Missing in Action? Nah

You may have noticed that posts this week have been a bit scarce. No worries, I haven't run out of things to talk about just yet. I'm going to be moving my blog over to my site's server this weekend. Since I admittedly don't know what all is going to be involved (read: how many ways I can manage to screw up the transition) I figured that less posts would mean less chance of a catastrophic event. We'll see...

What the Heck is a Lanyard??

I get this question quite often, so I thought some may find this information helpful. If you have ever been issued an ID badge by an employer, school, or at an event or convention, then you should be all too familiar with the (boring) standard issue nylon cord that you are expected to wear around your neck to hold it. That cord is called a lanyard. Along with ID badges, lanyards can also be used to hold keys and other small objects.

One more fashionable alternative to wearing an overgrown shoelace around your neck is to use a beaded lanyard. While they will all have the same basic core components (the ring and clip that you use to attach the ID) and shape, the overall look of your beaded lanyard is only limited by your imagination.

In order to comply with OSHA safety standards, most lanyards will also have some sort of breakaway mechanism that will release in order to prevent the wearer from being choked should it get caught. For this purpose, I use a really, really strong magnetic clasp at the back of the neck which works wonderfully without taking away from the beauty of the piece.

Please note that those who have a pacemaker should not use a magnetic clasp as it can cause complications. If you have a pacemaker, be sure to let the designer of your lanyard (be it me or anyone else) know so the magnetic clasp will not be used! It is also not recommended that you have a magnetic clasp on a lanyard that will be used to carry a large number of keys or any other heavy objects.

Well, that's about it for today. As always if you have any questions or if you have a topic that you would like to see discussed, feel free to shoot me an email. I'd love to hear from you! :)

Now That is What I Call Service!!

With good old fashioned customer service becoming somewhat of a lost art, when a company goes out of their way to ensure an exceptional buying experience I feel it warrants mention.

Now I don't know if there are any fellow beaders or jewelry designers who read this (heck, I don't know if anyone is reading it for that matter), but if there are you may want to take note...

Ok, I placed an order with a supplier named Monster Slayer (gotta love that name!!) Friday evening just before 6:00 pm. Being my first order with them, I didn't know what to expect so boy was I pleasantly surprised!

Anyway, as I was saying, I called them just before 6:00 to place my order (mind you it was just minutes before their scheduled closing time). the representative that I spoke with was very friendly and helpful and didn't make me feel at all rushed.

The following morning, a Saturday no less, I received an email confirmation that my order had shipped and by Monday afternoon I already had my order in hand. Wow!!

They have a pretty nice variety of beads and components available, the prices are very good, and the quality of the merchandise I received was excellent. More specifically, their wire prices are *fantastic*!

All of this plus I was only charged actual shipping ($4.05 for Priority Mail) and no handling fees. I think they are definitely a keeper!!

While they don't have a fully functioning ecommerce site (you'll still have to email or call in your order), they do have a website at www.monsterslayer.com if anyone wants to check them out.

Spotlight On...Moonstone

One can easily lose themselves while gazing into this beautiful gemstone. The most valuable member of the feldspar mineral family, Moonstone has a distinctive metallic blue shimmer, known as adularescence, that reflects across the surface when the stone is moved.

Not surprising, this mysterious gem is surrounded by folklore dating back to ancient times. Moonstone was popular with the ancient Romans who believed, due to its resemblance to the Moon, that it was actually solidified moonlight.

In India, where it is still considered a sacred stone, Moonstone is believed to possess the ability to control temperament and erratic behavior as well as cure insomnia.

In some early cultures it was believed that one could predict the future by holding Moonstone in your mouth during a full moon. It was also thought to balance the yin and yang and to protect against epilepsy, insanity and sunstroke as well as cure headaches and nosebleeds and ensure abundant crops.

Healing Properties: Moonstone is believed to bring good fortune, enhance passion and intuition and to protect women (especially during pregnancy and childbirth), children, and traveler's (especially travel at sea).

Often called the "Visionary's Stone", Moonstone is thought to help the wearer see things more clearly and attribute to life-changing inspirations.

Physically, Moonstone is thought to aid in the treatment of female related health issues including menstrual problems and hormonal imbalances as well as increase fertility. Moonstone's more general healing associations are with the digestive and circulatory systems, the alleviation of swelling and water retention, and the relief of emotional distress, anxiety and stress.

Color: The most common, and well known, Moonstone color is a translucent, milky white with a touch of blue, but it can also be found in peach, green, pink, yellow, brown or grey. Polished Moonstones also commonly exhibit chatoyancy (the "cat's eye" effect).

Care: Moonstone is a fairly soft stone and can be easily scratched, so it should be wrapped in a soft cloth and stored separately from your other jewelry pieces. Do not use ultrasonic cleaners to clean Moonstone jewelry. You should also avoid sudden temperature changes and contact with cosmetics, hair spray, perfume, and household chemicals.

Interesting Facts:

• Moonstone is the official birth stone for the month of June and is an accepted gemstone for the 13th wedding anniversary.
• Moonstone can be found in Brazil, Burma, Germany, India, Madagascar, the United States, and Mexico, but the most coveted and valuable Moonstones are mined in Sri Lanka.
• Other names for Moonstone include Ceylonese Opal, Water Opal, Girasol, Fish-Eye and Wolf's Eye. The ancient Greeks called Moonstone "Aphroselene" after Aphrodite (the goddess of love) and Selene (the moon goddess).

Spotlight On...Celestite

I only just recently discovered celestite (also known as celestine) and it is quickly becoming one of my favorites.

A deeply spiritual stone, celestite is also called the "Stone of Heaven" or the "Stone of the Angels", in part due to the celestial blue coloring for which it was named, but also because it is believed that celestite can connect one to the angelic realm and to the angels themselves. Celestite is also believed to offer angelic guidance by channeling angelic wisdom.

Healing Properties: Celestite is believed to bring piece of mind, clarity of thought and speech, and enhanced creative expression while putting an end to stress, anxiety, fear and worry and reducing self-destructive tendencies. It is also thought to aid in spiritual development and dream recall and to bring one a general sense of peace. It is often used by musicians and those involved in the arts.

Physically, celestite is believed to aid in the stimulation of thyroid function and is also used in the healing of throat conditions, eye and hearing disorders, and to balance mental dysfunctions. Celestite is also said to be a good help to those who fear heights and those with digestive problems.

Color: Celestite has a beautiful translucent and pearly luster which gives it an undeniable ethereal quality. Most often celestite is light sky blue to steel-blue in color, but it can also be found in a colorless form as well as grey, yellow with tints of red, green or reddish-brown.

Care: Celestite is a brittle crystal (only a 3 - 3.5 on the hardness scale) so celestite jewelry should not be worn during strenuous activity or in other situations where it could be damaged. To clean, run the stones under a cool or lukewarm tap and pat dry with a soft, dry cloth. Never use abrasive cleansers or an ultrasonic cleaner.

It is best to keep celestite out of direct sunlight as it may fade with frequent and/or prolonged exposure.

Interesting Fact: Celestite is an important source of the Strontium Nitrate used for the color red in flares and fireworks.

Spotlight on...Tanzanite

I've decided to start a "spotlight" series where I dedicate an entire post to a single gemstone. I figure what better stone to start with than my absolute personal favorite...Tanzanite. In fact I love this gem so much that, instead of diamond, I picked out a Tanzanite engagement ring.

Tanzanite is named for the region where it is mined...the African state of Tanzania. In fact the only known source for Tanzanite is a five square mile hilltop in the Merelani Hills of northern Tanzania near Mount Kilimanjaro.

While its supreme rarity and exclusiveness certainly add to the allure of the stone, its the unique color that has earned Tanzanite its numerous enthusiasts, like myself, as well as a hefty price tag. The color can range from from an ultramarine or pale periwinkle to an intense violet-blue. The most coveted, and valuable, Tanzanite stones are more blue with a purplish hue. Tanzanite is especially spectacular in large stones of ten carats or more and smaller stones tend to be paler.

One of the reasons that Tanzanite is so mesmerizing is that the stone is trichroic. This means that three different colors can be seen in the same stone depending on the perspective from which it is being viewed. From one direction it will look dark blue, from another it will look greenish-yellow or brown and from another it will appear to be a reddish-purple. This gives the stone a amazing depth!

Tanzanite is listed as an alternative birthstone for the month of December.

Caring for Tanzanite Jewelry

Tanzanite is a very delicate gemstone and care should be taken to prevent the stone from striking a hard surface and it should not be worn during strenuous activities. Tanzanite jewelry should be stored wrapped in a soft cloth away from your other jewelry pieces.

A ring set with Tanzanite should never be resized or repaired because the heat of a torch could shatter the stone. Exposing the stone to sudden temperature changes should also be avoided. This includes very hot or cold water or situations like reaching into the oven and then immediately running it under a cold tap.

To clean your Tanzanite jewelry, soak it in lukewarm soapy water with a mild liquid detergent. Rinse with water of the same temperature and wipe it dry with a soft cloth. Tanzanite jewelry should never be cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner.

Caring for Your Swarovski Crystal Jewelry...

While fairly durable, without proper handling and care Swarovski crystals can be scratched and chipped. To help prevent your crystals from being damaged, my suggestion is to store the piece sealed in a zip-lock bag. This will also help to slow down the oxidation process (tarnish) if your jewelry also contains sterling silver.

If your crystals start losing their sparkle, they can be cleaned in a solution of warm water and mild soap. Pat the crystals dry after cleaning. For a quick shine, gently rub the crystals with a clean, dry 100% cotton cloth. You should avoid using treated jewelry cloths to clean Swarovski crystals that have AB coating as they can damage the finish.

As a general rule, you should never use abrasive cleaners on your jewelry. To be safe, you should also avoid using glass cleaners and the like because the ammonia can damage some coatings. You should also remove your jewelry before washing dishes, swimming, cleaning, or any other activity that may cause your pieces to come in contact with abrasive cleansers or chemicals.

To help preserve the beauty of your stones and crystals between cleanings, you should always put your jewelry on after applying your makeup and hair spray. Natural pearls are especially sensitive and can be permanently damaged by such products.

Swarovski Crystal - What's In a Name?

If that name is Swarovski...a lot. Swarovski crystals, with their rich colors and awe inspiring brilliance, are regarded as the highest quality crystal beads in the world.

Take one look at my work and you will see that I am positively obsessed with these beads...and with good reason. Meticulously crafted in Austria to the highest quality standards, each and every Swarovski crystal bead is a true work of art. Each bead is precisely machine cut so that every bead is flawlessly consistent in size, shape, and slope. The crystals are made using a special compound, a heavily guarded secret formula, which gives them their trademark brilliance. In order to create the amazing sparkle, each bead is cut so that it has a hundred identical facets in several directions. To accomplish this, each direction of the reflected light has to be calculated by a computer, then it is simulated in 3D and finally converted into a control program for the complex cutting machinery.

While Swarovski crystals set the standard, there is no other crystal or glass bead on the market today that even comes close to matching their beauty. If pure luxury is what you crave, then accept no substitutes....

Metal Sensitive? Great News!

Introducing the wonder alloy...Niobium!!

If you, like me, have found that putting anything short of 14K gold through your earlobes is pure torture, there is a new alternative that is much easier on the pocketbook!

Niobium is a fairly new, and relatively unknown, alloy that is being used to make truly hypoallergenic ear wires. Of course there can never be a 100% guarantee that this, or any, metal can be worn by everyone, but many people, even those who have never been able to wear metal jewelry of any kind (including gold and titanium), have found that they can wear niobium with no irritation! With the price for niobium falling around the same as, or a bit lower than, Sterling Silver, for many of us they are a fashion Godsend!

I personally fall into the mid to upper range as far as sensitivity goes and I might as well jam a rusty nail through my ears for all the good traditional "hypoallergenic" metals do for me. Even gold will cause irritation, pain, and redness within a couple of hours. However, I've tried the niobium and let me tell you...even after a full day of wearing them I didn't notice any discomfort. No more naked lobes for me!! =)

Another fabulous (and fun!!) feature of niobium is that you can get the ear wires in several colors. As well as boring ol' silver, gold and copper, these are also available in turquoise, fuchsia, green, midnight blue and purple (just to name a few).

I love being able to integrate the wire into my earring design by color-coordinating the wire with the beads! In this fun example, I used fuchsia niobium ear wires with pink Swarovski crystal butterflies.



I made these earrings as a custom order for one of my regular customers. Her (metal sensitive) daughter was graduating from middle school so she wanted to get her a special gift. Not only did her daughter love the pink butterflies, but they were easy to put on and she was able to wear them comfortably!

Introductions

Hmmm...well, I'm not sure where to start, so I guess I'll just begin by telling you a little about myself and my business.

My name is Rachel Genovese and I am an independent jewelry artist who works out of a home studio in Leon Valley (San Antonio), Texas. I am happily married with a 4 year old son/angel named Donovan.

I specialize in heirloom quality handmade rosaries and one of a kind beaded jewelry which I sell at local shows and through my website Crystal Inspirations. I also make bridal jewelry, cell phone charms and beaded lanyards. I usually have a large selection of pre-made pieces on my site, but I love to make custom pieces for my customers.

I take great pride in my workmanship and I feel that each piece I create is a small piece of "me". As such, I offer not only a 30-day money back guarantee, but also a full lifetime warranty on every piece I make.

That said...

No worries...this blog won't be just a gigantic advertisement or sales pitch. I will use it to post news, advice, tips & tricks, history, facts, lore, and anything else that I think you would be interested in learning or reading about. I'll also post the occassional 'subscriber only' coupon or discount. =)

If there is a topic you would like to see, please feel free to contact me with your suggestions.