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Thursday, August 7, 2008

Pearl Necklaces

A pearl necklace radiates a certain mystical charm when worn around the neck. There are generally six types of pearl necklaces - collar, choker, princess, matinee, opera and rope. Collar pearl necklaces are usually 10 to 13 inches in length and worn casually or in the evening. Choker pearl necklaces are about 16 to 18 inches and suitable for formal wear. Princess pearl necklaces can be about 17 to 20 inches long. Matinee pearl necklaces are nearly 20 to 24 inches in length and go well with business suits. Opera pearl necklace are 28 to 34 inches and appropriate for special occasions, formal events or parties. Rope pearl necklaces are generally 45 inches or above and match well with pantsuits. From elegance, fashionable to luxury, different looks are created by the versatility of pearl necklace lengths that can be worn on different occasions. Princess pearl necklaces are 17 to 19 inches, and they are the most popular among necklaces.

Choosing a right pearl necklace depends on many factors such as age and occasion. Pearl necklaces are chosen and worn differently varying with age. A pearl necklace, like a diamond necklace is available in a variety of styles. A strand of pearls, or a single pearl on a chain are the two most common types. There are also collar, choker, princess, matinee, opera and rope pearl necklaces.

When buying a pearl necklace, there are a few things one should keep in mind such as the surface, color, size, luster and shape of the pearls. Some colored necklaces complement a women's skin color better than others. For example a woman having a fair complexion looks better in a light color pearl necklace, as compared to silver, gray or black.

Pearl necklaces come in various colors such as white, white rose, cream, golden, black, silver and gray.

Pearl Necklaces provides detailed information on Pearl Necklaces, Black Pearl Necklaces, Freshwater Pearl Necklaces, Cultured Pearl Necklaces and more. Pearl Necklaces is affiliated with Cultured Pearl Earrings.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jimmy_Sturo

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

What Is Your Favorite Crystal Animal

Almost all crystal figurine collectors have a favorite animal in their collection. What is really interesting is that the crystal animal chosen often represents the character or some behavior of the animal in the individual.

Here is an example of how one person's favorite crystal animal characterizes her everyday behaviors. Judy is a cute, lovable, perky, carefree young woman who multi-tasks many responsibilities and jobs. She quickly jumps from one task to another without much effort. She is always filled with high octane energy and can throw her efforts into high gear when necessary.

Of all the crystal animals and crystal figurines in her collection, her favorite is a small crystal rabbit. Why? Because Judy feels it represents how she goes about getting things done, hopping from one spot to another just like a rabbit. And don't forget, bunnies are cute.

In another example, a mid thirties year old man lost his wife, his house, all his money and was facing bankruptcy. He hit the lowest point in his life. He realized that he had "hit bottom and had nowhere else to go, but up." A close friend told him to start a new life.

That's what John did. He got a new job, found a new wife and bought a new house. His old life was in the past and his new life was filled with promise. His favorite figurine was a crystal butterfly because it symbolized and reminded him of "new life" and how he changed from who and what he was to who he is and what he is today.

The next example is a big burly man who is loud and boisterous, filled with fiery energy.
What is his favorite crystal animal? If you said a crystal dragon you would be correct. A good second choice would be a crystal bull.

It may seem strange that we humans would choose a figurine that reflects animal traits or behaviors as our own.. But it isn't really. There is psychology and history to support this phenomenon. Natives in many cultures name children after animals thinking that the child would exhibit the animal's behaviors and strengths as the child matured.

They adorned their bodies with feathers or skins to liken themselves to their namesake.
Very often, the individual tries to live up to these names and what they represent. Some people actually do achieve and exhibit those characteristics.

Of course people choose their favorite crystal animals and crystal figurines for a whole host of other reasons. However, when you think of your favorite crystal figurine, ask yourself this question. Why is this my favorite figurine? The answer may surprise you.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Art Crystals - Enhancing Creativity With Crystals

Using creativity enhancing crystals and art charms has been an ancient practice to help increase inspirational ideas and get the creative juices flowing.

~ Crystals can be found in an amazing range of sizes, various shapes and a multitude of beautiful colors.

~ Crystal matrixes follow the patterning of Sacred Geometry

~ Have you ever contemplated that all crystals are living organisms with a unique life energy of their own?

How to choose the right art crystal to enhance your personal creativity

Choosing a crystal is a very personal experience that requires a person to tune into their intuitive side and be led by impressions that are received.

~ Close your eyes and visualize the art project you are currently working on

~ Open your heart until you feel a warm glow in the heart center and state your intention to find the perfect art crystal creativity stone that is most beneficial for you at this time

~ Let yourself be guided to the right crystal

~ Sometimes you will hear the name of the right crystal in your mind, sometimes you may feel a tingling sensation in your hand when touching the different crystals, sometimes you will just know its the one the minute you lay eyes on it.

Tips for Choosing the Right Art Crystal for you

~ Even if it seems at first that you made a wrong choice , let your instinct guide you and know that the one you are drawn to might not be the prettiest, or the one you thought would do well but the one you truly need at this moment in time...

~ Let your eyes glide over the selection of creativity crystals and you will find one that captures your attention more than any other.

~ If you have the chance to go to a crystal store , take your time and glide your hand over the crystals on display ..clearly state your intention that you desire a crystal to increase your creativity in your art or special project , otherwise you may pick up a sensation for another issue that is currently featuring in your life.

~ you may feel a sensation in your hand when you glide over the right one, or you may just sense it, or hear a "voice" in your mind or you may just know as soon as you set eyes on the right crystal.

I love Crystals, like to be surrounded by their vibrational energy and pick different ones, sometimes several times a day :-)

~ If you are a girl then a good way to get close to the energy of your favorite art crystal is to wear them in your Bra ... Make it your own special hidden Art Charm

~ Choose a smooth tumblestone version of your favorite crystal as they like skin contact and keep it snug inside your bra. Be aware and watch your inspiration and creative ideas soar ...

~ Each crystal is a living being and it is a respectful touch to the creative energies of this earth to thank each crystal for their attention to your cause.

~ After each project is completed or you no longer feel the need for the crystal, clean it under cold running water and place it in a special place until it is asked for again.

Milliande is a creative free spirit on a joyful journey exploring her awakening consciousness through mixed media art expressions. She is the conductor at Milliande's visionary art bus, a website honoring visionary women that inspire the world.

You can HOP ON Milliande's VAB Art Bus for Free Creativity Help Guides Online and Free Art Classes online at http://www.milliande.com No Tickets Required :-) !

HOP OFF for a list of Creativity Enhancing Crystals at:
http://www.milliande.com/art-crystals-for-Enhancing-Creativity.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Milliande_Star

Monday, August 4, 2008

Crystal Gifts for Any Occasion

If you are looking for a different idea for your home or a gift many items are available in lead crystal. There are many excellent crystal items that are exclusively made in Turkey. You will be pleasantly surprised at the variety that is offered.

Twenty four percent lead crystal products come in a variety of themes. These items vary from whimsical to practical depending on your needs. There are choices for anyone based on themes from the Ocean, from the Lake, animals, birds as well as beautiful candle holders which can be used for home decor purposes or given as a unique gift for your loved ones. Crystal gifts are upscale, unique and home decor items. Browse through any of the various collections available for whimsical and nostalgic gifts, something for every occasion and perfect for executive gift giving. With all of the crystal collectors out there this is also a great choice for birthdays or Christmas presents or for your own home decorating!

Crystal – from the Ocean

There is a large variety of dolphin figurines for the dolphin lover, there is some beautiful choices that will be enjoyed by all. Lighthouse collectors will enjoy a crystal lighthouse with crystal red beacons that “shine” into the waters. There is an oyster with a pearl inside that is sure to please. There is also a playful seal that would be cute for anyone.

Crystal – from the Lake

Swans are gorgeous and a complement to any collection. A whimsical goose looks like its skimming across the water. There is a unique snail that has its head craning to look over the horizon. A cute little frog will delight and please anyone and is a great gift for any occasion.

Crystal Animals

The various animals are a combination of wild and domestic. This includes farm animals like roosters, pigs and horses. Common wildlife - mice, squirrels, and rabbits are shown in whimsical poses. There is also have some of the exotic wildlife like monkeys and elephants to add variety to any collection.

Crystal Birds

A variety of crystal birds are finely crafted and resembles the art and grace of their species. From cute owls to majestic peacocks there is something for everyone. Especially unique is a rare falcon. All falcon watchers will be pleased with this offering.

Crystal Candle Holders

Crystal candle holders are reminiscent of the elegance used to dress a table for holidays. The newer, unique designs offer a beautiful addition to your home décor. Each and every piece of crystal you purchase will find a unique place to enrich the home and make an outstanding design.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Swarovski - Setting the Standard in Brilliance

It is extremely difficult to find someone who is not interested in crystal collectibles. In every household you will definitely come across some of them.

If you are very much interested in crystal collectibles you should be aware of their history, features, merits and price ranges. You may als know that the best crystal collectibles come from Swarovski, where they set the standard for crystal collectibles.

Available in jewelry, ornaments and figurines, the pieces make a brilliant addition to any collection. Boasting an extremely broad price range, the pieces are made to suit any budget. They also make a great gift that is sure to please anyone on any occasion.

The collection began in 1892, when Daniel Swarovski created a machine capable of cutting crystal with a precision unlike any other. Over the years, the name came to be applied to several things including grinding tools and optical instruments, such as telescopes and binoculars.

The crystal figurines are available in innumerable designs. The silver crystal collection consists mainly of animals and birds, as well as fable and Disney characters. For new or money-conscious collectors, the miniatures provide higher quality, yet inexpensive figures, including small-scale designs of flowers, insects, animals and so on. Each piece is designed with such precision that it commands attention in any setting.

These crystal figurines are available in jewelry stores and gift shops around the world. Many can be found on online auction sites, where it is extremely difficult to determine their authenticity. Typical crystal articles among the collection consist of approximately 32% lead oxide, much more than in other crystal pieces, providing more brilliance and sparkle. In comparison to other types of crystal, these pieces possess an even color tone throughout all sizes and designs.

The Swarovski Newsletter, published bi-monthly, is a must for crystal collectors, containing product news, contests, and event listings. Over 400,000 admirers also belong to the SCS Society, a group of worldwide crystal buffs. Members are entitled to a variety of benefits, including exclusive purchases and a subscription to the magazine.

Located in Wattens, Austria, the Swarovski Crystal Worlds provide a place for crystal lovers to enjoy a life-sized land of brilliance. The one-of-a-kind spot boasts a museum, theatre and a striking entrance, offering something for visitors of all ages. Over seven million people have visited Crystal Worlds to date.

The crystal collectibles are highly regarded by collectors and now they include a variety of extravagant items best-suited for the rich and famous. However, there are crystal collectibles anyone can manage. They too are extremely beautiful and cute.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for pottery, antiques, and figurines. When shopping for pottery, antiques and figurines, we recommend these online stores for pottery, antiques.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victor_Epand

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Crystal Jewellery - When You Are the Occasion

Dressing up for an occasion sometimes needs a little extra than just a nice outfit. To look beautiful, ravishing and ready for the moment, you need the right jewelery. When the occasion is big, you need to add some drama to your looks and with the help of crystal jewelery, you can do just that. Let us look at crystal and how they can help you look winsome.

Crystal comes in different colours and shapes. When worn in jewelery, crystals can accentuate the beauty of your outfit and your overall appearance. You can match the colour of the crystal with the outfit you are wearing, or you can also go for something contrasting. If you can contrast your jewelery with your outfit in the right way, you can convert simple and plain dresses into something quite fashionable and elegant.

A lot of women who love to wear crystal jewellery often wish to wear them to work sometimes. But some organizations have a formal dress code, so these women are not sure about wearing them. However, you can wear some design of jewelery to office without flouting the codes. When worn over formal wear, light and delicate designer crystal jewelery that are not too gaudy makes the outfit look exceptional. They add a certain charisma to your personality.

Crystal is the choice of both the traditionalists and the trend setters. There are conventional designs available in these kind of jewelery. Then there are new and iconoclastic designs that enjoy high popularity among those who are young at heart and want to remain in tune with the times. As long as we love jewelery and continue wearing and making them, crystal jewelery would have a substantial role to play in our lives.

Paul Shane cherishes a hobby of studying and collecting jewelery, to dig out the making and story behind them, especially the rare or exquisite ones, also the Seed Beads being used for manufacturing the jewelery. He also loves studying consumer behavior related to jewelery selecting and buying. At present he is associated with a leading group called E-Beads Limited.

http://www.e-beads.co.uk/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Shane

Friday, August 1, 2008

Crystal Aurora Borealis - Definition

If you're looking for a piece of crystal jewellery, you will no doubt have seen many references to 'Aurora Borealis', 'AB' etc. Many people assume 'Aurora Borealis to be a colour in it's own right. In fact, as a special coating finish, 'Aurora Borealis' is available on many of the most popular crystal colours.

The 'Aurora Borealis' finish, not only increases the brilliance of each crystal, this special application also produces colour changes, as a direct result of variations, in the quality of light that falls upon it.

The 'Aurora Borealis' coating itself, consists of a metallic finish applied to a crystal surface using water. A very thin metallic particle sheen is adhered to the glass resulting in a significant enhancement to the crystal's overall brilliance and dramatic colour changes.

These chromatic variations are dependant on the underlying crystal colour and their intensity is affected by background light conditions. Spectral effects similar to those created when sunlight falls on oily water can also be seen.

The colour variations range through the spectrum from light, almost imperceptible, blues to the deepest warm hues.The actual visible colour changes depend greatly on the individual crystal cut, dimensions and colour choice, as well as ambient light conditions but in general, darker backgrounds, tend to produce warm 'fire-like' colours, oranges, yellows, gold, reds and ambers. While in contrast, 'light' conditions produce ethereal blues, greens, lilac, purple and tones with a sense of unbounded 'space'. When applied to each crystal colour particular specific variations can be seen, but in all, the 'Aurora Borealis' finish results in a stunning and brilliant display.

You can see photos of authentic aurora borealis finished crystals and view a beautiful selection of premium quality jewellery, crafted exclusively with Swarovski® crystal components and solid precious metals by visiting us here: http://www.whitewolfjewellery.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Vogel

Thursday, July 31, 2008

A Crystal Animal Figurine Hand Crafted From Turkish Lead Crystal

Purchase a lead crystal animal figurine from the area where the making of lead crystal glass first began. Turkey has been involved in crafting crystal figurines for many centuries. Small workshops in towns and villages are the settings where the crystal animal figurine is created in a variety of designs. Today the dolphin is one of the most popular as a crystal animal figurine.

The art of creating lead crystal glass figurines has not changed significantly throughout the many centuries. The process begins with the craftsman melting the molten glass ingredients in a furnace. A wooden mould is also used to shape the glass. After the craftsman inspects the crystal figurine he is creating and finds that this step is finished, he then lets it cool for 36-48 hours.

After the crystal animal figurine has cooled for the specific period of time, the craftsman uses an emery stone to facet the surface. This gives the lead crystal piece its beautiful reflective qualities. He then adds any specific details he wants to see in the crystal. Many of the crystal animal figurines are left smooth, but there may be details that need to be added to the figurine, such as eyes. This process is how Turkish crystal figurines are made and these workshops are noted for their attention to detail and perfection in the pieces they produce.

Although a Turkish crystal animal figurine can be expensive, it is well worth what you pay for it. They are true works of art that you will certainly want to add to your collection. A lead crystal figurine of any design in your curio cabinet carries with it the centuries of history that developed its creation. You can look at it and know that the work that went into its creation is a time honored tradition from the past that is still used in the present, in spite of all the new technology that has since been developed.

When you have a crystal animal figurine crafted in lead crystal glass you can consider yourself lucky. Today there is a strong demand for crystal animal figurines made in Turkey, from many other parts of the world. The quality of today’s crystal figurines is just as superior as it was hundreds of years ago.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

History of Crystal

The history of crystal dates back thousands of years to the Mesopotamian times. Lead oxide was used to enhance the brilliance of glass as used today, but applied in differently.

This was an alternate to the popular rock crystal which was more expensive, harder to cut and less refractive.

In the year 1676, George Ravenscroft revolutionized the methods of adding the lead oxide, which brought lead crystal a major step closer to it’s mass production of today.

In 1892, Daniel Swarovski invented a machine to cut jewelry stones perfectly. In 1895, he moved his company, known as Swarovski, from Bohemia to the Wattens, Austria where he used the Rhine River as a source of energy to run the company’s machinery.

From here the name “Rhinestone” was born. Today the word “rhinestone” is used for leaded crystal coming from any country though.

Swarovski is the highest quality crystal stone manufacturer in the world today. Stones are made in many other countries other than Austria as well, most notably Czechoslovakia, Germany, China, Israel and others.

http://www.rhinestonejewelry.com

About The Author

Jeffrey Levy - http://www.rhinestonejewelry.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeffrey_Levy

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

The Flexibility Of Crystal Jewelry

As any style enthusiast will tell you, the addition of beautiful jewelry can accentuate outfits of all varieties; from casual to elegant and everywhere in between. Crystal jewelry, as many jewelry lovers continue to discover, has an exceptional ability to transform an outfit – simple and comfortable becomes classy; formal becomes exceptional. It’s no wonder that crystal jewelry continues to gain popularity among traditionalists and trend-setters alike.

Crystal can be distinguished from other materials by its lead content. This lead adds a weight to crystal but also gives it flexibility; the lead content actually makes crystal quite soft and pliable, allowing it to be cut and molded into a variety of styles. It is for this reason that crystal is so popular in the making of decorative and functional items for around the house. It is used quite often in the making of wine glasses, serving pieces, picture frames, and vases. People recognize the elegance that crystal brings to a room and appreciate its sturdiness and sparkle power. The same can be said for crystal jewelry. It is versatile, sturdy, and always lovely.

Crystal jewelry can mean anything from earring to necklaces and everything in between. Manufacturers of crystal jewelry are able to cut it into unique shapes that creatively reflect light; and the variations of style this gives consumers makes crystal jewelry inordinately popular. The choices are endless – from clear drop earrings to a colored crystal necklace – crystal jewelry can elevate an outfit to new levels of elegance and sophistication.

The other benefits of crystal jewelry are its durability and affordability. Crystal jewelry is affordably priced and therefore easy to replace; you don’t have to be concerned that you will lose or break crystal jewelry as you would with diamonds or other precious gems.

You can find crystal jewelry at high-end department stores, large retail outlets, and even in area jewelry stores. You may also want to check out antique stores to find beautiful and unique crystal jewelry.

Crystal jewelry revolutionizes your wardrobe and infuses your own personality and style into all of your clothing choices.

For easy to understand, in depth information about crystal lewelry visit our ezGuide 2 Crystals.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michelle_Bery