Celebrate Pregnancy by Creating a Birth Necklace

Creating a birthing necklace is a beautiful way to honor yourself and Baby during pregnancy. There are so many ways and of course no 'right' or 'wrong' way of designing a piece of art to symbolize what is most important to you. I like to encourage mothers to create their own piece or to take part if they choose to have an artisan make the jewelry for them. Maybe there is a particular color you have been drawn to during your pregnancy or a color that represents this child to you which could be the color focus of the necklace. Maybe you have a pendant you would like to have as your focus. One of my birthing necklaces was created during our blessingway. Each friend was asked to bring two beads. One was to represent Baby and the other myself. As we gathered in a circle each friend took their beads and presented them to me as they were placed on the string. The night I birthed, the beads were hanging above me on the wall as a visual focus for the birth.

My last birthing necklace I created during our blessingway day. I chose a goddess pendant which was to represent myself and the divine feminine. To the sides of the pendant were two beads for the Baby and for each of my other five (yes 5:) children. Each had their own unique color and style. In between each were seven small rainbow beads which in numerology is Spirit. Each bead was deliberately placed and blessed as I strung them. I wore the necklace the last several weeks of pregnancy and it was placed above me the night I gave birth.

However you choose to design your birthing necklace or jewelry may it be an expression of the beauty of this journey into Motherhood.

Lisa R. Marshall is the facilitator of Path to Nature...honoring life through whole health, natural living, herbal healing, sacred celebrations & journeys. She is also a mother & doula. Lisa is a facilitator to those who want to make changes in their lives.

Please visit http://www.Pathtonature.org for further information or to contact the author

Making A Beaded Necklace Or Bracelet For Beginners

I make all my beaded jewelry by hand, on my website I give many genuine gemstone beads to choose from so people can customize their necklaces (also bracelets & earrings). Whatever beads you might use the technique is the same, I personally use only sterling silver parts & genuine beads such as black onyx, turquoise, red coral, aventurine, amazonite (very popular), rhondonite, mother-of-pearls, freshwater pearls, etc...

I personally use only Beadalon wire which is extremely solid, it comes in many colors & variety some ticker & more solid... Much more expensive then most other wires but this is worth it if you want to make a necklace or bracelet that will truely last. Beadalon can be found in most jewelry findings online stores, Ebay, etc...

Also, you need crimps (can be found in sterling silver, plated silver & other metals) and crimps covers (to hide the crimps & give it a nice professional look). There are special pliers sold to use with crimps & crimps covers which makes the job easier but I have done it before with regular pliers well.

Start by measuring the correct height of wire you want cut it with about 2-3 inches extra to what you need. The extra will be cut at the end but will make it easier to work with & do the tips. Always have a ruler with you, it will be helpful many times. So if you want a 16" necklace cut about 18-19" long of wire.

I always start in the middle, so if you have a pendant or a centerpiece for the necklace put it on now. Make sure the bail or loop is solid. Usually I put a sterling silver ball on each side of the pendant large enough to stop the pendant from moving. Look at the bail or loop, make sure the beads you add on each side are larger. Now is time to add all the beads you want, using the ruler make sure you stop at the desired height. Also don't forget that there will be a clasp at the end which will add some height.

For the clasps, there are many on the market. I usually use sterling silver lobster clasp or spring clasp. Also you need a jump ring soldered to fit with your clasps.

So once you are done adding all those beads start ending the tip on one side. insert a crimp, then the clasp loop, then fold your wire back into the crimp. Tighten the wire so there is no loose wire between the crimp & clasp. Then squeeze the crimp shut with some pliers. Once that is done it should be solid. I always pull a little on it to double check.

Ok now you cut the extra wire on that side leaving about 4-5mm. Using the pliers you fold it over the crimp. Now grab a crimp cover open it wide enough using your finger & set it on top of the folded 4-5mm wire, covering it & the crimp. Close the crimp cover using your pliers delicately. Once that is all done one side is totally finished. Do the same on the other side using once again a crimp but of course a jumpring instead of a second clasp! Then a crimp cover again. Don't forget it must be tight at the end. You shouldn't see any of the wire. Then again don't make it too tight or the necklace will be stiff.

I hope this is easy to understand. It is quite easy to do but the first pieces you make might need a little work redone later when you get better at it.

Shop around before you buy any findings, some places are making way to much profit on people. Search for "jewelry findings" in search engines, and take a look on Ebay also, compare before you buy!

I usually use sterling silver beads of size 2mm, 3mm & 4mm. And for my stone beads I use 4mm & 6mm.

Thank you, It you think this is too much trouble visit my website! My prices are very reasonable. www.sterlingsilverart.com

Blue Crockatt silversmith artist showcases her art at http://www.sterlingsilverart.com

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

Pearl Necklace - a treasue for all women now!

Well, we all know women love jewelry and it is perhaps their inner passion to wear gorgeous piece of jewelry. Among many other choices, pearl necklace is the preferred choice of many women because of its natural lustrous appeal.

When it comes to pearl necklace, usually it's a white color pearl necklace. White color pearl necklaces are classic, traditional and generally designed with round shape pearls. Pearls come in other natural colors too, like gray, black, golden, light green etc. However, pearls can be colored-dyed, as per fashion demands, in lavender, pink, peach, gold, black and blue as well. But natural original color pearl necklaces are always preferred and command higher prices. A typical pearl necklace is hand knotted with about 40 pearl beads.

Pearl necklaces are not restricted to round shape pearls only and other shapes like tear drop, pear, potato, coin and irregular baroque shape pearls are equally popular among women and commonly used by jewelers and designers alike.

When it comes to pearl size the most popular sizes are between 6mm to 8.5mm. Small sizes are very common among younger girls and larger sizes are preferred choice of many women.

Besides pearls shape and size, the length of any pearl necklace is very important and paramount:

Pearl Collar ~ 12 to 13 inches These lengths are normally made up to 3 strands to snugly fit high around the neck. They were very popular during Victorian era and are now again in fashion. Pearl Choker ~ 14 to 16 inches They are similar to collar but hang little lower on the neck. They look very fine both for casual and formal eveningwear. Princess Necklace ~ 17 to 19 inches A very classic and versatile length indeed. This style length is neither short nor long and is preferred choice of many women.

Matinee Necklace ~ 20 to 25 inches They are good for casual, business or semi-occasions attire and are very traditional. The extra length of matinee necklace gives the appeal of luxury and sophistication.

Opera Necklace ~ 26 to 36 inches They fall below the bust line, good for formal evening occasions and go very well with evening dresses. Best is they can also be worn as double strand too. Woman has the luxury of choosing her own style. Pearl Rope ~ 37 inches or longer. Women have many options. These can be doubled or knotted to suit one's style. Some of the rope type pearl necklaces come with multiple clasps hence can be made into shorter strands. They can also be slung over the shoulder to give a sexy and stylish look and are back in high fashion again.

Kheri www.pearlprincess.com

Jewelry writer

The Gold Necklace ? 3 Suggestions When Choosing the Perfect Push Present for the New Mom

With so many celebrities getting press these days for the births of their babies, an old tradition has been rekindled, albeit with a new millennium name ? the Push Present ? or more eloquently, a birthing gift to honor the hard work of labor for the mother of a new baby. Traditionally, a birth bauble was something a well-to-do husband gave his wife for producing his heir, in India gold necklaces or other gold jewelry, in England a lavish ring, but now it?s begun to be seen more as an acknowledgement of the woman?s role of bearing the responsibility of carrying the baby for nine months. And the trend is starting to take off, overwhelming fathers-to-be who feel the pressure to keep up with what mom?s friends were given.

However, the good news is that the one thing etiquette experts agree on is that this is a deeply personal gift and there are no standards to follow. So consider these three gold necklace ideas or use them for inspiration, this is a precious time to acknowledge and only you know what is right for your new mom.

Over the top

This is an opportunity to really wow her with something completely over the top that she?d love to have but would never ask for and never buy for herself. Has she eyed a fancy gold pendant or elaborate gold necklace with gemstones in the past with ooohs and ahhs? This could be the time to pull out all the stops and splurge on something that will amaze her. Gold necklaces along these lines can be a part of special occasions throughout her life and even become treasured heirlooms to pass along to the little one she just carried.

Mother?s jewelry

Mother?s jewelry is a great choice at this time, particularly for first time mothers. Birthstones look lovely on gold necklaces, whether yellow or white gold. You can choose to use the baby?s birthstone alone to represent the new addition, or have the necklace include all of your birthstones symbolizing the family together.

A gold necklace is perfect to hold special charms designed along this baby themed line such as the currently popular enameled baby shoe charms available in a wide variety of colors and encrusted with different gemstones. Another version of mother?s jewelry is an elegant cameo pendant with an image of a mother and child, lovely to pass down through the generations.

Gemstones just for her

If mother?s jewelry isn?t the right thing and over the top just isn?t her style or not practical at this stage of your lives, then choosing a gold necklace with a gemstone in a size and setting that fits her personality and you know she?ll love is the perfect solution. Whether her own birthstone or another that she likes, perhaps in her favorite color, be sure to select a gold necklace with an adequate weight to support the pendant you choose and with a strong clasp if not choosing a one piece gold necklace that is crafted with the stones directly mounted.

Again, what?s most important here is the personal nature of this gift between the two of you, you want it to be something she?ll treasure and that she knows you put thought into. If you feel you need guidance because you want to be sure you?re right on the mark with something she?ll love, check in with a trusted friend or family member that will know her style and will tell you the truth. Giving the gift of gold necklaces has been a tradition throughout history with some of the earliest gold jewelry being dated back to 3000 BC. With a track record like that, you should be sure to make one new mommy feel even more special than she already does when you mark this priceless occasion by honoring her and the love you feel for her at this time.

Lulu Bells Treasures? brand jewelry has been offering high quality 14k gold, sterling silver, diamond and beaded jewelry since 2003. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee! Visit them today at http://store.lulubellstreasuresinc.com/ to view their large selection of Gold Necklaces http://store.lulubellstreasuresinc.com/goldnecklaces.html

A Jewelry Style All Your Own...Gemstone Necklaces by Fifi La Roux

Jewelry can be bland and predictable, expand your horizons and find the designer that makes people stop you in your tracks to ask, "where did you get that??!!"

For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to be the first to start a trend or buy things that would ultimately be part of my very own signature style. Whether it's perfume, furniture, my workout clothes (I have over one hundred bandannas that interchange), my dishes, the color of my house (giallo-chiaro), the beer I drink, etc...as a happily married mother of four, my preferences for the unique and different is at an all time high. I first discovered jewelry designer Fifi La Roux a few months ago at a jewelry store while on vacation in Virginia Beach. I remember the woman who sold me my first necklace saying that soon enough, everyone will know and want Fifi La Roux necklaces. That was enough for me to not only buy one ready made, but to keep in touch with the sales executive because I was told I had the option to work with a Fifi La Roux design consultant so I can make my very own unique piece that would not be reproduced. My mouth dropped open, this is the best case scenario! So, I figured I finally had to share my secret. What does it matter, I will always have the option of sending my design consultant a picture of my favorite dress so we can create a brand new necklace, especially for me, specifically for my special night.

For more information visit: www.fifilaroux.comJanice Trumpa owns her own private interior design business in New Jersey and praises her motto, "you don't have to be a housewife in Orange County to be glamorous!

Unique Pearl Necklace Beauty

Necklaces are always very popular and fashionable pieces of jewelry. It doesn't matter which generation you are in, the fact remains that necklaces always find a place amongst women's fashion accessories. Among these necklaces will generally be pearls.

What comes to mind when we think pearl necklaces? To me, it has predominately been strings of white pearls or occasionally a string of pink pearls. Pearls though, come in a variety of shades - some of them being white, pink, black, silver, cream, gold, blue and dark green. The list of colors seems endless.

What kind of pearl necklaces are there? There are two types that come to mind. Firstly, you can have a necklace with one or more strings of pearls, white or colored. But have you stopped to think what beauty you can find in a different kind of pearl necklace, a necklace that will make it a unique pearl necklace?

Let's take a look at what makes a pearl necklace unique and different. Imagine yourself wearing a beautiful necklace made from a combination of gemstones and pearls. Gemstones come in a wide array of choices - types of stones, colors and shapes. Team gemstones together with pearls into a necklace and the variety is immense. There is always a unique pearl necklace to suit your personal taste and the outfit you want to wear.

Unique pearl necklaces have the added advantage of being useful to team together with many different colors and styles of outfits and can be used also for either a formal or casual look. This makes them a very versatile piece of jewelry because you don't have to keep your pearls just for a special occasion but makes them very practical for casual wear as well.

Let's take a look at a few examples. Imagine natural shaped turquoise alternated with white pearls and fine beads. Another combination would be a blend of stones like baroque pearl, aquamarine, amethyst and rose quartz, giving a beautiful blend of colors in the cool shades. Black baroque pearl with India agate is a good choice to serve as an all round "go with anything" necklace.

When choosing pearls, keep in mind your skin coloring as well as the outfits you have to wear. By choosing your necklace colors like this, you can enhance your beauty and also the appearance of your outfit when you wear a unique pearl necklace as part of your accessories. Temic Jewelry. For further information, visit our site at http://www.temic2.com/jewelry and register for our FREE monthly Pearl and Gemstone Newsletter

Give A Heart Necklace This Holiday

The holiday is almost here and you know what that means! That means that it is time to start thinking about getting her that perfect necklace. All women fall over themselves to get a heart necklace. The heart shape is the universal symbol of love and this holiday season is the season for you to get the love of your life her very own heart shaped necklace.

You have a few different choices, many actually. It seems like the heart necklace is getting more and more creative all of the time. Who knew that there were so many things to be done with a simple heart design? It is amazing what these jewelers come up with and they are all so gorgeous.

There are a multitude of gem choices for you to choose from as well as metals. You can choose silver, platinum or gold. I have even seen some magnificent copper heart necklaces out there in stores. Of course the two top sellers as far as gems go are rubies and diamonds but that does not mean you cannot choose a different stone. If the love of your life loves aquamarines or emeralds then choose them, whatever will make her the happiest of all is the way to go.

There are also a few different places that you can go to buy your heart necklace. There are the typical offline stores that are a favorite among many and there are the stores online. When it comes to online shopping you can choose a retailer, a wholesaler or even an auction site. Each of these types of stores have their own pros and cons. My advice is to check out all of you options in order to see where you can get the best price on the most gorgeous heart shaped necklaces. Chances are you will find the best deals online so start there.

Dana Goldberg is the owner of Jewelry Palazzo. An unbiased jewelry buying guide that helps you find answers to your questions about all types of jewelry.

Cultured Pearl Necklaces

 

Cultured pearls were initially developed for commercial purposes in Japan 100 years ago. Many oysters are now raised on farms for five or six years then removed from their beds. Skilled workers carefully open each oyster and insert a mother of pearl bead and a piece of mantle tissue into the shell. One oyster in three survives the procedure and produces a cultured pearl. These pearls are usually very large in size and precious and make beautiful pearl necklaces.

Nacre accumulates quite slowly in oysters and it takes about three years for a millimeters worth of nacre to accumulate and form a cultured pearl. Some pearl farms in the southern waters from Burma to Australia boast of a faster nacre buildup, in some cases up to three millimeters a year.

Because cultured pearls grow slowly, they are considered very rare and expensive. They make a lovely necklace and offer a more luxurious option for pearl jewelry lovers who do not like to sacrifice quality. Cultured pearls are generally larger in size than freshwater pearls.

The irritant is saltwater pearls is a shell bead nucleus, as well as a piece of mantle tissue. Saltwater oysters tend to die when the nucleus is inserted or when the pearl is harvested. Oysters only grow one pearl at a time. With one oyster in five providing a saleable pearl, price tags can be rather high. Japanese seawater pearls tend to be more expensive than Chinese seawater pearls mainly due to the higher labor costs and the higher quality produced. Japanese seawater pearl necklaces are generally more expensive and rare as compared to Chinese seawater pearl necklaces. Enhanced black cultured pearls are used to create fine royal necklaces. These pearls often come from China and Japan, and are actually white cultured pearls that are exposed to radiation or dyed to produce an even, strong color that lasts for years. Real cultured pearl necklaces need to be handled with care, as they are sensitive to heat and light.

Pearl Necklaces provides detailed information on Pearl Necklaces, Black Pearl Necklaces, Freshwater Pearl Necklaces, Cultured Pearl Necklaces and more. Pearl Necklaces is affiliated with Cultured Pearl Earrings.