NATURAL HANDMADE BEAD JEWELRY

Though usually thought of as being made of precious metals and gems, jewelry can in fact refer to any object used to adorn the body or clothing, and beads were probably the very first form of jewelry. Early humans handcrafted beads from natural materials found in their environment, most likely for utilitarian purposes such as fastening clothing.


Beads from archeological excavations were found to be handmade from wood, natural animal substances such as bone, claws, teeth, ivory and shell, and also soft stone. Later, in ancient Egyptian and Greek and Roman times, jewelers hand carved increasingly intricate and decorative beads, worn as belts and amulets. Beads then took on value as symbols of status and wealth. The practical use for the bead as a fastener was taken over by the clasp and later the button.


A reminder of the bead's original use survives today in the wood or horn toggles used as fastenings for the duffel coat, and the hardwood and ivory ones made for the Japanese kimono, some of which are works of art and collector's items. Bead sizes range from the palm-of-the-hand-sized decorative toggles to the so-called seed beads that can be smaller than a grain of rice. Shapes of natural beads can range from the typical smooth and rounded through cylindrical as in the natural shape of bamboo beads.

Wood has remained a popular material for making bead necklaces and bracelets, especially. The soothing feel and aroma of beads of natural wood such as teak, rosewood, bamboo and palm wood makes for an item that needs only a linen cord to produce a fine adornment. The vast choice of size, natural color and design means that there is something to suit everyone's taste.


Beads, seed beads included, can be embellished with other organic components, gemstones, pearls and mother-of-pearl, for example, in an array of unique designs. Inexpensive, lightweight and durable, it is no wonder then that beads have stood the test of time to become items of artistry to be worn and treasured.

Author: Michael Briton

Picture Credit:

http://mytrollbeads.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Troll-Beads-Pic-for-AD.jpg

http://www.naturalhandmadejewelry.com

WHAT IS TRIBAL WOOD JEWELRY?

A body adornment that is at once natural, ethnic, organic and attractive.
Sold as either older, previously worn pieces or more usually nowadays as innovative new tribal designs that keep to their tradition, what was once the preserve of colorful ethnic groups has become the inexpensive choice of the young, the famous and the style-conscious.

Typical items include wooden tribal earrings, wood necklaces, wood pendants, wood bangles, beads, wood bracelets, plugs, and hoops. Thailand in particular is noted for its bamboo earrings, as well as its bracelets, necklaces and earrings finely crafted from coconut shell.

Designs can range from the traditional right through to the more modern reggae style. Best of all, the designs are so diverse that they are suitable for wearing with almost any style of clothing on any occasion. Such a variety of color, weight and shape makes tribal wood jewelry unique and ever stylish.

Woods used range from tamarind wood, bamboo, coconut shell, palm wood through to teak wood and rose wood. All, of course, have different qualities, colors and finishes, the designs and patterns reflecting and enhancing the individual beauty of each. The wood is polished to bring out the natural veneer, sometimes with natural oil to help seal the wood.

Wooden jewelry is generally light and easy to look after. A little regular cleaning is all that is needed, especially for those tribal wood items that are for piercing. A mild natural soap or a few drops of tea tree oil will do the job.

Author : Michael Briton

Picture Credit:

http://www.naturalhandmadejewelry.com

THE SPECIAL QUALITIES OF KAREN SILVER

Silver holds an important place in the life of the Karen people. Migrating from Tibet through Burma over the centuries, they have settled in the hills and mountains of northern Thailand, where they live close with nature.

The Karen have relatively few material possessions, but silver is their currency and their worldly wealth. It is collected and prized throughout their lives, used for dowries, and worn as an adornment and a symbol of status and prestige for its owner.

Karen silver is special in that it is 'fine' silver with a purity of up to 99.9% compared to 925 (92.5%) sterling silver. It has a color and feel all of its own, cool and satiny, it tarnishes less readily than other kinds of silver and can be kept white and shining by simply cleaning with lime juice.


Karen silversmiths have high status in their community and each family may be involved in the design and production of a host of fine individually handcrafted pieces.

Karen designs reflect the people's closeness to the land and water, with motifs inspired by plants, animals, flowers and the natural environment they inhabit. Each item is handmade throughout, rolled, shaped and engraved using traditional methods with the simplest of tools.

As each item is unique, there are literally thousands of designs: accessories such as rings, beads, bracelets, bangles, charms, spiral circle dangling earrings, ear hoops, toggles, clasps, strands, hairpins, hearts and pendants. Such is the variety of shapes and motifs that the piece may have a classic, contemporary or ethnic feel.

Of course, the intricate beauty of each piece makes it fine as a standalone accessory, but the design can be coupled with a suitable gemstone or the silver used as a setting.

Karen silver beads are probably the most popular item as they come in a wealth of sizes and can be made into necklaces and bracelets and sewn onto clothing to the wearer's individual taste.

Author : Michael Briton

Shamballa Jewelry

Shamballa was originally a legend of hidden kingdom that is mentioned in various ancient texts. Shamballa gradually came to be seen as a pure land, a fabulous kingdom whose reality is visionary or spiritual as much as physical or geographic. Today, Shamballa is regarded as a place of "peace, tranquility, and happiness". Some Tibetan medical texts those are believed to have come from this kingdom of Samballa describing human anatomy and physiology, sophisticated theories and methods of diagnosis, and ways to prevent and cure serious diseases. It is also said that Shamballa is the dharma chakra, located in the heart of all living beings. It is the symbol for the mind, completing the trinity of body, speech, and mind.

Shamballa jewelries, also known as Shambhala, Sambhala, and many other names that is recognized the ball bead fashion jewelry. Most of Shamballa bracelets are made from nylon string or waxed linen string featuring a traditional macrame manual toggle locking mechanism. The beads are made from plastic, metal, cubic zirconia stones, hematite, or diamonds.


Over the past year, huge rap and hip hop artists have been walking around the world with these Buddhist inspired shamballa bracelets and necklaces. Then there are many fans follow their idols and Shamballa bracelets and necklaces are become trends. First Shamballa jewelries are made from hematite and some metal, but many designers apply this Buddhist bracelet and necklace to become more fashionable by using gemstone, disco beads ball, and diamond with these jewelries. Shamballa bracelet or necklace has a greater meaning more than just chains or string that inspired from meditation and Buddhist history. They has individual meaning depend on the colors, shapes, and styles of each ball bead. Such as beads within some necklaces are made from semi-precious stones that may offer healing properties while combined with others. It is no wonder that many of today’s hip hop celebrities also wear these shamballa necklaces and bracelets for their own purposes more than fashion.

These Shambhala necklaces are not exclusive to the hip hop celebrities. Many other artists, athletes, actors and actresses have also been wore shamballa necklaces and bracelets. The disco ball bead necklaces can be seen around the necks of Heidi Klum, Keri Hilson, Beyonce, Michael Jordan, Lamar Odom and many more.

There are many ideas as to what these Shamballa bracelets represent, however the general idea is to promote your well being.

Referent:

http://www.kingice.com/Disco-Ball-Bead-Shamballa-Necklaces-100614.html

http://www.kingice.com/Disco-Ball-Bead-Shamballa-Bracelets-100613.html

Picture Credit:

http://www.shulmansays.com/archives/BOSVIEW/The-Cult-of-Shamballa/

http://www.ioffer.com/i/10mm-Black-Shamballa-Necklace-19-Yellow-Crystals-MC146B-201567876

http://www.naturalhandmadejewelry.com/default.aspx?siteid=111&pageid=4509&productid=5774&lang=2

Type of Sterling Silver Jewelry

Sterling silver is the main type of silver used in jewelry, ornaments, and dinnerware today. Sterling silver is a mixture of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% metal alloy. This silver is always stamped or hallmark as 925. The hallmark is depend on the percentage of pure silver in the sterling silver i.e. many silver jewelry from USA is 90.0% pure silver, so it is stamped 900 on the silver.

Fine Silver - is 99.9% pure silver. This silver is too soft to use for make the jewelry.

Alpaca Silver - is a metal alloy that is not silver at all. The Alpaca silver is combined with copper, nickle, and others metals. It's also called nickel silver, German silver, new silver and paktong. Frequently, the Alpaca silver is used to make the music instrument, but some manufacturers are used it to make jewelry. Because of its visual similarity to sterling silver jewelry and the price is not expensive, many consumers like to choose this instead real silver. Its stainless finish make the jewelry is easy to clean, requiring only lemon juice or mild soap to remove marks or tarnishing. On the others hand, the consumers that want the real silver and don't know the different between alpaca silver and sterling silver should beware some seller sells the alpaca silver jewelry and tell that is the real silver jewelry.


Mexican Silver - is called for describe the silver which made from Mexico. The Mexican silver is contained more than 90% pure silver. Most of silver jewelry from Mexico today is actually sterling silver.


Britannia Silver - is 95.85% pure silver and not over 4.16% copper alloyed. First, this silver type was introduce in England to replace sterling silver in 1697. Then in 1972, sterling was approve again and Britannia silver has remain an optional standard silver in UK and Ireland. The Britannia silver is hallmarked as 958, it is an even more pure form of silver than sterling silver. So it’s higher valuer.

Silver Plating - is the method to make the metal jewelry has a look like the silver jewelry. This process is also called electroplated silver or silver coated. Silver plating is normally using for base metal such as brass or nickel. The base metal is plated thin layer of pure silver. Even the plated metal is look like the sterling silver, but it tends to wear off quite quickly exposing the less than beautiful base metal.

Reference :

http://articles.fjewelrystore.com/silver-jewelry/warning-dont-buy-silver-jewellery-before-reading-this.html

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-alpaca-silver.htm

Picture Credit :

http://www.pinaymistress.com/how-to-clean-silver-jewelry-a-home-made-cleaner.html

The charming of Shiva eye shell

First content of this blog, we used to talk about "Shiva Eye Shell", and today we will offer you more information about this attractive shell and what is the charming of Shiva eye shell.

Shiva shell, also known as Shiva Eye or Pacific Cat's Eye is the protective covering at the opening of the Turban snail shell. Towards the end of the snail's natural life this protective door (also known as the operculum) detaches and sinks to the seabed.On one side of the Shiva eye shell is a beautiful spiral. The color varies from beige to deep green, depending on the sea snail's diet, while the background always remains a white. On the back side of the shell is a mesh of colors that similar with the color of the eye. When the mollusk living inside the shell detects danger it will close this protective door and expose this eye side, hoping to ward off the predator who thinks it is dealing with a much larger creature.

Absolutely that the charming of Shiva eye shell is the deep green spiral that contrast with the milky white shell. In addition, The spiral of Shiva eye shell is appeared in the style of "Golden Spiral", that is the best composition of arts. So this spiral is very attractiveness like a magic.

The names of Shiva eye shell are different by each area and legend. In the most area of Asia calls it as "Shiva Eye Shell" from the shape of spiral on the shell is similar with the symbol of the third eye of "Shiva" the god of Hinduism. They believe that the spiral is symbolizes of development and motion and is a strong and important symbol for protection against bad energies. On the other hands, many country in Europe such as France calls this shell as "Saint Lucy's Eye". The legend of Saint Lucy's eye said, through repeated prayers to the Virgin Mary, a young girl obtained her mother’s miraculous recovery from an incurable illness. She then ripped out her eyes and threw them into the sea to keep her suitors away and prevent herself from being diverted from her faith. She carried out many miracles. The Virgin Mary gave her even more beautiful eyes in response to her devotion. The operculum of the sea snail symbolizes Shiva eye.

Shiva eye shell also has the natural mineral and healing effects. The stone is a specially crystallized form of aragonite. In the same way as pearls, this is a calcium carbonate with the hardness rate of 4 to 4.5. Aragonite stimulates sensibility, is effective on your general well being in a calming way and lowers nervousness and tiredness. Because of its high amounts of calcium, the stone has as well a positive effect on aching muscles, joints, tissues and skin. 
"Why choosing Shiva eye?" By acquiring Shiva eye, you gain a new companion that often calls to you telepathically, inviting you to slip your hand into your pocket or bag and stroke the lovely, smooth mother-of-pearl with the tips of your fingers, obtaining decisive help, strength and support from it. You will enjoy many happy events, luck and good fortune that you attribute to your new guardian angel. Your language and thoughts will become more positive and as if by some miracle or magic that small, insignificant thing will grant many of your wishes.

Picture Credit:

http://www.naturalhandmadejewelry.com

Silver Jewelry

Silver has been use for thousands years ago for decoration, being equipment, for trade, and as the basis in monetary system. Silver does not the highest value of all metal, but it is the second only to gold. Even though the silver jewelry is much cheap than gold jewelry, it still valuable and popular from consumer and jeweler who are just starting out and cannot afford to make pieces in gold.


Normally, jewelry silver are made from sterling silver, as alloy 92.5% silver with 7.5% of copper. Thus the silver frequently stamped 925. But in U.S. the silver can contain at least alloy 90.0% silver with other metallic, this silver are stamped in 900.  The reason that the manufacturer do not use pure silver is the sterling silver is harder and has lower melting point than pure silver. Sterling silver jewelry are often plated with a thin rhodium or gold for bright and shiny look.

The most popular method for making the shape of silver is lost wax casting. Lost wax casting is made by put the model of silver jewelry between the several sheet of rubber in the silver box container. After the box container is heated in around 300 degree Fahrenheit, the rubbers are melted and cover all of the model. When the rubber has hardened, the solid block is cut in half revealing a perfect mold of the original desired design. This rubber block can be reused to make thousands of wax copies. Then injected the warm liquid wax with a syringe through a hole cut into the rubber block. When the warm wax hardens, the wax design is created. After that put the wax ring inside the small flask and fill the investment (powdered substance mixed with water that is similar in consistency to liquid plaster) around the wax model slowly to guard against bubbles of air left in the flask. The investment takes about 10 minutes for harden. Next, baking the flask which contained wax and investment in high temperature for several hours for a result of the wax to be lost by melting and evaporation. After the flask is cooled, the caster will place the flask in a casting machine for use a vacuum to draw molten silver into the mold. After the processing of casting machine finished and take a time for silver cooling down and harden, you can take the silver out from the flask and carving the investment out. The last processing is wash the silver, polish, and thin plate with fine silver or rhodium for more bright and shiny.

Reference:

http://www.emporia.edu/earthsci/amber/go340/silver.htm

Picture Credit:

http://www.jewelryschool.net/waxdesign.htm

Wood with Handmade Jewelry

Wood is the most popular one of material to make the handmade jewelry. Also our business, the wooden earring is very popular and most interested by many customers. Many people don't know and have no any information about wood that the manufacturer use for make the jewelry. So they cannot differentiate between each woods. Today we will tell about some kind of wood which always use to make jewelry.

Teak Wood - This is the most wood that often used for making jewelry. Teak woods are from Teak trees are tall evergreens that grow well in places such as Southeast Asia, Hawaii and Costa Rica where the weather remains warm and humid and rain is consistent. The teak wood is hard strong durable yellowish-brown wood.

Palm Wood - Coconut palm wood, which is abundant in defunct coconut plantations in Southeast Asia and even in working plantations that need to have senile palms culled, has a stippled patterning and coloring as thrilling as endangered woods such as ebony and teak.

Rosewood - refers to any of a number of richly hued timbers, often brownish with darker veining, but found in many different hues. All rosewoods are strong and heavy, taking an excellent polish. Most are made for bangle and ring.

 Sandalwood - Normally, the sandalwood are often used for the essential oil, but their fine-grained is also suit for making jewelry and another furniture. The wood is heavy and yellow in color as well as fine-grained.

Tamarind wood - The wood is a bold red color. Due to its density and durability, tamarind heartwood can be used in making jewelry such as earring, ring, necklace or etc.

Reference :

http://articles.sfgate.com/2009-03-15/home-and-garden/17212376_1_bamboo-wood-coconut

http://www.ehow.com/facts_5005168_information-teak-wood-farming.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosewood

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandalwood

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamarind

Photo credit :

http://www.naturalhandmadejewelry.com

The Hill Tribes with Handmade Silver Jewelry

While the number of our items are increased, we also upgrade the materials for the best quality of goods. Even though the price of silver is more expensive, many new items that we try to use it instead of metal bead. Most of silver beads that we use are from the north of Thailand, the products from the Hill Tribe.

The Hill Tribes have been highly respected silversmiths for hundreds of years old. They handcraft detailed jewelry components and beads from fine silver. Fine silver is soft 99.9% pure silver as compared to harder sterling silver which is 92.5% pure silver alloyed with 7.5% copper. Silver ingots are flattened into a sheet by pounding with hammers and made into wire by pulling it through ancient draw dies. Thin silver sheets are hammered into black tar molds to make shapes, then soldered and engraved. Because the silver from Hill Tribes are handmade, so the silversmiths cannot make it fast like making by machine and the products are no 2 pieces exactly alike.

The jewelry create by the Hill tribes are objects of classic beauty and symbolic significance. Historically, the Hill tribe people have used silver instead of paper money because they don’t trust in the paper. Even today some of them prefer silver coins, jewelry, silver ingots, and silver pipes and boxes, because they feel that even the time passed by, the silver always retain their value (This thinking become true, seeing from the silver price that increased everyday like gold.). In addition to the value of money, wearing silver jewelry signifies wealth, status and spirituality. It also help to protect the suitors to young women and it adds color and excitement to many rather routine lives.

Because of today's world use the paper money for trade, some Hill Tribes are make silver and beads for trade with the outside world, but some Hill Tribes are still make the silver and beads for their consumption. Selling the products from their skill are helping them to have the income for support their family and their tribes. The Tribal elders fear that they are slowly losing their skills and cultures. Purchasing jewelry made with hill tribe crafted silver can help them to support their silversmith traditions and allow their tribal culture to continue to survive.

Reference :

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art20392.asp

http://www.silverjewelryinfo.com/0604_Thai_Hilltribe.html

Picture Credit :

http://www.thisnext.com/tag/karen-hill-tribe-fine-silver-flower/

http://www.starsterlingsilver.com/thai-karen-sterling-silver-pendants-p-13.html