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Cloisonné is a decorative art that first appeared around the 8th century in the Byzantium world. China was introduced to cloisonné in the 14th century as the western province of Yunnan received an influx of Islamic people. Over time, this … Continue reading
Decorated glass beads from Ghana, known as Aggrey beads, were not only used in jewelry but also for medicinal purposes and as a form of currency. Those were some busy beads! Presently, bead-making is a well-preserved cultural tradition in Ghana, worn for various ceremonies and everyday fashion. These handcrafted beads are notable for their vibrant colors and varied shapes and are worn by both men and women of all ages.
Greek worry beads or kompoloi have a more direct purpose – to relax the mind with a smooth tactile feel and the rhythmic clicking of one bead sliding into the next. There are numerous techniques to manipulating them and to handle them expertly is definitely a skill – kind of like a less-flashy version of the yo-yo:
They’re considered an ideal means of giving up bad habits like smoking, biting your nails or excessive snacking! Like Aggrey beads, they are sometimes used to denote power and prestige, while telling everyone that you have plenty of free time. Greek worry beads are usually made with a tassel and a fixed bead that marks the beginning and end of the series. They are often used as a casual piece of home decor but rarely worn as personal adornment.
Deep blues are always big for prom but this year they seem hotter than ever. Navy is classic and never goes out of style while sapphire has a purple hue and a little more pop. Royal and electric blue are close variations and perfect when you want to stand out from the crowd. If you’re considering these colors, here’s 10 beautiful dresses you need to check out!
And don’t forget – there are hundreds of dark blue jewelry pieces on Customgia that will perfectly compliment your dress and you can adjust the length and color on any of them!
We spend a lot of time pondering things that bling – so here’a a few things you may not know about the world famous crystal makers:
1) Founded in 1895 (the same year Babe Ruth was born, if you care) and originally named A. Kosmann, Daniel Swartz & Co.
2) At their headquarters in Wattens, Austria, they operate an indoor theme park called Crystal Worlds. Guests enter through a large crystal head and are shown all things crystal. Currently rated a 3.5 (out of 5) stars on Trip Advisor – not a glittering endorsement.
3) Manufacturing techniques are highly secret. It is rumored that employees working at Wattens are familiar with only their particular area of the factory – no one other than a few family members have knowledge of the entire crystal forming and cutting process. Think Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory without the chocolate river.
4) Swarovski is currently building a 15,000 sq. meter production facility in Serbia – and for the first time, will no longer produce 100% of their crystal in Austria.
5) In 1956, Swarovski partnered with Christian Dior to create the Aurora Burealis coating, an iridescent effect applied to many crystal components still used today.
6) 2011 sales: $3.83 billion. The company is privately held so public financial records are sketchy but still, that’s a lot of cut glass.
7) They also make decorative lighting, road safety products and yes, rifle scopes.
The biggest misconception is that Swarovski crystal is mined (like a precious metal or gemstone). Someone once told me that Austria “sits on a big crystal rock” which is a really dumb thing to say for a number of reasons.
Anyway, now you know what you’re wearing – those beads have some history to them.
Ombre colored dresses that fade from one color to another continue to be stylish and wearable, particularly for spring events (like prom!). Finding earrings that coordinate with this color variation isn’t easy, but designing them yourself is a breeze – not to mention fun! For example, here’s #14435 by Panoply:
That’s a lot of color – purple, aqua and scattered crystal throughout the waist. The Customgia earrings designer let’s you filter beads by color and create something that looks like it was made for this dress – because it was! Click the image to customize them or buy them as shown.
Why spend your money on boring jewelry from the mall? At Customgia, for as little as $7.50, you can give someone drop earrings that are totally unique, personalized and affordable. You can design them yourself or customize an existing style. We assemble them in New Jersey and ship them out to you in 3 days or less!
Use coupon code: GIA4LESS and save 25% on any order (no minimums!). That means $10.00 earrings are now only $7.50, plus shipping. Why are you still reading this post? Click an earring and design something fabulous!
Never lose another earring! Typical earring backs can fall off or get misplaced but lever backs are secured with a hinged metal piece attached to the earring itself (see below). Every earring on Customgia is available with this earring top, in silver or gold plate. Just click “Design It!”, click the “Earring Top” tab and choose the lever back.
Changing the color of any item on Customgia is easy, so why not rock your team colors in Swarovski crystal or pearl? Click on one of the bracelets below to get started. Design it now and have it in time for the home opener!
Customgia now offers over 20 colors of satin cord to design with! It’s a fun, affordable alternative to metal chain that let’s you match or compliment the color of your pendant. And remember, you specify the length (15″, 16, 16.5″, etc) so it falls just where you want. And like every other item on Customgia, it’s assembled in the USA. Click one of the pendants below and create something special.
Semi-precious materials like rose quartz, onyx and adventurine can add an earthy, natural feel to your next jewelry design. Just click “Design It!” when viewing any item. On the right, next to materials, scroll down and choose “Semi-Precious” to see a variety of shapes and sizes all cut from naturally-occurring stones. And remember, natural variation makes every bead look a little different so your jewelry will be a one of a kind creation. Here’s a brilliant pair of onyx and malachite earrings to get started with:
