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Now don’t get me wrong – I love fine gemstones. Amethyst and jonquil (or citrine) can be truly beautiful. But, you know, if they have good clarity and faceting (the way we love them) they’re also really expensive.
But we can find a lovely alternative, easy peasy 🙂
Good clarity? That’s what glass does! Good faceting? Just look: These glass gems (pointed back cabochons) have wonderful faceting. And history (some of these are 60 years old – of course, some are about 6 months old, too.)
Once I got over my snobbishness and realized how beautiful cabochons and glass jewels could be, I never looked back. These are gorgeous. And affordable. That’s a win.
Now these are fun! Pretty drops of golden glass in totally different shapes – combine them for a fab pair of earrings 🙂
Yes, topaz is sometimes considered a “Fall” color – I guess because it’s the November birthstone. But it’s wonderful for Spring. Sunshine, longer days, golden yellow – these are light-filled summertime images for me.
Affordable pretty color – love it!
This is a design I love – and my customers have been pretty happy with it too 🙂 These crystal (glass) octagons are pointed back cabochons, glass jewels that measure 14mm x 10mm (approx. 5/8″ x 3/8″). They’re well faceted, sparkly, and feminine.
And here’s the even-cooler part. Take this same basic design, and instead of adding silver(y) chain, attach a clasp.
And presto, you’ve got a gorgeous bracelet! Hint: try this. When you’re making the necklace, instead of adding the chain to the octagons with a jump ring – use spring rings instead. Made that way, you can attach the chain to the jump rings anytime you want to wear your necklace. Or you can leave the chain off, clasp the spring rings *to each other*, and wear your octagons as a bracelet! (I’ll do up a pic soon and add it here.)
Double sparkly goodness for your prom, your Saturday night date… or your wedding. Win!
These pretty oval jewels are crystal pointed back cabochon stones and they are probably the most popular oval jewel I’ve ever found. Such pretty gems! The size is perfect when you don’t want gaudy but you do want sparkly 🙂
They’re about 1/2″ long. Demure and girly. Also sparkling and sexy. Kind of the perfect stone. Think how pretty these would be for your wedding earrings, or a tiny lovely pendant on a delicate silver chain.
And if you want something a bit more complex, but still not huge, and still sparkly?You can choose the two-jewel setting. Pair your crystal ovals with a tiny rhinestone (and you choose the color!) Wonderful for wedding jewels – and bridesmaids.
Or prom. Or Friday night. Or Sunday. Or, well, you get the idea 🙂
I’ve been having a lot of requests lately for antique black brass settings – smoky, brown-black, inky midnight… people are really loving the punk, boho look! And I’m lucky, I’m able to find some good supplies of these black brass settings, so most of my jewels can now be outfitted with your choice of golden raw brass, or antique patina brass, and now blackened brass. Like these:
and
Puts me in mind of the Orient Express, and Irene Adler for some reason 🙂
And remember, you can ask for any jewels in the blackened brass settings now… I don’t have all the listings updated yet, but the option is definitely available!
The surprise of a more golden “smoky topaz” – I got these recently and was just charmed at their pretty color. Most smoky topaz is a deep – well, smoky – brown, which is a fine rich fall color. Then there’s golden topaz, which is usually golden (yeah, duh, I know), it’s the November birthstone, and has a nice sparkle.
These “golden smoky topaz” are a meld of the two colors – deeper than golden, and with just a lovely rich tone.
You see what I mean? Just a bit brigher, and cheerier, and well, sparklier. Would love to know what you think of this “new” color!
Let’s cut to the chase. Women love bling. Lots of guys do too, come to think of it. “Bling” has been defined (Merriam-Webster, I think) as “flashy jewelry worn especially as an indication of wealth” but I think it’s even more basic than that. Bling, as most women use it, means sparkly jewelry that flashes light, creates sparkle, and is FLATTERING to wear. Little glints of light near your face? Make you look good.
That’s pretty basic. Bling makes us look good. It makes us look – and feel – special. That’s a good enough reason right there.
And the really cool thing is, it doesn’t have to be Expensive Diamonds. Take a look at these pretty glass jewels (yes, they’re from my Etsy shop.
(And yes, you can buy these goodies lots of places.) The point is, they look great. They don’t cost a lot. Buy the DIY glass jewels (I’ll love you for it) – or buy glass jewelry.
It looks fab. It won’t cost the rent. You’ll look good. This is why we love bling!
These aqua beads have two glass jewels, a sparkling aqua round “rivoli” jewel (the faceting comes to a point rather than being “table cut”) – and a tiny sparkling rhinestone chaton. They’re a fine example of simple, easy to use, and beautiful. You really don’t need to do a bunch of Stuff to have a lovely pair of earrings.
They’re about 3/4″ long, large enough to have “presence” – and to add color and sparkle to your outfit. But they’re not big and heavy. It’s easy to use them – just add earwires (or leverbacks, my favorite). But you could also dangle them from other crystals, from jeweled links, from wire-wrapped pearls. Make them into long dangles if you like.
Still: used exactly “as is” (whether in the patina brass settings shown, or golden raw brass, or shining silver plate) – they’re lovely earrings. Perfect for your bridesmaid – or your bridal earrings. Perfect for gifts. Perfect for you.
This is what easy DIY is about. Perfect for you.
The color known in the jewelry trade as ‘light colorado topaz’ is a wonderful golden tan, not too dark, that is totally reminiscent of champagne. Or the color we think of as “champagne”. Or a rich beautiful sparkling mysterious light lovely topaz.
You get the idea I think this is a good color? That would be a Yes 🙂
These are just a few of the shapes I have in my Etsy jewelry supplies shop in this lovely color. It’s so flattering (not too yellow-greenish, not too washed-out beige) and easy to wear. It looks rich (i.e., reference to ‘champagne’ I mentioned earlier). It’s great for bridesmaids – and brides. And if you stretch a bit, it’s even the birthstone color for November (topaz).
It’s just a GOOD COLOR. And girls love it 🙂
I mentioned cushion cut jewels the other day – one of the other major trends I’m seeing lately is stud earrings. Small, pretty earrings that don’t shout out loud – but look great.
Like these pretty glass octagons:
Those little jewels can be placed in one-ring, two-ring or no-ring settings. I think people are liking the no-ring, button earring styles lately because they don’t get in the way, they look girly and pretty, and sometimes it’s nice to have a change from big dangle earrings.
Which we will talk about later. Because they’re still wonderful. But the little earrings? They’re fun too 🙂
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Jewelry and Accessories
Vintage, Recycled, Upcycled!
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