Silver Rose Blogs

Dynamic JASPER Healer Extrodinar & Design Diva!

2011-09-12T12:41:00.000-07:00

With autumn fast approaching it seems appropriate to talk of Jasper as it contains all the colors that speak of fall or autumn making it the perfect design component for your jewelry designs!

JASPER - It is difficult to know where to start with this gemstone that has such a wide array of choices. There are so many extraordinarily beautiful types of Jasper. The overall feeling of Jasper is one of connection to the earth and in turn to us the children of the earth. It supports us with its earthy colors and its beauty. To behold such beauty elevates one out of the doldrums and focuses the mind on higher thoughts!

The ancient Egyptians used Jasper in carved scarabs to increase their sexual energy. Too bad we can't ask them if it worked! It their longevity as a race is an indication it did have a quite amazing effect. The Bible lists Jasper as the first foundation stone of the New Jerusalem as it was considered a direct gift from God. Natives in both America as well Asia see Jasper as a powerful, effective healer as well as a maker of rain.
Jasper is a fine grained opaque ornamental rock composed of Chalcedony and micro-crystalline quartz plus other minerals that gift it with colored bands and swirls.

Here are a some of the named Jaspers that make up this spell binding gemstone! Captions are linkable to the items! Image do not link.

Exotica Jasper

EXOTICA JASPER - Is a jasper that is in the classification of Porcelain Jasper that comes from Sonora, Mexico. It is wonderfully beautiful with it rich patterns of cranberry red, cream, light gray all swirled together in an ice cream Sunday blend! This gemstone is a soothing protection stone thus bringing peace to the wearer. It also increases the ability to solve complex issues by drawing in all the aspects of the problem.

Apache Jasper

APACHE JASPER - is a Jasper that is filled with vivid and exciting patterns. There is no mistaking its unique pattern designs and colors. If you are starting a project or new phase in your life Apache Jasper is for you! It will aid you in successfully completing your project or help you enter the new phase in your life with grace and assurance.

Imperial Jasper

IMPERIAL JASPER - is a stunning Jasper composed of soft sherbert colors that soothe the eye and the spirit. Imperial Jasper is another find from Mexico the location of the mine is between Jalisco and Zacatecas, about 50 miles north of the city of Guadalajara. Imperial Jasper helps one to feel the contentment that their life generates and relax into their life script! This gorgeous gemstone feels wonderful!
Make yourself a strand or a pendant and run your fingers across it often to feel the rightness of your life's path!

Ocean Jasper

OCEAN JASPER: is one of the most intoxicating Jaspers with its wild orbicular patterns and intense colors! It is said to align all the Chakras and create harmony within the body. I have found that stone energies are subtle not like Western medicine that is startling and disruptive to the body but gentle and kind. Sometimes they need to be worn for months to get the full therapeutic effect. It is said that one can comb beaches on the Island of Madagascar and the pebbles are Ocean Jasper! What
a wonderful beach combing that would be! Ocean Jasper is filled with druzy pockets which amplify the energy of the stone as it is most usually minute quartz crystals. Use it in your designs to connect to Mother Earth and all the beauty and healing that lies within Her. Nearly every hue is present in this gift from the planet.

There are so many Jaspers! I would like to mention a few extraordinary ones that are wonderful for their colors and patterns. Making them perfect for Fall or Autumn designs!

CONGLOMERATE JASPER

MOOKAITE


DALMATION STONE

OWYHEE JASPER


KAMBABA JASPER


CHOCOLATE JASPER

May you have have a wonderful time exploring the wonderful world of Jaspers. They are many and can be depended on to supply with a rich source of design possibilities!

Sylvia C. Rose-Johnson
Stone Intuitive
www.silverrosebeads.com

August Birthstones - Fact and Legends!

2011-07-29T12:28:00.000-07:00

Peridot Briolette Beads

Let's explore the amazing world of birthstones and specifically the birthstones for August. The modern Birthstone of August is Peridot with it's tantalizing vivid lemon/green hue. Who couldn't be just a little envious of those born in August that can lay claim to it as their own! The Oxford English Dictionary suggests that the root of the word Peridot was an alteration of Anglo-Norman pedoretés (classical Latin pæderot-), actually a kind of opal, rather than the Arabic word faridat, meaning "gem". This gives one an idea of the importance of Peridot as it was once known to be synonymous with gems. Peridot is one of the few gems that comes in only one color, green. The green can vary from an olive green, to a lemon green to a brownish green depending on the quantity of iron in the stone crystalline structure. The olive green is considered the most valuable. The Peridot from Pakistan is particularly glorious in color. It s a brilliant lime green that glows with intensity! Hawaiian natives discovered Peridot crystals in the black sands on the big Island of Hawaii, explaining their presence beneath the volcano as tears shed by Pele, the goddess of the volcano. In older times the source of the mine for Peridot was lost and gemstones for jewelry were taken from ancient Egyptian sacred objects and used. The Egyptians drank an energizing drink called Soma from Peridot drinking cups. This beverage and the fact that it was drunk from a Peridot flagon was believed to draw them closer to Isis, the Goddess of nature. So around the world this gem that seemed to be alive with the fires of the volcano from which it often originates has been highly regarded and held as sacred. One of the most Romantic names given to Peridot is Evening Emerald! To me Peridot is the color of early tender spring with all the hope and promise of new beginnings. So it would seem appropriate to me to wear or give as new projects or relationships begin, even before flowering. Giving Peridot signifies vitality within the relationship and a promise of continued growth in the years to come. An exquisite sentiment for our August people or for anyone!

Red Sardonyx

Black Sardonyx Pendant

The second or traditional Birthstone for August is the Sardonyx. This gemstone is a combination of colors, usually red and white but just as stunning is the black and white. It has been used since ancient time as a carving material. The carving is generally referred to as intaglios or counter-relief. This is an amazing quartz gemstone that affords the opportunity to show great mastery of the carver as the two layers were perfect to show dimension and detail. In more recent times cameos have been carved from Sardonyx. Sardonyx was used by the ancient Egyptians as a talisman to protect against evil and infections. To me Sardonyx is Drama! It's variegated colors calls attention to itself like no other. If you feel the need for drama this is the stone for you! This gemstone is symbolic of happiness within a friendship or relationship when given as a gift.

If neither one of the intriguing gemstones is for you there are others to be chosen. They are from the Mystical birthstone chart Diamond or from the Ayervedic birthstone chart Sapphire.

Click on the Peridot, Sardonyx, Diamond or Sapphire to view a selection of those Gemstones.

Sylvia C. Rose-Johnson
Stone-Intuitive
www.SilverRoseBeads.com

Gold, Sterling, Fine Silver, Vermeil and how to handle the rise in Metal Prices

2011-07-15T12:35:00.000-07:00

20K Designer Beads

Metals have made the news recently with the upward spiral in prices. Gold seems to be the focus but silver has been steadily gaining in value since 2005. It has reached a height unheard of since the Hunt Brothers. It now is hovering at nearly $40 per ounce! Even once lowly copper has skyrocketed.

What does all this mean for people that make jewelry for a living or a hobby or the customers that purchase their products? It of course, means the price is going up and staying there for the foreseeable future. Ways we can deal with this are cutting down the quantity of metal we use in our designs, use old stock or do what we must do eventually pass it on to our customers. It does raise the intrinsic value of the items we design and this is always a plus. Make the metal the focus and this will bring to the mind of the viewer that it is a thing of value. I use metal as a way to bring in light and sparkle which just needs a touch here and there to achieve the desired effect. Being creative people, beaders will come up with innovative ideas as they work this new factor into their creations.

GOLD!!! is rated in various purity amounts such as 10k, 14k, 18k, 20k or 22k. Pure GOLD is 24k. 10k designates that it is 10 parts pure gold and 14 parts other metal this holds true for 14k, etc. The total of parts always adding up to 24. Adding other metals to gold increases durability and the choice of metal effects the resulting color. Silver, platinum, palladium, zinc and nickel create a white gold while copper creates a rose gold. The choice of metal of course does not effect the purity of gold and there is no way of knowing exactly what metal has been added.

Brushed Sterling Beads

Some other facts: Sterling is .925 parts pure silver and .075 parts copper. There is also another silver bead that we carry on our website www.silverrosebeads.com which is fine silver that is .980 to .999 pure silver. Fine silver does not tarnish as does sterling. Sterling silver tarnishes due to the oxidation of the copper content. I've noticed that there are some dealers selling silver filled. A filled product has a heavy covering of the metal either gold or silver applied in a top layer to the item. There is nothing wrong with this as long as the metal you are purchasing is clearly denoted. It might be a bit of a task to keep them separated if you have a large amount of stock in various metals as beads as a general rule are not stamped as to content.

22k Vermeil Bead Cap

Another very useful metal for jewelry crafters is Vermeil which is solid silver with a covering of gold. The thickness of the gold must be 2.5 micrometers thick (or approximately 1/10000ths of an inch) . The base metal must be solid sterling or it is not considered Vermeil. The thickness is fine for jewelry making as most items are not worn for an extended period of time.

All metals will keep well if stored in an airtight container! They stay bright and shiny without exposure to air (oxygen).

Hope this article has added to your knowledge of precious metals and how to manage them in your jewelry designs.

(Please click on the caption under the image of the bead to go to that item. Clicking on the image leads to an error message.:)

Sylvia C. Rose-Johnson
Owner
The Silver Rose
silvrerosebeads (www.silverrosebeads.com)

What's Happening at Silver Rose Beads! (Re-Discovered!)

2011-06-21T14:07:00.000-07:00

Recently added items are some exquisite British Columbia Nephrite Jade Beads. They are sprinkled with attractive dendrites that make the most interesting patterns! We were able to acquire these beauties at reasonable prices when they were purchased some years ago on a trip to the far East. Recently we moved our warehouse 33 miles to our house at a small lake and in the processes found many dynamic beads that had been 'hidden'. The move was an enormous job but full of amazing 'surprises'! The good news is the items were purchased when the dollar was much stronger and the cutting and quality of gemstones beads on a higher scale than are now available for purchase. Synthetics and ? materials were not available for purchase at that time. I have been in the jewelry and gemstone business for 35 years. Stone energy is a very real for thing for me and the manufactured, altered and synthetic material is glaringly apparent to me. These beads are incredible Natural British Columbia Nephrite Jade.

As New (re-discovered) items are added to our website our BLOG and ads on Facebook will keep you posted on our latest additions!

The Nephrite Jade comes in three distinct cuts, square coin, smooth briolette or teardrop and round coins. The beads are listed in 16" strands, 8" or half-strands and a parcel size that is approximately a quarter of a 16" strand or 4" of beads. This is done to make it possible for you, our customers to purchase exactly the quantity you desire. If you are in need of some amount other than what is available do not hesitate to contact us with your needs at: silverrosebeads@silverrose.net.

Sylvia C. Rose-Johnson

Stone Intuitive and

Owner
The Silver Rose
www.silverrosebeads.com

Fossilized Coral - Gift from the Pre-Cambrian Era

2011-01-21T12:18:00.000-08:00

Fossilized Coral

Fossilized coral is also known as Agatized coral and Petoskey stone! This gemstone can add a wonderful dimension of earthiness and the marvelous healing energy of nature to your creations. The intricate patterning is so fascinating adding texture and interest to your designs.

When made into jewelry the neutral color Fossilized Coral comes goes well with other stones and complements many intense colors worn in clothing . The stone energy also is compatible with almost all other stone energies so I use it freely with everything from Aquamarine to Quartz. This is also a green stone as the animal that inhabited this marvel of nature left 452 million years ago. So one can use it without worry!

In the distant past coral reefs were more abundant than today and this is where much of the Fossilized Coral we see today was formed. Some of these ancient reefs lie in sedimentary rock or in places such as England's Gault clay formation. Found predominately in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and the northwestern portion of Michigan's lower peninsula is Petroskey stone. Petoskey stones are masses of fossil colony coral called Hexagonaria percarinata.

Let this amazing gift from the Pre-Cambrian era bring the incredible creative force of 452 million years ago into your creations of today!

Fossilized Coral

Fossilized Coral

SODALITE - Enlightment through Delight!

2010-10-18T16:59:00.000-07:00

Sodalite

As soon as I touch it’s smooth deep blue velvet surface kissed with constellations and galaxies of snow-white calcite a feeling of ecstatic peace permeates my being. This lovely stone brings all the galaxies into choirs of praise about the very nature of who we are. It will help you to recognize and verbalize your true feelings. It will connect you to a part of yourself that enables you to ‘know” the sacred laws of the universe. Sodalite wants to charm people into looking inside themselves and experience the incredible wonder that they are. It call for us to look at the potential that we are. That life is here now, savor it, taste it, live!

We all are on journey but it’s not the destination that holds the most potential for growth but the trip itself that Sodalite gently and calmly tells the careful listener. Whether your travels are physical emotional or spiritual, Sodalite will make them smoother and delightful while revealing the true nature of your journey.

Because of its ability to reveal to you your authentic self, Sodalite positively affects one’s self-esteem.
Physically it is said to balance the endocrine system. It also has been reputed to be calming and regulating to the central nervous system. It assists with calcium absorption.

It can be smoothed on the body to dissipate fears and anxiety. Might I recommend a quiet private place, as you reactions to this incredible gem can be startlingly exquisite and you want to make sure you enjoy them!

Written by: Sylvia C. Rose-Johnson

(captions are click-able to item)

Sodalite Art cut Beads

Purple Flower Sodalite

Sodalite Turtle Pendant

Sodalite Pyramids

Let Coral speak to you . . .

2010-09-23T17:30:00.000-07:00

Red Branch Coral

Ever imagine what stone energy could do for you? That is what I am going to talk about mostly in this particular article.

Coral when farmed is good for the environment as it helps keep the waters cleaner and is an easily renewable product. The best prices are for clean blemish free coral and this is best obtained by clean water. The coral is carefully harvested. Explosives are not used therefore leaving the surrounding flora and fauna unharmed. Thus with careful harvesting Coral can be beneficial to the environment, our healing, and our adornment, a happy marriage indeed.

On the healing side Coral is said to aid in cleansing the blood when applied as a healing gemstone. Coral is also said to bring a feeling of well being, a connection to our inner purpose. As far as specific ailments it will bring healing to all areas of the body with specific attention to the eyes, bone, bone marrow, blood, circulatory system and the respiratory system. As an organic gemstone it can help us connect to nature and all the benefits she holds. It also brings prosperity and attracts love to the wearer. Red coral is particularly good for attracting love because it is a stone of passion. It is an all purpose edifier, healer very beneficial for the body, emotional health, physical well being and even our good fortune.

Design wise coral is a wealth of ideas, a designer's dream. So many colors, red, pink, white, salmon or coral, black, gold, fossilized coral as well as a wide variety of shapes, branches, tubes, rounds and every shapes known can be cut from it branches. Play, let your imagination run down the path of creativity. Maybe letting your designs echo the shapes of what you are using the piece you are designing to bring into fruition. Let your pieces bring this marvel of the sea into contact with the skin where it can begin is healing work.

Please share some of your ideas about this incredible gem of the seas and any healing ideas you may have experienced with the particular gemstone.

White Branch Coral

.


           Black Coral

Gold Coral

Fossilized Coral

Are Fresh Water Pearls eco-friendly or green?

2010-09-13T14:13:00.000-07:00

Pearls
Once one of the most highly valued commodities on the planet, the
freshwater pearl is now available to almost everyone. The catch phrase
in all we do should be , “is it a green product or green?”. You can
rest assured Freshwater pearls are. Rivers, streams and lakes are kept
clean so this ancient creature can grow breathtaking pearls to adorn
the most discerning palate.

The oyster is taken care of in a manner to assure that it lives a
normal healthy life span for the larger it grows; the larger the
pearls. Large pearls bring in more revenue. The cleaner the water; the
healthier the oyster and with this comes more beautiful, iridescent
luster and smooth blemish free nacre. In this manner pearl or oyster
farming encourages keeping the waterways clean and free of pollutants.

After the first crop of pearls is harvested from the oysters a pearl
sac or pocket is left in the oyster. It doesn't need to be seeded for
the oyster will now produce the very valuable and sought after Rose
Petal or Corn Flake Keishi pearl. A Keishi pearl is composed entirely
of nacre as no seeding has been done. After the Keishi is harvested
the oyster is now ready to grow to the truly spectacular 10mm to 12mm
pearls that are the reining divas of the pearl world. As this is the
sought after outcome, safely guarding the life span and health of the
oyster has now come full circle.

Through farming practices that bring premium harvest of the highest
quality pearls, one can witness this amazing gift of nature as a truly

green product. It is a renewable resource that keeps small independent

groups of individuals employed, keeps the waterways clean and assures

that the oysters producing this treasure of nature are carefully

tended indeed.

So relax and enjoy pearls in all their varied form. These gems of nature are an absolute delight to design with and gift some to yourself as the hues they come in compliment every skin tone.

Biwa

Champagne & Beige

Green Pearls

Keishi Pearls

Sapphire - Birthstone of September!

2010-09-06T11:29:00.000-07:00

Multi-Hue Sapphire Beads

Sapphires are corundum in any color of the rainbow except red. Red corundum is known as Ruby. Sapphires are a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale and are also the birthstone for the month of September. Madagascar is the world leader in sapphire production (as of 2007) specifically its deposits in and around the city of Ilakaka, but Sapphires are also found in the USA, Myanmar, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Australia, Thailand, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tanzania, Kenya and China.

Lucky you if this magnificent gemstone is your Birthstone. You can choose from an amazing array of colors. Don't care for clear stones? In this incredible family, you have the choice of a star sapphire. A star sapphire is a type of sapphire that exhibits a star-like phenomenon known as aster-ism. Star sapphires contain intersecting needle-like inclusions (often the mineral rutile, a mineral composed primarily of titanium oxide) that cause the appearance of a six-rayed "star"-shaped pattern when viewed with a single overhead light source. Just pick your favorite one and that can be your special Sapphire birthstone. Blue became the "official" color for Sapphires when is was promoted by the Jewelers of America, the American national association of Jewelers, in 1912. Now you know that you can choose the one that appeals to you!

Personally I love the Padparadscha an unbelievable brilliant pink/orange. The name derives from the Sinhalese word for lotus blossom. Along with rubies, they are the only type of corundum to be given their own name instead of being called a particular colored sapphire.

I hope this information has helped you to better understand Sapphire and some of it many facets!

Autumn Hued Sapphires

Yellow Sapphire Briolette Bead

Blue Sapphires

What is a Boxwood Bead?

2010-08-31T11:54:00.000-07:00

For many of us the idea of what we are doing to enhance our health and enrich our well being is now coming with the question what is this doing to our planet? Well for the enchanting Boxwood creations that question can be answered that they are Green Beads!

For thousands of years Netsukes have charmed their viewers. A huge detraction to this exquisite form of legend/myth telling was that fact that they were carved out of Elephant Tusk. As the planet has become more aware of what happens to the magnificent elephants, it has made this extraordinary art form repugnant as well as illegal to own for many. The switch to boxwood has made these enchanting objects a green product as boxwood is an easily farmed rapidly growing wood. Boxwood is carved green when it is soft and as it dries it hardens. It is used in it's dwarf form for topiary in the west and the larger variety for ornamental and even furniture carving in China and other eastern countries. It is an ecology friendly solution to preserving an ancient art, when boxwood is used to carve Netsukes and other object d'art. These enchanting pieces are used to evokes different energies and feelings into jewelry, as statuary and other forms of ornamentation. Here are some of our incredibly detailed Boxwood Netsukes, Ojime and other items we carry!

Ancient Beaders- Modern Thinking

2010-08-13T15:30:00.000-07:00

The fascination with beads stretches out into our distant past as documented in article on NPR.
As beaders, what do we have in common with early man? Our endless fascination with beads! According to anthropologist, Chris Henshilwood, this is fascination is what occurred and beads use caused humankind to develop symbolic thinking. Beads represented who they were, what tribe they belonged, what they believed, what their status was, where they had been. Not to dissimilar from how we wear our beads today. In other words, beads were used as symbols. How incredible that an evolutionary jump that prepared the human brain for modern living is credited to our fascination with beads! So when the urge hits you hard and strong, just remember the very part that makes us fully modern human is connected with the beautiful primal urge to decorate ourselves with beads.
To read in more detail about this incredible theory go to: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129082962
Some Shell Beads we carry: Images are click-able to items.

Kunzite

2010-08-02T13:47:00.000-07:00

KUNZITE The very name Kunzite conjures images of exotic destinations and alluring places. My first experience with Kunzite was very amazing. I was leaving a large gem sale. One of the last tables I walked by contained several large and rather rugged looking natural crystals. I paused and immediately my eyes were drawn to a vivid pinkish-lavender crystal about 10 inches long. I reached to touch it and somehow I felt it was reaching out for me at the same time. I was so excited! I held it in my hands and felt this incredible humming and warm loving vibration. I didn’t stop to think, "how could this happen?" it just was and I knew this crystal had been meant for me always. I reluctantly left my new ‘love’ and ran off to find my daughter to introduce her to the Kunzite, plus she had my purse!

When I returned to purchase the crystal and it was handed to me I felt like I was taking home a new precious baby but a baby with all the knowledge of perfect love. Which it knew how to give without measure or thought of anything in return. It seemed to nestle snuggly in the crook of my arm where it gently began to melt into me with soothing loving warmth.

The first time I received a Reiki treatment. The practitioner had just begin and I exclaimed ‘Kunzite!” She said, “What?” I said, “The energy that is coming into me feels just like Kunzite”. It is easy to see why many have called Kunzite the stone of Divine love and joy.

Kunzite is very healing to both the physical body and the emotions. On the physical level kunzite sooths the lungs and promotes clear breathing. It takes away shyness and promotes feelings of self-esteem. When placed in ones surroundings it brings a feeling of peace, closeness and a Divine love begins to prevail. Joy is another by-product of this absolutely amazing stone.

Often when I am doing a fund raising sale and things are feeling down or negative I haul out my great old ‘baby’. Before long the day begins to turn into one of love, hope and peace.

I hope that you to will find your “kunzite” and it will bring the joy, success and love mine has brought to me and mine!

Light, love and Laughter,

Sylvia C. Rose-Johnson (Stone intuitive)

Images are click-able to items on our website:

TURQUOISE!

2010-07-22T13:00:00.001-07:00

NOTES on TURQUOISE – Brings a deep sense of peacefulness to the wearer, a global feeling that everything is right with the universe. A soothing sense that life is unfolding to a divine and perfect plan.

Eases breathing and opens the throat. Calms and soothes the thyroid. Encourages the third eye to open and helps direct the flow of energy from the source into the crown chakra.

A good stone to wear next to ones skin. Brings feeling of overall well-being. Ancient Native Americans believed turquoise drew healing spirits to the wearer.

The beauty of this gem reflects the endless sky, representing our Father as well as verdant green that inspire thoughts of our beloved Terra, our home and Mother (Goddess). Both colors can be intricately patterned with spider webbing suggestive of the ‘web’ that holds all life together. Beauty reflects back to the viewer, that is what I find pleasing and of benefit to me. I must touch it, I must feel it and I must have this near me. Having this increases my vibrations.

I believe all this happens on a non-verbal level, but it happens when beauty beguiles our eyes and stirs our soul. So as you pick out a gem for yourself remember, it appears beautiful to you for a very specific reason. Trust that reason and enjoy, heal and prosper from your gemstone relationships.

Written by

Sylvia C. Rose-Johnson

We are featuring turquoise on eBay for 25% off. Click on the items below to see some of these lovelies now!

Amazing Amethyst!

2010-07-16T12:48:00.000-07:00

Amethyst

It evokes royalty, intoxicating wines, shimmering iridescent sunsets and in it's gentler hues sweet sunrises. What is more captivating than beautiful, radiant Amethyst? It speaks to us of our connection to all things spiritual. It opens us to our higher self and higher thinking in our dealings with our fellow beings. Use this gemstone to strengthen your connection to all beings and to enhance your understanding of your higher self. Wear it close to your heart Chakra to open and awaken it; in a stunning pendant or a long elegant strand. One can also acquire a free form piece to keep in the pocket or hand as a soothing reminder that one is connected always to one's higher good and healing. Amethyst is a violet shade of quartz and was long believed to ward off the effects of intoxication. Iron and aluminum are responsible for the beautiful colors of Amethyst. On exposure to heat Amethyst often becomes yellow and is then refereed to as Citrine or burnt Amethyst. Amethyst was used in jewelry by the ancient Egyptians. It was also worn as protection by medieval European soldiers as Amethyst was believed to be healing and said to keep one cool headed. Now is a great time to stock up on all your Amethyst essentials. We are having a sale on eBay with 25% off our already low prices and with FREE shipping, insurance and handling on orders of $50.00 or more. (Images link to items.)

GLUTEN FREE AMARANTH BREAD

2010-06-25T13:29:00.000-07:00

Its a long way from natural stone beads to a Gluten free lifestyle but quality of life comes from being healthy and being gluten free is a one way to achieve a healthier life for a celiac. So please read on and discover how to live a delicious and healthy gluten free life. Since going off gluten and wheat products my life has become much easier and I have lost a considerable amount of weight (65 lbs!). I can breathe without the accompanying wheezing that used to be a companion to every breath I drew. I have more energy, fewer digestive upsets and an increased sense of well being. Has it been a panacea for all my health issues? Not quite, but it has made life so much more fun. I have found developing recipes a healthy and cost effective way to stay gluten free. I have the knowledge that what I am eating is gluten free and wholesome. This recipe contains whole organic grains for the most part. When my husband, due to a medical condition, went gluten free it became even more important to keep things tasty and appealing. He enjoys this bread as it contains Amaranth which has a delicious malty flavor and it has made staying gluten free so much easier for both of us. I believe it is less expensive than bakery bought gluten free bread and more nutritious due to the high protein and high fiber flour. We will let all the people who receive a copy of the recipe know via email the best prices for the ingredients. Please enjoy this delicious and nutritious recipe. May it enrich your life as it has ours! Our son and daughters who are not on a gluten free diet think it's really great. Be one of the first 10 people to respond to this post and receive the Gluten Free Amaranth Bread recipe for free. Don't want to post? Just send $2.49 via PayPal to silverrosebeads and request a copy of Gluten Free Bread and one will will be send to your email account. Thank you very much for listening to my story. We would love to hear yours and your ideas on gluten free living or healthy living. Look for most posts on gluten free living as interest dictates.

Summer Solstice - 1st Day of Summer

2010-06-21T14:50:00.000-07:00

Summer Solstice - 1st Day of Summer

Happy First Day of Summer, Everyone! Today is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Worldwide, interpretation of the event has varied from culture to culture, but most cultures have held a recognition of sign of the fertility, involving holidays, festivals, gatherings, rituals or other celebrations around that time.

In recent decades, it has become a popular belief that the meteorological season of summer begins with the astronomical phenomenon of the summer solstice. However, the period of maximum temperatures in the United States runs from June 4 to September 3.

The word solstice derives from Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still).

Flag Day - Red, White & Blue Gems

2010-06-14T09:28:00.000-07:00

Flag Day (US) - Red, White & Blue

In the United States, Flag Day is celebrated on June 14. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened that day by resolution of the Second Continental Congress in 1777.

At the Silver Rose, we are looking at the colors of the US Flag - Red, White and Blue!

One of my favorite gems, the Ruby, is red. It is a variety of the mineral corundum. Prices of rubies are primarily determined by color. The brightest and most valuable "red" called pigeon blood-red, commands a huge premium over other rubies of similar quality.

Coral comes in several tantalizing colors, most notably, red, black, white, orange, pink, and blue. The colors of the coral depends mainly on where it grows. Coral has been reputed to bring healing to the skin and general over all health!

Lapis Lazuli has been prized since antiquity for its lovely rich blue hue. Lapis lazuli has been mined in the Badakhshan province of Afghanistan for over 6,000 years, and trade in the stone is ancient enough for lapis jewelry to have been found at Predynastic Egyptian sites.

35% off Ruby & Onyx Beads

Enter the promo code: 35RubyOnyx
Limited to stock on hand
Website items only, eBay items excluded
Sale begins June 11 and ends June 15, 2010

All images are linked to those items.

June Birthstones - Moonstone, Pearl & Alexandrite

2010-06-01T10:08:00.000-07:00

June Birthstones - Moonstone, Pearl & Alexandrite

The traditional birthstone for June is Alexandrite. Alexandrite is a variety of chrysoberyl and displays a color change (alexandrite effect) dependent upon the nature of ambient lighting. Alexandrite results from small scale replacement of aluminium by chromium ions in the crystal structure, which causes intense absorption of light over a narrow range of wavelengths in the yellow region of the spectrum. Alexandrite from the Ural Mountains in Russia is green by daylight and red by incandescent light. Other varieties of alexandrite may be yellowish or pink in daylight and a columbine or raspberry red by incandescent light. The optimum or "ideal" color change would be fine emerald green to fine purplish red, but this is exceedingly rare. Because of their rarity and the color change capability, "ideal" alexandrite gems are some of the most expensive in the world.

The modern birthstones for June are the Moonstone and Pearl. Moonstone has a 6.0 hardness on the Mohs scale. Its name is derived from a visual effect, or sheen, caused by light reflecting internally in the moonstone from layer inclusion of different feldspars. Moonstone is feldspar with a pearly and opalescent luster.

Pearls have been highly valued since antiquity. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other shapes of pearls (baroque pearls) occur. The value of the pearls in jewelry is determined by a combination of the luster, color, size, lack of surface flaw and symmetry that are appropriate for the type of pearl under consideration. Among those attributes, luster is the most important determination of pearl quality according to jewelers. All factors being equal, however, the larger the pearl the more valuable it is. Large, perfectly round pearls are rare and highly valued. Teardrop-shaped pearls are often used in pendants.

See more Moonstone, Pearl & Alexandrite here.

Storing and Caring for your Beading Supplies

2010-05-24T10:36:00.000-07:00

Storing and Caring for your Beading Supplies

While it is great to have little helpers, sometimes organizing your beading supplies is a one person task :) After some trial and error (well really a lot of trial and error), I have found that some of the best ways to organize and store beads are found at your local hardware store or pharmacy.

A small tackle box is great for tools like pliers, rulers, watch crystal cement and more. I am in love with clear plastic pill sorters. They are easy to see and they keep my beads securely sorted for future use. And the pill sorters fit into the tackle box easily.

As you collect more beads and supplies, it is also a good idea to have a written inventory. A simple spread sheet program like MS Excel can do wonders! Just entering in the specifics for each type of bead you have on hand will save you hours of searching for them. I like to make sure that I note the stone type, shape, size, cost of strand, cost per bead, vendor and date purchased. Using MS Excel, you can sort by the column to find similar shapes, sizes, stone type and more. And when you have finished your project, you can look at your MS Excel spreadsheet to calculate the cost.

Happy Beading!

Creating a Focal Bead Bracelet

2010-05-10T14:39:00.000-07:00

Creating a Focal Bead Bracelet

Its not often that we see clear skies in Washington! Usually they are some shade of gray :) So we picked these two colors to create a lovely bracelet. I used Hemimorphite (7654c) for the focal bead and Cat's Eye Quartz (9201) beads for the accents.

Up to 50% off ClearSky Hued Beads

This color category includes Abalone, Aquamarine, Hemimorphite & More!

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Up to 50% SultrySmoke Hued Beads

This color category includes Hematite, Labradorite, Cat's Eye Quartz, Tahitian Mother of Pearl & more!

All images linked to those items.

* No promo code needed

* Website purchases only, eBay items excluded

* Limited to stock on hand

* Sale begins May 10 and ends May 13 at 11:59PM Eastern (GMT-4:00)

Offer Expires: May 13 at 11:59PM Eastern (GMT -4:00)

May Birthstones - Emerald, Agate & Sapphire

2010-05-03T13:27:00.000-07:00

May Birthstones - Emerald, Agate & Sapphire

Both the Traditional and Modern birthstones for May is Emerald. Emerald is a member of the Beryl family and is 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Emeralds in antiquity were mined by the Egyptians and in Austria. A rare type of emerald known as a trapiche emerald is occasionally found in the mines of Colombia. A trapiche emerald exhibits a "star" pattern; it has raylike spokes of dark carbon impurities that give the emerald a six-pointed radial pattern. Emeralds come from three main emerald mining areas in Colombia: Muzo, Coscuez, and Chivor.

The Ayurvedic Birthstone for May is Agate. It is a microcrystalline variety of quartz (silica), chiefly chalcedony, characterised by its fineness of grain and brightness of color. Although agates may be found in various kinds of rock, they are classically associated with volcanic rocks but can be common in certain metamorphic rocks. Agate is a 7 on Mohs Hardness scale.

The Mystical Birthstone for May is Sapphire. Sapphire is a member of the Corundum family and is 9 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Sapphire is one of the two gem varieties of corundum, the other being the red ruby. Although blue is the most well known hue, sapphire is any color of corundum except red. Sapphire may also be colorless, and it also occurs in shades of gray and black.

See more Emerald, Agate & Sapphire Beads here.

Earth Day a Beautiful Concept

2010-04-19T13:46:00.000-07:00

The Silver Rose is going green in ways that contribute to a healthier and sustainable planet. We have recycle bins in our work place and actually right along side our desks. We support local and online green business. Our regard for the earth includes driving small light carbon foot print cars and Eco-friendly cleaning products.

We carry products that are environmentally friendly such as pearls, boxwood beads and bone. Pearls are a renewable resource easily grown and harvest by local people thus creating jobs in remote areas and an encouragement to keep local waterways clean and viable. Boxwood is a quick growing ornamental tree that also encourages good farming practices and respect for nature. Bone when used in carving uses all the parts of the animals thus cutting back on waste. Turning something into a work of art that would generally be thrown on to a waste pile.

It has been a turn around to look back on how earth friendly has taken on new meaning and given respect where once we earth lovers were called tree-huggers and looked on as a rather second class citizen and just not too bright. Now it's seen as the right thing to do. This is a change I love to see!

Please look around you and see all the ways that you are helping keep our planet healthier and thus more sustainable for those that follow and give yourself a great big hug.

Sylvia C. Rose-Johnson ES

Creating a Toggle Pendant Necklace

2010-04-12T10:45:00.000-07:00

How to create a toggle pendant necklace

Do you have a pendant bead that you love, but you don't know what to do with it? I love this limbcast agate disc pendant bead. The mossy inclusions are so intriguing! I felt that it needed more than just a simple pendant and decided to set it off using carnelian agate beads. I strung the carnelian agate beads simply on a 22K Vermeil clasp and wire-wrapped the pendant bead to the loop of the toggle clasp. This way I can wear it in front like a pendant or in back for an unexpected twist!

Emeralds, the modern birthstone for May, are a variety of the mineral beryl (Be3Al2(SiO3)6,) colored green by trace amounts of chromium and sometimes vanadium.Beryl has a hardness of 7.5-8 on the 10 point Mohs scale of mineral hardness.

Agate, the traditional birthstone for May, is a microcrystalline variety of quartz (silica), chiefly chalcedony, characterized by its fineness of grain and brightness of color. Although agates may be found in various kinds of rock, they are classically associated with volcanic rocks but can be common in certain metamorphic rocks.

35% off Emerald & Agate Beads

Enter the promo code: 35MayBirthst

Limited to stock on hand

Website items only, eBay items excluded

Sale begins April 12 and ends April 15, 2010

All images are linked to those items.

April Birthstones - Diamond, Sapphire & Opal

2010-04-05T09:28:00.000-07:00

April Birthstones - Diamond, Sapphire & Opal

The traditional birthstones for April are the Diamond and the Sapphire. Diamonds are the hardest known natural material rating a 10 on the Mohs hardness scale. They are composed of carbon and have been used as adornment since antiquity. Diamonds are thought to have been first recognized and mined in India, where significant alluvial deposits of the stone could be found many centuries ago along the rivers Penner, Krishna and Godavari. The diamond is also the modern and Ayurvedic birthstone for April. See our post on creating a diamond bead necklace here.

Sapphires are any color of the stone corundum except red. Red corundum is known as Ruby. Sapphires are a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale and are also the birthstone for the month of September. Madagascar is the world leader in sapphire production (as of 2007) specifically its deposits in and around the city of Ilakaka, but Sapphires are also found in the USA, Myanmar, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Australia, Thailand, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tanzania, Kenya and China.

The mystical birthstone for April is the Opal. Opal is a 6.5 to 5.5 on Mohs scale of hardness and generally has a 3-10% water content but it can have as high as a 20% water content. There are several varieties of opal. Precious opal is the most widely known and shows fiery flashes on a white or dark background. Fire opal is commonly red, orange to yellow and has no flash. Peruvian opal is a semi-opaque to opaque blue-green stone found in Peru which also has no flash. In the Middle Ages, opal was considered a stone that could provide great luck because it was believed to possess all the virtues of each gemstone whose color was represented in the color spectrum of the opal. It is also the birthstone for October.

See more Diamond, Sapphire and Opal beads here.

What is a Pearl?

2010-03-29T14:16:00.000-07:00

What is a Pearl?

A pearl is created when an irritant triggers a mollusk’s defense mechanism. The mollusk creates a pearl sac to seal off the irritation and deposits layers of calcium carbonate over the irritant. This calcium carbonate, a combination of aragonite and conchiolin is called nacre, which makes up mother of pearl as well. In cultured pearls, the irritant is typically a piece of mantle tissue from another mollusk.

Read more about Pearl Farming and its Positive Affects on the Environment here.

35% off Pearls

* Enter promo code: 35PearlMarch

* Website purchases only, eBay items excluded

* Limited to stock on hand

* Sale begins March 29 and ends April 1 at 11:59PM Eastern (GMT-4:00)

Boxwood and the Environment

2010-03-22T15:13:00.000-07:00

Boxwood and the Environment

For thousands of years Netsukes have charmed their viewers. A huge detraction to this exquisite form of legend/myth telling was that fact that they were carved out of Elephant Tusk. As the planet has become more aware of what happens to the magnificent elephants, it has made this extraordinary art form repugnant as well as illegal to own for many. The switch to boxwood has made these enchanting objects a green product as boxwood is an easily farmed wood. Boxwood is carved green when it is soft and as it dries it hardens. It is used in it's dwarf form for topiaries in the west and the larger variety for ornamental and even furniture carving in China and other eastern countries. It is an ecology friendly solution to preserving an ancient art when boxwood is used to carve Netsukes and other object d'art.

35% off Boxwood Beads!

Enter promo code 35Boxwood to receive discount
Website purchases only, eBay items excluded
Limited to stock on hand
Sale begins March 19 and ends March 23 at 11:59PM (Eastern Standard Time)

How to create Coral Earrings

2010-03-15T09:28:00.000-07:00

How to create Coral Earrings

I made these earrings using briolette branch coral beads (4985), 14Kgf wire and earwires. While they may look simple, the wire-wrap above the briolette branch bead is a little tricky. I am used to wire-wrapping traditional briolette beads that have a point above the drill hole, so these beads which are flat on the top took a little more time.

Up to 50% off FernFrond & BreakingDawn Hued Beads!

* No promo code needed

* Website purchases only, eBay items excluded

* Limited to stock on hand

* Sale begins March 15 and ends March 18 at 11:59PM Eastern (GMT-4:00)

Up to 50% off FernFrond Hued Beads

This color category includes Ruby Zoisite, Chrome Diopside, Emeralds, Malachite & More!

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Up to 50% BreakingDawn Hued Beads

This color category includes Imperial Topaz, Coral, Sunstone, Peach Chalcedony & more!

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March Birthstones - Aquamarine, Bloodstone & Jade

2010-03-08T09:03:00.000-08:00

March Birthstones - Aquamarine, Bloodstone, & Jade

The Traditional & Ayurvedic birthstone for March is Bloodstone. The mineral heliotrope, also known as bloodstone, is a form of chalcedony. The "classic" bloodstone is green chalcedony with red inclusions of iron oxide or red jasper. The red spots were once thought during the Middle Ages to be drops of Christ's blood, and that the stone held special powers.

Aquamarine (from Lat. aqua marina, "water of the sea") is the modern birthstone for March. It is a blue or turquoise variety of beryl. It occurs at most localities which yield ordinary beryl, some of the finest coming from Russia. It is 7.5–8 on MoHs Hardness scale.

The Mystical birthstone for March is Jade. The term jade is applied to two different metamorphic rocks that are made up of different silicate minerals: Nephrite and Jadeite. Both were used from prehistoric periods for hardstone carving. Jadeite has about the same hardness as quartz, while nephrite is somewhat softer.

See more Aquamarine, Bloodstone & Jade here.

Progessive Sale!

2010-03-01T09:20:00.000-08:00

Progressive Sale!

Up to 35% off your entire order

Get a jump start on your designing for Spring with a Progressive Sale at www.SilverRoseBeads.com. All items qualify for this sale! Earn 5% for a $20 order. Earn 15% off for a $50 order. Earn 35% off for a $100 order!

* Enter the following promo codes for the discount (*only enter the promo code that applies to your order*).

* For a $20 order enter 5at20

* For a $50 order enter 15at50

* For a $100 order enter 35at100

* Limited to stock on hand

* Sale begins March 1 and ends March 4 at 11:59PM Eastern (GMT -4:00)

Getting Ready for Spring!

2010-02-22T10:29:00.000-08:00

Getting Ready for Spring!

Here at the Silver Rose, we are experiencing sunlight! A rare and unexpected occurrence in the Northwest at the end of February. We have had a few days of uninterrupted sunshine and warm temperatures (in the 50s!) and this has inspired thoughts of gardening.

Last week, we planted several types of flower seeds using potting soil and cardboard egg cartons. I'm looking forward to the sweet peas and blue poppies :) At the end of this week, we're going to sprout some spinach and tomato plants. There is still some frost on the ground so our little sprouts will remain in their egg cartons for a few weeks before transplantation.

I love having fresh cut flowers and fresh veggies straight out of the garden & this Spring is shaping up to be a real bloomer :) I'm excited about tasting the fruits and veggies of our labor. Our garden will serve several purposes for us here at the SR: saving some $$$, helping to protect the environment by reducing green-house gasses (fewer trucks on the road delivering our veggies & during photosynthesis plants absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen) & recycling our egg cartons. Small steps, but steps to make a difference!

2010-02-15T10:01:00.000-08:00

Aquamarine

Aquamarine is the traditional birthstone for March. Its name comes from Lat. aqua marina, "water of the sea" and it is a blue or turquoise variety of beryl. It occurs at most localities which yield ordinary beryl, some of the finest coming from Russia. The gem-gravel placer deposits of Sri Lanka contain aquamarine.

35% off Aquamarine Beads!

* Enter promo code: 35AquaFeb

* Website purchases only, eBay items excluded

* Limited to stock on hand

* Sale begins February 15 and ends February 18 at 11:59PM Eastern (GMT-4:00)

See our Aquamarine beads here.

Storing and Caring for your Jewelry

2010-02-08T09:03:00.000-08:00

Whether it is an heirloom or a new personal creation, our jewelry is precious to us! Here are some easy steps to take to ensure a long and shiny life for your jewels.

Always store pieces separately so that they won't damage or scratch each other.
Put jewelry on after applying make-up, perfume, or hairspray. Often these items contain chemicals that can damage your jewelry.
Remember to remove jewelry before swimming, soaking in a hot-tub, gardening, washing dishes, exercising or other strenuous activity.
Pieces strung on silk or thread (i.e. pearl necklaces, bracelets) should be stored flat as they do stretch over time.
Store Silver pieces in re-sealable bags due to the fact that oxygen causes Silver to oxidize (tarnish)
Pearls and opals, however, should not be stored in plastic because they need to "breathe."
Wipe all pieces with soft 100% cotton cloth after wearing and before storage.
Clean jewelry regularly with mildly sudsy water, rinse really well, and pat dry with a soft cloth.
Do not use commercial cleaners on the following stones: Amber, Aquamarine, Coral, Emerald, Jade, Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Opal, Pearls, Shell & Turquoise

February Birthstones - Amethyst & Bloodstone

2010-02-01T09:17:00.000-08:00

The Traditional, Modern and Ayurvedic birthstone for the month of February is Amethyst. Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz often used in jewelry. The name comes from the Ancient Greek a- ("not") and methustos ("intoxicated"), a reference to the belief that the stone protected its owner from drunkenness; the ancient Greeks and Romans wore amethyst and made drinking vessels of it in the belief that it would prevent intoxication. It has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale & can be various shade of purple, violet, to lavender.

The Mystical birthstone for February is Bloodstone. The mineral heliotrope, also known as bloodstone, is a form of chalcedony. The "classic" bloodstone is green chalcedony with red inclusions of iron oxide or red jasper. It has a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. The red spots were once thought during the Middle Ages to be drops of Christ's blood, and that the stone held special powers. See our Bloodstone beads here.

Helping Haitian Earthquake Relief Efforts

2010-01-25T10:13:00.000-08:00

You Save 10% & We Donate 10% to Haitian Earthquake Relief Efforts.

A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, causing mass devastation and destruction. As most of you know, SilverRoseBeads is a family owned and operated jewelry business that has specialized in charity fund raisers for over 30 years. We would like to take the opportunity to continue raising money for the Red Cross by asking you, our customers to participate in the following promotion. By entering the promo code: Haiti, you will receive 10% off your order on www.SilverRoseBeads.com and we will donate an additional 10% to the Red Cross.

* Enter promo code: Haiti
* Website purchases only, eBay items excluded
* Limited to stock on hand
* Begins Jan. 23 and ends Jan. 31, 2010

January Birthstones - Garnet & Emerald

2010-01-11T13:30:00.000-08:00

January Birthstones - Garnet & Emerald

Garnet is the Traditional, Modern and Ayurvedic Birthstone for January. The name "garnet" may come from either the Middle English word gernet meaning 'dark red', or the Latin granatus ("grain"), possibly a reference to the Punica granatum ("pomegranate"), a plant with red seeds similar in shape, size, and color to some garnet crystals. Six common species of garnet are recognized by their chemical composition. They are pyrope, almandine, spessartine, grossular (varieties of which are hessonite or cinnamon-stone and tsavorite), uvarovite and andradite. Garnet has a Mohs scale hardness of 6.0 to 7.5 and can is found in many colors including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, black, pink and colorless.

Emerald is the Mystical Birthstone for January. Emeralds are a variety of the mineral beryl (Be3Al2(SiO3)6,) colored green by trace amounts of chromium and sometimes vanadium.[1] Beryl has a hardness of 7.5 - 8 on the 10 point Mohs scale of mineral hardness.[1] Most emeralds are highly included, so their toughness (resistance to breakage) is classified as generally poor. The word "emerald" comes from Latin smaragdus, via Greek smaragdos, its original source being a Semitic word izmargad or the Sanskrit word, marakata, meaning "emerald" or "green".

See more Garnets & Emeralds here.

2010 Fashion Color Forecast

2010-01-04T13:51:00.000-08:00

2010 Fashion Color Forecast

This year's fashion color forecast reflects Nature's dramatic to soft beauty for us at the Silver Rose. Color and Nature are such an integral pieces of the designing puzzle for me. Our studio has a large window to see all the changes of season. Here in the Northwest, we are known for gray, rainy days but all that rain makes for a lush green landscape. With Mt. Rainer in the background, this view lends itself to flights of fancy and designing dreams :)


SoftBlossom	BreakingDawn	PoppyBlossom	Chestnut

Sunshine	GrassyField	FernFrond	Evergreen

Silver	Gold	Gooseberry	MossyLawn

AlpineBlue	Tundra	PalmTree	TropicalSea

ClearSky	OceanWaves	DeepRiver	Twilight

SnowDrift	DarkPeony	Heather	EnchantingIris

SandDunes	Loam	CanyonTrails	ToastedWalnut

Dewdrop	FogBanks	SultrySmoke	Midnight

Enjoy our newest Color Forecast here.

Partial Eclipse & Blue Moon on New Year's

2009-12-28T10:09:00.000-08:00

On this New Year's Eve there will be a Blue Moon (the second full moon of December) and a partial Eclipse (visible in most of Europe, Africa and Asia).

Approximately every six months we have a Lunar Eclipse. A Lunar Eclipse is when the shadow of the Moon travels across the surface of the Earth. It will only occur only when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are lined up with the Earth in the middle, and the Moon is on the far side of the Earth from the Sun: when there is a Full Moon.

There were 41 Blue Moons in the twentieth century and there was one of only four during an eclipse. So enjoy this very rare occasion while ringing in the new year!

Winter Solstice

2009-12-21T12:59:00.000-08:00

Winter Solstice

Today is the shortest day of the year for us here in the Northern Hemisphere. Which at first sounds like a bad thing, but when you think about it ... it is a good thing! Every day from now until Summer Solstice will be longer! More daylight to get things done; like stringing, beading and wire-work which for me go faster with natural light :)

As you can see last winter was a bit rough here in the Pacific Northwest! We rarely get snow and last year it stuck around for several weeks. Making every day tasks (like driving) quite difficult.

Many of our current holiday traditions center around the winter solstice. Midwinter festivals and celebrations occurring on the longest night of the year, often calling for evergreens, bright illumination, large ongoing fires, feasting, communion with close ones, and evening physical exertion by dancing and singing are examples of cultural winter therapies that have evolved as traditions since the beginnings of civilization.

Christian churches recognized folk elements of the festival in various cultures within the past several hundred years, allowing much of the folklore and traditions of local pagan festivals to be appropriated.

The winter solstice may have been immensely important because communities were not certain of living through the winter, and had to be prepared during the previous nine months. Starvation was common in winter between January and April, also known as the famine months. In temperate climates, the midwinter festival was the last feast celebration, before deep winter began. Most cattle were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during the winter, so it was almost the only time of year when a supply of fresh meat was available. The majority of wine and beer made during the year was finally fermented and ready for drinking at this time. The concentration of the observances were not always on the day commencing at midnight or at dawn, but the beginning of the pre-Romanized day, which falls on the previous eve.

12 Days of Christmas Deals

2009-12-14T10:42:00.000-08:00

12 Days of Christmas Deals at www.SilverRoseBeads.com

SilverRoseBeads is celebrating the 12 days of Christmas with 12 days of sales! Check back daily for the featured items and promo codes.

Promo codes announced daily.
Limited to stock on hand.
Website items only, eBay items excluded.
Sale begins at 12:01AM on date stated & ends at 11:59PM on the same date. (all times are Eastern Standard Time)

December 14 - 35% off Amethyst (promo code: 35Amethyst)

December 15 - 35% off Diamonds (promo code: 35Diamond)

Be check to see www.SilverRoseBeads.com for the current Deal & Promo code!

2009 Holiday Shipping Cut Off Dates

Want it delivered by December 25?

Find shipping and mailing deadlines for your domestic & international cards and packages here.

Payment Cut-Off Date	Mail Class
December 22	Domestic Express Mail
December 20	Domestic Priority or 1st class
December 16	International Express Mail
December 10	International Priority or 1st class Mail

How to create a shimmering Diamond Necklace

2009-12-07T09:22:00.000-08:00

These amazing diamonds are a beautiful platinum lavender-pink and shimmer with life! I accented them with a natural lavender-pink pearl, sterling silver stardust beads & locking clasp. This project is very simple but can take quite a bit of time as you must string the diamond beads carefully! These diamond beads have very sharp holes and we strung them on 0.10" nylon coated stainless steel beading wire, but on the first attempt they did cut through the wire.

Up to 50% off Lavender-Pink Beads

This color category includes Platinum Lavender/Pink Diamonds, Fluorite, Pearls & more!

All images are linked to those items.

Up to 50% off Indigo Blue Beads

This color category includes Lapis & More!

All images are linked to those items.

Save up to 50%	Up to 50% off Lavender Pink & Indigo Blue Beads! No promo code needed Website purchases only, eBay items excluded Limited to stock on hand Sale begins December 7 and ends December 8 at 11:59PM Eastern (GMT-4:00)
Offer Expires: December 8 at 11:59PM Eastern (GMT -4:00)

December Birthstones - Blue Zircon, Turquoise & Ruby

2009-11-30T09:42:00.000-08:00

December Birthstones: Blue Zircon, Turquoise & Ruby

Blue Zircon is the traditional birthstone for December. Zircon occurs in many different colors, including red, pink, brown, yellow, hazel, black, or colorless. Large specimens are appreciated as gemstones, owing to their high refractive index. (Zircon has a refractive index of approximately 1.95; diamond's is approximately 2.4.)

Turquoise is the modern birthstone for December. It is rare and valuable in finer grades and has been prized as a gem and ornamental stone for thousands of years owing to its unique hue. The pastel shades of turquoise have endeared it to many great cultures of antiquity: it has adorned the rulers of Ancient Egypt, the Aztecs (and possibly other Pre-Colombian Mesoamericans), Persia, Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, and to some extent in ancient China since at least the Shang Dynasty. Turquoise was among the first gems to be mined, and while many historic sites have been depleted, some are still worked to this day.

Ruby is the Ayurvedic birthstone for December. Ruby is a variety of the mineral corundum. Prices of rubies are primarily determined by color. The brightest and most valuable "red" called pigeon blood-red, commands a huge premium over other rubies of similar quality. All natural rubies have imperfections in them, including color impurities and inclusions of rutile needles known as "silk". Gemologists use these needle inclusions found in natural rubies to distinguish them from synthetics, simulations, or substitutes.

See more Blue Zircon, Turquoise & Ruby Beads here.

November 16 - International Day for Tolerance

2009-11-16T09:29:00.000-08:00

The International Day for Tolerance is an annual observance declared by UNESCO in 1995 to generate public awareness of the dangers of intolerance. It is observed on 16 November. ~Wiki

The UN Declaration was part of the event on the international effort of the United Nations Year for Tolerance.
In this declaration, participating states reaffirmed the "faith in the fundamental human rights" and also in dignity and value to human life, besides curbing successive generations of war resulting from cultural issues, stressing the encouragement to tolerance and peaceful socialization among neighboring population.

"How far you go in life depends on you being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these." ~George Washington Carver

We're taking some time here at SilverRoseBeads today to think about what we can do as individuals to be more tolerant of others. The hectic Holiday season is upon us and it sometimes is hard to remember that simple acts of everyday kindness can change the world. Just by showing tolerance to others, you can cause a chain reaction!

How to Create Sparkly Holiday Earrings

2009-11-09T09:58:00.000-08:00

Add some bling to your wardrobe without breaking the bank! These sparkly earrings shimmer in the light due to the fantastic facets on these natural quartz beads. What a great gift for yourself or someone special!

Up to 50% off Clear Beads

This color category includes Quartz, White Diamonds, White Sapphires & more!

All images are linked to those items.

Up to 50% off Silvery-Grey Beads

This color category includes Sterling Silver, Freshwater Pearls, Apache Jasper & More!

All images are linked to those items. Up to 50% off Clear & Silvery-Grey Beads!

No promo code needed
Website purchases only, eBay items excluded
Limited to stock on hand
Sale begins November 9 and ends November 12 at 11:59PM Eastern (GMT-4:00)

November Birthstones - Citine, Topaz & Pearl

2009-11-02T08:45:00.000-08:00

November Birthstones - Citrine, Topaz & Pearl

The traditional birthstone for November is Topaz. Pure topaz is colorless and transparent but is usually tinted by impurities; typical topaz is wine, yellow, pale gray or reddish-orange, blue brown. Orange topaz, also known as precious topaz, is the traditional November birthstone, the symbol of friendship, and the state gemstone for the US State of Utah.

The modern birthstone for November is Citrine. Citrine is a variety of quartz whose color ranges from a pale yellow to brown. Brazil is the leading producer of citrine, with much of its production coming from the state of Rio Grande do Sul.

The mystical birthstone for November is the Pearl. A pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other shapes of pearls (baroque pearls) occur. Pearls come in eight basic shapes: round, semi-round, button, drop, pear, oval, baroque, and circled. Perfectly round pearls are the rarest and most valuable shape.

See more gemstone beads here.

Karma Necklace

2009-10-26T10:00:00.000-07:00

What goes around, comes around. Create a Karma Necklace to wear as a reminder to keep the circle positive, peaceful and loving.

Karma means "deed" or "act" and more broadly names the universal principle of cause and effect, action and reaction that governs all life.

According to Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda, we produce Karma in four ways:

* through thoughts
* through words
* through actions that we perform ourselves
* through actions others do under our instructions

Everything that we have ever thought, spoken, done or caused is Karma; as is also that which we think, speak or do this very moment. After death we lose Kriya Shakti (ability to act) and do karma. Actions performed consciously are weighted more heavily than those done unconsciously. But just as poison affects us if taken unknowingly, suffering caused unintentionally will also give appropriate karmic effect. We are in position to do something about our destiny by doing the right thing at the right time. Through positive actions, pure thoughts, prayer, mantra and meditation, we can resolve the influence of the karma in present life and turn the destiny for the better. A spiritual master knowing the sequence in which our Karma will bear fruit, can help us. As humans, we have the opportunity to speed up our spiritual progress with practice of good Karma. We produce negative karma because we lack knowledge and clarity.

Up to 50% off Red Beads

This color category includes Carnelian Agate, Coral, Spinel, Cinnabar & more!

All images are linked to those items. Sale begins October 23 and ends October 27 at 11:59PM Eastern (GMT-4:00)

Up to 50% off Green Beads

This color category includes Variscite, Chrysoprase, Emerald, Aventurine & More!

All images are linked to those items. Sale begins October 23 and ends October 27 at 11:59PM Eastern (GMT-4:00)

#beatcancer with us!

2009-10-16T12:04:00.000-07:00

I'm helping to raise funds to
#beatcancer, by blogging, tweeting
and posting Facebook status
updates.

Click here to join me!

October Birthstones - Opal, Tourmaline & Jasper

2009-10-12T13:50:00.000-07:00

October Birthstones: Opal, Tourmaline & Jasper

The modern & Ayurvedic birthstone for October is Opal, the traditional birthstone is tourmaline and the mystical birthstone is jasper. Opal is a mineraloid gel which is deposited at a relatively low temperature and may occur in the fissures of almost any kind of rock, being most commonly found with limonite, sandstone, rhyolite, marl and basalt. Opal is said to be an overall chakra tuner.

Tourmaline is a crystal silicate mineral compounded with elements such as aluminum, iron, magnesium, sodium, lithium, or potassium. Tourmaline is reputed to keep one in the here and now.

Jasper is an opaque, impure variety of silica, usually red, yellow, brown or green in color. Jasper is said to bring good fortune and new beginnings to the wearer!!

October always gets me in the mood for crisp days filled with colorful leaves & the beginning of the Holiday madness :) While Down-Under in Australia it is spring time with Spring breaks & all. Read more about it on Annette's blog: Under the Loupe.

October Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2009-10-06T11:18:00.000-07:00

This month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I think everyone knows someone affected by this disease. And this month there are so many ways to help raise funds for research and prevention ranging from pink M&Ms to Quilted Northern Toilet Paper to beautiful pink Jewelry.

Read more about Michelle & her creations her: Michabella Creations

World Teachers' Day

2009-10-05T09:21:00.000-07:00

I learned about World Teachers' Day earlier this year so I was able to take some time and think about what defines a teacher for me. I learned from many people in my life; school teachers, yogis, college professors and others. Some of these 'teachers' didn't even know that I have learned from their examples, words and deeds. A big thank you to them and future teachers. Be sure to take some time to recognize your teachers, past and present :)

World Teachers' Day, held annually on October 5th since 1994, commemorates teachers’ organizations worldwide. Its aim is to mobilize support for teachers and to ensure that the needs of future generations will continue to be met by teachers. ~Wiki

Ataturk teaching the children of Turkey the Latin alphabet, a statue in Istanbul (Asian side)

Handmade items for Gifting

2009-09-30T08:28:00.000-07:00

With Christmas only 86! days away, now is the time to think about those handmade gifts for family and friends. I love finding that special something for someone! This week I found a charming website: Casual Cottage with cozy gifts with lots of feminine touches. The travel tissue holder above is just one example of the lovely items Marilyn hand-crafts. Get to know her better on her blog: Cottage Reflections

Winner! Shelley of I'm Still Standing

2009-09-29T08:53:00.000-07:00

The winner of our 1st blog giveaway is:

Shelley!

Thanks for following us & letting us know what you think of our blogs with your comments.
Shelley, please email me at silverrosebeads@gmail.com with your mailing address, so I can send you the Dove Peace pendant.

Bats - Spooky or Lucky?

2009-09-28T08:57:00.000-07:00

With Halloween around the corner, I decided to take a closer look at bats and their many different meanings around the world. Here is what I have found:

In Western Culture, the bat is often a symbol of the night and its foreboding nature. The bat is a primary animal associated with fictional characters of the night, both villains like Dracula and heroes like Batman. Among some Native Americans, such as the Creek, Cherokee and Apache, the bat is a trickster spirit. Chinese lore claims the bat is a symbol of longevity and happiness, and is similarly lucky in Poland and geographical Macedonia and among the Kwakiutl and Arabs. ~Wiki

Bats are sensitive creatures. They use echolocation to navigate & find or hunt for food. The majority of bats are insectivorous, feeding on small insects such as the mosquito.

First Day of Autumn

2009-09-22T09:56:00.000-07:00

Ah ... the changing of the leaves, the cool crisp air, the 'sun-showers' in the Pacific Northwest all signal that Fall is here! Time to cozy up with the family & get ready for the upcoming holidays :)

Now is the time when I try to think of gifts for my family & friends. Something special that suits them and their interests. Jewelry is always a go to gift for me. With all the carved beads, different gemstones, pearls & shell beads there is so much to make!

I like giving handmade items best & I stumbled across Jamie of Destination Handmade on Etsy. Her shop is full of wonderful handmade items like totes, change purses & business card holders! Get to know her better by reading her blog: Destination Handmade Blog.

International Day of Peace

2009-09-21T08:57:00.000-07:00

The International Day of Peace occurs annually on September 21. It is dedicated to peace, or specifically the absence of war, such as might be occasioned by a temporary ceasefire in a combat zone. It is observed by many nations, political groups, military groups, and peoples. ~Wiki

To celebrate International Day of Peace, I have decided to give away one Dove pendant. I created the Dove pendant to honor the need for peace in all areas of our lives. Please see the video above for details on how it was created. There are two ways to enter the give away contest:

1. Follow SilverRoseBlogs (every follower = one entry)

2. Comment on one of our Blog entries (every comment = one entry)

The winner will be randomly selected from the entries on September 27th & will be announced on Monday September 28th.

Luscious Greens to celebrate peace in all its forms! Save up to 50% off Green Beads like Prehnite, Jade, Chrome Diopside, Seraphanite & More.

*No promo code needed

*Limited to stock on hand

*Website only, eBay items excluded

*Sale begins Sept 21 and ends Sept 24 at 11:59PM Eastern (GMT -4:00)

Healthy Living - Visual Treats

2009-09-14T09:39:00.000-07:00

While attempting a healthier lifestyle, we here at SilverRoseBeads have realized that sometimes the best treats are visual!

If you are planning a diet or a change in lifestyle, it can be hard to think of a reward. In the past, I have rewarded myself with special treats of the edible variety. This of course lead to an unhealthy way of life. But now with each milestone reached: pounds lost, weekly exercise goal, new dress size; I try to find something delicious for my eyes :) Beads are a ready treat! Making myself something special to remember the milestone serves the purpose of a reward and reminds me when I see it of all my hard work so far!

Another great treat is handmade soap! See Robin's handmade soaps here: Sweet Little Memories. These soaps smell & look so tasty! Robin is a very talented lady!

September Birthstones: Sapphire, Peridot, Agate & Moonstone

2009-09-08T10:03:00.000-07:00

September Birthstones: Sapphire, Peridot, Agate & Moonstone

The traditional birthstones for September are Sapphire & Peridot. The modern birthstone for September is Sapphire, the mythical birthstone is Agate and the Ayurvedic birthstone is Moonstone.

Sapphire is a member of the corundum family and can be any color except red or pinkish-orange. Red corundum are Rubies and pinkish-orange are padparadscha. Sapphire has a hardness of 9.0 on Mohs scale; second in hardness only to diamonds!

The cost of natural sapphire varies depending on their color, clarity, size, cut, and overall quality as well as geographic origin. Significant sapphire deposits are found in Eastern Australia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, East Africa and in the United States at various locations (Gem Mountain) and in the Missouri River near Helena, Montana. Sapphire and rubies are often found together in the same area, but one gem is usually more abundant.

See our Sapphire, Peridot, Agate & Moonstone Beads and create a handmade gift for your favorite September Babe.

Speaking of handmade ... I have found some lovely handmade decoupage art. See Yana's art here: Dawanda or Artfire & read about her on her blog: Handmade by decoupage art.

Giving from the Heart!

2009-08-31T10:24:00.000-07:00

In getting ready for Autumn, I began to think about what matters most to me & my family. When I created The Silver Rose, I wanted to give back to society. I started my business as a fundraiser for charities in the Puget Sound area. Giving back was and still is important to me. Now with eBay and our website, I am able to reach a broader audience. With the help of our wonderful customers, we have been able to raise money for the families of 911 victims, survivors of the Tsunami and the efforts to rebuild New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Even though we are a small family business, I know that with our customers/friends we have made and will continue to make a difference in the world! Thank you!

Another new friend of SilverRoseBeads, Shelley highlights the wonderful people that make up her giving community on her blog: I'm Still Standing. She writes about how to create inclusive playgrounds on her blog: Confessions of a Playground Princess. Be sure to stop by her blogs and find out more about this amazing woman and her family!

Creating a Necklace with an Extender Clasp

Jasper is said to bring good fortune and new beginnings to the wearer! And I love this piece of Apache Jasper (#8281) The drama of the shape combined with the color demanded to be featured in a necklace. I am constantly changing my mind about the length I need for my necklaces, so creating an adjustable necklace was a must do! For this piece I chose to coordinate the colors for a subtle look.

Up to 50% off Red-Brown Hued Beads

This color category includes Breciated Jasper, Red Diamonds, Apache Jasper and More!

Up to 50% off Blue-Green Hued Beads

This color category includes Kambaba Jasper, Apatite, Blue Diamonds, Blue Fluorite and more!

# No promo code needed
# Website purchases only, eBay items excluded
# Limited to stock on hand
# Sale begins August 29 and ends September 1 at 11:59PM Eastern (GMT-4:00)

Pastels all Year Round!

2009-08-24T10:37:00.000-07:00

Pastels in the Fall!?!

Yes! Designers have embraced a pastel pallet for this Autumn.

"Soft blues, pretty pinks and minty greens aren’t only for spring. Designers such as Chris Benz and Marc Jacobs switched up fall’s predictably dark palette with wool beauties in sherbet hues. Wear the soft stuff in eighties-inspired silhouettes like this voluminous coat. Or go "sexy secretary" with a pastel bow-front satin blouse." ~InStyle

Creativity comes in many shades & shapes. New friend, Kim Seals makes jewelry and decorates cakes. Her jewelry can be found on Etsy: RedSeals and be sure to see her blog: Piece of Cake Decorating to breathe new life into your cakes! I love the idea that I can have an image of my favorite person made into an edible cake decoration. What a treat :)

Get ready for Autumn's pastel pallet with up to 50% off Blues, Pinks & Greens

*no promo code needed
*limited to stock on hand
*website only, eBay items excluded
*Sale begins August 25 and ends August 27 at 11:59PM Eastern

Garnet - Harmonizing Relationships

2009-08-17T09:38:00.000-07:00

Garnet

Garnets species are found in many colors including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, black, pink and colorless. Because the chemical composition of garnet varies, the atomic bonds in some species are stronger than in others. As a result, this mineral group shows a range of hardness on the Mohs Scale of about 6.5 to 7.5. The harder species, like almandine, are often used for abrasive purposes.

Six common species of garnet are recognized based on their chemical composition. They are pyrope, almandine, spessartine, grossular (varieties of which are hessonite or cinnamon-stone and tsavorite), uvarovite and andradite. They crystallize in the cubic system, having three axes that are all of equal length and perpendicular to each other. Garnets do not show cleavage, so when they fracture under stress, sharp irregular pieces are formed. It is the birthstone for January. It is the state mineral of Connecticut. It is also New York's gemstone.

As a stone intuitive, I feel that gemstones vibrate and the vibrations can help us on our life path. Metaphysically garnet is said to bring prosperity and harmony to family relationships. Garnet is the stone of passionate devotion. To your family, your friends, yourself, and your purpose or goals. This stone enhances charisma, bringing out the wearer's best qualities.

What a wonderful stone energy for families! It can be particularly helpful in challenging times for families. For instance, blending a family. I just discovered this blog: shwanda.com about Carol Shwanda & her blended family of herself, her husband and their five kids, two boys and three girls!

Sparkling Druzy Ocean Jasper

2009-08-10T09:56:00.000-07:00

Ocean Jasper is the trade name for orbicular jasper found in the intertidal shores of northeast Madagascar. Obicular jasper is a variety of jasper which contains variably-colored orbs or spherical inclusions or zones. These amazing patterns draw the viewer into to another world. Now imagine this foreign landscape covered with sparkling druzy crystals! What a stunning pendant!

Up to 50% off Forest Green Hued Beads

This color category includes Moldavite, Chrome Diopside, Seraphanite and More!

All images are linked to those items.

Up to 50% off Emerald Green Hued Beads

This color category includes Emeralds, Malachite, Ruby Fuschite and more!

All images are linked to those items.

Up to 50% off Forest-Green & Emerald-Green Beads!

• No promo code needed
• Website purchases only, eBay items excluded
• Limited to stock on hand
• Sale begins August 10 and ends August 13 at 11:59PM Eastern (GMT-4:00)

Offer Expires: August 13 at 11:59PM Eastern (GMT -4:00)

International Friendship Day

2009-08-03T10:55:00.001-07:00

International Friendship Day celebrations take place on the first Sunday of August every year. The tradition of dedicating a day in honor of friends began in US in 1935. Gradually the festival gained popularity and today Friendship Day is celebrated in a large number of countries. On this day people spend time with their friends and express love for them. Exchange of Friendship Day Gifts like flowers, cards and wrist bands is a popular tradition of this occasion.~Wikipedia

What a great excuse to celebrate our friends. These wonderful people who support us, inspire us & nurture us! Thank you for all you do!

Speaking of friends, allow me to introduce a new friend: Kandio of Kandi-o Designs

Her jewelry designs are hip & fresh! See her blog article about Copper in Jewelry Designs here.

August Birthstones - Peridot, Sardonyx, & Carnelian

2009-07-27T10:20:00.000-07:00

The modern birthstone for August is Peridot. Peridot is gem-quality forsteritic olivine. Olivine is very abundant mineral, but gem quality peridot is rather rare. Peridot is one of the few gemstones that occur in only one color: basically an olive green. The intensity and tint of the green however depends on how much iron is contained in the crystal structure, so the color of individual peridot gems can vary from yellow-green through olive green to brownish green. The most valuable is considered a dark-olive green color. Peridot leads you to discover your higher self through perseverance and determination!

The traditional birthstones for August are Sardonyx & Carnelian.

Sard is a brownish mineral, and when it forms together with the straight white bands of onyx, the resulting stone is called Sardonyx. Sardonyx is a banded variety of chalcedony which is cryptocrystalline quartz. Sardonyx can be black with white bands or orange-red with white bands. It is said to increase courage and eloquence.

Carnelian Agate is also a variety of the silica mineral chalcedony colored by impurities of iron oxide. The color can vary greatly, ranging from pale orange to an intense almost-black coloration. The word carnelian is derived from the Latin word caro, carnis meaning flesh, in reference to the flesh color sometimes exhibited. Carnelian is said to assist in stimulating creativity. It seems to have a clearing effect, dispelling negative energies as it replaces them with positive ones.

Evening on the Beach

2009-07-20T11:02:00.000-07:00

With summer comes vacations, especially beach vacations! These two colors: Wet Sand Tan & Ocean Blue-Green Aqua remind me of evening walks on the beach! The ocean lapping at the wet sand! So peaceful & relaxing :)

After a recent trip to the beach with my family, I wanted to create this bracelet to remind myself of the serenity of evening strolls in the wet sand next to the roaring ocean. I used Pyrite coin beads (#9104), rough Apatite nugget beads (#9882) and sterling silver findings for this piece.

Up to 50% off Stokes Hued Beads

This color category includes Champagne Diamonds, Pyrite, Fossilized Coral, Dalmation Stone and More!

All images are linked to those items.

Up to 50% off Goodwin Hued Beads

This color category includes Blue Diamonds, Apatite, Kambaba Jasper and more!

All images are linked to those items.

No promo code needed Website purchases only, eBay items excluded Limited to stock on hand Sale begins July 17 and ends July 21 at 11:59PM Eastern (GMT-4:00)
Offer Expires: July 21 at 11:59PM Eastern (GMT -4:00)

What is Jade?

2009-07-13T10:20:00.000-07:00

Jadeite vs. Nephrite Jade

Jadeite is a pyroxene mineral with a hardness of 6.5 to 7.0 on the Mohs scale depending on the composition. Jadeite is formed when high-pressure is applied to Albite.

Jadeite's color commonly ranges from white through pale apple green to deep jade green but can also be blue-green, pink, lavender, and a multitude of other rare colors. Color is largely affected by the presence of trace elements such as chromium and iron. Its translucence can be anywhere from entirely solid through opaque to almost clear. Variations in color and translucence are often found even within a single specimen. Typically, the most highly valued colors of jadeite are the most intensely green, translucent varieties, though traditionally white has been considered the most valuable of the jades by the Chinese, known for their carefully crafted jade pieces.

Currently, the best known sources of gem quality jadeite are California, Myanmar, New Zealand and more recently Guatemala; other localities of jadeite include Kazakhstan, Russia, British Columbia, Alaska, and Turkestan.

Nephrite is a variety of the calcium and magnesium-rich amphibole mineral actinolite with a hardness of 6 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale.

Nephrite can be found in a translucent white to very light yellow form which is known in China as mutton fat jade, in an opaque white to very light brown or gray which is known as chicken bone jade, as well as in a variety of green colors.

Nephrite is found in Canada, China, Alaska & New Zealand.

Nephrite jade in New Zealand is known as "pounamu" in the Māori language, and is highly valued, playing an important role in Māori culture. Jade jewelery in Māori designs is widely popular with locals of all races, and with tourists – although much of the jade itself is now imported from British Columbia and elsewhere.

See more Jade here.

Independence Day!

2009-07-06T11:12:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July!

This Fourth was a great relaxing holiday :) We spent time together as a family & had great food (yummy roasted corn on the cob)! Then when dusk settled, we got down to business :) A few fireworks to light up the sky & remember "the bombs bursting in air."

The images this year reminded me of palm trees & jellyfish ... I am looking forward to spending some time designing jewelry to reflect these ideas ... Have a great week!

Independence Day Sale!

35 to 50% off all Red, White & Blue Beads!
*No promo code needed.
*Website purchases only, eBay items excluded.
*Limited to stock on hand.
*Sale begins July 4th and ends July 7th at 11:59PM Eastern.

Ruby - July Birthstone

2009-06-29T10:06:00.000-07:00

Ruby - July Birthstone

A ruby is a pink to blood-red gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum (aluminium oxide). The red color is caused mainly by the presence of the element chromium. Its name comes from ruber, Latin for red. Other varieties of gem-quality corundum are called sapphires. The ruby is considered one of the four precious stones, together with the sapphire, the emerald, and the diamond. -Wikipedia

July is one of the few months in which the Traditional Modern Mystical & Ayurvedic birthstones are all the same: Ruby! One of the rarest gemstones known, Ruby has long be thought to represent contentment & fidelity. And according to stone intuitives Rubies are said to energize and stimulate the wearer!

Busy Weekend! Father's Day & the Beginning of Summer!

2009-06-22T09:01:00.000-07:00

Father's Day

"Father's Day is a celebration inaugurated in the early twentieth century to complement Mother's Day in celebrating fatherhood and male parenting, and to honor and commemorate fathers and forefathers. Father's Day is celebrated on a variety of dates worldwide and typically involves gift-giving, special dinners to fathers, and family-oriented activities." Wikipedia

Luckily for myself, I was able to celebrate my own father and the father of my child together. We spent a relaxing day purchasing tomato, hot chili pepper and basil plants at the local farmers market and planting them :) It was nice to spend time together smelling the basil (instead of the flowers).

Turquoise - Summer's Hottest Hue!

It's no wonder turquoise it all the rage this summer! It's an a ancient symbol of good luck that's study-proven to boost mood. This gorgeous stone will make you look and feel fantastic!

"Everyone is so over the bling and ostentatiousness it represents," says Margi Kent, fashion stylist to Demi Moore. "People are going back to a softer, organic feel. And turquoise is wonderful because it has a free-spirited, natural quality that attracts us - and looks even more attractive on us." In fact, Kent says the stone in universally flattering. "It brings out a woman's unique coloring and that sparkle in her eyes." Plus, it's incredibly versatile: "You can wear it larger and chunkier to make it casual, layer it to add drama or choose stones with a finer finish for a dressier touch." Whichever way you go, you'll feel fabulous: the blue hue stimulates the release of serotonin and melatonin, brain chemicals that create a state of blissful calm.

Up to 50% off Howell Hued Beads!

* No promo code needed

* Website purchases only, eBay items excluded

* Limited to stock on hand

* Sale begins June 20 and ends June 22 at 11:59PM Eastern (GMT-4:00)

June - The Pearl & Moonstone

2009-06-15T10:05:00.000-07:00

June's Birthstones: Pearl & Moonstone

The traditional June birthstone is the pearl. Pearls have been a passion and even an obsession of people throughout the ages. They have been ground up and used in cosmetics and as a medicine to treat heart and stomach conditions. Some cultures swear by pearls as an aphrodisiac. These gems have adorned crowns, clothing, and temples, and were said to be a favorite of Cleopatra.

Only those with royal status once wore pearl jewelry, but eventually these gems were seen among all classes of people. They continue to be viewed as a mark of taste and refinement as well as a symbol of purity, and they are often given to celebrate a marriage or the birth of a child. Pearls are nature's perfect gift, suitable for all ages, and elegantly worn with everything from jeans to an evening gown.

An alternative birthstone for June is the moonstone. Moonstone, a type of feldspar named because of its uncanny resemblance to the iridescent sheen of the moon. Varying in color from clear to blue-white or peach, it was considered by ancient civilizations to be a sacred stone, bestowing the wearer with great spiritual understanding. Some believed that the Moonstone could even make a person invisible! Mined in Sri Lanka, Brazil, India, Madagascar, and the United States, a gift of this stone is symbolic of health and longevity.

See more Pearls and Moonstones here.

Happy World Oceans Day!

2009-06-04T12:57:00.001-07:00

Happy World Oceans Day!

"World Ocean Day is an opportunity every year to honor the world's ocean, celebrate the products the ocean provides, such as seafood, as well as marine life itself for aquariums, pets, and also a time to appreciate its own intrinsic value. The ocean also provides sea-lanes for international trade. Global pollution and over-consumption of fish have resulted in drastically dwindling population of the majority of species." -Wikipedia

Like Pearls, our Shell beads are grown on farms. The shells are taken care of in a manner to assure that it lives a normal healthy life span for the larger it grows. Larger shells mean more beads and cabochons for jewelry thus bringing in more revenue. The cleaner the water; the healthier the shells and with this comes more beautiful, iridescent luster and smooth blemish free nacre. In this manner shell farming encourages keeping the waterways clean and free of pollutants. For more information on Pearls and their benefits for the environment see here.

For thousands of years Netsukes have charmed their viewers. A huge detraction to this exquisite form of legend/myth telling was that fact that they were carved out of Elephant Tusk. As the planet has become more aware of what happens to the magnificent elephants, it has made this extraordinary art form repugnant as well as illegal to own for many. The switch to boxwood has made these enchanting objects a green product as boxwood is an easily farmed wood. Boxwood is carved green when it is soft and as it dries it hardens. It is used in it's dwarf form for topiary in the west and the larger variety for ornamental and even furniture carving in China and other eastern countries. It is an ecology friendly solution to preserving an ancient art when boxwood is used to carve Netsukes and other object d'art.

To celebrate World Oceans Day at www.SilverRoseBeads.com we are offering 35% off all shell and carved boxwood beads.

*No promo code needed

*Website purchases only, eBay items excluded.

*Limited to stock on hand

*Sale begins June 8 and ends June 10th at 11:59PM EDT

June 1st - International Day of the Child

2009-06-01T10:12:00.001-07:00

June 1st - International Day of the Child

First proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1954, it was established to encourage all countries to institute a day, firstly to promote mutual exchange and understanding among children and secondly to initiate action to benefit and promote the welfare of the world's children. It was also chosen as the day to celebrate childhood.

Wikipedia

Everyday around here seems like it could be "Day of the Child!" Luckily for us my daughter can come into the office and "work" whenever she wants. She even has her own desk set up near me to draw and consult on projects. As a child she is able to see the wonder in a spiderweb or the charm in a squirrel, somethings that I might miss if she weren't here. Her joy in life is such a gift!

But today is special! We at SilverRoseBeads want to share International Day of the Child with our customers and friends. Please take some time to recognize the importance of childhood and what it means to be a child. Be sure to nurture any children in your circle as well as your own 'inner' child.

Memorial Day at SilverRoseBeads

2009-05-25T09:25:00.001-07:00

Today for Memorial Day, we want to take a moment to recognize and remember those who have served and who are serving our country. From CNN.com

"in 2000, Congress established a National Moment of Remembrance, which asks Americans to pause for one minute at 3 p.m. in an act of national unity. The time was chosen because 3 p.m. "is the time when most Americans are enjoying their freedoms on the national holiday."

So while we are spending the day enjoying the beautiful weather here in the northwest and spending time with our families, we will pause a moment this afternoon and remember those who have given us our freedom with the ultimate sacrifice.

SRBeadBucks

2009-05-18T10:15:00.001-07:00

How SRBeadBucks work:

Earning SRBeadBucks:

Earnings Period: May 15, 2009 - May 22, 2009 11:59PM Eastern

For every $50 spent at www.SilverRoseBeads.com during an earnings period, you will receive a 25% off SRBeadBucks coupon for your next order.

Redeeming SRBeadBucks:

Redemption period: June 1st - June 30, 2009 11:59PM Eastern

You can redeem your 25% SRBeadBucks coupon during the redemption period on any SilverRoseBeads purchase (Website, eBay items or a combination). Each 25% off SRBeadBucks coupon will have a specific promo code to be used during a specific week in June.

For example: If you earn two SRBeadBucks coupons , the first SRBeadBucks coupon will be valid for the first week of June and the second SRBeadBucks coupon will be valid for the second week of June. The SRBeadBucks coupons cannot be combined with each other or any other offer.

Additional SRBeadBucks Info:

If you return or exchange an item from the earnings period and the qualifying purchase falls below the $50 threshold, SRBeadbucks coupons will be subtracted in 25% increments. On items purchased during the redemption period using SRBeadBucks coupon, you will receive the price paid (after the discount) on all returned or exchanged merchandise. The value of your SRBeadBucks coupon will not be returned if you make a return or exchange.

Celebrating Mothers and others who nurture us!

2009-05-11T08:48:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day! What a great reminder to celebrate our mothers and other people who nurture us!
Creativity is often hard to keep alive in our busy world, but if we take time to nurture it and ourselves the rewards are endless.
This year my mother was in London for Mother's day, so I called her and we chatted for a few moments. She is having a great time there with my Dad and brother :)
I got to celebrate with my daughter and husband. They let me sleep in while they created a sumptuous breakfast of french toast and strawberries (of 'frawberries' as my daughter calls them). Then we spent a relaxing day with each other.
All this time away from work, helped me relax and contemplate what a joy life can be :) My family is so close thanks to working together and spending special days away from work.
Here's hoping that you and yours get to spend some special time together nurturing each other and the creative spirit!
See www.SilverRoseBeads.com for up to 50% off all pink and blue beads in honor of Mothers everywhere!
See our Pink & Blue Beads here.

May is Gold Month!

2009-05-04T11:21:00.001-07:00

May is Gold Month!

Gold (pronounced /ˈɡoʊld/) is a chemical element with the symbol Au (Latin: aurum) and atomic number 79. It is a highly sought-after precious metal in jewelry, in sculpture, and for ornamentation since the beginning of recorded history. The metal occurs as nuggets or grains in rocks, in veins and in alluvial deposits. Gold is dense, soft, shiny and the most malleable and ductile pure metal known. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without rusting in air or water.

Because of the softness of pure (24k) gold, it is usually alloyed with base metals for use in jewelry, altering its hardness and ductility, melting point, color and other properties. Alloys with lower caratage, typically 22k, 18k, 14k or 10k, contain higher percentages of copper, or other base metals or silver or palladium in the alloy. Copper is the most commonly used base metal, yielding a redder color. Eighteen carat gold containing 25% copper is found in antique and Russian jewelery and has a distinct, though not dominant, copper cast, creating rose gold. Fourteen carat gold-copper alloy is nearly identical in color to certain bronze alloys, and both may be used to produce police, as well as other, badges. Blue gold can be made by alloying with iron and purple gold can be made by alloying with aluminum, although rarely done except in specialized jewelry. Blue gold is more brittle and therefore more difficult to work with when making jewelry. Fourteen and eighteen carat gold alloys with silver alone appear greenish-yellow and are referred to as green gold. White gold alloys can be made with palladium or nickel. White 18 carat gold containing 17.3% nickel, 5.5% zinc and 2.2% copper is silver in appearance. Nickel is toxic, however, and its release from nickel white gold is controlled by legislation in Europe. Alternative white gold alloys are available based on palladium, silver and other white metals (World Gold Council), but the palladium alloys are more expensive than those using nickel. High-carat white gold alloys are far more resistant to corrosion than are either pure silver or sterling silver. The Japanese craft of Mokume-gane exploits the color contrasts between laminated colored gold alloys to produce decorative wood-grain effects.

Take our Dauthers & Sons to Work Day ... at the Silver Rose

2009-04-27T13:02:00.000-07:00


Sylvia photographing	John accounting

Emily packing orders.	Amber answering email.

Do you ever wonder just who you are buying from out on the world wide web?

I wanted to take some time and introduce you to us in honor of "Take our Daughters and Sons to work day" as we are a family business.

Sylvia (my mom) created this business when I was about 2 months old. She started as a silver & gold smith creating pieces in the Navajo tradition. After teaching a few college courses, she decided to do more. She created a fund-raising business for local hospitals and other corporations. As my brother, sister and I grew older we began to help out by selling and creating the jewelry. John (my dad) joined us and now does the books :)

Now that we are a online business, we get to see each other everyday! Sylvia does most of the photography, jewelry design and creative work. John still does the books and gives us a male perspective on many things. I (Emily) pack orders, create sales emails, write newsletters, design how-tos, manage the blog, Facebook, MySpace and Twitter accounts along with my sister, Amber. Amber is also our email Goddess! She answers all the questions, resloves all issues and harmonizes all requests! A very busy one ... that sister of mine!

Thank you for all your support! Without our fabulous customers, SilverRoseBeads would not survive :)

Save the Planet - Shop Online!

2009-04-22T09:02:00.000-07:00

Shopping online saves the planet!

Just by doing your shopping online you can save the planet! "There's no transportation required by the customer. Approximately 65 percent of total emissions generated by the traditional retail model stemmed from customer transport to and from retail stores." Shop Online - Carnegie Mellon University

So celebrate Earth Day and shop online at www.SilverRoseBeads.com

Enjoy 35% off all Boxwood Beads (ecology friendly) with the promo code: 35Boxwood

*Enter promo code 35Boxwood

*Website purchases only, eBay items excluded

*Limited to stock on hand

*Sale begins April 22 and ends April 24 at 11:59PM Eastern

For thousands of years Netsukes have charmed their viewers. A huge detraction to this exquisite form of legend/myth telling was that fact that they were carved out of Elephant Tusk. As the planet has become more aware of what happens to the magnificent elephants, it has made this extraordinary art form repugnant as well as illegal to own for many. The switch to boxwood has made these enchanting objects a green product as boxwood is an easily farmed wood. Boxwood is carved green when it is soft and as it dries it hardens. It is used in it's dwarf form for topiary in the west and the larger variety for ornamental and even furniture carving in China and other eastern countries. It is an ecology friendly solution to preserving an ancient art when boxwood is used to carve Netsukes and other object d'art.

2009-04-20T09:31:00.000-07:00

Pearls - A Renewable Resource

Once one of the most highly valued commodities on the planet, the freshwater pearl is now available to almost everyone. The catch phrase in all we do should be , “is it a green product or green?”. You can rest assured Freshwater pearls are. Rivers, streams and lakes are kept clean so this ancient creature can grow breathtaking pearls to adorn the most discerning taste.

The oyster is taken care of in a manner to assure that it lives a normal healthy life span for the larger it grows; the larger the pearls. Large pearls bring in more revenue. The cleaner the water; the healthier the oyster and with this comes more beautiful, iridescent luster and smooth blemish free nacre. In this manner pearl or oyster farming encourages keeping the waterways clean and free of pollutants.

After the first crop of pearls is harvested from the oysters a pearl sac or pocket is left in the oyster. It doesn't need to be seeded for the oyster will now produce the very valuable and sought after Rose Petal or Corn Flake Keishi pearl. A Keishi pearl is composed entirely of nacre as no seeding has been done. After the Keishi is harvested the oyster is now ready to grow to the truly spectacular 10mm to 12mm pearls that are the reining divas of the pearl world. As this is the sought after outcome, safely guarding the life span and health of the oyster has now come full circle.

Through farming practices that bring premium harvest of the highest quality pearls, one can witness this amazing gift of nature as a truly green product. It is a renewable resource that keeps small independent groups of individuals employed, keeps the waterways clean and assures that the oysters producing this treasure of nature are carefully tended indeed.

So relax and enjoy pearls in all their varied form. These gems of nature are an absolute delight to design with and gift some to yourself as the hues they come in compliment every skin tone.

Social Networking! not just for teenagers!

2009-04-13T09:47:00.000-07:00

SilverRoseBeads has joined the social networking scene! See our MySpace, Facebook and Twitter pages (links above). These pages have given us a great opportunity to branch out. I really enjoy 'meeting' you and seeing what our you create with the beads. Maybe like me you have been intimidated by these online tools, but I have found them very easy to use! I even found that you can link your twitter account to you facebook pages! I was also worried that only teenagers used these social networks, but WOW was I wrong! I have been surprised to find many of my 'long-lost' friends from college, high school ... even grade school on Facebook. Twitter has also allowed us to keep in touch with our brother Jason who lives in London, is very busy but finds it easy to twitter a couple of times a day! Even John McCain and Barack Obama are on Twitter! What a great place to keep up with family, friends, work, politics, world news ... you name it!

How to create earrings with briolette beads

2009-04-06T09:27:00.000-07:00

From Movies

I just figured out how to use Picasa3 to create and post videos made from images. This is a great feature for how to videos! I often get questions about briolette beads and how to use them in wire work, so I created this video for my friends. Check it out! Google has some great free products that are very easy to use. I started with gmail and now use the calender, picasa and googlebase. Picasa is the photo album aspect of gmail. You can download picasa to your computer. Then using picasa you can edit, caption, and create videos with your images. Picasa is set up to help you load your images to your gmail account, blog postings or youtube!

Jewelry Sales through Redefining Ourselves

2008-12-17T10:03:00.000-08:00

There was a time when the sales mantra was:

"~~The product will sell itself.~~"

In todays economy with just about every company on Wall Street reporting lower sales and profits we must shift our own sales strategy back to the great depression mentality. This can be done without having to result in heavy pressure intimidation or bombarding consumers with unsolicited advertisements.

"I will find why I have the perfect piece for any person."

In the world of jewelry design we often hold our work in such high esteem that we feel it will often sell itself. We prefer to think of ourselves as artists and designers rather than saleswomen or salesmen.

A good salesperson is intuitive to their customer. They are perceptive to their customer's shopping habits , knowledgable about their in stock product, and attentive to their customers questions.

For example, if a young male is looking from necklaces to earrings and asking about color variations we might assume that he is shopping for his sweetheart and inquire about the clothing preferences whether she likes vivid colors, earth tones, or perhaps if she wears formal dress on occasion. If we have gems designs by birthstone we might ask the occasion for the gift, if the holidays aren't pending, and direct the conversation towards her birthstone month. If he asks for something that isn't readily available, don't be afraid to suggest custom pieces and alterations for an affordable price.

If the customer is aprehensive about making an immediate purchase do not be afraid to perform some polite persistance and dig deep into any reasons that may be disuading them. Ask what they don't like about it and insist that changes can be made to fit their needs. Politely inform them of the nature of custom made pieces that they are unique and may not be sold if they return later. Offering to hold items for a short period of time and presenting them with a business card as a last result will keep the item in their mind.

Inquire about any other occasions that may be coming up that they have forgotten. Maybe it is his sister's birthday in two months, a lover of nature, and you just happen to have a perfect leaf of breciated jasper or abalone shell that you could fashion into a pendant.

Do not limit yourself by what is directly in front of you and what you have prepared. A good jewelry designer has beads for all occasion and knows what she has and what she can make at any time. At the Silver Rose, we just did a large sapphire repair sale, because even though it was not in our inventory, we remembered that we had the perfect shade and cut that the customer needed uncataloged in my private stores.

Good customer service through careful questioning

breeds referrals and return business.

Next blog I'll discuss some unique untapped jewelry locations that have worked quite well for us over the years.

Thriving Sales in a Frugal Economy

2008-12-09T10:47:00.000-08:00

Part two of the Self Promotion Series

With the economic crisis in full swing it is becoming increasingly more difficult to make sales and we all must take decisive action to ensure that each of our businesses will survive.

The most important element to thriving sales is exposure.

With customers becoming increasingly more frugal and thoughtful with their spending we must all strive to increase our client base and increase the number of customers who see our jewelry product. The following are some ideas I have developed to maximize the exposure of your items.

Consignment

Never underestimate the value of consignment arrangements in selling your jewelry. Many shops, retail stores, craft booths, and mall outlets are more than happy to take a small percentage of your sales and drawing power of more diverse inventory in exchange for reserving a place for your jewelry and conducting the sales therein. You may take a small hit on the sale, but you can factor out the cost of the booth, the inventory space, or rent and the labor in staffing the sales location.

Some consignment locations require a payment for rental space and I caution you to investigate all factors of traffic, demographic, and costs in this case. The best arrangement is a percentage of sales which can range anywhere between 5-50% depending on the cost of the item, transport and stocking arrangements, labor costs and promotions. Whatever you have agreed upon, even if you are close friends be sure to get the percentages in writing and to keep careful two sets of records of inventory, prices, and sales; one for each of you.

You can only be one place at a time, but the more locations your jewelry is sold and viewed the greater your exposure and sales will be.

Faires, Events, and Markets

Think about your jewelry and what your target demographic is. Research and think about your target marget's habits and hobbies and where best they can find you.

If you specialize in renaissance period chainmaille pieces than your research might indicate that your target market inhabit medieval organizations and fantasy faires. An Internet search would result in hundreds of shows throughout country, as well as several organizations such as the Society for Creative Anachronism and Renaissance Faire Society. Wherein thousands of merchants and venders sell their wares and can be contacted for consignment or cooperation. This is merely an example of a niche market research.

Perhaps you specialize in work with abalone, shell, and natural ecofarmed coral fingers. There are numerous beach shoppes looking for consignment pieces or events such as the annual Divers Alert Network conference and Koi clubs where you can set politely send a email asking to set up shop.

Perhaps you have quite the collection of holiday pieces that you have prepared. There are many specialized holiday faires in each area that you can arrange to participate in. In my local area of Pierce County, Washington, we have an annual Victorian Christmas celebration that is being help at our world reknown Puyallup Fairgrounds with hundreds of merchants of and 10s of thousands of customers.

Here is a resource for finding a market near you.

When setting up a booth be sure to follow the proper channels and file all taxes and paperwork preparations.

Visit Part 1 of the Self Promotion Series

Check back next work for more exposure tips and holiday talk.