But what does “Hydro Quartz” mean anyways?

We are absolutely in love with these incredible cuts and colors of Hydro Quartz that we have in store but we often get customers asking us ” What is Hydro Quartz?” Here’s a look into what it means when a stone is labeled Hydro Quartz in our store.

THE PROCESS:

The “hydro” is short for the process of Hydrothermal Synthesis. This process has been performed by geologists, geochemists, and mineralogists since the beginning of the 20th century.  It essentially is a man made, fast process of creating crystals that would take much longer to form in nature otherwise.

To create these crystals, a substance or nutrient along with water is put into an Autoclave , or steel apparatus that can contain and withstand high vapor pressures and very hot temperatures. Usually one end of the autoclave is extremely hot while the other is cooler, creating the necessary environmental properties for the chemical reaction to spawn growth.

A diagram of a basic Autoclave chamber

Once the crystal is grown to capacity it is removed from the Autoclave chamber and cut up to be made in to commercial stones. The clarity that is achieved by these man made crystals is outstanding and many colors can be created by adjusting the different chemical properties.  It’s sort of like cooking up gemstones!

RESULTS:

So does this mean that your Hydro Quartz has any less value than the real thing? Not necessarily.  The main difference is that somewhere, man formed and grew your crystal out of the same ingredients that nature would have used.  But, we just did it a bit faster.  If you happen to be a fan of inconsistencies, matrix and cleavage lines, and cloudiness in stones, then Hydro Quartz pieces will definitely not strike to your tastes. However if you like perfectly clear colors and body of stones, you would definitely not want to pass this option up!

Want to know how to make your own beads?  With these four easy steps, you will be a pro in no time!

This is a great project for a rainy day or a lazy sunday afternoon.  These beads are easy to make, good for the enviroment, and will not burn a hole in your wallet.

Step 1: Selecting your paper and materials to make the beads

First collect the following:

• A colourful page from a used magazine or an old colourful poster. If you want to make beads of a full colour, you must find a full colour page of poster. For example to get ALL blue beads, pick up a page with photo of the ocean! Vogue and House and Home, or some old teenage music posters are my favorite. The thicker the paper the fatter the bead!
• A colourful page from a used magazine or an old colourful poster. If you want to make beads of a full colour, you must find a full colour page of poster. For example to get ALL blue beads, pick up a page with photo of the ocean! Vogue and House and Home, or some old teenage music posters are my favorite. The thicker the paper the fatter the bead!
• Scissors
• Pen
• Ruler
• Needle or toothpick
• Clear varnish – most clear varnishes from local store will do or nail varnish.
• Fishing wire/plastic wire or some sort of thread similar width as your needle or toothpick

Step 2: Measuring and cutting the paper for the beads

This is the part where put your paper down on a flat surface and equip yourself with a pen and a long ruler.
Please refer to the RED triangle in the illustration on the vogue page for these instructions:
Use a normal thin ballpoint pen, not a thick marker!
Mark a 2cm point long from the a top corner at (C) , and a 1cm point along from the bottom corner at (B) . Take your ruler and draw a line from point A to B and C respectively, and you will have drawn a perfect triangle. Continue this routine, until you end up with a zigzaging block of triangles throughout the page.
Cut your triangles neatly out, and discard the uneven one marked blue in the illustration.

Step 3: Rolling the Paper Bead

Take your needle, or toothpick. I recommend needle, as the string or thread you string them on (for varnishing) must be equal in width. Starting at the thickest end of the strip, start rolling it tightly around the needle. Using your nails to catch it in at first, ensuring to keep the paper central. Put a dab of glue at the end and press down on it for a few seconds to hold the bead in place. (liquid paper glue works best).

Step 4: Varnish, leave to dry and finish

Thread all your beads on plastic wire or string. I recommend a thickish plastic, fishing type thread as the beads will slide off easily once dry. Whatever you chose to use, ensure it does not allow for the varnish to seep in and bock the holes. Once fully strung, start varnishing, we use a brush and give them at least 2 coats of varnish. Leave to dry for 2-3 days, and your beads are ready to use!

I don’t know about you guys, but I am always on the search for the perfect jewelry holder.  If you are a jewelry lover like me & have way too much jewelry, then you are constantly in need of  a place to hang lots of earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.

One thing I need in a jewelry organizer is space!  I like to be able to see all of my jewelry, while also having it organized.  I came across this great and inexpensive alternative that I would love to share with you.

This is an easy & fun way to organize & display your jewelry.  It is also a great homemade gift to give to your friends & family.

All you need is:

1.  A frame of any size

2.   Piece of material.  I love using pieces of old fabric.  If you are feeling daring, you can sew together a couple of different patterns to create a more funky and crafty look.

3.  A staple gun

4.  3 or 5 small nails

5.  A Hammer

6. Scissors

4 Easy Steps:
Step 1: Take your fabric & lay it on top of the back side of the frame.

Step 2: Pull the fabric  taught (The tighter it is, the better)Staple all sides. Especially corners, because they tend to pucker.

Step 3: Cut off the excess fabric.  Make sure not to cut TOO close to the staples. Turn the frame over now and then to check how the front is looking.  You now have a place for your earrings!

Step 4: Along the bottom of the frame, nail some nails.  This will create a place to hang your necklaces & bracelets.

Now that you are finished, your search for the perfect jewelry holder is over! Time to keep creating to fill in those empty spaces!  Happy Beading!

Plain and simply living has gotten extremely expensive.  We are all looking for ways to get the most for our money, while still getting the quality goods we love. If your anything like me, the one thing I will never give up in buying & making new jewelry.  I find that it has gotten hard to do on a budget, yet I promise you it can still be done! Here are a few ideas, to keep your creative juices flowing.

1. Visit your neighborhood Thrift shop or Good Will!  Many will carry a large stock of vintage & refurbished jewelry.  There are so many treasures, that your eyes will tear from excitement.  It may take a chunk out of your day, but I promise you it is worth your time.    Remember one man’s trash, is another man’s treasure.

2.  Re-create.  We all have old necklaces & earrings laying around that we never wear.  Why not take them apart? Your initial reaction to hearing this may be weary but why not try!  Turn a pair of old earrings into a new pendant.  Think of all the elastic bracelets you can make out of your old 20″ necklace that has been catching dusk in your jewelry box.

3. Play a game.  Check if your town has a Bead Store. Most of the time, they will have a sale section.  Give yourself a $20 minimum & see how many beads you can get within your limit.  Yes, a bead shop is an adult version of a candy shop for us but a little discipline never hurt anyone!

There you have it, three easy ways to save money & keep up your jewelry sweet tooth.

The question of wearing too much  jewelry has been completely thrown out of the picture.  Jewelry this season is going to be the biggest statement on the runway and off.  With styles running the gamut from bold and playful to sleek and modern, its shaping up to be an interesting fall for jewelry.  Styles will be bigger & more extreme than you have seen in past years.

We will also continue to see many natural jewelry options, such as wood & bone bracelets, rings, & of course necklaces.  This a good thing for all of us who like the complimentary components of  neutral colors.

Of course, gemstones are still in! Black onyx and smoky quartz are the  hot stones for cooler weather.  People will be on the prowl for multifaceted and irregularly faceted shaped beads.

Bold is in! This means, its time to breakout all of your funky old gemstones & metals that you have contemplated wearing.  Just take a chance & Go for it! A little diversity in your accessories will make you feel more excited about your look & will not be out of place by the way the trends are playing out.  There is no doubt in my mind that Jewelry will play a very important role in fashion this fall.  So for all of your jewelry lovers out there, happy styling!

Wondering what’s underneath the shiny exterior?

We understand that it’s important to know what materials you are working with when making your jewelry.  With Sterling and gold prices sky high, plated metals are becoming an ever more tempting alternative to putting a major dent in your wallet. Here’s some answers and FAQ to the most common questions we get about plated metal, findings and chain.

1.) How are plated metal beads and findings made?

Most metal findings and beads in this industry are made by casting.  A mold is made in the shape and design of the item. Then the mold is filled with molten metal, cooled, and then finished (usually) to a high polish.  Objects made of Sterling or Gold are cast directly in those metals.  Most plated metals start as copper or pewter castings that then receive a silver or gold plating.

The process of plating can be accomplished by using any number of methods. One common method is electroplating, where the piece to be plated is submerged in a chemical solution bath that has an electric current running through it.  The power within the current can coat a conductive material with a thin coating of a desired metal or provide the object with a number of other properties (such as reducing corrosion).

This is a casting tree, ready to be invested in a flask.  Once the investment has set, these will be put into a casting machine.

2.) How long will the plating last?

Since the plating on most metals is very thin, it important to know what to expect.  Unlike pure metals or silver and gold alloys, plated metals may deteriorate in quality much quicker.  One thing that may happen is that the surface of the metal may darken or lose the original shine that it had.  Some people refer to this as “turning”.  What is actually happening is the copper base metal is reacting with the oxygen in the air after a period of time and that COPPER OXIDE is rising to the surface of the metal, causing a tarnished look.  Unlike sterling, this oxidation is not easily polished away since that may end up damaging the plating even more by removing it all together. In some other cases, plating can actually be chipped or removed from the surface of the metal, exposing the copper casting underneath the plating.

This is a basic electroplating bath set-up.

3.) How can I prolong the life of plated metals?

The best way to keep your plated metals happy is to make sure that they are not exposed to any other undue chemical corrosion.  This chemical corrosion can be caused by simple things like perfumes, make-ups, direct sunlight and human sweat over time. People that live in much warmer climates tend to see their plated items deteriorate faster due to these causes. When using plated metal beads in jewelry design, spacers may be helpful, since scratches to the surface can expose the base metal.

4.) Once the plating is compromised, what can I do?

If the damage is minimal, a very SOFT cotton cloth can remove some tarnishing.  However DO NOT use regular silver/gold cleaning solutions or coarse cloths on items that are plated.  If the piece is dear to you and it has lost much plating, the best thing to do is bring it to a jeweler and have the item re-plated.

Once a year, people from all over Connecticut find their way to our quaint town of South Norwalk for The Sono Arts Celebration.

Tonight, will kick of the 38th year.
Two of the main streets in town get shut down, allowing people to walk thru the streets and enjoy performances, local art, food, & fun.
The mission of the Festival is to develop and expand a clear appreciation of the Arts.
True to the mission, acts are selected for their original music, dance, performance art & theater presentation and they strive to present a diverse & eclectic array of genres.
This unique festival allows local artists to share their special talents, while also drawing in many people to our small town.
There is no better time of year in our area, to get those creative juices flowing & show off what you’ve got.
Come stop by, walk around, and enjoy this beautiful weekend surrounded by local art & talent.

Many of us jewelry lovers want to keep our favorite masterpieces on us at all times.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         It is a common misconception that your jewelry can be worn in the water.  With summer in full effect, many of us forget to take our jewelry off when the temptations of the beach and or pool hit.  As tempting as it is to jump in the water with your jewelry on, DON’T DO IT!  No jewelry should be worn in the water and yes, this goes for the shower too.

When you jump into the water the chemical reaction between the metal and the water will oxidize your jewelry.  This will leave your jewelry tarnished and looking a lot older than it is.  Not to mention you don’t want it to turn green!

I promise you if you listen to this one simple tip your relationship with your favorite jewelry with last a longer and healthier life.