JETs Jewelry on Etsy Team

Jet of the Day - Shazzabeth Creations

2012-02-08T07:26:00.003-05:00

A is for Agate

Blue Lace Agate Sculptured Wire Pendant - Shazzabeth

No gemstone is more creatively striped by nature than Agate, a form of Chalcedony Quartz that forms in concentric layers in a wide variety of textures and colours. Each individual agate forms by filling a cavity in host rock. As a result, Agate is often found as a round nodule with concentric bands like the rings of a tree trunk.

Aqua Agate Slice and Sterling Necklace - BrookeJewelry

The stone was given its name by Theophrastus, a Greek philosopher and naturalist, who discovered the stone along the shore line of the river Achates sometime between the 4th and 3rd centuries BC.

Copper Cuff Bracelet with Orange Agate (sold) - DebrasDivineDesigns

Agates are a hard stone and can be of any colour, the most frequent colours being grey, white, brown, salmon, red, orange, black and yellow.

Dragon Vein Gothic Agate Necklace - BeadsforBlanche

The colour is caused by various embedded minerals. Some of the many varieties of Agates include; Cyclops Agate, Moss Agate, Turritella Agate, Blue Lace Agate, Greek Agate, Brazilian Agate, Rainbow Agate, Carnelian Agate, Botswana Agate, Fire Agate and Mexican Crazy Lace Agate.

Fire Agate Necklace - Olivias Garden

Often tiny quartz crystals form within the stone and add to the beauty and uniqueness of individual stones. These crystals are called drusy or druzy.

Necklace of Oco Agate with Druzy Crystals (sold) BrookeJewelry

Agate is mined in various countries including Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Poland and the USA.

Teal Agate Necklace with Sterling - SendingLoveGallery

Agate was highly valued as a talisman or amulet in ancient times. It was said to quench thirst and protect against fever.


Fire Agate and Amber Steampunk Ring - Keoops8

Persian magicians used agate to divert storms.

Turitella Agate Coin Bracelet - JemsbyJBandCompany

Dendritic Agate is believed to aid in communication with nature. It is associated with the protection of the earth, rain, prosperity, abundance, healing, restoration and creativity. It is said to improve self esteem and emotional balance.

Dendritic Agate Cabachon - Simply Adorning

Thank you for reading,

Sharon

Smokey Agate Ring - Shazzabeth Creations

http://shazzabethcreations.com.au

Jet of the Day - Sending Love Gallery

2012-02-07T06:46:00.002-05:00

Girls Love Pearls

This girl, especially!
Hi, I'm Phylly from SendingLoveGallery.
From the time my parents gave me my first little pearl earrings for newly pierced ears, I was hooked. Pearls are tiny miracles! They are one of the the world's few organic gemstones, and are created by oysters and mussels; and these days with help from pearl farmers. The other organic gems are amber, coral, ivory and jet. This post is about freshwater pearls, since they are the most economical and accessible for designers and buyers.

Freshwater Pearl Heart Earrings

A freshwater pearl is formed in a mussel which secrets nacre (proounced Nay-ker) around an irritant. These beautiful layers of nacre are also known as mother-of-pearl, and are really calcium carbonate!

Fine Silver Flower Pendant Necklace with Green Freshwater Pearls

Freshwater pearls have long been found in mussels in Japanese rivers and lake beds. Natural freshwater pearls have also been found in the Mississippi River Delta in the U.S. But these days Chinese pearl farmers are producing most of the freshwater pearls available from the mussels Hyriopsis cumingi, or Triangle shell, and Hyriopsis schlegeli, or Biwa shell. Japanese production of freshwater pearls has ended due to industrial pollution of the lakes, so China has taken over production of the Biwa type pearl.

aquamarine and biwa pearl necklace

This is an unusual heart shaped biwa pearl, that formed when two biwa "sticks" grew together into this shape. The other biwa pearls on the string were the more usual stick shape.

Heart Shaped Biwa Pearl Necklace

The cockscombe mussel is responsible for little "rice-crispy-like" pearls like the ones dangling from these earrings.

Amethyst and Pearl Earrings

Shaped freshwater pearls are created by implanting a bead form into the mussel. This coin pearl was created using an implanted round shape.

Amethyst & Freshwater Coin Pearl Necklace

This is another example of a coin pearl, this time in a teardrop shape.

White Teardrop Coin Pearl Necklace

Keishi pearls are free-form pearls that develop in the mussel. These fine silver earrings have a series of keishi pearls forming a drop.

Keishi Pearl and Fine Silver Earrings

Because pearls are organic, they are more delicate than other gemstones and need a bit of special care. To avoid scratching store pearl jewelry separately in a soft cloth or pouch, or in a cloth lined jewelry box. Put on your pearl jewelry after you've finished with your make-up, hairspray and perfume to minimize getting these things on them, which will harm the finish. Get in the habit of cleaning your pearls after wearing them by wiping them with a soft, damp cloth. To remove any accumulated build-up pearls can be washed occasionally in a very mild soap solution with a soft cloth. Then rinse and pat dry. If you have pearls that are strung on silk, remember to get them re-strung occasionally.

Take care of your lovely little Pearl Miracles, and they will stay in beautiful condition for your lifetime and be enjoyed by the next generation. Thanks for looking at my pearl creations! You can find more beautiful freshwater pearl jewelry from my JewelryonEtsy teammates by searching jetteam freshwater pearl : )
-Phylly

http://www.etsy.com/shop/SendingLoveGallery
http://www.etsy.com/shop/LovesVintageDelights

Jet of the Day - Satin Doll & Co

2012-02-06T06:47:00.000-05:00

I won't say my photos of my products are perfect but they're way better then when I started my business 4 years ago. Since snapping my first photo and posting it into my Etsy shop, I have learned many things. Here's a couple of my tips that I've learned.

Now when I started selling on Etsy I really didn't know anything about selling online but there really isn't any excuse for the horrible photos I used. Here's one we'll use for an example:

Mother of Pearl Bracelet

Yuck! Now there are so many things wrong with this photo, can you list a few because I sure can! Let's first start with the lighting, which is very wrong. Too yellow to be exact. This photo was taken in my bathroom on the counter under horrible flourescent bulbs. Wrong thing to do when taking photos. Flourescent bulbs give off a yellow tinge and distorts the actual color.

Now onto the next problem, can you find the piece of jewelry in the photo? You might be able to find it if you look hard enough. It was a good idea in theory but total fail in actuality. The sea shells and blue rocks distract your eyes from your main focus, the bracelet. When taking photos, less is more. Leave the props for a movie set.

Tribal Beauty Beaded Dangle Earrings

Now, this photo is 200% better. This is one of pieces that sold a couple of months ago. Can you see what is right?

#1: The light. Always go for natural lighting. Forget the fancy bulbs and go for mother nature. You can not go wrong.

#2: The background. Go for simple and neutral backgrounds that won't distract your eyes and take your focus off what's important; the product. When looking for a background, go for simple; either white, brown, or even gray. Stay away from bright colors. The light will take it to a whole new level of horrible.

#3: No frills. As you can see per the photo, it's just the product and nothing else. Because the focus should be on that and that only.

Now onto the stuff you should have:

#1: A good camera. And I don't mean one that costs hundreds and hundreds of dollars either. It can be one that you take on your family vacations. As long as it has the macro tool so you can focus on a small area you're good to go. Auto focus, flash and no flash are also important functions.

#2: A lighting kit. I got one 2-3 years ago as birthday gift and I love mine. Definitely a great investment. The important elements in any lighting kit is the set up and the tripod, especially the tripod. I can say the tripod is the most important part because I use my tripod every time it's time to take photos of my pieces. You simply screw it onto the bottom of your camera and you are good to go. It enables you to move your camera in angles you couldn't do before. Plus it keeps the camera steady when snapping photos. I got mine from Walmart online, the PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO LIGHTING LIGHTS BOX KIT. (approx $70).

#3: Adobe Photoshop or Picasa. A good photo editing software is key. It enables you to edit your photos, crop, and even adjust the light if need be. Adobe Photoshop can run you a couple of hundred of dollars for the latest software while Picasa is FREE. Just google it and you will find the right website to download it. Both are easy to use and great.

I think that covers everything. Now go achieve your perfect photo. If you have any questions, feel to ask away. And pop by Satin Doll and take a look at my other jewelry photos. While you're there, you will see I am having Valentines Day sale. Everything is 15% off!

Thank you for reading,
Gaetana

The History of the Torc - Debras Divine Designs

2012-02-04T10:53:00.001-05:00

Gold From Age of Iron

I wanted to share some of the history of the Torc or Torque (if you are French or British!)

Oxford Dictionary defines the following:

Torc: a neck ornament consisting of a band of twisted metal, worn especially by the ancient Gauls and Britons. French: from Latin torques, from torquēre: to twist
Torque: A twisting Force such as would lead to a cause in rotation. Often used by a mechanic.

Photograph by David Cheskin, PA Wire/AP

For our purposes, I will refer to these ancient neck pieces of jewelry as a "Torc".

Edinburgh's National Museum of Scotland acquired this very orngate pre-Roman gold neck torc, photo’d above shown on March 21 2010. The torc dates from between the third and first century B.C.

This amateur metal detector named David Booth found the treasure on his first time out just seven steps from his car!!!! Booth was searching in Stirling, in central Scotland, when he made the discovery. This one pictured above is an intricate design made of fine wires twisted together and was proposed to be made by "someone trained in the Greek or Roman world," according to the National Museum. The torc find is valued at £462,000 (U.S. $741,000)

These torcs found above were found in West Yorkshire, or Leeds in November 2011. The torcs' finders were Andrew Green and Shaun Scott, on separate occasions, but within metres of one another in the bed of a stream at Towton near Tadcaster. Towton is a place where a huge bloody battle took place in March 29 1461 for the monarchy where Englishman fought against Englishman. It has a very famous English history as the scene of the bloodiest conflict ever to take place in this country, during the Wars of the Roses. It is said that 28,000 men died that day.

It is believed that these may have belonged to one of the Inceni Tribes from Norfolk. These torcs are temporarily on display at the Yorkshire Museum at York where the town is now trying to raise £60,000 to keep the Iron Age torcs, or bracelets on permanent display.

The Department of Prehistory & Europe has a very interesting torc style on display in the Britain and Europe (800BC – AD43) gallery. They have the Newark Torc alongside the British Museum’s own ‘Sedgeford Torc’, found in 1965. Both torcs date to the pre-Roman Iron Age and are composed of twisted gold wire strands attached to hollow terminals, embellished with ‘La Tene’ decoration. This design allowed for a natural flex in the band to accommodate the twisting action necessary to slip the decoration around the wearer’s neck.

The Newark Torc is the complete Torc pictured above left,
and also photographed on it’s own to the right.

The pairing of the torcs from Newark and Sedgeford enables visitors to appreciate both the magnificence of a complete example and the complex craftsmanship behind its construction, for historic damage to the Sedgeford Torc has created the effect of an exploded schematic and shows clearly the object’s separate components. The larger section of the torc has been slightly unwound and makes it easier to see the technique involved in braiding the gold wires; similarly, the dislocated terminal (found separately, in 2004 by the Sedgeford Historical Archaeology Research Project) allows visitors to see the way that the wires were joined together. Just what we artist’s love to see in museum pieces!!!

The Newark Torc was found in April 2005 and declared Treasure in May of that year. Subsequently acquired by Newark and Sherwood District Council, it is awaiting the creation of a suitable display space in the region.

In the meantime, the exhibit at the British Museum assumes a place across the corridor from a larger showcase displaying the Great Torc from Snettisham and an assortment of torcs of different styles. As such, the Newark Torc nicely complements the BM’s Iron Age collection, and it is sure to have an even more significant impact when it goes home to Nottinghamshire

Following are some of the lovely torc examples I found on Etsy.com:

DebrasDivineDesigns on Etsy

Camias.etsy.com

DebrasDivineDesigns on Etsy

caerncrafts.etsy.com

celtsmith.etsy.com

metalofages.etsy.com

DebrasDivineDesigns on Etsy

Thanks for reading,
Deb

Jet of the Day - Rough Magic Creations

2012-02-03T08:17:00.001-05:00

It's Lovely. It's Versatile. It's Tourmaline!

Tourmaline is our Maine State Mineral - one of the many reasons I love it!

For history buffs, there's plenty of information on the official Maine State website:

According to the book The History of Mount Mica, written in 1895 by Augustus Hamlin, the first major discovery of tourmaline in Maine took place in 1820, when two boys exploring the Oxford Country countryside found a deposit of the crystals near the town of Paris. The resulting quarry at Mount Mica has been operating off and on for almost two centuries.

If you're in or around Boston or Cambridge, the multi-colored, 70-stone Hamlin Necklace is in the collections of the Harvard University Mineralogical Museum

The Hamlin Necklace

And read about the operations at Mount Mica, and see photos, on these websites:

Over the years, many other tourmaline deposits were discovered and mined in Maine, including black tourmaline crystals in Oxford, Sagadahoc, Androscoggin and Cumberland Counties.

Crystals of colored tourmaline are mainly from Oxford County and the Poland and Auburn area, with the richest deposits lying along a northwest by southeast line running through this region.

In 1972, a huge deposit of red and green crystals were found in Newry. The "Jolly Green Giant," a 10-inch crystal from the Dunton Mine there, resides at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.

The "Jolly Green Giant,"

Tourmaline Mix Sterling Silver Earrings - Capital City Crafts

Dunton Tourmaline was used in the "State of Maine" Necklace, presented to the state by the Main Retail Jewelers Association in 1975.

Pink Tourmaline Gold and Silver Ring - Wearable by Design

About Tourmaline

Tourmaline is a durable mineral comprising a group of several different minerals with similar crystal structures but various and complex chemical formulae. Each species is determined by its exact combination of elements. In Maine, the most prevalent species is the black, iron-bearing variety called schorl.

Sterling Silver Paisley Necklace (beer quartz, tourmaline, citrine, mandarin garnet, smokey quartz) Diadem Jewels

Less common is elabaite, the colorful species named for the island of Elba (where the Emperor Napoleon was exiled in 1814 following the Treaty of Fontainebleau and his forced abdication).

Tourmaline Three Strand Necklace - Designed By Val

Individual tourmaline crystals may range from transparent to opaque and may or may not be multi-colored. The popular watermelon variety has a pink core surrounded by a green outer layer.

Watermelon Tourmaline Skinny Bracelet - jewelrybycarmal

In deposits, tourmaline occurs as elongated crystals, ranging in size from over 12 inches long to microscopic, with a triangular cross section and narrow grooves running lengthwise. Here in Maine, the best specimens are have been found in coarse-grained pegmatite granite, which, cooling slowly over the ages, allowed the tourmaline crystals to grow much larger than ordinary granite would permit.

Long Earrings with Rough Stones,Pink Tourmaline and Ametrine with Broom Cast Silver - laurastamperdesigns

Tourmaline Gemology

Color: Colorless, pink, brown, red, yellow, green, blue, black, violet, multi-colored
Moh's Harness: 7-7½
Specific Gravity: 2.82-3.32
Refractive Index: 1.614-1.666
Double Refraction: -0.014 to -0.032
Fluorescence: Weak or none
Cleavage: Indistinct
Fracture: Uneven, small conchoidal, brittle Crystal System: Trigonal. Long crystals with triangular cross section and round sides.

From http://www.gemselect.com/gem-info/tourmaline/tourmaline-info.php

Eclectic Gemstone Bracelet, Maine Tourmaline, Garnet, Agate, Jasper and Hematite with Copper by Rough Magic Creations

Want to use tourmaline in your own jewelry designs? You don't have too look far! Just head over to one of our own Jets, Elizabeth of ForetTwo, to see these beauties ~

Watermelon Tourmaline Rondelle Beads

For more detailed information:

http://www.mindat.org/min-4003.html

http://www.geol.lsu.edu/henry/Geology7900/Tourmaline/Tourmaline.htm

Thanks for reading,

Mollie

Jet of the Day - Rustic Rock Jewelry

2012-02-01T08:01:00.004-05:00

The February Birthstone - Amethyst

Rustic Rock Jewelry

The modern birthstone for February is Amethyst, with acceptable alternative choices being black onyx, moonstone; or most purple gemstones.

This seductive gemstone, of all gemstones, is said to protect its wearer against seduction. It is often used as an engagement ring with this ancient belief in mind. The Greeks believed that amethyst would prevent them from becoming drunk and the word amethystos means sober. Even today Amethyst is used to provide a reminder to those who struggle with an addiction to alcohol.

The Brass Hussy - Gold Amethyst Earrings

Amethyst is the most popular crystalline quartz for jewelry and is considered a semi-precious gemstone.

Foret - Amethyst and Peacock Pearl Earrings

The color of Amethyst is attributed to certain iron constituents in connection with natural radioactive radiation. Not all amethyst is purple. There are also lavender, reddish-purple, bluish-purple, dark purple, and a brownish-black color.

Rustic Rock Jewelry - Amethyst Crystal Necklace

Green quartz is very commonly known as green Amethyst, but is actually Prasiolite.

bytheseagemdesigns - Green Amethyst Earrings

In its purest form, Amethyst is colorless or transparent, allowing light to pass through unhindered. The top quality, most expensive Amethyst is a deep medium color of purple with rose-colored flashes, found only in Siberia.

Citrine

Many people have come to know Citrine under the name gold topaz, or Madeira or Spanish topaz. It is often referred to as the birthstone of November, which is, in fact, Topaz. Citrine has nothing to do with Topaz but it does have something to do with Amethyst.

Rustic Rock Jewelry (sold)

Citrine is actually somewhat rare in nature. Most citrines on the market have been heat treated. Specimens of Amethyst or smoky quartz are often heated to high temperatures to produce more profitable orange yellow citrine.

Little Brown Bird - Citrine Nugget Charm Necklace

Silver Smack - Wire Wrapped Citrine Silver Earrings

As mentioned, citrines whose colors are produced by artificial means have much more of an orange or reddish color than those found in nature; these are usually a pale yellow. Much of natural citrine may have started out as amethyst but heat from nearby magmatic bodies may have caused the change to citrine.

Ametrine

Ametrine, in nature, is a rare and unusual bicolour yellow and purple quartz gemstone, which occurs in quartz when amethyst and citrine reside in the same crystal.


StoutDG - Ametrine Wire Wrapped Sterling Pendant

CSerpent 10mm Ametrine Destash

The Ametrine that we commonly see on the market is a mixture of half amethyst and half citrine, made by heating an amethyst until it turns into citrine, then irradiating a part of the resulting crystal or gemstone to convert that portion back to amethyst.

Sort of Related Interesting Tidbit:

Quartz varieties (along with Citrine) that form large crystals)

Amethyst is the purple gemstone variety.
Milky Quartz is the cloudy white variety.
Prasiolite is a leek-green variety.
Rock crystal is the clear variety that is also used as a gemstone.
Rose quartz is a pink to reddish pink variety.
Smoky quartz is the brown to gray variety.

Happy February everyone. Happy Birthday to all the February babies. May you receive lots of Amethyst goodies :)

Norah

Gus and Tina

Jet of the Day - OVGillies

2012-01-30T16:10:00.001-05:00

Amber Inspirations

A long, long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away ... a little girl sat with her far too stylish grandmother, held in her hands a necklace of Baltic Amber beads and was told a story about the Amber Room ...

From that day on I was hooked on Amber. I imagined being in a room full of Amber - to me it looked like the sun exploded. I imagined going to the Baltic coast and collecting pieces of Amber myself & lamented the fact that grandmother's sister & her family no longer lived there. I imagined having an Amber necklace of my own.

Maybe one day I'll get to visit the re-constructed Amber Room.

One day I'll get to the side of the Baltic coast that has Amber washing on its shores after a storm, and not be stuck in a storm on the Baltic Sea dreaming of finding Amber at the next mooring.

As to having an Amber necklace of my own - this wish did come true, several times over :D

Somewhere under all this Baltic Sea water is whole lot of Amber ...

Voyage of discovery ... haven't found any Amber though. Next time!

Amber found washed out on the beach in Latvia.

Variety of Baltic Amber - cleaned & polished - from mossy green to sunshine yellow, from orange to cherry.

One of my creations using beach found Baltic Amber:

Baltic Butterscotch Necklace - OV Gillies

One of my favourite pieces from a JET supply shop - Butterscotch Baltic Amber Cabochon from ForetTwo

One of my favourite pieces from a fellow JET shop - Baltic Amber Sterling Silver Necklace by TheSilverBear

Baltic Amber Sterling Necklace

Thank you for reading,

Olga

Cameos, Such A Fascinating History. by Michele - Malves1009

2012-01-28T06:49:00.000-05:00

The art of cameo making for jewelry purposes dates back to almost 3 centuries before the birth of Christ (in Alexandria, Egypt). It is a much-loved and well-practiced skill that has been passed on and cherished from ancient times right up until modern-day times.

Stone cameos of great artistry were made in Greece dating back as far as the 3rd century BC, The Farnese Tazza (a cup) is the largest and oldest major Hellenistic piece surviving.

Up until the 19th century, most cameos were carved from hard stones such as coral, agate, garnet, jet, amber, jade and other materials, but the most commonly used medium for true carved cameos today is shell.

While most of us think of a female portrait when the word cameo comes to mind, throughout history many mythical scenes, Gods & Goddesses, heroes, rulers and Biblical events were used as subject matter. It wasn't until the fifteenth or sixteenth century that the female portrait cameo became predominant, brought forth in popularity by Queen Victoria of England.

Cameos have not always been just for women. As a matter of fact, throughout history, cameos have been adorned by men just as frequently as women with depictions that symbolized their prestige & culture. Men have worn them on rings and other jewelry, as well as on helmets and military breastplates and sword handles. Pope Paul II was known to have a great love of cameos and wore them on his hands, and Napoleon wore one to his wedding and founded a school in Paris, teaching the art of cameo carving to young apprentices looking to learn the skill.

Cameos today are reproduced into resin plastic and come in all kinds of colors which still give them that Victorian, Vintage style to them. I'm sure I didn't mention all the history of the Cameo but why not start a tradition in your family today?

Thanks for reading,
Michele

Finding Inspiration

2012-01-25T04:00:00.001-05:00

What inspires an artist?

An object?

A memory?

There are, in fact, an infinate number of answers to that question.

photo by Anthropologie

Inspiration can come from an ordinary group of objects around the house. You could see a color or a shape that triggers something in you to create something wonderful.

by AbacusBeadCreations

“Nobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance. Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion.”

~ Martha Graham

You may have walked outside past the same field a million times and not taken the time to notice how perfect Mother Nature gets it. Taking the time to listen to nature can bring about endless ideas.

Photo by Mary Ryan

How many times have you been so inspired that you can't wait to get back to your workbench and bring that inspiration to life?

by ArtMadeByTammy

“For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream.”

~Vincent van Gogh

Inspiration does not need to be so literal. It can be a feeling that fills you. Let that energy guide you.

photo by Mary Ryan

by FuchsiaBloomStudio

You may be surprised at what you can create when you let your mind go and allow your heart to take over.

“Only as high as I reach can I grow, only as far as I seek can I go, only as deep as I look can I see, only as much as I dream can I be.”

~Karen Ravn

OX~ Mary (Little Brown Bird)

Jet of the Day - Laura Stamper Designs

2012-01-24T07:41:00.000-05:00

“There is no remedy for love, but to love more”

Henry David Thoreau

Filigree Heart and Love-Tag Charm Necklace - Designs by Cher

The history of Valentine's Day and its patron saint is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. There are at least three saints’ legends in the Catholic tradition that pay tribute to Valentine.

Love Struck Notecards - BlancheB - SB Photography

One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Sterling Heart - Sweetheart Ring - Metalicious

While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death, others claim that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to "Christianize" celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia festival. Lupercalia, which began at the ides of February, February 15, was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.

"Loyal" Copper Heart Enameled Earrings - Endless Bounty

In European traditional art and folklore, the heart symbol is drawn in a stylized shape. This shape is typically colored red, suggesting both blood and, in many cultures, passion and strong emotion. The shape is particularly associated with romance and love. Although it does not really resemble the actual human heart, it has been used as an illustration of the emotional heart for centuries.

Minimalist Red Swarovski Heart Pendant - Your Daily Jewels

Whatever the origins of this day and its symbols are, the celebration of romance and love crosses all cultures and ages. So what makes the perfect Valentine gift? Whatever speaks to your heart!

Heart Earrings in Reclaimed Copper and Sterling Silver - Laura Stamper Designs

“Passion makes the world go round. Love just makes it a safer place.” Ice T

Thanks for reading,
Laura

Jet of the Day - JudesJujus

2012-01-23T08:05:00.000-05:00

Well the Holidays are over and now we have Valentine’s Day coming!!

I love making jewelry for Valentine’s!! Here are a few things from my shop!!


Be Still My Heart Pendant - in Lampwork and Sterling


Red Hot Mama Bracelet - Sterling, Pearls, and Sterling with Matching Earrings


Pretty in Pink bracelet - Swarovski and Lampwork with Matching Earrings

Thank you for looking!!

Jude

The JET Team

2012-01-20T08:21:00.000-05:00

On July 24 2007, my partner Terry and I decided to give Etsy a try. We already had a lot of experience making and selling jewelry; we began selling jewelry together in the early 1980's. And we had been selling silver jewelry online since 1998. But this fresh new site seemed to have a unique way of doing things. So we opened a shop to sell only our handcrafted jewelry designs. And now, looking back ... it was one of the best decisions we ever made.

For a few months we did things our usual way. I take care of the daily business stuff, and was learning about Etsy while running our silver jewelry website. But I soon found that Etsy was more social than any other selling venue we had tried. And this made me want to reach out to other shop owners.

Later that year, I took a big step ... and joined the JET team.

Many of the original members are gone. They've moved on. But the great thing about this group is ... it continues. We have new members joining all the time, and each new member brings something different, personal and unique to the table. I learn from each and every one of these talented people; interacting with the artisans that give their time to participate and contribute on the daily JET board is not just fun, it gives me a fresh look at Etsy features, social media, jewelry making techniques, and so much more. The bonds we form are real, even if we never meet. I truly love the JET team!

We help each other promote our shops. We use Facebook, Twitter, Google + and other social media sites. We make Etsy Treasuries promoting member shops. We share information on our suppliers. If a member needs a tip all we have to do is ask. Yesterday I asked about using resin to make pendants; several members offered valuable information that only comes with experience. This will help eliminate trial and error, so I don't have to waste valuable material to figure it out myself.

Teams are an integral part of the Etsy experience. I think back to the few months I spent in the beginning - before we became a member shop, and it was like being in a drifting boat. No focus, no real direction ... and I wonder why anyone would have an Etsy shop without joining a team. The time I spend with JET members promoting our shops has been returned many times over. Every JET member is my friend, my partner and an inspiration to do more, create more and promote more!

Jet of the Day - JEMSBYJBANDCOMPANY

2012-01-19T08:22:00.000-05:00

TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR BUSINESS

By Judy from JemsbyJB&Company

The start of a new year always brings thoughts of what could have been and anticipation of what lies ahead. It can be a time of thoughtful reflection or a time of disappointment. The holidays which, most likely were a time for fun and merriment, are over and those beautiful decorations are neatly packed away. All of those sales you experienced, during the last few months, seem to have gone into hibernation and you may be rethinking your ability to be a successful business owner.

Chocolate Spice Pearl Necklace Labradorite by JemsbyJBandCompany

Now is the time to step back and revitalize! Running a successful business takes hard work and even those who have reached monumental success occasionally need to remember the most important tools which will sustain them.

Pressed Turquoise Beaded Bracelet by JemsbyJBandCompany on Etsy

These important reminders will hopefully help you regroup and celebrate your art.

1. Take Responsibility - Learn to take responsibility for anything that has your fingerprint on it. Learn to take responsibility for not just the good things, but even bad ones. Admit to your mistakes because it’s okay to be wrong. You cannot learn if you have not made any mistakes.

2. Believe In Winning - A rising tide lifts all boats – always think win-win. It exists. The power of positive influence you have on the people around you and the power to inspire people to greater heights is in front of you.

3. Do It! - If you have any ideas that are simmering in your mind, write it down. It doesn’t matter if it is not a plan yet, just write it down. Keep recording your thoughts and ideas. Some of them will turn into gorgeous jewelry creations!

4. See Opportunities Everywhere - The opportunities to lead are everywhere. You need to be mindful of these opportunities. Absorb the information that you read in the forums, internet and conversations with others. Jot down the names of the new sights that you hear about and spend some time perusing them. You might find something which will shed new light on your art. (Pinterest, Kaboodle, etc. etc. )

5. Be Open - Be open to criticism.(I really have an issue with this one!!)When you are open to feedback, you are being fed ideas from others that are free. Often times, these ideas come from people smarter than you. They will give you tips on how to improve and how to be better. That’s what a leader needs - constant feedback.

6. Give, Give, Give - That’s how you open up. Pour out all you got from inside you. Give all you have ideas, thoughts, plans. Feel the vulnerability and learn to like it. Design your jewelry with all the love and care you can muster.

HARD WORK + DEDICATION = SUCCESS

GO JETTEAM

Thanks for reading!

Jet of the Day - Milleth of Fully Hooked

2012-01-18T06:03:00.000-05:00

Life Happens

At the beginning of the New Year, my daughter asked me “Mom, so what’s your New Year’s Resolution?” then she went on and on listing her promises of do’s and don’ts, and I lost track after number 10 because I was so preoccupied with actually creating MY own list!

And here’s what I came up with:

Don’t worry, I didn’t provide the wrong file, it’s the right one. And yes, it’s blank. Because this year, I decided I don’t need a list after all. Some of us set such high unrealistic resolutions that the moment we fail, even though we feel bad, we shrug it off and say “oh well, try again next year”, then we go through the rest of the year repeating that phrase to ourselves, justifying our shortcomings. Sound familiar? Yeah.

Swirl Capiz Earrings

I honestly don’t need a list to remind me I’ve wanted to lose a few pounds, or that that dream garden is only a shovel away, or that coveted wholesale account is simply a show away. And I admit, sometimes getting things down on paper is a way to add finality and authority to it, but so is looking at a mirror, or that dirt path at the side of the house or that slow trickling of Etsy sales. Basically, I’m aware of the issue, I’m aware of the solution; there shouldn’t be anything in my way, right?-- In theory, yes, perhaps.

Vintage Lucite Red Teardrop Earrings

Calla Lily Hairclips

But this year, I’m going to let myself BE, because the truth of it is, LIFE HAPPENS.

*wink

Milleth

Pewter Dove Earring with Yellow Flowers

Jet of the Day - Elizabeth of Foret

2012-01-17T12:01:00.000-05:00

'Rainbow of January Garnets' by Foret
The many colors and moods of garnet brought to you by the Jewelry On Etsy team.

Garnet Necklace : Moder... NaturalGorgeou... $37.00	Grossular Garnet Gemsto... stoutdg2 $26.00	Sterling Silver Earring... TraceDesigns $39.00
Wire Wrapped Gold Fill,... bMichelleDesig... $80.00	Rare Mandarin Spessarti... TheSilverBear $265.00	Large Dark Red Garnet F... SilverSmack $40.00
January Birthstone Earr... thelittlehappy... $27.50	Rainbow Copper Patina S... DebrasDivineDe... $49.00	Valentine Green Amethys... cooljewelrydes... $59.00
Poetry Necklace- Scapol... OddlyEnchantin... $167.00	Autumn Spessartite Garn... YourDailyJewel... $62.00	Handmade Chunky Garnet ... CapitalCityCra... $75.00
Romantic Garnet Briolet... genevievejewel... $139.00	VALENTINE SALE 15% Off ... PoppyLayne $38.25	Vintage Garnet Earrings... BeadzNBling $129.00
Sterling Silver and Gar... ShazzabethCrea... $210.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Jet of the Day - Erika Price

2012-01-16T01:41:00.067-05:00

So you think you know your birthstone?!

While my passion is creating one-of-a-kind jewelry using lampwork glass and sterling silver, I also love to use gemstones. I'm frequently asked to incorporate birthstones in my bespoke designs, particularly in my pure silver pieces. If I ever had the time to make a gemstone piece especially for myself I would probably choose a deep blue sapphire, as these and diamonds are my favorite gemstones. But I would never, ever choose my actual birthstone, which is a green emerald, because green is my least favorite color. So, do you know what your birthstone is? Are you sure?!

Birthstones are precious or semi-precious gemstones that symbolize our birth in some way, usually our birth month. They first became popular in Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries, and the jewels listed in the "Traditional Birthstones" column in the table below all date from this period

Almost every country or region traditionally had their own list of birthstones. As a result, birthstones can represent not only the calendar month we were born in, but almost anything to do with our birth, including the time and place of our birth, the lunar month, the day of the week and our Zodiac sign

Many of us will be familiar with the birthstone chart above, which is the most-widely used across the world today. It was standardised by what is now Jewelers of America in 1912, and these gemstones are the "Modern Birthstones" listed in the chart below

Occasionally more than one stone is listed for a particular month. For example the traditional birthstone for April is both diamond and sapphire. This is because historically the traditional birthstone for April in the West has been the diamond, while in Hebrew society it is the sapphire. Many cultures have believed in the healing and protecting powers of gemstones, and the lists of Mystical and Ayurvedic birthstones above both date back over a thousand years: the Mystical birthstones are of Tibetan origin, while the Ayurvedic list is taken from Ayurvedic Indian Medicine

So you now have a choice of two or more birthstones, according to your preference! If you're looking for a special piece of jewelry in your particular birthstone, click this link to see more beautiful handmade birthstone pieces from the Jewelry on Etsy Team. Here are just a few of my favorites for the first quarter of 2012!

January - Garnet Earrings by TraceDesigns

February - Amethyst Ring by Jewelry24Seven

March - Aquamarine Earrings by DesignsByCher

Abridged from an article first published March 2011 by Erika Price

Jet of the Day - Lisa of Emerald Pixie

2012-01-11T06:06:00.000-05:00

Jewelry Making. An Ancient Artform.

Most of us have a piece of jewelry that was passed down from a loved one. We have a precious family heirloom that may have been in the family for generations. Do you ever stop to think of how ancient the art of jewelry making is?

Some of the earliest jewelry found dated back To the middle stone age about 100,000 years ago. Mollusk shells with holes strung into beads were found in a cave in South Africa thought to be some of the first man made pieces. It's amazing to think that jewelry was one of man's very first art forms.

In the 19th century, archaeologists found crude forms of bracelets and necklaces dating between 17,800 and 6,500 BC. These pieces were made from natural materials such as bone, teeth, shells and stone and strung together possibly with the sinew of an animal that was most likely hunted for food. The art of beading has come a long way since those primitive pieces.

There is no exact date known for the beginning of metalsmithing. The Romans brought smithing to England around 450 BC. Ancient Roman pieces that have bezel set gems, or wirewrapping have been unearthed and showcased in museums for people to admire.

So next time you purchase a piece of JET made jewelry, remind yourself that it's not just an accessory, but a piece of art that may have historical significance long after we have left the earth.

'JET made art' by EmeraldPixie

Beautiful JET made jewelry. Art made to wear.

Blue Earth Natural Turq... OVGilliesDesig... $64.00	Hammered Wide Ring Anti... SilverSmack $45.00	Pink Pearl Bracelet Gra... AbacusBeadCrea... $28.00
Blue Morpho Multi Wing ... DebrasDivineDe... $90.00	Mixed Metal & Black Lea... DesignsbyCher $30.00	Rustic Bracelet Copper ... RoughMagicCrea... $30.00
Bezel Set Round Druzy G... YourDailyJewel... $54.00	Silver Ring Green Jadei... Jewelry24Seven $119.99	Copper Wire Money Clip ... AdroitJewelers $8.50
Dragon Earrings- Tiger ... Foret $50.00	Garnet and Pearl Heart ... FuchsiaBloomSt... $62.00	Passionate Soul Necklac... EmotionalOasis $20.00
Tourmaline Earrings in ... NaturalGorgeou... $47.00	Ring in Recyled Sterlin... laurastamperde... $148.00	Ancient Roman Glass & S... TheSilverBear $215.00
Silver and Emerald Cut ... WearableByDesi... $90.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Jet of the Day - Donna's Artisan Designs

2012-01-09T07:13:00.000-05:00

'In LOVE with GARNETS-ALL JET Valentine Gift Guide' by DonnasArtisanDesigns

The beauty of the Garnet Family as presented by the JET Team

A Valentine's Gift Guide

Sterling Silver and Gar... ShazzabethCrea... $210.00	Raspberry rhodolite gar... metalicious $176.00	Garnet Ring in 100% Rec... laurastamperde... $200.00
Garnet Gemstone Earring... SendingLoveGal... $38.00	Hessonite Garnet and Go... Foret $125.00	Mystic Hessonite Facete... stoutdg2 $62.00
Rare Mandarin Spessarti... TheSilverBear $265.00	Valentines Day Cranberr... YourDailyJewel... $40.00	Red Garnet Gold Dangle ... bytheseagemdes... $45.00
Faceted Oval Garnet and... Jewelry24Seven $98.99	January Birthstone Garn... RoughMagicCrea... $37.00	Rhodonite Garnet Sterli... JemsbyJBandCom... $42.00
Large Dark Red Garnet F... SilverSmack $40.00	Handmade Chunky Garnet ... CapitalCityCra... $75.00	Garnet Briolette Fine S... DesignsbyCher $42.00
Sterling Silver Earring... TraceDesigns $39.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Baby Its C-C-C-COLD Outside!

2012-01-05T06:17:00.003-05:00

'stay warm!' by sendinglovegallery
inspired by Beadsme's firey earrings : )

Orange And Flame Red Ch... BeadsMe $32.00	Copper Hammered Ring Wi... SilverSmack $35.00	Orange Fire Earrings, L... ErikaPrice $22.00
Mexican Fire Opal Facet... TheSilverBear $105.00	Fire Agate with Gold Be... JemsbyJBandCom... $16.00	Copper Bar Earrings wit... ELEVEN13 $20.00
Feed your Fire pink flo... WanderingJewel... $20.00	Sliced Amber Agate Copp... endlessbounty $38.00	Swarovski Fire Opal Rin... PersonalDesign... $25.00
Empress Earrings - Fire... oliviasgarden $18.00	Red Necklace - Swarovsk... ChayaGallery $78.00	Gemstone mix earrings -... DesignsInc $28.00
Orange Explosion Glass ... EmotionalOasis $7.00	Copper and Fine Silver ... HGWjewelrydesi... $48.00	Fresh water pearl wire ... sianykitty $15.00
ocean jasper and copper... cooljewelryJR $33.00

'Red Hot Jets' by tracedesigns
This team is RED HOT!

Red Shield Earrings TheBrassHussy $25.00	Red Spears and Teardrop... DebrasDivineDe... $30.00	Sweetheart...Lampwork S... stoutdg2 $52.00
Red Flowers Necklace ChayaGallery $68.00	Red Quartz Wire Wrapped... SilverSmack $26.00	Tangerine Tango Valenti... cooljewelrydes... $22.00
Red Hot Art Deco Magnet... EmotionalOasis $10.00	Red Brassy Earrings BeadsMe $12.00	Garnet Earrings January... RoughMagicCrea... $42.00
red collective pendant ... sianykitty $19.75	Crystal Filled Sterling... ShazzabethCrea... $210.00	Black and Red Bracelet ... DonnasArtisanD... $21.75
Rajasthani jade pendant... DesignsInc $10.00	Flower Earrings Carved ... WillowCreekJew... $20.00	bike chain red square g... WanderingJewel... $12.00
Red Heart Chalcedony an... dashery $15.00

'Wintery Pearls, Gemstones, and Bling' by TheBrassHussy

Snow White Earrings wit... TraceDesigns $23.00	Frosted Lucite Antique ... DesignsbyCher $21.00	White Cluster Bridal Ea... FuchsiaBloomSt... $30.00
Fine Silver Pendant, Li... SendingLoveGal... $45.00	White Pearl, Sterling S... Foret $71.00	Virgin White with Brass... FullyHooked $26.00
Large White Pearl, Quar... BrookeJewelry $90.00	Valentine White Opal, S... cooljewelrydes... $36.00	Snowballs - Frosty Whi... SilverSmack $15.00
Sterling and White Crys... ShazzabethCrea... $105.00	Sterling Silver Wire Wr... BeadsMe $42.00	White Hearts Wedding Br... RoughMagicHoli... $30.00
Moss Green Necklace Whi... AbacusBeadCrea... $102.00	Snow Flowers Earrings W... OVGilliesDesig... $22.00	Mother of Pearl Inlay P... DonnasArtisanD... $22.17
White Fresh Water Round... CrystalImpress... $75.00

'DASHing Through the Snow' by YOURDAILYJEWELS
Inspired by my teammie, Dashery and our chilly North East weather

Red Heart Chalcedony an... dashery $15.00	Snow White Earrings wit... TraceDesigns $23.00	Fused Glass Dichroic Pe... DebrasDivineDe... $20.00
Snowflake Fine Silver P... SendingLoveGal... $58.00	Valentine in the Snow -... JBowerEngravin... $62.00	Icey Winter White Cryst... DesignsbyCher $19.00
Moss Green Necklace Whi... AbacusBeadCrea... $102.00	Virgin White with Brass... FullyHooked $26.00	White Pearl, Sterling S... Foret $71.00
White Opal and Silver B... MacKSwank $100.00	Pearl Teardrop Earrings... ErikaPrice $14.00	Sterling and White Crys... ShazzabethCrea... $105.00
Sterling Silver Wire Wr... BeadsMe $42.00	White Hearts Wedding Br... RoughMagicHoli... $30.00	Snowballs - Frosty Whi... SilverSmack $15.00
Dog Collar, Cat Collar,... BeadzNBling $22.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

JETs Jewelry on Etsy Team

Jet of the Day - Shazzabeth Creations

Jet of the Day - Sending Love Gallery

Jet of the Day - Satin Doll & Co

The History of the Torc - Debras Divine Designs

Jet of the Day - Rough Magic Creations

Sterling Silver Paisley Necklace (beer quartz, tourmaline, citrine, mandarin garnet, smokey quartz) Diadem Jewels

Long Earrings with Rough Stones,Pink Tourmaline and Ametrine with Broom Cast Silver - laurastamperdesigns

Jet of the Day - Rustic Rock Jewelry

Jet of the Day - OVGillies

Cameos, Such A Fascinating History. by Michele - Malves1009

Finding Inspiration

Jet of the Day - Laura Stamper Designs

Jet of the Day - JudesJujus

The JET Team

Jet of the Day - JEMSBYJBANDCOMPANY

Jet of the Day - Milleth of Fully Hooked

Jet of the Day - Elizabeth of Foret

Jet of the Day - Erika Price

Jet of the Day - Lisa of Emerald Pixie

'JET made art' by EmeraldPixie

Beautiful JET made jewelry. Art made to wear.

Jet of the Day - Donna's Artisan Designs

Baby Its C-C-C-COLD Outside!

'stay warm!' by sendinglovegallery inspired by Beadsme's firey earrings : )

'Wintery Pearls, Gemstones, and Bling' by TheBrassHussy

'stay warm!' by sendinglovegallery
inspired by Beadsme's firey earrings : )