Making A Tri-Strand Beaded Necklace

If it's true that a cord of three strands is not quickly broken, this easy, tri-strand beaded necklace ought to last forever! The simple pattern is a dream to make, the perfect project for beginners, and yet it has an elegance and sophistication to it that beginner's projects typically lack.

To make the tri-strand beaded necklace, you'll need:

Craft thread (quilting thread works well if you don't have craft thread on hand)
A needle
A pair of sharp scissors
A necklace clasp, of any kind; I like to use the barrel closures
3 packages of 11/0 seed beads, or similar beads; I like 11/0 Rocaille beads, but any seed beads will work.

Once you've made the necklace, and gotten the hang of it, you may wish to experiment with different beads. For example, using three different sizes of seed pearls, with the smallest on top and the largest on bottom, gives a stunning layered look. Or, make two strands out of pearls and one out of cloisonn?. For now, however, stick to the simplest of beads forms; the seed bead, a fun, elegant, yet inexpensive choice.

A word about your needle: the eye should be large enough to thread easily, but small enough to slip through your beads. Always test the needle, by sliding it through two or three of the beads, to make sure that it fits easily through the hole.

To begin, cut three strands of your craft or quilting thread. One should be 21 inches, one should be 17 inches, and one should be 13 inches. You may wish to play around with these lengths once you've made this first necklace.

Gather the threads, with one end even, and attach the even ends to one half of your necklace clasp. I typically slip the threads through and tie them; a drop of glue on the knot adds strength. You should now have half a necklace clasp with three threads of three different lengths hanging from it.

Beginning with the shortest thread, the 13 inch, thread your needle and string your beads. Ideally, you should stop at least 2 inches short of the end of the thread; this will give you room to tie off your thread.

You want to be very careful at this stage. Without losing any of the beads, thread the end of the 13 inch strand through the second half of your necklace clasp, and tie it on. This will keep your beads from slipping off the smallest strand while you do the other two.

Repeat the procedure with the 17 inch and the 21 inch threads, again, stopping 2 inches short of the end and tying them onto the necklace clasp. Once each strand is finished, add a drop of glue to the second half of the clasp, just as you did to the first, to add strength to the knots.

When you're finished, you should have three swags of beads, roughly 18, 14, and 10 inches, respectively.

Because these necklaces are so simple and easy to make, they make great crafts for kids 8 and older, and great party favors or gifts. Teens can make and exchange these necklaces, and children will find they make great Mother's Day gifts. Children will probably want to work with larger beads, which are easier to work with. A nice 05/0 or 06/0 bead is generally best for kids 8-12, and some adults may prefer the larger sizes, as well! Tri-strand bead necklaces can be made with any kind of bead, in any kind of colors, and a pendant can be added to the lowest strand, making these the most versatile of all bead necklaces.

Article by webmaster of an information, advice and tips website about Charms and Things where you can be advised on how to choose different charms for your own charm bracelets

Tips on Choosing Tahitian Pearl Necklaces

Tahitian pearls are named after the island of Tahiti and they are highly prized for their beauty and the unique charm of their darker tones, thanks to the island's black-lipped oysters that produce black, gray and green-black pearls. Recognizing their value, pearl farmers used the pearl culturing techniques pioneered by the Japanese to cultivate Tahitian pearls. Since then, Tahitian pearls have become one of the most sought-after gems in the world.

Factors to consider when choosing quality Tahitian pearl necklaces, in order of importance:

Nacre thickness - ideally, the minimum thickness of nacre in Tahitian pearls is 0.8 mm. A thicker nacre covering means that the pearl's luster will last long. Thinner nacres have a tendency to wear off easily. Tahitian pearls which are thinner than the required minimum are not exported from French Polynesia.

Surface texture and quality - Tahitian pearls, like all pearls, are graded according to the quality of its surface. Pearls could have thick nacres but if the surface is flawed, their value decreases. Flaws include bumps, spots, discolorations, scratches and other irregularities. The more a pearl has, the less valuable or lower-grade it becomes.

To rate the quality of Tahitian pearls, jewelers use a grading system, consisting of A, B, C and D as the marks, with A-grade pearls being the highest quality. A-grade pearls have the cleanest, nearly flawless surface, virtually free of spots, discoloration or bumps. These pearls have a high luster and reflective quality.

B-grade Tahitian pearls have slightly (but still imperceptible) imperfect surfaces, with only 30% of the surface affected by flaws. C-grade Tahitian pearls have medium luster and imperfections are already quite perceptible while D-grade pearls are those with 60% of its surface affected by quite obvious imperfections, including scratches.

Luster - one quality of pearls that sets it apart from other gemstones is its unique brilliance. As opposed to other gems like the diamond, for example, pearls shine with a softer light. And since they reflect light, they also look like mirrors, reflecting everything in their immediate surrounding.

Generally, the thicker the nacre, the more brilliant and mirror-like the shine. Good quality pearls are clear and almost metal-like in their sheen.

Size - the largest Tahitian pearl ever produced is 25mm, although this in not a round pearl. The largest round Tahitian pearl is at 21mm. Generally, the bigger the size of the pearl, the higher its value is. Most Tahitian pearls are in the range of 8 to 14mm, although a few are measured at 16mm.

Shape - pearls follow the shape of the irritant or nucleus that enters the mouth of the oyster or mollusk that produces it. But to meet jewelry standards, most pearls are produced following three major categories: round or spherical, symmetrical and baroque.

Spherical pearls are those that are round or nearly round. A perfectly round pearl, whether natural or cultured, is quite rare and therefore highly prized. Spherical pearls are the most familiar and popular shapes. Nearly-round pearls are categorized as sphericals, although they may be slightly elongated or flattened.

Symmetrical pearls are so-called because if you cut one in half, each piece will mirror the other. Included in this category are oval pearls, which taper at the ends and are wider at the center; button pearls, which are slightly more flattened and often used for earrings; and drop pearls, which look like teardrops or pears, usually included in jewelry as pendants.

Baroque pearls may also be semi-baroque and include all other shapes that cannot be classified as either spherical or symmetrical. These are the favorite pearls of artists because of their irregular shapes. Baroque pearls may resemble sticks, studs and even crosses.

Other notable variations in Tahitian pearls are those that have 'rings' - tiny grooves that encircle the pearl's surface. For this reason, these pearls are called circled or ringed, although this quality is only used as a descriptive device, to distinguish one pearl from another. For example, a ringed pearl may be described as a 'ringed oval' or 'circled drop'.

Color - when Tahitian pearls are mentioned, the first thing that comes to most people's minds is black pearls although they do come in other colors, albeit in darker tones. Some of their interesting colors are gray, green, brown and blue.

The pearl's color is determined by two things: the main body color and its overtone. A pearl can have one or more overtones. The main body color is the predominant color of the pearl while the overtone is the hint of iridescent color that is seen on top of the body color and can affect or enhance the dominant color of the pearl. Pink, gold, blue, silver and purple are some of the most common overtones.

A combination of the body color and overtone is used to describe a pearl. For example, a greenish black pearl is called a peacock while a yellowish gray is called a champagne.

When buying Tahitian pearl necklaces, keep the above considerations in mind. Aside from quality, you might also want to consider design and setting. Don't be afraid to ask questions and information in detail. If the jewelry shop is reputable, they will be more than glad to answer your questions.

On your own, shopping for real Tahitian pearl necklaces can be quite a challenge. To help you make your decision, here are a few tips on real Tahitian pearls: - they have overtones over the main body color. Fake or imitation pearls don't and their color looks flat. Real Tahitian pearls also glow with a faint reddish color when examined using crossed filters.

- Tahitian pearls feel cool, although they do adapt to your body temperature. Imitation pearls maintain the same temperature as their surroundings, so when they are touched for the first time, they won't feel cold.

- To test for real Tahitian pearls, hold them in the palm of your hand and take note of their weight. They are heavier than imitation pearls. If you rub Tahitian pearls across your teeth, they will feel grainy or coarse and not smooth. Their holes are also smoother around the edges.

For more information go to: http://www.unlimitedpearls.com www.bestpearlnecklaces.com or www.bestpearlearrings.com

Neverkink Garden Hose Reels - The best thing since a pearl necklace, just ask Sharon Stone

Summer time means working outside in the yard. There is always plenty of work to do to make sure your lawn or garden looks nice. Your yard is the face to your house; it's the first thing people see so it's important that you make a great first impression. Unfortunately it takes a lot of hard work outside in the heat of summer to get your lawn and garden to look great. There is watering, weeding, mowing, planting, digging and plenty other activities that make me tired just writing them.

In fact yard can be quite strenuous, did you know that pushing a hand mower burns more calories then an hour on the treadmill at 4 miles per hour. Working in the garden can even be considered a work out, the risk of heart disease declines for each day of 30 minute yard work you perform. But just like a regular workout yard work can cause injuries also. Repetitive movements such as raking or weeding can be very tough on joints like the elbows and wrists, which is something to remember if you spend all day in an office typing or doing other carpal-tunnel like movements. Staying crouched over while working in the garden or pulling weeds can be very hard on the back. Why I am I telling you all of this? It's not because I hate gardening, it's the opposite. I love gardening and I have found the coolest tool to make gardening life easier. It is an automatic neverkink garden hose reel.

Before I said that your lawn was the face to your house, well these new retractable hose reels are the diamond earrings which give your yard that extra glam. The retractable neverkink hose reels come in dozens of different styles so that you can choose the perfect one to match the d?cor of your house. They have models with a wood finish, open and closed styles, plus my favorite a model with a built in sink. You really have to see it to believe it but the hose is hidden neatly on the retractable hose reel underneath a sink and faucet, which can all be hooked up to any out door spigot on your house. This means that for BBQ's or out door parties you can keep a sink outside to make life that much easier. The most impressive of all the features is that all of these new retractable neverkink hose reels retract automatically.

The makers of these automatic hose reels have developed an ingenious device which uses the water pressure of the spigot to retract the hose automatically on all of their retractable hose reel products. There are no more lazy excuses about difficult cranking for leaving the hose on the lawn to be run over by the mower. It is so simple, just flip a switch and the hose will retract all by its self.

Every once in a while a new product comes out that make life easier; this is one of those products. There are plenty of cool videos and animations about retractable neverkink hose reels. In fact you can even see Sharon Stone talk about how she would rather have a retractable hose reel than jewelry, all you have to do is look it up on YouTube. Retractable neverkink hose reels - loved by celebrities, make life easier, improve the look of your yard, and are affordably priced.

Well, what are your waiting for, check out retractable neverkink hose reels now. For more information please visit www.never-kink.com

Efrat is a writer for Compucall-usa.com. For more information please visit http://www.never-kink.com

How To Choose A Pearl Necklace For Your Wedding Day

There is nothing more beautiful to complement a wedding dress than a stunning strand of pearls. This traditional wedding jewelry is more popular than ever, with brides using all styles of pearl jewelry to add that finishing touch to their bridal ensemble. In addition to looking fabulous, wearing a pearl necklace on your wedding day has historically been known as a good luck charm, promising to bring the marriage years of happiness.

When choosing a pearl necklace for your big day, there are four main issues to evaluate. These issues will ensure your necklace and any other accessories complement your dress and add to instead of diminish your beauty.

1.) Color: The color of the pearl is usually the most noticeable aspect of any pearl jewelry. Pearls come in colors ranging from traditional white and off-white to pink, black, grey, and even silver. When choosing the color of your pearl necklace, be sure to think of your skin tone and dress. The color should accentuate your outfit and make the ensemble complete, so choose wisely for a color that you can wear on your wedding day and for many days to come.

2.) Size: Pearls come in several different sizes and are either strung for a necklace in a similar range or in a graduated range. Choose a size of pearl that matches your proportions, as well as that of your dress. Size of the pearl directly affects another issue to keep in mind, the length of the strand.

3.) Length: Pearl necklaces are available in several lengths:

? Collar (12 ? 13 inches)
? Choker (14 ? 16 inches)
? Princess (17 ? 19 inches)
? Matinee (20 ? 25 inches)
? Opera (26 ? 36 inches)
? Rope (over 37 inches)

The difference in length directly depends on the style of your dress. The most popular lengths of pearl necklaces are the princess length and the opera length. Avoid wearing the longer lengths of pearls over heavily beaded or decorated dresses, as the impact of the pearls may be lost. You may need to try on several lengths to see how each individual strand fits your body.

4.) Additions: Many brides are choosing to forego the traditional strand of pearls and add diamonds or other gemstones to a necklace setting. This is a great idea if you have a preexisting pendant mount of heirloom gemstone you wish to include in your jewelry. Also, many brides are using an illusion or floating setting for a single or several pearls. This setting gives the pearl the appearance of floating weightlessly around the wearer?s neck, giving a more modern feel to this traditional element. Donna Somerkin specliazes in body piercing for more information go to http://www.pearl-earings-u.com

Glow Stick Necklaces

Glow stick necklaces are more prominent today. Children and adults wear glow stick necklaces. They are safe and adorable. They dazzle and have a distinctive glow, depending on the composition and quality inside the necklace.

Glow stick necklaces are made by bending the glow stick tubes to get the desired shapes and structures. During this procedure, the stick breaks and hydrogen peroxide in the stick gets released and the chemical reaction begins. This chemical reaction emits electrons in the form of energy and produces light. China has put thrown its hat into this market and is the leading manufacturer of glow lights and glow stick necklaces.

Glow stick necklaces have a reputation and recognition in the market for their quality. They are frequently used during special events and parties. They are used by kids during concerts and other events. The glowing capacity of these necklaces is around 4-6 hrs. They are available in varied colors like red, yellow, green, blue, pink, white and orange. Glow stick necklaces are also used in sporting events. They are very useful during power failure. The glowing capacity is based on the size and temperature. Children under 5 are restricted from using it.

The glowing capacity depends on the composition and the quality used in it. Glow stick necklaces always make parties livelier. Displaying glow stick necklaces helps to raise a huge amount at a concert. Glowing neon necklaces have their own way of respect amidst other forms of jewelry. They can be considered as the best promotion items. In an event where kids are involved, one can sell glow stick necklaces and earn a big turnaround.

Glow stick necklaces have a shelf life of one to four years if the wrapper is not damaged. Shelf life is also based on the size and the type of product used. The quality products are wrapped tightly in airtight wrappers. The glow stick necklaces are sensitive to light and hence they should be kept in packages at room temperature to retain their glowing capacity.

Glow Necklaces provides detailed information on Buy Glow Necklaces, Cheap Glow Necklaces, Glow Bracelets, Glow In The Dark Products and more. Glow Necklaces is affiliated with Glow Stick Dancing.