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And now we get back to our main love – sparkly glass jewels. These are a few unexpected combinations I put together on my work desk, just to see how they’d fit together:  Any of these could be used “as is”, and they’d be charming. Combining unusual colors and shapes is a fun way to up your game 🙂 And of course you can customize – and get exactly the colors you need for your event or, say, your bridesmaids. Custom colors – just what you want and need – this is a win! One of the advantages of making your own jewelry (or, having a jewelry supply shop!) is that you can make exactly the jewelry you want. You can choose the color – or combinations – or shapes, sizes, metal colors. It’s like a smorgasbord all for you, and you get to choose the goodies. For instance, if I wanted to make some earrings to go with the totally adorable vintage sundress I posted about a few days ago, any of these lovely set stone combos would be great.  And aside from saving money (which come on, is usually pretty important) the beauty of DIY is that: you can get what you want. That’s worth repeating. You can get WHAT YOU WANT. Go for it. I recently added another color combination to my collection of “triples” – glass earring (or pendant) dangle beads that actually have three rhinestone jewels. I’m already getting a super response to this emerald, aqua, and crystal combination:  A little added perk to these “triple” listings is that I can offer a “choose your color” option – there are several color variations (and of course you can always let me know what colors *you* want and I’ll create a combo just for you 🙂 I’ve said it before: it’s all personal. If you can get just the colors you want, well, that’s a good thing, isn’t it? Yeah. Thought so. I love this amethyst glass jewel set. It’s a pretty color (amethyst purple, the color of love, but you knew that). It’s feminine and classy and delicate without being so dainty it disappears. And it’s easy to use!  Add a jump ring and chain and your necklace is ready. Add earwires and you’re good to go. If, just as an example, you needed a jewelry set for your Mom? You order this, I send it out next day, you get it in 3 days (okay, knock wood) and you add the findings. Voila: a great gift for Mom. But also for you, of course. And did I mention it’s an affordable glass jewel set? Yes. Easy, pretty, affordable. This is a good trend 🙂 Clear glass can be simple and stunning – it has a lot more “presence” than you might think. I had taken this pic recently, just as a test to see how my mannequin “model” might work for necklace pics. Then a customer wanted to get a guesstimated idea to see how her 18mm x 13mm oval jewels might work as a necklace.  The model (mannequin) here is close to life size. A little smaller (and slimmer, because everybody must be a size 2, of course)(pffft!) – but still, it gives an idea. Clear jewels are just too much fun 😉 When in doubt, go with the classics. I’ve recently restocked this size and shape – 14mm x 10mm crystal oval rhinestone jewels. Just over 5/8″ long – delicate and pretty.  This “mid-size” oval just works, yknow? They’re large enough to be noticed – but not heavy or in-your-face. They’re actually wonderful pendants. They’re great for earrings. I do have two-ring settings available as well, so you can use them for links in your necklaces or bracelets. and, I mean – when you don’t know what color to wear, or you want the reflected light to flatter your face? Crystal, faceted jewels. Tiny little bits of sparkle. Girly and gorgeous. Why do you think diamonds are so popular? These don’t cost quite so much 😉 (Okay, compared to diamonds, these cost practically nothing.) They look good. They’re easy to use. This is a win. Yes, I like to play with beads and jewels – they’re my medium, if you like. And I think it’s good to try things that we aren’t “supposed to do”. After I saw that yummy, fuschia pink silk dress (see my post here), I couldn’t resist playing with some fuschia pink jewels.  I deliberately grabbed beads and jewels that I wouldn’t usually pair with the fuschia pink jewels. In the example on the left, that big jump ring is aluminum – not a material you expect to see with a classic rhinestone teardrop. And the upper stone is navy blue. In the middle design, those round(ish) beads are glass E beads – I probably wouldn’t choose those color combinations and those very..hmm…casual beads. But hey, why not try it? The design on the right has a sapphire blue oval paired with the fuschia pear. And the settings aren’t even the same color. Well, we definitely wouldn’t do that. But – why not? Okay, if it was me, I’d try to use three different settings, not two, so it looks deliberate. But that’s me. You ought to do – whatever feels right to you. Both gold and silver settings in the same earrings? Why not? Color is one of the most fun things to play with. And we sometimes forget to experiment and try new ideas. We always use blue with green, or red with black, or, well, just imagine the same-old-same-old combo you’ve been wearing forever. Change the experiment. Break the rules. Or just play.  You see what I mean about playing with color – and shapes? Pull out your bead stash, or the glass jewels you’ve been saving. Spread a white cloth (or paper!) on your desktop or work surface, so the colors really show up. Combine shapes you don’t usually use. Play. You’ll find combos you love. I promise. You know that aquamarine is the March birthstone, right? So I got to thinking about aqua, aqua blue, aquamarine, light turquoise…. all those color names for pretty aqua jewels. And since I had just found that totally darling aqua prom dress (see post here), I thought it could be fun to look at aqua earrings, too. Let’s go understated, first.  These stud earring jewels are easy to use (just glue on earring posts – E6000 is a pretty reliable jewelry glue). They’re small(ish) but large enough to have a bit of impact, about 1/2″ long. They’d be great day or night – and kind of extra fun, when people *expect* you to wear long dangly earrings – and you’ve got on a pair of classy button earrings, instead. Anyway. That’s a start. Don’t get me wrong, I like dangly earrings too – and I’m going to come back in a day or two and show off some designs I think you’ll like. But meanwhile? Aquamarine blue. March birthstone. Make a birthday present for your BFF or your mom. Or you, of course 😉 I don’t think it’s just me. I think these wonderful blue zircon octagon jewels (glass jewels, that is) look fabulously luxurious.  I’ve had blue zircon octagons before, in a foiled-back setting, and they’re super. But this is actually one of those colors that I think is even better when it’s sheer, so the light shines through. It looks good on just about everybody, it’s great year-round, and the octagon cut (closely resembling the classic gemstone “emerald cut”) feels very luxe. Use these jewels in a simple setting – as an oversized button earring (yes I have no-ring, closed back settings for them) – or a simple drop earring – or a fabulous classic emerald-cut pendant. You’ll look like a million bucks. You just don’t have to spend that kind of money 🙂 Win! |
Jewelry and Accessories
Vintage, Recycled, Upcycled!
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