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MOP? What?

6/2/2019

 

MOP vs. Freshwater Pearls

MOP stands for "mother of pearl" and jewelry made with this material seems to be getting more popular!

Mother of pearl is a smooth, iridescent substance that forms the inner layer of the shell of some mollusks, especially oysters and abalones. So..."pearls" have formed inside a shell in their "pearl" shape. Mother of pearl, on the other hand, is made of the inner layer of the shell itself. 

Freshwater pearls are so pretty but I also see the allure of mother of pearl, especially in that they can be quite large and unusually shaped. 

A few MOP jewelry pieces are coming soon! 
pearl earrings
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Imitation Pearls

6/1/2019

 

So Many Different KInds of Pearls

Freshwater Pearl Earrings
There are so many different kinds of pearls....Akoya, Tahitian, freshwater (my personal favorite)...and now, imitation pearls. Click here to learn more about Akoya pearls.
Tahitian Pearls
​
​Imitation pearls are man-made "pearls" that are made of glass, plastic, or actual mollusk shell. "Pearls" made of crushed and shaped mollusk shells can actually be quite pretty and hard to differentiate from freshwater pearls.

But, still, you can't beat genuine freshwater pearls for look and wearability!
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Freshwater Pearls vs. Tahitian Pearls

5/31/2019

 

So Many Different Kinds of Pearls!

You know my preference is clearly for freshwater pearls (so pretty! so versatile!) but it's interesting to know about other pearl types. 

Go HERE to learn about akoya pearls and HERE to see the different types of pearls

Tahitian pearls, also commonly called black pearls, are very rare and are formed inside a large mollusk (up to 10 pounds!). Because hese pearls are so rare, they are also quite expensive! 

Winner? Freshwater pearls, for their beauty and for  their variety of shapes and colors!
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silver and pearl earrings

Freshwater Pearl Earrings

5/30/2019

 

Just in time for June Birthday gifting!

The birthstone for June is the pearl, which you probably already knew. What you may NOT know is that the pearl is the ONLY jewel created by a living creature - amazing isn't it?

Anyway, in honor of all the June birthday girls you know, I put some new earrings on the website featuring the popular and lovely freshwater pearl!

Click here to see all the pearl jewelry!
Here's another fun pearl fact: wearing your freshwater pearls is the best way to take care of them - your body’s natural oils will keep them lustrous!
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Freshwater pearl birthstone for June

Freshwater vs. Akoya Pearls

5/27/2019

 

What is an akoya pearl?

I have been reading up on akoya vs. freshwater pearls because I LOVE pearls and I wanted to find out about all these different types of pearls. Bottom line? Akoyas are saltwater and are grown in Japan. Freshwater pearls are from China and are grown in fresh water! Oh, yes, one more thing, freshwater pearls are WAY more affordable than akoyas and, besides that, they are beautiful! For my money? It's freshwater pearls, all the way! Read more about freshwater pearls here.
freshwater pearl earrings
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Different Types of Pearls

5/25/2019

 

So Many Different Kinds of Pearls!

Picture
So many lovely pearls! Here are the five types of pearls:

​Freshwater Pearls
Akoya Pearls
Tahitian Pearls
Imitation Pearls


See Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater pearls, which come from rivers and lakes in China, are the most popular of all types of pearls. Although they come in a huge range of colors, I work almost exclusively with white or cream pearls; these more natural pearl colors have been so popular, especially when paired with sterling silver! A classic combination! Click HERE to see all the freshwater pearl jewelry!
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Best Polishing Cloth Ever

5/20/2019

 
Remove tarnish from sterling silver with this cloth

Polishing Cloth for Everything!

When I talked about tarnish removal, I somehow forgot to mention my favorite way to remove tarnish! This incredible tarnish removal cloth - the Sunshine Polishing Cloth!! 

This thing cleans & removes tarnish from sterling silver, brass, copper, gold (yes, GOLD), mirrors, glass....just about anything you can imagine, this cloth cleans it. 

Directions - use it til it's BLACK on both sides, then get a new one! If you wash it, it won't work anymore to remove tarnish from silver or anything else! 
I Need One!

Click here for a closer look at those gold + silver earrings!

Bracelets & Bangles

5/18/2019

 
There are so many different types of bracelets! I'll talk about 2 types here with more to follow on another day.
sterling silver chain link bracelets

​A bangle is a bracelet with no beginning and no end...kind of like a ring for your finger but bigger! You just slip it over your hand, no clasps or other way to open & close it. 

  Click to see one thin silver bangle bracelet

A link bracelet, on the other hand, is made up of links of any size and there is a clasp to close it. These bracelets can be customized to fit any size wrist and can even be made with a few extra links at the end so that they are adjustable.

​Some days you want to wear your bracelets looser than on other days, right? So, those extra links make your life so much simpler!
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Click here for details - sterling silver link bracelet

Click here for details - sterling silver link bracelet with adjustable clasp

What is Rose Gold?

5/15/2019

 
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What is rose gold made of?

Rose gold, also knows as pink gold or red gold,  is a mixture of gold and copper.  Copper gives this lovely metal it's distinctive, delicate pink color.

Rose gold was popular in Russia at the beginning of the nineteenth century, and was also known as "Russian" gold.
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The jewelry I make uses 14kt rose gold-filled wire. (Gold-filled wire is a relatively thick layer of gold over a core of brass; gold-filled pieces are meant to last a lifetime.) 

To learn the difference between gold-filled and gold-plated, go HERE. You might be surprised at the difference! ​

Silver Knot Earrings

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What is Gold-filled Jewelry?

4/15/2019

 

The Difference Between Gold-Filled and Gold-Plated Jewelry

Handmade sterling silver and gold link necklace by Laura Teague JewelrySterling silver and gold-filled link necklace

Gold-filled jewelry is jewelry composed of a thick layer of gold bonded to the outside of a high quality jeweler's brass core. The gold-filled jewelry we use is solid 14k gold over the base which means that the gold on the outside is "real".  Click here  or here to see examples of my handmade jewelry using gold-filled wire!

The 14k gold that’s on the outside of gold-filled is the same gold as you would get from a solid 14k piece so gold-filled pieces have the same appearance as solid 14k gold jewelry! 

It's interesting that all the gold on "gold-filled" jewelry is on the outside - there is actually no gold "filling".  Pretty confusing terminology!

Picture
Gold "plating", on the other hand, is a minuscule layer of solid gold applied to a brass base. The plating does not compose any measurable proportion of the product’s total weight. Gold plating can wear off quickly and expose the brass base product. It does not stand up to heat, water or wear over time. If you want jewelry that lasts, avoid anything "plated".

By comparison, gold-filled contains 5% gold by weigh. All the gold is on the surface is solid, "real" 14K gold, which offers product protection from tarnish and wear. ​

Click HERE to see an example of my handmade jewelry using gold-filled wire!

So, there you have it! Now you are an informed jewelry shopper so get out there & have fun!
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Click on the images below to see more jewelry to love!

Amethyst is for February!

2/11/2019

 
FREE shipping + First look at new designs!
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Amethyst is the birthstone for February! Looking for the metaphysical "meaning" or healing properties of amethyst? There are many, but here are a few:

> promotes calm
> enhances life balance
>enhances peace
>eliminates impatience
> improves intellectual thoughts 
> prevents drunkenness!


Know a jewelry lover with a February birthday? She would love this!
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The Meaning of the Turquoise Gemstone

11/11/2018

 

December Birthstone!

Turquoise gemstone birthstone earrings
Turquoise has been in use for thousands of years, and is one of the oldest stones to be made into jewelry. It is also one of the recognized birthstones for those born in December (along with zircon, tanzanite and blue topaz).

Are you wondering about the "meaning" of turquoise? Turquoise is said to be a "purification" stone and is often described as "powerful" - it may dispel negative energies and protect you from negative influences. In addition to all that, this beautiful December birthstone is said to promote inner relaxation and calm; it might even make your day less stressful!

If you are looking for a gift for your friend with a December birthday, have a look at these turquoise gemstone earrings!

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Best Earrings for Round Face Shape

10/26/2018

 

Need help choosing the perfect earrings for your round face shape?

First of all, it can be hard to determine your face shape! Here are some simple things to consider:

* is your face about the the same length from the tip of your nose to all sides?
* is your widest at your cheekbones?
* do you have a round chin line?

Now for the fun! When you are choosing the perfect earrings for your round face shape, consider drop or tapered earrings - these will elongate your face a bit. (Disc earrings, on the other hand, can make your face look wider.)

You are already beautiful and have fun with your earring selection - at the end of the day, choose earrings and other accessories that make you feel confident and strong!
best earrings for round face
best earrings for round face
best earrings for round face
earrings for round face

5 tips to organize and pack jewelry for travel

5/24/2018

 
how to pack and organize jewelry from travel
 
Do you sometimes find your jewelry looking like this when you open your suitcase? I know I do and it's no fun to untangle everything just to have something to wear.

Here are 5 tips for helping your organize your jewelry so it will be ready when you are - no more wasting precious vacation time untangling all those chains and earrings!

1. Buy or make a beautiful jewelry organizer....I know, it seems obvious but if you have a really cute jewelry organizer, like this one from Vera Bradley, you are much more likely to keep everything where it belongs!

​2. Buttons are great for organizing earrings - just put the posts or earwires through the holes in the button and, voila! - earring sets stay together! Earrings could all go together in a small ziplock bag for better organization.

3. Use pill organizers! They come in lots of different sizes and are inexpensive - everything stays separate from other jewelry and easy to grab & go.

4. How about simply using a small ziplock for each item and then put the small ziplocks into one larger one? Simple and effective!

5. Plan out what you will be wearing on your trip and limit the jewelry you take - each piece that goes into your bag must work with at least two outfits that you plan to wear. Limit large statement necklaces - they tend to be heavy and take up precious room in your suitcase. 

February birthstone is amethyst!

2/17/2018

 
silver and amethyst earrings february birthstone
Are you wondering what to get for a February birthday? Or maybe you need something for yourself? These sweet little sterling silver and amethyst earrings are great for a February birthday or a little gift for yourself! The best news? These amethyst earrings are back in stock NOW - just in time for February!
Click here to join our circle of jewelry lovers!

Tips to Simplify your Life One Necklace at a Time - Step 1!

7/7/2015

 
Picture
If you are like most women, you have a lot of jewelry of all types in your jewelry box.  What to do with all of it?  It’s overwhelming to think about much less do anything about!  Know this:  you can manage your jewelry as part of your ongoing plan to simplify your life – ready?  Let’s do this!

First, choose a time when you have a couple of hours to yourself.  If you attempt to squeeze this in among all the other things you need to do, you’ll just end up frustrated!  Now get yourself a nice cup of tea or coffee and settle in for an enjoyable afternoon of simplifying your life, one necklace at a time!

You probably have a fairly large pile of jewelry once you get it all out to begin the process of paring down and simplifying.  Here are some simple steps to take:

First, sort your jewelry into 3 piles (at this point, don’t pay attention to cost of the pieces): 

1.  Jewelry you absolutely love, for whatever reason – maybe it was a gift from someone special or something you bought for yourself and still love. 
2.  Jewelry pieces that are your “staple” items – the jewelry you wear over & over, day after day and day into night. 
3.  Jewelry you once loved but now….not so much
4.  Jewelry that you never loved & still don’t.

So now you have two main categories – #1 & #2 above are your “keepers”.
Categories #3 and #4 are the ones we need to think about a little more.  

We will tackle this in the next post so stay tuned!

Laura

 


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