Tagua nuts are seeds from a palm tree varietal that is typically found in northern South America. These seeds are used by artisans and made into fantastic and colorful bead jewelry. In terms of the way they look, they are very similar to ivory but are more affordable and eco-friendly. With the emergence of the global green movement, more and more tagua nuts are now being used instead of elephant husks which help in the preservation of these animals without having to sacrifice the demand for beautiful ornaments and accessories that can pass for ivory.
Let me give you a little background about the tagua plant itself. Tagua plam trees grow at a very slow rate. When they reach 35 years of age, they don’t even exceed the height of seven feet. This type of tree bears huge clusters of woody fruit. Each of these clusters weighs around 25 pounds. The fruit itself can contain around four to nine seeds/nuts. The nut shape and size is same as that of a hen's egg.
Tagua nuts have other names in the market. They are also called Corozo, mococha and vegetable ivory. Tagua nut was first used in the land of art and fashion way back in 1750. They were first used in making animal carvings until such time thay they discovered the nuts can also be used in button and bead production.
Because tagua seeds are so similar with ivory, more and more artisans are now using it in producing jewelry and other accessories. They can be made into bracelets, necklaces, home ornaments and so much more. The possibilities are endless for this type of fruit. So if you are looking for unique pieces of jewelry that is eco friendly at the same time, try tagua nuts. You may have just found a new love for these kinds of seed jewelry.
Science defines crystal as a solid substance that has ions, or atoms, or molecules that are arranged in an organized, duplicating way that extends in all three spatial dimensions. While a gemstone, also called a semi-precious stone, is a piece of attractive mineral, which is cut and used to make jewelry and other accessories and adornments. Most crystals are used as gemstones and as beading supplies. Most gemstones are hard and considered rare, properties that give it aesthetic value.
Rich people are not the only ones who possess crystals and gemstones. Even ordinary people may use it for their beading supplies. Those who are attuned to higher astral frequencies require them too, people like psychics, healers and psychic mediums. Crystals like quartz, amethyst, and the likes possess certain elements and properties that are very essential to those who traverse the supernatural plane.
General Uses of Crystals and Gemstones
Crystals, aside from being used as gemstones, jewelry and adornments, are also used for psychic protection, healing, deep meditation, channeling or energy and other energy work, grounding and storing information. Different kinds of crystals, depending on their sizes and the use you intend for them, vibrate at varying frequencies. To tap into its psychic powers, people are usually guided to a particular crystal, which is determined by the energy level of the person choosing the crystal at that time.
Psychically speaking, when you choose your gemstone or crystal, you touch it and you just know it’s yours. This is also what happens when one is choosing jewelry embedded with certain gemstones like diamonds or quartz or sapphire, etc. This means that you are psychically attuned to that crystal or gemstone at that point in time. You may display it at a certain place or corner in your home or you may wear it as jewelry. Whatever you do with it, the crystal already knows what they have to do.
When looking at particular crystals and gemstones, be sensitive about how you feel. They may be communicating with you in ways beyond what is normal. Use these gemstones not just to adorn your physical self, but to beautify and cleanse your inner self as well.
Crystals and Gemstones Are Used For Healing
Many of the certified healers and psychic mediums of today use beads for jewelry, crystals and gemstones in their healing affairs. You may also do this if you are adept at doing so. Otherwise, it would be best to seek the help of a healer, or a psychic medium. These people naturally see and hear Spirit Guides, who tell them which kinds of crystals to use for particular healing sessions. They also instruct these psychics the proper placement of crystal patterns around the house, and around the body, to attain the best and fastest form of healing.
The frequency of the person being healed must be known by the healer, or psychic medium. When the person’s frequency is similar to that of the crystal being used, this will help create balance in the person’s body, and healing can quickly take place. This means that the body has been put back to balance. The healing process is different for each person. It can be fast, it can be slow. To help speed up the process, the person being healed may keep a similar crystal or bead for jewelry and keep it close to him/her all the time.
Taking A Deeper Look At Quartz Crystals
The frequency of Quartz crystals is the one that gives it its healing attribute. This kind of beads for jewelry makes it possible for this stone to revive balance where balance was disturbed. Quartz can assist you in fighting stress, pressure, and many other problems, whether at work, at school, or at home. They help reinvigorate your mind, as well as your spirit. To test it, put a small piece of quartz in a glass of water. The water will be ionized, and will be turned into a drink that promotes healing. This is one of the reasons why psychics typically carry with them some pieces of quartz crystals wherever they go.
Easy Tip On Cleaning Your Crystals
People employ various methods in cleaning their crystals and other beads for jewelry. The easiest one which you can follow is to wash them with water and soap. Afterward, rinse them with running water. Place them on a piece of cloth once you’re done, and put them under sunlight, for a few hours, at least. Once they are dry, you can either wear them again or place them at a corner in your home.
To make any beaded jewelry look more elegant, sophisticated and expensive, silver jewelry findings are added, either as the star of the show, or to enhance the overall look of the beaded accessory. Silvery jewelry findings help accentuate the intricate wire designs and make bead jewelry a lot more interesting.
There are various kinds of silver jewelry findings. They are:
• Bali-style: This kind of silver findings is very popular among bead jewelry makers. They come in a wide array of shapes and sizes such as heart, coin, saucer, square, oval-hexagon and oval. Sterling silver Bali-style charms make jewelry exude a tribal flair making it look more exotic.
• Corrugated: This kind of silver findings are the hollow metal beads which appear like a tube or donut and are usually used as spacers. Corrugations can be either straight or spiral around the bead. The most typical sizes range from 3mm to 7mm range.
• Fancy: This kind of silver findings refers to any bead that is not spherical in shape. These are the ones that are embellished with crystals, cut, saucer-shaped, corrugated (straight or twisted), and stardust.
• Israel: This kind of silver findings can be purchased in flower or barrel shapes, with size ranging from12.5mm to14mm.
• Mirror-cut: This kind of silver findings make the jewelry sparkle from afar as they reflect light. They come in round and rice shapes.
• Round and Smooth: This kind of silver findings is available in various sizes which offer a more classic and traditional look. Typically, they are strung together. But to give the jewelry more character, they can be used as spacers as well, alternating between round and smooth or smooth and textured metal beads.
• Roundel (Randell): This kind of silver findings are actually flat on the sides and not round. They can be used as spacers or accents to highlight the beauty of the jewelry.
• Satin-finish: This kind of silver findings come in dull finish instead of shiny. They do this by using chemical or by sandblasting.
• Stardust: This kind of silver findings also have rough texture. They are typically used as spacers with sizes ranging .010mm to 6.3mm.
With a wide variety of silver jewelry findings to choose from, you will never run out of interesting designs for your jewelry. Use them well and show off that wonderful jewelry.
When getting a gift for a friend who loves bracelets, the most important thing to find out is his/her taste in accessories. Don’t mind what you think looks good on you. It is the recipient’s taste that matters in this occasion. Aside from taste, you must also have an idea of the size of his/her wrist. Otherwise, it may not fit and there goes your hard-earned money down the drain.
Bracelets come in different sizes, shapes and makes except for bangles that are designed to fit any size. For American females, the average size of bracelets is 7 inches while for males, it is 8 inches.
There is a wide array of styles which are available in most materials than you can imagine. But for now, let me give to you the four most popular kinds. They are bead jewelry bracelets, bangles, gemstone bracelets and charm bracelets. For these four most popular kinds, there are various designs to choose from ranging from the simplest to the most intricate. Explore your options properly before deciding which one to buy as a gift.
Before we further discuss each of these four bracelets, take note that you have to consider the very basic materials being used. This will help determine your budget and the depth of your intention. For instance, gold is always considered the best as it never goes out of style and fashion. It is also expensive and is usually given to those people you care about the most like your spouse. Sterling silver, on the other hand, is the more affordable option. It is popular among the younger generation and with constant polish and care, can always look brand new. There’s also stainless and platinum. They are durable and therefore perfect for everyday wear.
Now, let’s talk about the top 4 bracelets perfect for gifts.
Gemstone bracelets
These are the ones made from semi-precious to precious stones. They offer a variety of color and sparkle. This kind ranges from quartz to amethysts to diamonds and even includes all the other colors of the rainbow with matching prices, of course.
Beaded jewelry bracelets
These bracelets range from the simplest of designs that may remind you of your childhood to the most intricate of styles used in more formal occasions. Of all the bead jewelry, those made of glass beads are the ones gaining more popularity these days.
Bangles
Bangles are the most versatile ones. They can be made from any material like wood, metal, rubber, plastic, beads, glass, etc.
Charm bracelets
For a more personalized bracelet, get this kind. You can have various kinds of stones and beads dangle in there depending on the taste of your recipient. The chain style is the most common and birthstones are often used.
Bracelets as gifts speak loudly of your intentions. So be clear with what you want to say and say it with flair.
Do you want to bring a whole new dimension and meaning to the natural look that people are going for these days because of the so-called “Green” campaign that is being practiced all over the world? One fashionable way to look natural is to adorn yourself with natural wooden jewelry beads when it comes to creating jewelry and accessories They are chic, light, inexpensive and truly eye catching.
You don’t have to pay a fortune when wanting to look glamorous. Natural wooden beads will do that for you by bringing an earthy tone to any outfit you wear. If you’re the type who likes wearing chunky bracelets and necklaces but couldn’t stand the weight of heavy glass beads and other beading supplies for instance, you can use wooden beads instead. They feel so light and can be turned into perfect gifts when made into bracelets, necklaces, earrings of anklets.
Wood is very versatile. You can turn in into anything, be it furniture, décor, and now even as jewelry beads! It can be pretty much carved into any pattern, shape and size and to add color, you can even paint it. They became very popular among beading enthusiasts and professional beaders because of their soft and smooth exterior and versatility in design.
A Little Bit of History
The Western Civilization first adapted the use of wooden beads in their jewelry making projects in the early 1920s. Since then, people have been amazed by the beauty wooden jewelry beads have exuded that they started making more intricate and fun designs which we now see in the market. We see various wooden beads of different shapes, sizes and color turned into beautifully designed necklaces, bracelets and anklets. Those into the island lifestyle usually wear them every day with the rest of their getup. It makes them look so fresh, natural and very stylish.
How to Take Care of Wooden Beads
Wooden beads come from Mother Nature. As such, you don’t have to be very cautious when taking care of them. As long as they are stored in a proper place that is away from little kids who might play with them or trample on them, your wooden jewelry beads will last for a very long time.
Jewelry are sometimes deceiving. You will see a girl full of jewelry and you can say that she is rich enough to buy all of those. But, when you look in details or if you ask her, you would be amazed to find that those set of jewelry are only half the price you expect. How is that so?Having an expensive jewelry with only half the price is not impossible. It is only a matter of creating it in your own and having the right materials. You do not need to by expensive jewelry to be deemed as having an expensive jewelry. Let the jewelry deceive them.
Knowing how to create your own bead jewelry allows you to save much cost. Compare the price of a jewelry bought from a store and a jewelry you create out of your own hands. You will notice that store jewelry are more expensive than the ones created by you. This is simply because of the marked up price of the seller for added profit. No the difference between the two prices is now your savings if you try to make your own.
Materials are also a major factor in creating an expensive looking jewelry but at a cheaper price. You just need to find
quality materials that are sold in a discount rate. You can attain this by going to your regular supplier and ask for discounts on bulk orders. Just save the rest of the materials for later use. The discount you gain from your orders will be your savings.When you do your bead jewelry, use cheaper but durable and quality strings. You sometimes do not need to expose the strings therefore buy a cheaper one. It can save you much cost of buying a more expensive string but of almost similar quality.
By knowing how to make your own bead jewelry with the appropriate materials will save you much and allow you to create an expensive bead jewelry that is half the cost of a bead jewelry sold in stores.