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Bead Day

Saturday, February 28, 2015

Beaded boot is one of the ceremonial items of everyday life at the Tsar’s court.
The boot is from the
Moscow Kremlin Museum

Friday Gift Guide

Friday, February 27, 2015

What a delightful collection of spring gifts Irina has sent me today! It is even bigger than you can see here. This is only one page out of 11! Wow! (See the whole collection here)

Good spring to everybody! 


Jewellery Masterpieces. Pearls by MIKIMOTO

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Since 1893, when Kokichi Mikimoto succeeded in producing the world's first cultured pearl, more than 120 years have passed, during which time the house of MIKIMOTO has continued to discover beautiful pearls.

Jewellery Masterpieces. Peacock necklace by Alessio Boschi

Wednesday, February 25, 2015


The resurgence of opals has been big news 2014 and the Plumes necklace by Alessio Boschi, with its cascading peacock feathers, is surely in the running for the year's ultimate statement necklace.

Testimonials

Here are some product reviews I copied from my etsy shop. I do not have many reviews since I do not ask my customers to leave them, but I am grateful if they take time to do that.

(Click on the pictures to enlarge them)



























Giveaway - Snowdrop flower bobby pins set. Value $25usd

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

These 2 snowdrop bobby pins are kindly given by GentleDecisions shop. Snowdrops are made of cold porcelain by hand and then painted with oil paints. Flowers are made of hypoallergenic materials entirely by hand. They are gentle, realistic, and require careful handling.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday Inspirational Quote

Monday, February 23, 2015

Pendant is available now at the Just Jewellery Gallery

Spring Home Decoration Ideas

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Please, visit our team page to discover the featured shops as well as more ideas ideas for interior decor.


Bead Day. Bead art by Liza Lou

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Liza Lou Image 13 of 37Homeostasis, 2005 - 2006 Glass beads on fiberglass 71 ¾ x 25 ½ x 15 inches (182.2 x 64.8 x 38.1 cm)

25 little known diamond facts (jewellery facts 25/365)

Friday, February 20, 2015

When I studied diamonds during my gemology course, I had an assignment to come up with as many diamond facts as I could. I have found 200+ diamond facts at that time! Here I would like to share only 25 the most interesting facts about diamonds. 

Diamond "Hope"

1) Diamond has got its name from the Greek "adamas" meaning "hard".

2) Diamond has three varieties: gem diamond, industrial diamond, carbonado.

3) Many new styles of cut for diamonds are invented every year.

4) The original source of diamond was India.

5) Austrlia produces colored diamonds.

6) Diamond has supreme position among gemstones because of its hardness, luster, high RI (Refractive Index) and high dispersion.

7) If diamond colored by radiation, they are not as valuable as those with natural tints.

8) Inclusions in diamonds are the crystals of other minerals and cleavages.

9) Mankind's first introduction to diamond is lost in the mist of antiquity.

10) The initial discovery of diamonds in Canada in the Lac De Grass area occurred more than ten years ago. Since that discovery the NWT has become one of the top producers of diamonds after Russia and Botswana.

11) The diamond industry is formerly conservative, secretive and tightly controlled.

12) De Beers is the largest diamond miner in the world.

13) Russia is the world's number two producer of diamonds.

14) Australia is currently the largest producer in the world by volume.

15) Congo and Angola have a large informal mining sector (smuggling).

16) The industry invests heavily to maintain consumer confidence in natural diamonds by developing technology to detect synthetic and treated stones.

17) Over the last 20 years India has increased the volume and value of diamonds processed by fife times, making it world's dominant polishing center.

18) America has a right to buy 400,000 carats a year of rough diamonds from Russia.

19) The USA makes up over 48% of the world diamond jewellery market.

20) Many observers predict that China could surpass America as the largest retail diamond market of the future.

21) Until the mid-1990s De Beers controlled 70-80% of rough diamond market.

22) De Beers heavily invested in generic advertising boosted the sales of all diamonds, not only their own ones.

23) Diamonds were used to fund civil wars in Africa.

24) Diamonds are a unique commodity that offers opportunities across economic sectors: mining, exploration, manufacturing, arts and crafts, tourism and retail.

25) The famous blue diamond is called "Hope" after name of a broker who bought it in 1830 in London.

My virtual wish list. Art by Wim Delvoye

Here is one more item for my totally unrealistic virtual wish list :) Since I adore  anything pierced I could not pass by this pierced tire by a Belgium artist Wim Delvoye. He actually has more work like this in his web-site. He also has other works there too. All of them are absolutely wonderful and inspiring! The link is under the picture if you have a few minutes, treat yourself and visit his web-site.

Pierced tire by Wim Delvoye 

Jewellery Masterpieces. Ring by Anna Hu

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Orchid ring by Anna Hu

Dance in the rain




Lela Rose 3 4 sleeve shirt
1,850 CAD - marissacollections.com


Pleated pants
simplybe.com


Leather flat
1,270 CAD - usa.hermes.com


Mulberry leather crossbody purse
1,225 CAD - mulberry.com


Fluorite flower earrings
105 CAD - etsy.com


Bright nail polish
43 CAD - ulta.com

Irish Car Bomb Cupcake Recipe by Katie Crafts

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

I have been following Katie Crafts blog for a year now. Katie always comes up with the great recipes! So, when I needed a nice recipe for a birthday party I asked her to be my guest blogger. She kindly agreed and shared an awesome cupcake recipe!

Irish Car Bomb Cupcake Recipe by Katie Crafts; http://katiecrafts.com
Irish Car Bomb Cupcake Recipe
Happy Friday! Yesterday was our friend’s birthday! We helped to throw a surprise party for him! These are the cupcakes I made for it! They have Guinness and Bailey’s in them and are delicious! Give them a try! :)
Irish Car Bomb Cupcake Recipe by Katie Crafts; http://katiecrafts.com
Before you start anything, make room in your fridge! When your cupcakes are all frosted and finished later, that is where they will need to stay until you’re ready to eat them. The frosting (the delicious, delicious, alcohol filled frosting) is on the thinner side, so it needs to stay cold to set up.
Also, the cake itself is very dense- more like a pound cake than a light fluffy cake- so don’t be alarmed when you take them out of the oven and they resemble bricks! They are supposed to. And they are crazy good. Okay, on to the baking!
Irish Car Bomb Cupcake Recipe by Katie Crafts; http://katiecrafts.com

Ingredients For Cake:

  • 1 cup Guinness beer
  • 1 stick of unsalted butter
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
  • 2 cups dark brown sugar
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 1/2 tsp baking soda

Directions:

  • Preheat the oven to 350° F and line muffin tin.
  • Break the butter up into small chunks. Combine with the Guinness in a large saucepan. Once the butter is melted, remove from heat.
  • Whisk in cocoa and sugar.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, sour cream and vanilla. Add this to the beer mixture.
  • Sift together the flour and baking soda. Fold into the liquid batter, squishing any chunks of flour that are left.
  • Pour into the muffin cups about ¾ the way full. Bake 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  • Let cool 1,000,000% completely before frosting (or said frosting will immediately melt off!)

Irish Car Bomb Cupcake Recipe by Katie Crafts; http://katiecrafts.com

Irish Car Bomb Cupcake Recipe by Katie Crafts; http://katiecrafts.com

Ingredients For Frosting:

  • 1 stick of unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 2 1/2 – 3 cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 2 -3 shots of Bailey’s Irish Cream (I made my own Bailey’s from scratch to use in this recipe- but that’s a whole different recipe post! You can use regular Bailey’s, and if you don’t want to buy a big bottle just for this recipe, the tiny airplane shots are perfect- just grab a couple of those!)
  • Chocolate chips for decoration (optional)

Directions:

  • Place the stick of butter in a large mixing bowl and beat at a medium speed for about 3 minutes.
  • Add the Bailey’s and keep mixing.
  • Gradually (about ½ a cup at a time) beat in the sugar. Put the beater on a slower speed so you don’t spray sugar everywhere! Only add extra sugar if it isn’t thick enough for you yet- it’s quite sweet as it is!
 Pick an adorable frosting tip if you like, and frost the cupcakes! Add chocolate chips for extra adorable-deliciousness. Store in fridge til you’re ready to serve! Pair with coffee ice cream for a delicious treat to honor
Irish Car Bomb Cupcake Recipe by Katie Crafts; http://katiecrafts.com

Jewellery Masterpieces. Art Deco Aquamarine Pendant Necklace

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Art Deco Aquamarine Pendant NecklaceA single pale blue aquamarine gleams from within this striking and unusual Art Deco pendant necklace, die-struck and hand finished in rich 14K yellow gold - circa 1930s.

 
Jewelry Designer Blog. Jewelry by Natalia Khon. Design by Pocket