November's Winner

Gail Wood is the fortunate winner of November's Fan/Follower drawing. Gail, please drop an email with your mailing address to jaysdesign1@gmail.com. Congratulations and have a great day!

Become a facebook fan or blog follower by December 31 to be entered in the next drawing. As the number of fans and followers rises, so does the value of the prizes. Gail's prize is valued at $15US. Tell friends and family; be a fan and follower for multiple entries.

Prize for November's Fan/Follower Drawing

We finally decided on a prize for November. The winner of November's drawing will receive the lovely pearl drop pendant pictured here. This pendant is an 8mm rice-shaped freshwater pearl with a Swarovski crystal bead as an accent on an 18 inch 0.925 sterling silver chain. The crystal is different colors in different types of light. It shows up pinky-peach under incandescent light, green under fluorescent light and smokey gray in natural light.

October's Fan/Follower Winner

Hi, it's Jay's sister again. I am here to post the winner of October's drawing.

Congratulations to

Lauren Aquilina

(I hope I spelled your name right.) Please contact Jay at jaysdesign1(at)gmail(dot)com with your mailing address and ring choice; gold-filled or sterling silver; size 6 or 8. You have seven (7) days to respond.

Thank you again, participants, for a fun-filled month. Stay tuned for November's prize announcement. Remember, the prize will grow in value as the number of fans/followers grows. Tell your friends and family.

If you haven't voted in the blog poll yet, please do so. It is at the top of the right hand sidebar. Thank you.

Copper Craze (Blog Poll Alert)

Hi, all. Jay's sister Laura here. (Some of you may know me by the pseudonym Jaimey Grant.) I just wanted to share what Jay's been working on lately and introduce a blog poll.

It seems that copper jewelry has been gaining popularity. Jay has been playing with some ideas and experimenting with copper wire. To the left is a necklace made entirely of handmade copper jumprings, a bracelet of dyed freshwater pearls on handmade copper links, a ring of twisted copper wire, and a rough-cut amethyst wrapped in copper wire with a twisted bail. Below and to the right is a copper collar made entirely of handmade jumprings; the design is loosely based on European chainmaille.

We want your opinions on the matter. Please look to the right sidebar and answer the following question. Would you like to see copper jewelry added to the catalog at JaysDesign Jewelry?

If you have something additional you'd like to add, perhaps the reason for your selection, feel free to comment to this post.

Be sure to check out what's already in Jay's store: JaysDesign on Etsy.

The Prize for October's Drawing

Here it is, finally! We have chosen this charming pink coral wire-wrap ring for the winner of October's fan/follower drawing. This ring is made with a dyed pink coral bead that has been carved into a lovely flower. (The flower beads were purchased already carved.)

With this drawing, the winner will have a choice. The winner may select a sterling silver or a gold-filled ring in size 6 or 8.

If you are not a fan yet, you still have time to get an additional entry for this drawing. Just click the little "become a fan" button in the right-hand sidebar.

Have a great day!!

New Shipping Policy In Our Etsy Shop

We have implemented a new shipping policy in our Etsy shop. All orders within the USA and Canada now ship for FREE and include delivery confirmation and insurance. Orders shipped everywhere else will be charged a flat fee of $3.50. Additional items in the same order ship for free, no limits, worldwide.

http://jaysdesignjewelry.etsy.com/

Etsy Shop Update

Our Etsy shop is officially open!! Stop on by to see us. New items will be added periodically. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, let us know.

JaysDesign on Etsy

Blog Announcement and Store Update

There will be some changes here at JaysDesign Jewelry.

1. The blog will become more of an announcement/behind-the-scenes sort of venue rather than a place to list items for sale.




2. We have been working on an Etsy store. The JaysDesign Jewelry Etsy shop will have its grand opening on October 15. Hope you can all be there!




3. The monthly drawings will still be taking place. The winner will still be announced on the blog and added to the list in the sidebar.




4. Due to so much of our time being taken up with getting the Etsy store running, we have yet to decide exactly what October's prize will be. Rest assured, there will be a prize, so hang in there.

That's all for now. Have a great day!

The Winner of September's Fan/Follower Drawing

We officially have a winner for the Fan/Follower Drawing for the month of September. The winner of the freshwater pearl daisy pendant is...drumroll, please....

Roseann Wills

Congratulations, Roseann! Contact us at jaysdesign1(at)gmail(dot)com with your shipping address within 7 days of this post to claim your prize. If you do not, the prize is forfeited until October's drawing.

Current fans and followers: Let your friends and family know about this drawing. As the number of fans and followers grow, so will the value of the prize. Thank you!

Fan page

*Winner was selected using Random.org.

Swarovski Crystal Necklace with Matching Earrings

This 18 inch necklace is made with genuine Swarovski crystals in the color referred to as...(drumroll, please)...CRYSTAL. That's right, this crystal necklace is the color of crystal. The beads used here start at 4mm at the 0.925 sterling silver clasp and graduate to 5mm and finally 6mm at the center of the piece. If you look real close, you may be able to see the tiny clear glass seed beads in the design, as well.

This is a difficult necklace to capture on film. When the light catches these crystals they glitter like diamonds.

The earrings hang about 1 1/2 inches from the 0.925 sterling silver hooks. They feature the same graduated crystals in 3mm, 4mm and 5mm with clear glass seed beads.

This design will be made available in more colors at a later date. It is also a set that will be available in quantities greater than one (1).

Freshwater Pearl Collar with "Black Diamond" Swarovski Crystals

This 18 inch collar-style necklace is six strands of freshwater pearls artfully twisted together. Nestled within the twists are several 4mm "black diamond" Swarovski crystals. The clasp is a hook and eye clasp of 0.925 sterling silver.

Price: $70.00

What is a cultured pearl?

Instead of allowing the oyster or mollusk to make a pearl on its own--a process than can take decades--a tiny foreign object is placed in the tissue of the oyster. It coats the offending object with nacre, eventually forming a "pearl". It is closely monitored until it is ready to harvest. 99% of today's pearls are cultured.

For further reading: Cultured Pearl

Fan and Follower Drawing: September's Prize

On September 30, a name will be drawn from the fans and followers of JAYSDESIGN Jewelry. That person will get the prize pictured to the left. All fans and followers are eligible to win.

If you are a fan through facebook (button located at the top of the sidebar here), you get one entry. If you follow this blog through Networked Blogs (also located in the sidebar), you get one entry. If you follow through Google Friend Connect (again, located in the sidebar), you get one entry. Anyone who does all three is entered three times. These entries are automatic.

Pendant: Genuine cultured freshwater pearl daisy, about 3/4 of an inch across, 6mm potato pearls, white with a dark (gunmetal green) center, held together with 0.925 sterling silver wire, assembled by hand. It comes with an 18 inch black satin cord that has a 0.925 sterling silver clasp. This cord can easily be replaced with a chain of your own.

Tell your friends and family. As the lists of fans and followers grow, the value of the prizes will, too.

Bracelet: Lapis Lazuli and Black Onyx

This stunning 7 inch bracelet combines 4mm lapis lazuli stone beads with 6mm black onyx beads on stretchy cord. It is just under 1/2 inch wide.

Price: $30.00

Lapis lazuli is a bright blue semi-precious stone that is rather rare. It is, technically, a rock since it is made up of more than one mineral.

Commonly referred to as lapis, it has been prized for thousands of years. Lapis artifacts have been found in Predynastic Egyptian sites and neolithic burial sites.

For further reading: Lapis Lazuli

Pure black onyx is a type of quartz and the most common form of onyx. Onyx can be found in many colors but sardonyx is another form where the bands are red instead of black.

For further reading: Onyx

*Bracelet photo is copyrighted 2009 Laura J Miller. Lapis Lazuli photo has been released by its owner into the public domain. Onyx photo is licensed under GNU Free Documentation License. Click the pictures for enlargement and more details.

Announcing a Monthly Giveaway for Facebook Fans

Starting September 1, facebook fans of JAYSDESIGN Jewelry will be entered to win a 16 inch necklace. The style will vary from month to month. It could be sterling silver, gold-filled, pearls, semi-precious stones, Swarovski crystal or a combination. At the beginning of each month, the prize will be posted, allowing the entrants to see what they have a chance to win. The picture shown here is an example of the possibilities.

The first drawing will take place September 30th at Midnight EST. Each monthly drawing will take place on the last day of the month. All you have to do to be entered is become a fan of JAYSDESIGN Jewelry on facebook. If you are already a fan, you are already entered to win. This is open to all.

Want to Win a Pearl Necklace?

Jaimey is hosting a giveaway on her author blog. She is giving away a signed copy of her book Redemption and I have donated a string of genuine cultured freshwater pearls to go with it. For details and how to enter, visit Into the Mind of Jaimey Grant. Entry deadline is August 31.

Necklace: Hand-Knotted Pearls

18 inch strand of white saltwater pearls, hand-knotted with 100% silk thread and 0.925 sterling silver clasp.

Price: $150.00

What are hand-knotted pearls?

Exactly what is says: There is a tiny knot between each pearl that is done by hand. This makes the pearls look better and the necklace is less likely to break since the cut edge of the bead hole wears on the knot instead of the thread itself. If it does break only one pearl is lost rather than an entire strand. Having the pearls spaced also reduces the wear on the beads themselves. Hand-knotted pearls are also referred to as heirloom jewelry.

Earrings: Sterling Silver Dangles with Seed Beads and Swarovski Crystal

Earrings: 3 1/2 inch dangle earrings with 0.925 sterling silver hooks, multiple strands featuring "liquid" silver, red glass seed beads and red Swarovski leaded crystals.

(Liquid silver is a rather fanciful name given to skinny sterling silver tube beads. When used in multiple strands, they seem to "flow" like liquid. The ones in this design are 0.925 sterling.)

What does 0.925 mean? Put simply, this means the compound is 92.5% pure silver. Fine silver (99.9%) is too soft for most applications. So a stronger metal is added to make the silver more practical for everyday wear and use. Copper is the usual choice for the other 7.5% of the equation.

Silver is a popular choice for jewelry both for its beauty and durability, not to mention the lower cost. It has also been said that silver can be a mood lifter.

For further reading: Sterling Silver

Swarvoski crystal beads are a brand name of precision cut lead crystal beads that have been around since the late 1800s. They are produced by Swarovski AG of Austria. Daniel Swarovski patented the electric machine that made mass production of the beads possible.

For further reading: Swarovski

Swarovski's official site: http://www.swarovski.com/

Necklace: 76 Inch Beaded Rope

Necklace: A simple 76 inch strand of earth-tone beads made of stone, wood and bone in multiple shapes and sizes. This necklace includes stones such as howlite, rose quartz, snowflake obsidian, aventurine, un-dyed fossil stone, fancy jasper, and several more.

Earth tones are the colors of earth or soil, brownish-reds and browns. Many different shades are in this piece, ranging from white to mahogany with a splash of green and pale pink.

Price: $28.00 US

Howlite is a white-ish stone with gray matrix that is often in a web-like pattern. It is often dyed turquoise to simulate that stone. It was discovered by Canadian chemist, geologist and mineralogist Henry How in California in 1868.

For further reading: Howlite

Obsidian is formed when lava cools without crystal growth. It is volcanic glass, comprised of so many minerals that it can't be classified as just one. It is sometimes referred to as a mineraloid. The "snowflakes" in snowflake obsidian are caused by the inclusion of white cristobalite, a high-temperature type of quartz, getting trapped in the black glass.

For further reading: Obsidian

Aventurine is a form of quartz, most often green but sometimes orange, brown, yellow, blue, or gray. It is a translucent stone with mineral inclusions that can sometimes cause a shimmering quality. The ones in this piece are green.

For further reading: Aventurine

Pendant: Opal in 14K Yellow Gold Setting with 18 inch Chain

Pendant: Genuine 5x7mm white opal cabochon in 14K yellow gold setting on a delicate 14K yellow gold chain, 18 inches long. A black, white satin-lined gift box is included.

The pictures do not do this stone justice. No camera can accurately capture an opal's iridescent fire.

What is an opal? It is a mineral of hydrated silica. Opals are known for their rich iridescence. It is Australia's national gemstone and one of October's birthstones.

In the Middle Ages, it was believed that opal could bring good luck. It was a commonly held superstition that the stone possessed all the benefits of all gemstones whose color was present in the opal. In Victorian times, gem dealers, with the help of an author they hired, attempted to stop the rush to buy opals by circulating a rumor of the stone's bad luck.

For further information, see this article: Opal.

Pendant: Genuine Amethyst Wrapped with Gold Wire

Genuine rough-cut amethyst hand-wrapped with gold-filled wire on an 18 inch gold-filled chain. The pendant hangs approximately 1 1/4 inches from the chain. Necklace includes black gift box lined with white satin. Close-up picture is larger than actual size.

Gold-filled wire and chains are made of a hard metal with a layer of real gold. This is not to be confused with gold-plate. Gold-filled wire has a layer of gold 50 to 100,000 times thicker than gold-plate. High quality gold-filled jewelry is sometimes considered a suitable replacement for 14k jewelry as it is similar in luster and beauty and is more affordable.

For more information, see this article: Gold-filled Jewelry.

Amethyst is a purple quartz whose name comes from ancient Greek, a methustos which means "not - to intoxicate." It was commonly believed that this stone could protect one from drunkenness. Obviously, it has no such power.

For more information, see this article: Amethyst.

Pendant: Saltwater Pearl Daisy - Black

Pendant: Genuine Chinese Akoya cultured saltwater pearls arranged with 0.925 sterling silver wire to form a daisy. Six black pearls and one white pearl for a total of seven (7) genuine 7mm saltwater pearls. Comes with an 18 inch gray satin cord.

Pendant: Saltwater Pearl Daisy - White

Pendant: Genuine Chinese Akoya cultured saltwater pearls arranged with 0.925 sterling silver wire to form a daisy. Six white pearls and one black pearl for a total of seven (7) genuine 7mm saltwater pearls. Comes with an 18 inch gray satin cord.

Necklace: Freshwater Pearls & Swarovski Lead Crystal

Can be worn with the "tail" in front...

...or in back. (The tail can also be removed completely.)

Necklace: Reversible 17 inch strand of genuine potato shaped freshwater pearls with tanzanite (lavender) Swarovski lead crystals. The "clasp" is 0.925 sterling silver, handcrafted.

Price: $35.00

Necklace: Blackstone & Aventurine Beads

Necklace: 18 inches of semi-precious stone beads, blackstone tubes and aventurine rondelles. Designed for men but can be worn by either. 0.925 sterling silver lobster claw clasp.

(detailed pics of beads and clasp)

Necklace: Seed Beads & Porcelain Beads

Necklace: 16 inches of cobalt blue glass seed beads, several strands wound together to make a rope. Features five 8mm blue and white porcelain beads. Handcrafted 0.925 sterling silver hook and eye clasp.

(detail of beads and clasp)

Please note: The seed beads are not actually the bright blue they appear in the pictures here. They are a darker blue, more like the blue in the porcelain beads.