top and up through the blue beads and the bead your thread is coming out of. Then go down through the next bottom edge bead and repeat the process. The top edge of the bag sports triangle trim. To make it, weave up to the top of the bag and pick up 3 blue beads. Go down through the next bead at the top of the bag and then up through the following one. Repeat around the edge of the bag.

The strap consists of 5 blue beads, 1 pink, 1 white (I used slightly larger ones), 1 pink, 5 blue, 1 green, 1 daisy, 1 green and then repeat until you reach the length you want. I think it looks best as a short necklace with the bag hanging near the breastbone. Have fun with this cool variation of Peyote Stitch!

This content created by Emily Hackbarth

Peyote Stitch One - Flat Even Count Peyote Stitch Beading

2008-08-06T10:26:00.006-04:00

Peyote Stitch One

Flat Even Count Peyote Stitch Beading

The name "peyote stitch" comes from the Native American Church where the peyote cactus is eaten ceremonially and considered a sacrament. A form of the stitch (not the more common version discussed here) is used to embellish fans, rattles, and other items used in peyote ceremonies. For this reason, some members of the church say that the name peyote should be applied to the stitch only when used in this manner and whenever the stitch is applied to secular items it should be called gourd stitch.

Most beaders continue to use the name peyote stitch simply because the vast majority of people know the stitch by this name. We don't want to offend anyone, but we don't want to confuse anyone either. Perhaps a whole new name is needed! While gourd stitch makes sense when applied to tubular peyote, it's rather inaccurate when applied to flat peyote. Where would the gourd go?

Flat peyote with an even number of beads in the base row is very simple. Tie a bead to the end of your thread and go back through it once. Now pick up the number of beads needed to complete your base row, plus the first bead of the next row. Following the diagram, you would tie on one blue bead and pick up 1 red, 1 blue, 1 red, 1 blue, and 2 red. Now go back through the blue bead closest to the end. Pick up another red bead and go through the next blue bead and so on until you reach the end. You will notice that the red beads in the base row are pushed down as you add beads on top of them. In peyote stitch, the three red beads you just added are considered one row. The base row is considered two rows. Confusing, I know, but it's less confusing than trying to follow a row on a pattern when it's zig-zagging up and down.

Now we fill in the spaces to form the 4th row. Pick up a blue bead and go through the first red bead in the third row. Pick up another blue bead and go through the next red bead and so on until you come to the end once more.

That's basically all there is to it. I will cover increasing and decreasing in a future column as well as flat odd-count, and odd and even tubular peyote. For now why not practice with a groovy faux leopard print bracelet? Here the pattern progresses horizontally rather than vertically. Repeat this pattern block until you reach the length you need.

Matte black, black lined orange, and clear orange size 11 seed beads were used for an interesting mix of colors and textures. This is how it looks made up.

This content created by Emily Hackbarth

BEAD HUNT - :=The CharD Experiment=:

2008-07-10T12:21:00.008-04:00

Spend $10 to receive one - $20 to receive two and so on and so on. According to my calculations - this is the LAST one penny deals offered. There are TWELVE one penny deals still available!!!

CLUE FOR MONDAY - 8/04/2008

This is the last one penny deal I'll hide
So search the site far and wide
There are many unfound deals to find
Just one last clue if you don't mind

This clue is for something in a special line
Crystals, pearls, chatons all so fine
These are round and 6mm in size
The color a coffee addition devised

AND THE WINNER IS:

CLUE FOR SUNDAY - 8/03/2008

With twelve penny deals yet to be found
The fact that they're here really astounds
Here is the clue for the 12th that hides
I am put on beads to surround both sides

I am precious to many with the cost so high
Silver prices climbing and touching the sky
Ten of these will dress up your design
This one penny deal will make a great find

AND THE WINNER IS:

CLUE FOR SATURDAY - 8/02/2008

Devising the clues for this bead hunt game
I realize that some are really quite lame
I never claimed to win a writing award
This one penny deal - many have adored

This next deal comes in 6 colors bright
Red, Black, Green, Blue, Yellow and White
Twenty pretty hats for your artisan creation
Find this deal for your beading elation

AND THE WINNER IS:

CLUE FOR FRIDAY - 8/01/2008

Use one of these to complete a design
Or make your own when you're in a bind
Toggle me on or toggle me off
I'm the one penny deal so please don't scoff

Spend $10 for each one penny deal
You don't have to spin a funny wheel
There are only three more penny deals to come
Find me and I'll add you to the list of who won

AND THE WINNER IS:

CLUES FOR WEDNESDAY, JULY 30th and THURSDAY, JULY 31st

CLUE ONE OF TWO

Yesterday, brain dead, unable to think
No clue - now two - not blue or pink
There are pairs and pairs of me to find
I have balls and coils and wires divine

Add one or two or more drops to me
Beaded dangles for all to see
Another one penny deal of the day
Find me and I'll soon be on my way

AND THE WINNER IS:

CLUE TWO OF TWO:

This next batch of beauties that I will send
Have pretty beadcaps on either end
The palest purple you'll ever see
Congrats to you if you find me

Five and twenty of me you'll receive
For your artisan creations - you can believe
They'll add a dash of victorian flair
I'm hiding in store - please find me I dare

AND THE WINNER IS:

CLUE FOR TUESDAY - 7/29/2008

Three more clues left to display
The last will be on Thursday
Whether for sewing or beading galore
Find a pair of these as you explore

Spend $10 for each one penny deal
You don't have to spin a funny wheel
There are only two more penny deals to come
Find these and I'll add you to the list of who won

AND THE WINNER IS:

CLUE FOR MONDAY - 7/28/2008

Four more one penny deals coming your way
Here's the clue for the steal today
A slab of this in purple I declare
Is hidden on the site somewhere

This beauty is top drilled thru front to back
And its color is nothing that it does lack
There are only three more penny deals to come
Find me and I'll add you to the list of who won

AND THE WINNER IS:

CLUE FOR SUNDAY - 7/27/2008

More one penny deals coming your way
Here's the clue for the steal presented today
It only made sense to offer this pick
A day with prayer for the old and the sick

We hold those special close to our heart
Some vigils refined, some that we start
Find me and put in that special note
Prayers are strong - we're in the same boat

AND THE WINNER IS:

CLUE FOR SATURDAY - 7/26/2008

Six more one penny deals left to go
The next is something you definitely know
These are little and shiny and football in shape
To add sparkle to those creations you make

I'm not that big and I'm not that small
I hope someone finds me before the fall
So don't miss out on the last six deals
Get your $10 ready for these last steals

AND THE WINNER IS:

CLUES FOR FRIDAY, JULY 25th

CLUE ONE OF TWO

Here is the first of two clues today
A one penny deal coming your way
This one is stone with lines so pretty
If I'm not found it would be such a pity

I've lines of green and round I am too
Not pink or brown or even blue
If I were larger I'd be a discus
So find me please yes find me you must

AND THE WINNER IS:

CLUE TWO OF TWO:

And now for the second clue as stated
A one penny deal that has been slated
These are frosted and white and pure
One of those beads I simply adore

I work well with most everything
Added texture and class I will bring
To your artisan designs and creations
Find me quick and receive adulations

AND THE WINNER IS:

CLUE FOR THURSDAY 7-24-2008

Seven more clues left after today
For one penny deals coming your way
You'll have 10 of me to make something pretty
And if we're not found it would be such a pity

I'm metal and precious to many you see
For making links and drops plenty
For bails of wire and other things too
Don't forget to come back for tomorrow's clue

AND THE WINNER IS: Chloe in Seattle, Washington - 10 Sterling Silver 2" Headpins 26 Gauge ($2.25 USD)

CLUE FOR 7-21-2008

As promised another clue's listed today
The one penny steal deal of the day
The clue I ask do you have the nerve
To find this one penny deal curve

I'll help your non-bail pendant mess
I am fancy and hang around I confess
I have a loop and very nice plating
Today's one penny deal is patiently waiting

AND THE WINNER IS: Mary in Huron, Ohio - One Curved Tube with Loop ($1.59 USD)

CLUE FIVE - 7-9-2008

Spending ten dollars to gain a one item deal
Using your time to find the one penny steal
I promised to place these items in store
I hope they are found before I place more

When looking for me I'm found on a spool
I'm flexible, resist kinks which I find cool
You don't need a needle when using me
And where I'm hiding I'm a mere penny

AND THE WINNER IS: Mary in Huron, Ohio - 30 foot Spool AccuFlex .012 Inch Diameter Beading Wire ($3.35 USD)

See you again tomorrow - For the next 1c Steal!

CLUE FOUR - 7-8-2008

Skies of blue and bright yellow sun
I hope that you're still having fun
finding the bargains and saving some cash
While adding more beads to your growing stash

Think of angels in the heavens above
Consider Cupid's arrows of love
You'll find me standing attention set
Quietly listening for those might trumpets

AND THE WINNER IS: Mary in Huron, Ohio - 25 Czech Sapphire 13/8 Trumpet Beads ($3.25 USD)

See you again tomorrow - For the next 1c Steal!

CLUE THREE - 7-7-2008

Day three has arrived and much the same
I hope you're having fun playing this game
The next penny item for grabs today
Listen closely to what I say

I am a staple for beaders and used all the time
for making those trinkets we love so fine
decorative details when in a canoe
couldn't get anywhere without at least two

AND THE WINNER IS: Lyenne, Ontario, Canada - 100 Silver Plated 1" Paddle Pins ($2.45 USD)

See you again tomorrow - For the next 1c Steal!

Second Clue - July 6, 2008

This second clue is strange I do think
could it be red or purple or pink
where could it be to find it I'll search
and locate that penny bargain's perch

Lightweight and bumpy like stucco to me
Found on ceilings or walls by the sea
Yet another strand of something new
The only clue this time is I am not blue

AND THE WINNER IS: Mary in Huron, Ohio - 16" Strand Textured Glass 10mm Round Beads ($1.95 USD)

Welcome to :=The CharD Experiment=:

What is the "CharD Experiment"

Starting today thru the first August Monday
Look for the 1 penny steal of the day
I'll provide a clue to where it is sitting
And the one who finds me it seems only fitting

That if you should find me as you explore
Add me to your order of $10 or more
I'll be on my way to your hometown
Come back tomorrow for another round

FIRST CLUE - JULY 5, 2008

Roses are Red
Violets are Blue
Pay close attention
to this first clue

The stick for of this
is used for the schooled
The cube of 2 minus 2
Is the shape don't be fooled

AND THE WINNER IS: Sharon, Lenoir, NC - 16" Strand Chalk Turquoise 6mm Cube Beads ($7.45 USD)

Sharon stole them away for 1c and tomorrow will bring another 1c steal

See you again tomorrow - For the next 1c Steal!

Wrapping Loops

2008-07-09T13:36:00.000-04:00

You will need:

Your choice of wire
Wire cutters
Round nosed pliers
Bent/flat nosed pliers

1. Start by bending the wire to a 90 degree angle so that you create an upside down L shape.

2. Hold the bend with your round nosed pliers, and use your fingers to wrap the wire around the nose of your pliers to form a loop.

3. Keep the round nosed pliers inside the loop, and hold the loop against the nose of the pliers with one finger. So, you should have your round nosed pliers in one hand with one finger pressing the loop against the nose. (I'm right handed, so I use my left hand to hold the pliers and my pointer finger to hold the loop against the nose.)

4. Using your other hand (in my case, my right hand), start to wrap the loose wire around the straight piece of wire that is directly under your loop. If the wire is soft, you can probably do this with your fingers. Otherwise, use a bent (of flat if you prefer) pair of pliers to hold the loose wire and wrap.

5. Continue to wrap as many times as you want, and if necessary, trim off excess wire.

6. Use your bent nosed pliers to press the wire wrapped end flat to make sure it doesn't stick our and scratch or poke the wearer of your jewelry.

7. If necessary, use your round nose pliers to straighten the loop.

A Few Tips:

Be patient, and be prepared to practice. There is no way you will do this perfectly the first time. The more you do it, the better you will become.
Be careful not to wrap too close to a bead if you are including one on the wire as it could crack the bead. Though some jewelry makers like to get their wrap as close as possible to the bead, I don't mind a little room, but this is personal preference.
For beads with small holes, like pearls, you will need thin wire such as 24-28 gauge. Otherwise, 21 gauge seems to work will with most bead sizes.
When making long, loop wrapped chains, instead of cutting lots of small pieces of wire for each loop, try using longer pieces (about a foot or so in length), and cutting the wire after each loop is made. This will keep wire waste down.

All graphics and lessons created by Tammy Powley.

Beadseller Beads & Jewelry Supplies

Swarovski Crystal Products

2008-07-08T09:28:00.000-04:00

Swarovski® Crystals are made in Austria and considered to be the finest crystal beads in the world. Swarovski Crystals are available in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. For your shopping convenience, the color chart provided reflects Beadseller color code abbreviations. Anytime you shop with Beadseller Beads & Jewelry Supplies, use our on-site search engine for ease in finding the products you need for your jewelry designs. Each Swarovski color is unique and consistently high quality. You can depend upon Swarovski for their top quality and consistency in color and cuts.

Beadseller offers a number of different Swarovski Products including 4mm Crystal Bicone Beads, 6mm Margarita Flower Beads, 6mm Crystal Pearl Beads and 3mm Crystal Chatons.

Crystal bicones come in a variety of sizes making design possibilities endless.

Swarovski provides many different finishes on their crystal bicones.

AB - Aurora Borealis
CAL - Comet Argent Light
DOR - Dorado
GLBL - Glacier Blue
HEM - Hematite
SAT - Satin
METBL - Metallic Blue
METSI - Metallic Silver
TRA - Transmission

These finishes are applied to the top of the crystal.

Then there are other finishes which are applied to the back of the crystal so that you can see the finish through the crystal.

BBL - Bermuda Blue
HEL - Heliotrope
MBL - Meridian Blue
SAG - Sage
SBL - Sky Blue
STS - Star Shine
TAB - Tabac
VL - Vitrail Light
VM - Vitrail Medium
VOL - Volcano

The most popular finishes are AB, SAT, DOR, CAL, HEM, HEL, VL and VM. If you see a crystal that is AB followed by a 2x... this means that the crystal is coated on both sides.

Many of the Swarovski crystal line are available in a wide range of sizes beginning as small as 3mm to in some cases as large as 10mm. Because of the excellent quality and precision cuts and size, creating artisan products is just a matter of combining those different sizes and colors.

Every Swarovski Bead is given a special number. Beadseller offers #5301 Crystal Bicones, #3700 Margarita Flowers, #5810 Crystal Pearls and #1012 Crystal Chatons.

Crystal Chatons are so versatile in creating unique quality designs. Here they are used to accent a beautiful pair of chandelier earrings. These of 3mm Blue Zircon Chatons. Add some crystal bicone drops and you have a gorgeous pair of dress to the nines chandeliers for that perfect black dress affair.

Beadseller offers a huge array of Swarovski colors in the Crystal Bicones. To view what colors we offer - I have created a page displaying the colors we offer.

Whether alone or combined with Semi precious beads or precious gemstones, Swarovski crystals are a perfect with all of your favorite beads.

As I always say, you can never have too many beads and that is true with Swarovski Crystals. Once you try them, you'll be hooked. The huge selection of shapes, sizes and color make this yet another perfect addition to your collected treasures.

Beadseller Beads & Jewelry Supplies

Loop Technique

2008-07-07T12:26:00.000-04:00

Once you get the hang of this technique you can use it to help make earrings, dangles, pendants, Y necklaces, and many more jewelry projects. When I teach jewelry making classes, I often find that the most difficult part of any project we make seems to be when my students use round nose pliers to make the eye on a piece of wire or head pin. This seems to give people the most trouble. So, I’m going to attempt to explain how to do it. However, keep in mind, as in any technique that you haven’t done before, practice makes perfect. I don’t know how many times I’ve shown my students how to do it and then when they do it I hear, "It looked so easy when she did it." That’s because I’ve done it hundreds of times. Trust me; my first few attempts where very frustrating. In fact, I remember thinking, "I just paid $24 for these round nose pliers! I wasted my money." So, be patient and practice, practice, practice.

Now for the lesson. First, as I mentioned above you need a pair of round nose pliers. As with any other tools, there are the economy brands and the high end brands. If you make a lot of jewelry, I recommend spending a little more money and getting a pair that are German made, preferably with a small spring in between the handles.

First bend the wire at a 90 degree angle.

In this case I’m making an earring, so I recommend cutting the wire at this point. Obviously, the amount you cut depends on the size of the bead or beads on the head pin. In this case, I cut off about ½ inch. After you’re sure the part of the head pin that is bent is about ½ inches long, you’re ready to start using the round nose pliers to create the eye or circle at the end. In this case I’m making an earring, so I recommend cutting the wire at this point. Obviously, the amount you cut depends on the size of the bead or beads on the head pin. In this case, I cut off about ½ inch. After you’re sure the part of the head pin that is bent is about ½ inches long, you’re ready to start using the round nose pliers to create the eye or circle at the end.
Position the bent part of the head pin so it is facing away from you. Using the round nosed pliers, grasp the end of the bent head pin making sure the middle part of the plier’s nose is holding the pin.

Now that you have positioned your pliers correctly, slowing bend the wire towards you. The first bend will not complete the circle yet.

Now release and reposition your pliers on the circle you’ve started. Continue to bend it toward you until you’ve made a circle.

Now this earring is ready to have the ear hook put on and the eye or circle closed around it.
This is not the easiest technique to explain. But, I believe once you try it a few times you’ll perhaps find your own tricks to this technique. Though you don’t have to use this technique to make earrings and other pieces of jewelry, it really makes for a more finished look. Here’s a picture of an old earring I made many years ago before I knew how to do this. As you can see, the top of the earring is bent more flat because I used a pair of needle nosed pliers.

Now here is a newer earring I made using the round nose pliers and the technique I just explained. As you can see it looks more professional. Also, the bottom part of the earring move freely and this wouldn’t be as possible if I hadn’t made the eyes in the head pins.

All graphics and lessons created by Tammy Powley.

BEADSELLER.US © beadseller@beadseller.us

Czech Glass Beads

2008-07-06T12:28:00.000-04:00

Czech Glass Beads

Pressed or molded beads are associated with higher labour costs. These are made in the Czech Republic, in what was once called Bohemia. Thick rods (20cm) are heated to molten and fed into a Rube Goldbergian contraption that stamps the glass, including a needle that pierces a hole. The beads are rolled in hot sand to remove flashing and soften seam lines. By making canes (the glass rods fed into the machine) striped or otherwise patterned, the resulting beads can be more elaborately colored than seed beads. One `feed' of a hot rod might result in 10--20 beads, and a single operator can make thousands in a day.

The Bohemian glass industry was known for its ability to copy more expensive beads, and produced molded glass "lion's teeth", "coral", and "shells", which were popular in the 19th and early 20th century Africa trade.

My favorite glass beads are from the Czech Republic. Czech Glass Beads come in a variety of styles, shapes, sizes, finishes; you name it, there is probably a Czech bead for it! Beadseller offers Czech Glass Beads in a variety of shapes, sizes, styles, finishes in an array of colors.

Czech Pressed Glass 10mm x 6mm Teardrop Beads - Drilled thru top to bottom

These teardrop beads are pressed glass. Most pressed glass or poured glass beads have seams. Czech Pressed Glass is no different, however, I find that the Czech pressed glass beads have less seams than other manufacturers of pressed glass beads. Teardrops beads are so versatile. They work great as drops for earrings whether as single drop earrings or multiple drop chandeliers. Alone or with other beads - these are fabulous and have such an awesome range in colors.

Czech 6mm Crackle Round Beads

Crackle Beads are often just what a design calls for. I have seen designs that used nothing but crackle beads and was surprised with how pretty. They are what the name implies. I have researched to see how crackles are made to no avail - at least nothing is available on the internet. When I was young, many, many, many, many... okay, you get my drift, moons ago - we would take marbles... I told you I was old... and fry them. You read that right. We would fry marbles and from the heat, they would appear cracked. We traded our prized cracked marbles until we each had the perfect collection. I would venture to say - crackles are made in much the same way. Although, the frying pan for these beauties would be rather humongous.

Czech Trumpet Beads 13mm/8mm

Flowers are never out of style. Unless you are allergic to glass, these flowers will never make you sneeze and even better, never wilt.

Whether you used these as drops on those gorgeous beaded bracelets, as parts of those adorable angels, as unique accents to your home decor, there are many uses for these flowers. The size 13/8 tells us that the flowers are 13mm wide x 8mm hole to hole. I like using trumpet beads and unique beadcaps. Don't knock it until you try it! It is getting more difficult to find beadcaps for those larger beads that are flooding the bead market these days. So when you can't find what you're looking for in base and precious metals - these are fantastic! Speaking of Bead Caps - Beadseller offers a huge array of bead caps for your artisan creations. Czech bead caps are not only great beadcaps but just downright cute.

Czech Pressed Glass 7mm Flower Bead Caps

Czech Glass 14mm x 9mm Curved Leaf Beads

I love leaves. I love taking long drives in Autumn and looking at the beautiful colors. Spring is my favorite season, but nothing can top those gorgeous colors of Autumn. These leaves are top drilled side to side thru the leaf stem.

These are great with those floral charm bracelets. When you need some accents to your designs, consider leaves. Whether they be the Czech curved leaves or acrylic - we will discuss the new lucite beads becoming increasingly in demand in another blog, leaves never go out of style. They are a part of our desire to be in one with nature.

Czech Pressed Glass 6mm Fluted Round Beads

These fluted rounds are super. They come in a very nice array of colors and sizes. Beadseller currently only carries the 6mm Fluted Round, but we cater to our clients and if the demand arrives to add these in larger sizes, we will strive to provide them. They come in the 6mm and 8mm rounds, as well as in a line of AB finish. AB finish stands for Aurora Borealis - giving the effect of a rainbow finish best seen in natural light. Czech fluted rounds are great as spacers in place of metal for softer designs.

Czech Druk 6mm AB Round Beads

Czech Rounds have a unique finish, AB - Aurora Borealis - These unique glass beads have a special finish giving them a rainbow glow when viewed under different types of light. These come in a nice array of colors and sizes. Beadseller currently offers these beautiful AB rounds in Crystal, Blue and Pink in 6mm rounds. Czech Druk AB rounds are also made in 4mm and 8mm sizes. Do you want more colors or sizes, let me know -- I love new beads!

Czech Silver Capped 6mm Cathedral Beads

Czech Cathedral Beads are available in a variety of colors. They are available with bronze capped ends. Beadseller no longer carries the bronze capped Cathedral Beads. They add a flair of vintage feel to your artisan designs. I use cathedral beads in my victorian designs. They add the perfect touch. These are gorgeous glass beads. Cathedral beads come in 6mm, 8mm and 10mm sizes. Beadseller carries the 6mm in a wide array of colors.

Unique Bracelet by Judy Lynn of Jades Creations

These beautiful Jablonex® Czech fire-polished faceted glass Cathedral Beads have silver plated caps. Great for all of your artisan designs - Looking for beads that will give your creations a vintage feel? These are perfect!

Jablonex ® Czech Dipped Decor Druk Beads

These beautiful 8mm Round Jablonex ® Czech dipped decor druk beads are made in the Czech Republic. The special dipping process adds color brilliance to fire-polished beads.

Clear glass beads are strung, tied on a special dipping frame and dipped several times in a special dying solution enhancing color density. The strands are then dried in a special air-filtered dryer. Czech druk decor beads are available in a variety of colors and sold in strands. Beadseller carries a beautiful 8mm line of Czech druk decor beads. When you have trouble finding just that right shade, don't forget to look at the Czech druk decor beads. Their unique colors are truly worth checking.

Jablonex® Czech Pearlcoat 6mm Pearl Beads

These beautiful Czech beads are hand-dipped in a special solution using a special process giving them an amazingly lustrous "pearl" like finish. Beadseller offers this beautiful Czech Pearl line in 6mm amazingly rich colors. These are available in other sizes. Another amazing array of colors to add to your bead palette when designing your artisan creations. You can never have too many Czech glass beads - they will increase your color range in your bead design palette. Speaking of palette, Beadseller offers a fabulous collection of Freshwater Cultured Pearls in designer colors - yet another future blog.

Czech Pressed Glass 8mm Flower Beads

Czech Pressed Glass Beads are available in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes - They are a unique glass bead and make a wonderful addition to the Czech Bead family. These are certainly no different. Although not readily available, these are an interesting Czech bead perfect for your artisan creations. Whether used as an accent or the main central point in your design, these are another of the fabulous Czech line that needs attention. Earrings, bracelets, necklaces, hair decor - when you need a little inspiration, reach for some Czech Flowers.

Czech 6mm Rondelle Beads

Czech Rondelle Beads are available in a variety of colors - Beadseller offers the Czech rondelles in 6mm. They are perfect for your artisan designs. If you prefer glass rondelles over metal rondelles or even semi precious rondelles, these are exactly what you want. There is an occasionally color varience, but the uniformity of size is amazing.

Czech Glass Granite 6mm and 8mm Round Beads

With all the new semi precious beads coming available in granite, it is equally as nice to have the constant in yet another Czech bead. These Granite rounds come in a limited color range but numerous shapes and sizes. Beadseller offers the Czech Glass Granite in 6mm and 8mm rounds. These are the Light Blue Granite 8mm Rounds. The Light Green and Mauve Granite rounds are difficult to keep stocked. These glass granite rounds have a unique granite appearance for a fraction of the cost of real granite. Another plus bead for your bead pallete and artisan designs. We can never have too many beads, so if you need these in a different shape or size - Beadseller strives to please.

Czech Glass 6mm Satin Pearls

I saved my favorite for last. These Czech Glass Satin Pearls are gorgeous. I love satin beads. Despite their lack of flash, they add tecture and depth to your creations. Beadseller offers the 6mm Czech Satin Pearls in seven scrumptious colors:

Dark Green, Dark Purple, Gold, Green, Mauve, Blue and as seen to the right - Purple Czech Satin Pearls are available in 6mm, 8mm and 10mm rounds. Beadseller currently only carries the 6mm rounds; but I can be persuaded - You can never have too many beads!

More about Czech Beads

The technology for glass beadmaking is among the oldest human arts, dating back 30,000 years (Dubin, 1987). Glass beads have been dated back to at least Roman times. Perhaps the earliest glass-like beads were Egyptian faience beads, a form of clay bead with a self-forming vitreous coating.

Common types of glass bead manufacture

Glass beads are usually categorized by the method used to manipulate the glass. Most beads fall into three main categories: wound beads, drawn beads, and molded beads. There are composites, such as millefiori beads, where cross-sections of a drawn glass cane are applied to a wound glass core. A very minor industry in blown glass beads also existed in 19th century Venice and France.

Wound glass beads

Probably the earliest beads of true glass were made by the winding method. Glass at a temperature high enough to make it workable , or "ductile", is laid down or wound around a steel wire or mandrel coated in a clay slip called "bead release." The wound bead while still hot may be further shaped by manipulating with graphite, wood, stainless steel or marble tools and paddles, this process is called marvering, originating from the French word "Marver" which translates to "Marble". It can also be pressed into a mold in its molten state. While still hot, or after re-heating, the surface of the bead may be decorated with fine rods called stringers of colored glass. These are a type of lampwork beads.

Drawn glass beads

The drawing of glass is also very ancient. Evidence of large-scale drawn-glass beadmaking has been found by archeologists in India, at sites like Arekamedu dating to the 2nd century CE. The small drawn beads made by that industry have been called Indo-Pacific beads, because they may have been the single most widely traded item in history--found from the islands of the Pacific to Great Zimbabwe in southern Africa. There are several methods for making drawn beads, but they all involve pulling a strand out of a gather of glass in such a way as to incorporate a bubble in the center of the strand to serve as the hole in the bead. In Arekamedu this was accomplished by inserting a hollow metal tube into the ball of hot glass and pulling the glass strand out around it, to form a continuous glass tube. In the Venetian bead industry, molten glass was gathered on the end of a tool called a puntile ("puntying up"), a bubble was incorporated into the center of a gather of molten glass, and a second puntile was attached before stretching the gather with its internal bubble into a long cane. The pulling was a skilled process, and canes were reportedly drawn to lengths up to 200 feet long. The drawn tube was then chopped, producing individual drawn beads from its slices. The resulting beads were cooked or rolled in hot sand to round the edges without melting the holes closed; were sieved into sizes; and, usually, strung onto hanks for sale.

The most common type of modern glass bead is the seed bead, a small type of bead typically less than 6mm, traditionally monochrome, and manufactured in very large quantities.They are a modern example of mechanically-drawn glass beads. The micro-bead or "seed bead", are so called due to their tiny, regular size. Modern seed beads are extruded by machine and some, (Miyuki delicas) look like small tubes.

Molded beads

Pressed or molded beads are associated with higher labour costs. These are made in the Czech republic, in what was once called Bohemia. Thick rods (20cm?) are heated to molten and fed into a Rube Goldbergian contraption that stamps the glass, including a needle that pierces a hole. The beads again are rolled in hot sand to remove flashing and soften seam lines. By making canes (the glass rods fed into the machine) striped or otherwise patterned, the resulting beads can be more elaborately colored than seed beads. One `feed' of a hot rod might result in 10--20 beads, and a single operator can make thousands in a day.

The Bohemian glass industry was known for its ability to copy more expensive beads, and produced molded glass "lion's teeth", "coral", and "shells", which were popular in the 19th and early 20th century Africa trade.

Beadseller Beads & Jewelry Supplies

Sleeping Beauty Turquoise

2008-07-05T03:49:00.001-04:00

Beadseller Turquoise beads are Natural. We strive to provide a variety of different shapes and sizes of Sleeping Beauty Turquoise at affordable prices. Most of the turquoise we sell is stabilized to add hardness to the turquoise. They are exceptional quality and have a very nice polish. Turquoise is available in all shapes, sizes and quality. Not all turquoise is from the Sleeping Beauty mine - but this is the most sought after turquoise on the market.

This 16 Inch strand of Natural Turquoise is "WYSIWYG" - You will receive the exact strand pictured
Bead Size and Shape: 10mm x 15mm Nugget Beads - This strand has smaller nugget spacers between the larger nuggets - These nuggets are from the Sleeping Beauty Mine in Globe, AZ

The product code for this item: TQN1510-02SB

Description: These are natural turquoise that has been stabilized to add hardness. These have a very super polish and great even cuts. These have a minimal amount of matrix. These have a beautiful robins egg blue color.

This 16 Inch strand of Natural Turquoise is
"WYSIWYG" - You will receive the exact strand pictured

Bead Size and Shape: 5mm-8mm Nugget Beads - These nuggets are from the Sleeping Beauty Mine in Globe, AZ

The product code for this item: TQN85-04SB

Description: These are natural turquoise that has been stabilized to add hardness. These have a very nice polish and great even cuts. These have a minimal amount of matrix. We found a super turquoise vendor and will continue to offer only quality genuine turquoise. We strive to find Sleeping Beauty Turquoise at affordable prices.

This 16 Inch strand of Natural Turquoise is "WYSIWYG" - You will receive the exact strand pictured

Bead Size and Shape: 4mm-6mm Pebble Beads - These pebbles are from the Sleeping Beauty Mine in Globe, AZ
The product code for this item: TQP46-01SB

Description: These are natural turquoise that has been stabilized to add hardness. These have a very super polish and great even cuts. These have a minimal amount of matrix. These have a beautiful robins egg blue color.

WHAT AND WHERE IS TURQUOISE

Turquoise was among the first gems to be mined, and while many historic sites have been depleted, some are still worked to this day. These are all small-scale, often seasonal operations, owing to the limited scope and remoteness of the deposits. Most are worked by hand with little or no mechanization. However, turquoise is often recovered as a byproduct of large-scale copper mining operations, especially in the United States. The Southwest United States is a significant source of turquoise; Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada. The deposits of California and New Mexico were mined by pre-Columbian Native Americans using stone tools, some local and some from as far away as central Mexico. Cerrillos, New Mexico is thought to be the location of the oldest mines; prior to the 1920s, the state was the country's largest producer; it is more or less exhausted today. Only one mine in California, located at Apache Canyon, operates at a commercial capacity today. One of the richest mines in Arizona is the "Sleeping Beauty" mine. It produces some of the highest quality turquoise for jewelry and has a robin's egg blue color.

Bisbee Blue or Bisbee turquoise refers to the turquoise that comes from copper mines located in the vicinity of Bisbee, Arizona.

Though small amounts were found in the Campbell shaft mine, as well as in streambeds in the Mule Mountains, the vast majority of Bisbee turquoise surfaced when the Phelps Dodge Corporation started open pit mining operations at the location now known as the Lavender Pit, especially the eastern side of the pit. Large amounts of a conglomerate rock bed needed to be removed before the deeper located copper ore could be reached. This conglomerate "waste" rock was the host for most of the turquoise, both in vein and nugget form.

Bisbee turquoise can be found in many different shades of color and quality, from soft, low quality pale blue to the quality hard brilliant blue turquoise and most every shade of blue in between. Green turquoise is also found in Bisbee, but is not usually of very high quality. During the time that the largest quantities of turquoise were being extracted from the mine, the company made no organized effort to recover it. It simply got loaded into large dump trucks and hauled off to the "dumps". During this time (primarily through the late-50s into the late-60s), almost all recovered turquoise was made by company employees, taking it home in their lunch boxes, etc. Though this activity was prohibited, it was rarely enforced. For several years (mostly the early to late 70s), these individuals locally know as "dumpers", were the only source for this fine turquoise. Also, during this time, Phelps Dodge leased out the dumps to an individual to mine the dumps for turquoise.

SLEEPING BEAUTY MOUNTAIN
GLOBE, ARIZONA

The trucks on the left transport the turquoise laced rock to the "shaker" on the right.

This machine separates the rock into different sizes and sends it down a conveyer belt where workers pick out the turquoise from the common rock.

There are five “kinds” of turquoise as described by law

1 - Natural turquoise - turquoise that is so hard and beautiful that it is simply mined, cut, polished and set into a piece of jewelry or carved into a fetish or sculpture. Less than 3% of all the turquoise on the market worldwide is natural.

2 - Stabilized turquoise - soft or "chalk" turquoise has been infused with a clear epoxy resin. The resin, under pressure, absorbs into the rock, which permanently hardens the rock and deepens the color. Unlike the collectible natural turquoise which deepens in color over time by gradually absorbing oils from the skin as it is worn, the colors in stabilized turquoise are permanent. Most of the turquoise on the market is stabilized and should not cost as much as natural. Stabilized turquoise can be very beautiful, and is a good buy.

3 - Treated turquoise - soft or "chalk" turquoise that is stabilized as described above, except that the epoxy resin is also dyed. Colors in treated turquoise have a tendency to look artificial. Prices should be much less than natural or stabilized.

4 - Reconstituted turquoise - turquoise "chalk" that is very low grade and has been ground into powder, saturated with epoxy resin, dyed, and compressed into blocks or cakes to be cut into shapes for jewelry making. Prices should be most inexpensive.

5 - Imitation turquoise - there is no turquoise in this category. Either these are stones like howlite (white stone, very porous) dyed to look like turquoise or they are pure plastic (epoxy resin) that has been dyed to look like turquoise.

Turquoise has a waxy luster and is a phosphate of aluminum with copper and traces of iron. Depending on its origin, the stone can be sky blue to green depending on the amount of copper (which makes it blue) and iron (which makes it green).

TURQUOISE METAPHYSICAL LORE:

Turquoise is said to attract prosperity and success, to have the power to influence creative powers, and to enhance the ability to communicate. The stone has long been prized as a powerful talisman with healing properties. Turquoise increases resistance to viruses and helps to relieve sore throats, lung infections and the affects of allergies.

Disclaimer: Metaphysical lore on healing and spiritual healing is not a prescription, diagnosis or healthcare information; they are alternative and complementary and are not scientifically substantiated. By using this metaphysical and healing lore information, you acknowledge and agree that you personally assume responsibility for your use or misuse of this lore.

Beadseller Beads & Jewelry Supplies

Natural African Green Opal Beads

2008-07-03T10:15:00.000-04:00

Beadseller African Green Opal beads are Natural. They have a striking blend of greens, browns and some creams. They are predominantly varying shades of green and brown. These are exceptional quality, great shapes, and have a beautiful polish. Lots of rich swirls and patterns. Two or three stones have an occasional void which is typical of common opal. About 2-3 beads per strand. We sell our semi precious bead strands as a WYSIWYG - You will receive the exact strand pictured.

This 16 Inch strand of Natural African Green Opal is "WYSIWYG" - You will receive the exact strand pictured

Bead Size and Shape: 10mm Round Beads

The product code for this item: AGO10-01

Description: These African green opal rounds have a striking blend of greens, browns and some creams. They are predominantly varying shades of green and brown. These are exceptional quality, great cuts and have a beautiful polish. Lots of rich swirls and patterns. Two or three stones have an occasional void which is typical of common opal.

This 16 Inch strand of Natural African Green Opal is "WYSIWYG" - You will receive the exact strand pictured

Bead Size and Shape: 14mm Puffed Square Beads

The product code for this item: AGOPS14-01

Description: These African green opal puffed squares have a striking blend of greens, browns and some creams. They are predominantly varying shades of green and brown. These are exceptional quality, great cuts and have a beautiful polish. Lots of rich swirls and patterns. Two or three stones have an occasional void which is typical of common opal.

We frequently offer pendant stones with the different variety of semi precious bead strands. These are also sold as a WYSIWYG and when possible, both sides of the stone are pictured.

This Natural African Green Opal Teardrop Pendant is a WYSIWYG pendant

Bead Size and Shape: 30mm x 22mm Teardrop Pendant - Drilled thru top to bottom

The product code for this item: AGOP3022-01

Description: This African green opal teardrop pendant has a striking blend of greens, browns and some creams. They are predominantly varying shades of green and brown. This is an exceptional quality pendant, great even cut and has a beautiful polish. Lots of rich swirls and patterns. Striking pendant!

Natural African Green Opal is a member of the Opal family: What and Where is Opal

The mineraloid opal is amorphous. The water content sometimes being as high as 20% but is usually between three and ten percent. Opal ranges from colorless through white, milky blue, gray, red, yellow, green, brown and black. Common opal is truly amorphous, but precious opal does have a structural element. The word opal comes from the Sanskrit upala, the Greek opallios, and the Latin opalus, meaning "precious stone." Opals are also Australia's National gemstone. Opal is a mineraloid gel which is deposited at relatively low temperature and may occur in the fissures of almost any kind of rock, being most commonly found with limonite, sandstone, rhyolite, and basalt.

Australia produces around 97% of the world’s opal. 90% is called ‘light opal’ or white and crystal opal. White makes up 60% but not all the opal fields produce white opal; Crystal opal or pure hydrated silica makes up 30%; 8% is black and only 2% is boulder opal. Coober Pedy in South Australia is a major source of opal. Another Australian town, Lightning Ridge in New South Wales, is the main source of black opal, opal containing a predominantly dark background (dark-gray to blue-black displaying the play of color). Boulder opal consists of concretions and fracture fillings in a dark siliceous ironstone matrix. It is found sporadically in western Queensland, from Kynuna in the north, to Yowah and Koroit in the south.

Fire Opal is found mostly in Mexico and Mesoamerica. In South America, a city called Pedro II, located in Brazil, produces opal that was discovered in 1930. Fire opal, or Girasol, is a translucent to semi-opaque stone that is generally yellow to bright orange and sometimes nearly red and displays pleochroism at certain angles.

The Virgin Valley Opal Fields Of Humboldt county in northern Nevada produce a wide variety black, crystal, white, and fire opal. Most precious opals are wood replacements. Many specimens have a high water content, and as a result, have a greater tendency to desiccate and crack than most precious opal. Discovered in 1904 the mines are still producing gem materials in large amounts to hundreds of seasonal visitors.

Peruvian opal (also called blue opal) is a semi-opaque to opaque blue-green stone found in Peru which is often cut to include the matrix in the more opaque stones. It does not display pleochroism.

OPAL METAPHYSICAL LORE

The Opal is thought to project ones inner beauty. It enhances our creativity, while releasing our inhibitions. The Opal contains the colors and qualities of many other healing stones. It is sometimes called the "stone of inspiration." It is believed to help improve self esteem, bringing its wearer, happy dreams. It is the birthstone for October.

In the middle ages, opal was considered a stone that could provide great luck because it was believed to possess all the virtues of each gemstone whose color was represented in the color spectrum of the opal. However, modern superstition attributes bad luck to the stone, though some believe this is avoided if opal is the owner's birthstone or if the stone is a gift. Even under the last czar at the beginning of the 20th century, it was believed that when a Russian of any sex, of any rank, saw an opal, amongst other goods offered for sale, he or she would not buy anything more, since, in the judgment of subjects of the czar, the opal embodied the evil eye.

Disclaimer: Metaphysical lore on healing and spiritual healing is not a prescription, diagnosis or healthcare information; they are alternative and complementary and are not scientifically substantiated. By using this metaphysical and healing lore information, you acknowledge and agree that you personally assume responsibility for your use or misuse of this lore.

Beadseller Beads & Jewelry Supplies

New Jewelry Making Products

2008-07-02T13:40:00.000-04:00

Argentium® Sterling Silver

Argentium® Sterling Silver has an added alloy of Germanium which makes it highly tarnish resistant making it easy to clean and maintain. It is 92.5% Sterling Silver. Like Sterling Silver, it contains some copper alloys. Persons who have a body chemistry that reacts to copper, please note that you may have a similar reaction to Argentium Silver leading to potential tarnishing.

Argentium® Sterling Silver Earring Wires

These earring wires are a flat fishhook design - They are 21 Gauge - When it comes to gauge - the larger the number - the thinner the wire.

Sterling Silver JumpLocks

I believe that JumpLocks, as they become more readily available in all standard jumpring sizes, will eventually replace jumprings. Jumplocks are uniquely as strong as soldered jumprings too.

How they work:

1. Use two smooth or nylon jaw chain nose pliers to grip the sides of the Jumplock at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions, with the opening at the top.
2. Holding the left side stead, twist the right side of the ring a quarter-turn away from you. Place your chain, charm, or finding onto the Jumplock.
3. While continuing to hold the left side stead, twist the right side back toward you a quarter-turn past the closed position.
4. Begin to bring your Jumplock into the closed position. As you twist back, very gently push the right side in just enough to make sure that the edges of the two ends make contact with each other. As you reach the closed position, you will hear a click.
5. Twist the right side back and forth very slightly to align the two ends and finish hardening the metal into the closed postion. The ring is now "LOCKED" securely.

Jumplocks Available in Gold Filled

Beadseller Beads & Jewelry Supplies

Cloisonne - Multi-step enamel process - just beautiful metalwork

2008-07-01T10:43:00.000-04:00

Cloisonné, an ancient metalworking technique, is a multi-step enamel process used to produce jewelry, vases, and other decorative items.

(Interview with Laura Zell on the art of enameling)

Cloisonné first developed in the Near East. It spread to the Byzantine Empire and from there along the Silk Road to China. Chinese cloisonné is probably the most well known and ubiquitous. Russian cloisonné from the Tsarist era is highly prized by collectors. Chinese cloisonné is sometimes confused with Canton enamel, a similar type of enamel work that is painted on freehand and does not utilize partitions to hold the colors separate.

First, the artist forms metal (such as copper, bronze, or silver) into the shape of the finished object.

Cloisonné wire, which is pure silver wire usually about .010 x .040 inches in cross section, is bent into shapes that define the colored areas. The bends are all done at right angles, so that wire does not curve up. This done with small pliers, tweezers, and custom made jigs. The cloisonné wire pattern may consist of several intricately constructed wire patterns that fit together into a larger design. Solder can be used to join the wires, but it causes the enamel to discolor and form bubbles later on. Instead the base metal is fired with a thin layer of clear enamel. The cloisonné wire is glued to the enamel surface with gum Tragacanth. When the gum Tragacanth has dried the piece is fired again to fuse the cloisonné wire to the clear enamel. The gum Tragacanth burns off leaving no residue.

Frit (glass crushed to a powder) in a water-based paste is painted into the partitions using an annotated pattern similar to the "paint by numbers" craft technique. After the frit has dried, firing in an oven melts it onto the metal. Several repetitions of the process may ensue to build up the coatings to the height of the partitions. Various colors and transparencies may be used in combination within a single partition to obtain the desired artistic effect.

The glass and a portion of the cloisons are ground and polished to form an even and smooth surface.

The exposed metal is electroplated with a thin film of gold to prevent corrosion and to give a pleasing appearance.

Cloisonné Pic

Beadseller Beads & Jewelry Supplies

Buying Semi Precious Beads - Charoite

2008-06-29T19:22:00.000-04:00

Charoite

The thing I hate most about buying semi precious beads is the representative picture. Now I understand that sellers want to put their best foot forward and take pictures of those top notch new arrivals - but as a buyer, I don't want to see that best strand pictured, I want to see what you will be sending me.

These are Charoite 10mm Round Beads and they sell for $59.95. Their rich Lavender and Purple swirls are phenomenal. I was thrilled when they arrived. Upon their arrival, I immediately returned to the vend to buy more and was lucky to acquire a second strand.

Charoite is a rare mineral, named for the Chara River (though this etymology is disputed by some), and found only in the Sakha Republic, Siberia, Russia. It is found where a syenite massif has intruded into and altered limestone deposits. Charoite is a strong, translucent lavender to purple in color, reminding some of a granite or marble with its pearly, swirling luster. However, it is a discrete mineral rather than a rock. It has an unusual swirling, fibrous appearance, sometimes chatoyant, and that, along with its intense color, sometimes of a "grape" nature, can lead many to believe at first that it is synthetic or enhanced artificially.

Though reportedly discovered in the 1940s, it was not known to the outside world until its description in 1978. Charoite is used as an ornamental stone and sometimes a gemstone, generally as cabochons set into pendants.

Russia has fairly strict prohibitions on the exportation of charoite. Generally, charoite is permitted to be exported only after the stone has been worked, for example, into figurines or other type ornaments. It is therefore difficult to procure "unworked" or "rough" charoite in a form suitable for further working into jewelry such as cabochons.

Charoite often contains inclusions of the mineral tinaksite, which appears as a golden, spire-like shape running through the material.

Many people have different ideas about semi precious stones; including, the belief that they have healing qualities. This information on stones is referred to as its metaphysical qualities. Charoite is referred to as the soul stone connecting the head and the heart. It is believed that Charoite removes negativity energy from within the realm of your world. I have read that if you place some charoite under your pillow, it will enhance your dreams and ease your fears.

Personally, I believe it is one of the richest purple stones on our planet with Amethyst coming in at a close second.

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