JEWELRY

Close-up views of precious gems and antique jewelry

This slideshow is an example of designing jewelry using a theme as outlined by my recent instructional article. Pick a theme, any theme; and when you sit down to design jewelry, ideas will come to you more easily.

Creating jewelry from mini Christmas ornaments is fun and easy. These can make good group gifts for classrooms or a small gift for coworkers. This article turns mini ornaments into pins although holiday earrings can be created the same way.

A wife tries on a special look for a Valentine's Day date with her husband. See fun makeup, hair, and jewelry ideas.

High-resolution pictures of jewelry provided by Johannes via Kirsikka Jewelry

Here's a photographic look at a few pieces of my grandmother's vintage jewelry. Since they just sit in a box that collects dust, I thought I might as well show and share them--one way to honor her legacy even if it's a bit trivial.

Upcycling is the art of taking something used and creating something better. You can go 'Green' in style by making handcrafted jewelry from cast offs.

Copper can add a new dimension to your metal and wire work jewelry. With a bit of creativity, you can bring your ideas to life.

Carol Rucker creates handcrafted jewelry and teaches others to do the same. She believes any one can produce these fun and artsy pieces

Specimens of fire opal from Opal Butte, Oregon, have made their way into wire-wrapped jewelry. See the necklaces you first saw as intensely colored fire opal roughs. Can you pick out the three featured stones from the Fire Opal Slideshow?

The lithium-containing mineral, lepidolite, finds favor among the makers of handcrafted jewelry. It's special forms require special techniques for use in jewelry. See the splendid colors and forms in which lepidolite is found.

Every jewelry artist encounters creative block. Use a theme like "Girlfriends" for instance; and ideas flow freely. See: Designing Jewelry Using a Theme

With most mass production jobs going overseas, the artist who makes his/her own jewelry, beads and metalwork, has a niche at the website, Etsy.com. The only problem: Promotion. There are many ways to promote yourself; some work, some do not.

You may wonder how a Dallas gold exchange works. Many people who are thinking of getting rid of their unwanted jewelry will often think of a pawn shop or even an internet website that allows them to sell their unwanted items

Amethyst is a quartz, or silicon dioxide. We know amethyst by its purple color, although it can pale to white upon natural or manmade irradiation. Cobalt-60 irradiation takes amethyst to a pale green color, resulting in green amethyst or prasiolite.

The diamond engagement rings - a timeless expression of love and commitment. The classic styles available - solitaire and pave, for example - still are popular today, but there are emerging trends of which you, the potential buyer should be aware.

Pictures show the work of our company, JoySoulCrafts.

There's a certain style one observes in Santa Fe art. Jewelry too makes a bold style statement of its own. Designs by Lorraine Yapps Cohen reflect why Southwesterners flock to the Santa Fe style in necklaces. See if you can see that characteristic look.

The end of a long gold or silver wire captures a gemstone or pearl. Many suspended together from a handcrafted collar constitute the long wires design. The innovative necklace creation is dynamic. It moves when worn. Geometric and simply splendid!

Petrified wood makes an innovative statement in designer jewelry headed for the art mecca of Santa Fe. While the stones date back 200 million years, the designs are current. See the Santa Fe Reds necklace designs by Lorraine Yapps Cohen.

Keshi pearls are natural freshwater pearls composed of nacre through and through. No nucleating bead will be found internally. Their thin concave structure makes them delicate, desirable, dear, lending dimensionality to innovative jewelry designs.

Tahitian black pearls come in colors besides black and they're not all perfectly round. The diversity of these precious pearls inspires innovation in jewelry designs. All designs by Lorraine Yapps Cohen.

Donald Trump's daughter's jewelry shop.

Jewelry makers pull out some wire and a few tools. If you know how to use a jeweler's saw, grab that too. Use these ideas to create a Wearable Valentine.

Decided I needed another hobby, as if I'm not busy enough with writing and parenting!