Flashback Friday - The Beauty Of Byzantium

Today is Michael d'Agostino's Flashback Friday! The idea is to republish an old post of yours that maybe didn't get enough attention, or that you really liked, or that you think others will really like..

As I started this blog in 2010, and then took a few years off to raise my little ones (only getting back into it this past November), I know there are a LOT of you out there that did not see some of my earlier posts.

You can see the original post HERE.

The Beauty Of Byzantium

Byzantium began when the fourth century Emperor, St. Constantine, Christianized the Roman Empire and established Constantinople in Byzantium as the capital. During this era a synthesis of classical Greek, Roman, and Christian culture gave birth to unparalleled achievements in art, architecture, and jewelry. Many of these achievements can be seen in the magnificent Byzantine jewelry and Byzantine cross pendants found in archaeological digs.


Our Byzantine Necklace is a wonderful marriage of round quartz beads and freshwater pearls. Quartz can strengthen all things positive. It amplifies intention, reduces stress, helps with balancing and healing, and surrounds you with protection. The best way to use the 

properties of quartz is to keep it close to you at all times. This will attune it to your frequencies. Cultured or freshwater pearls are considered to offer the power of love, money, protection, and luck. Pearls are thought to give wisdom through experience, to quicken the laws of karma and to cement engagements and love relationships. They are thought to keep children safe.


Early Chinese myths told of pearls falling from the sky when dragons fought. Ancient legend says that pearls were thought to be the tears of the gods and the Greeks believed that wearing pearls would promote marital bliss and prevent newlywed women from crying.

To see our necklace and more of my jewelry, visit Handmade Jewelry Haven's Etsy Page here.

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Wordless Wednesday

Today's Wordless Wednesday is about Brown Seaglass. Enjoy!

Brown Seaglass Pendant

To see some more of my Sea Glass Jewelry, visit Handmade Jewelry Haven's Etsy Page here!

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Beading To Relax

One of the reasons I love making jewelry so much is that it is relaxing. Especially doing kumihimo as it is so time consuming and repetitive. I get a design in my head, usually after several nights mulling this idea or that idea over and over before drifting off to sleep. Then I pick a night, gather my supplies, measure and cut the thread, loop it in half, tie it off, then string it onto the loom. I then do a few rounds without the beads, just to give me an end to be able to glue into an end cap. I then take the rest of the night, maybe two, to string all eight cords with the required amount of beads, around 120-130 per cord. I then start

Copper Wrapped Seaglass Pendant

weaving on the loom with the beads. It is very repetitive and you just start to go through the motions and your mind just starts to wander. Pretty soon you have a few inches on and it is starting to look beautiful! Then you just keep going until after a few hours, it is done! I am currently working on a Kumihimo Necklace to go with a beautiful copper wire wrapped piece of seaglass that I got from my cousin in New Jersey.  
I love that meditative state that you get in when doing something over and over. Your muscles start to relax and you just go with it. This week it has come in particularily handy as I have been having a rather 'trying' time lately.

To see some of my Kumihimo designs, come visit Handmade Jewelry Haven's Etsy Page here.

What do you like to do to relax?

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Flashback Friday - Why You Should Be Wearing Agate

Today is Michael d'Agostino's Flashback Friday! The idea is to republish an old post of yours that maybe didn't get enough attention, or that you really liked, or that you think others will really like..

As I started this blog in 2010, and then took a few years off to raise my little ones (only getting back into it this past November), I know there are a LOT of you out there that did not see some of my earlier posts.

You can see the original post HERE.

Why You Should Be Wearing Agate 

Agate Beaded Necklace

Agate is a variety of chalcedony formed from layers of quartz which usually show varicolored bands. It usually occurs as rounded nodules or veins. 

The term chalcedony is derived from the name of the ancient Greek town Chalkedon in Asia Minor. Chalcedony, which is found worldwide, is the name for a group of stones made of a microcrystalline or cryptocrystalline variety of quartz, which means the quartz crystals are too small to be seen without high magnification.

Agate is believed to discern truth, accept circumstances, and is a powerful emotional healer. Legend says that Agate improves memory and concentration, increases stamina and encourages honesty. Agate is said to be particularly beneficial to people born under the sign of Gemini as it helps them to remain calm and focused.

It is believed to prevent insomnia and insure pleasant dreams, to enhance personal courage and protect one against danger. Agate provides a calming influence, improves perception, concentration and helps to develop and increase one's analytical talents.

Agate is also listed as a birth/natal or star stone in the following birthstone tables:
Mystical - SeptemberAyurvedic - MayZodiac - GeminiSun Sign (Star Sign) - CapricornSun Sign (Star Sign) - AquariusSun Sign (Star Sign) - GeminiTalismanic - LibraHebrew - MayRoman - MayArabic - June


To see a beautiful example of Agate in a jewelry application, please check out Handmade Jewelry Haven's Etsy page where you will see our very elegant 'Blown Sand' Agate Beaded Necklace.

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Happy Presidents Day!

Washington's Birthday is a United States federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday of February in honor of George Washington, the first President of the United States, who was born on February 22, 1732. It can occur on the 15th through the 21st of February.

The day is now widely known as Presidents' Day and is often an occasion to honor all persons who have served as president, not just George Washington.The day is a state holiday in most states.
The first attempt to create a Presidents Day occurred in 1951 when the "President's Day National Committee" was formed. The purpose was not to honor any particular President but to honor the office of the Presidency. It was first thought that March 4, the original inauguration day, should be deemed Presidents Day. However, the bill recognizing the March 4 date was stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee because it was too close to Lincoln's and Washington's Birthdays. By the mid-1980s, with a push from advertisers, the term "Presidents' Day" began its public appearance.Today, the February holiday has become well known for being a day in which many stores, especially car dealers, hold sales. Until the late 1980s, corporate businesses generally closed on this day, similar to present corporate practices on Memorial Day or Christmas Day. With the late 1980s advertising push to rename the holiday, more and more businesses are staying open on the holiday each year, and, as on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Veterans Day and Columbus Day, most delivery services outside of the U.S. Postal Service now offer regular service on the day as well. Some public transit systems have also gone to regular schedules on the day. Many colleges and universities hold regular classes and operations on Presidents' Day. Various theories exist for this, when the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill debate of 1968, the supporters of the Bill were intent on moving federal holidays to Mondays to promote business. Way to keep us working!!
Source: Wikipedia

Lampwork Beaded Bracelet and Earrings

Show your Presidents Day Pride by sporting this beautiful Red White and Blue bracelet and earrings by Handmade Jewelry Haven. You can find them on their Etsy page here.

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Valentines Day - When Did All This Gift Giving Begin, Anyway?!!

Everyone is aware of the religious aspect of Valentines day but it was not until the 14th century that this Christian feast day became definitively associated with love. According to UCLA medieval scholar Henry Ansgar Kelly, author of Chaucer and the Cult of Saint Valentine, it was Chaucer who first linked St. Valentine's Day with romance.

In 1381, Chaucer composed a poem in honor of the engagement between England's Richard II and Anne of Bohemia. As was the poetic tradition, Chaucer associated the occasion with a feast day. In "The Parliament of Fowls," the royal engagement, the mating season of birds, and St. Valentine's Day are linked:

'For this was on St. Valentine's Day, 

When every fowl cometh there to choose his mate.'

Over the centuries, the holiday evolved, and by the 18th century, gift-giving and exchanging handmade cards on Valentine's Day had become common in England. Hand-made valentine cards made of lace, ribbons, and featuring cupids and hearts eventually spread to the American colonies. The tradition of Valentine's cards did not become widespread in the United States, however, until the 1850s, when Esther A. Howland, a Mount Holyoke graduate and native of Worcester, Mass., began mass-producing them. 

Cherry Blossom Bracelet and matching earrings

Today, of course, the holiday has become a booming commercial success. Still have not found that 'perfect' way to say I love you? Visit Handmade Jewelry Haven's Etsy page to see some of our beautiful and affordable jewelry. 
Express shipping is available and remember that even if you do not have a 'significant' other, there are plenty of special people that should be remembered on this day, such as teachers, mentors, or even that barista that remembers your Choca-Mochalata-Double-Shot-Latte before you even make it to the counter!

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Source: http://www.infoplease.com

Chinese New Year - The Year Of The Rooster

Chinese New Year is a time of celebration in many Asian cultures. The new year has begun

Lucky Panda Lampwork Beaded Bracelet

and will last until Feb 15th, 2017. The new year, also known as the Spring Festival is marked by the lunisolar Chinese calendar, so the date changes from year to year. 

Symbolism, especially in jewelry plays a large part in the Asian culture. For example, shown on this lampwork beaded charm bracelet are 'lucky coins'. The square inside a circle means the harmony of earth and heaven. The humans carry the heaven and earth and the whole three elements go together to create a 'lucky aura' that brings wealth and money. 

Lucky Panda Lampwork Beaded Earrings

Are you, or someone you know in need of some 'lucky aura'? You can find this beautiful bracelet and matching earrings on Handmade Jewelry Haven's Etsy site here.

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Kumihimo - Learning Something New

So back in November, some of you will remember, that I drove over to the west coast of Florida with my kids to visit relatives for Thanksgiving. It was a great trip, we got to see people that we haven't seen for awhile and do some things we love to do in new places (shelling and glassing). One of the people we got to see was my aunt Judith. She is my aunt by marriage, my uncle Bob passing a few years ago, and she is just an amazingly creative woman. Ever since I have known her she is 'into' one thing or another. I remember one visit she was into sewing these, literally, award winning quilts. She would make these amazing quilted clothing pieces that had a decidedly Asian quality about them. Her and my uncle used to travel a lot to Japan for business, and he used to live in Japan for many years, so he had an affinity for everything Asian. Anyway...after that visit I, totally on impulse, I went right out and bought a book on quilting intending to jump right in and create these beautiful heirloom quilts that I would give to family members for years to come. Well...if any of you have known me for any length of time, you will know that I have an absolute love-hate relationship with my sewing machine. I can barely hem a pair of pants without the bottom thread getting all bunched up - which you can't tell has happened until either, A: The fabric jams in your machine or B: You take out what you think is a beautiful piece of hemmery (I know that is not a word - cut me some slack here!) only to find this jumbled mess of bunched up thread underneath. Anyway...long story short, quilting never became part of my world.

So fast forward many years, to this Thanksgiving, and we have driven aunt J back to her 

place of residence in Naples, and we are having a nice lunch with her before we drive the last leg back to the east coast and I am just DROOLING over her necklace. I compliment

Kumihimo Bobbins

her on it and am just floored when she tells me that she MADE it! My daughter and I were just stunned! So in the middle of this...she blurts out this funny word...(and I am really praying that she never reads this blog post). Well Bella and I just kind of glance at each other like what did she just say?? See, Aunt J is not from the US, and she has this really strong British accent, plus she just naturally speaks very low. Well...we both just smiled and nodded and life went on.
Some weeks after we got home I was still thinking about that necklace and started googling and low and behold...KUMIHIMO was introduced into my world! Then it dawned on me!! THAT is what Aunt J blurted out! Kumihimo! Now...for those of you that don't know, Kumihimo is a Japanese form of braiding. Cords and ribbons are made by interlacing strands, of thread, and very recently, by adding beads to make very decorative pieces of Jewelry.

Kumihimo Beaded Necklace

 Kumi himo is Japanese for 'gathered threads'. So, I watched a couple of YouTube videos and bought all the stuff and went to work. Now THIS was something I could get into! I LOVE it. Talk about a stress reliever! And now I have something to compliment my sea glass pieces that I am wire wrapping! So, if you are wondering what is happening at our household on Tuesday and Thursdays, you can bet that Bella and I are weaving to our hearts content. Be sure to 'Favorite' my Etsy store at Handmade Jewelry Haven so you won't miss these upcoming treasures! 

Kumihimo is fun!

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BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!! HANDMADE JEWELRY HAVEN ETSY SHOP GRAND OPENING!!

Its a big day around here as most of you know, I have been working on opening my new Etsy shop and the day has FINALLY ARRIVED!!

Handmade Jewelry Haven Etsy Shop

First things first, I would love for you to come visit my new Etsy shop. This is something I've been really wanting to do for a long time. It has been a huge labor of love over the last few weeks.

And to show you my appreciation, leave a comment here on this post and I will email you a 10% Welcome Coupon towards any purchase!

Click here to visit my shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HandmadeJewelryHaven

As you know that I love social media, so, to save even more, pin 3 of my listings to your Pinterest account, then send me a message on Etsy with the links to your pins, and I'll send you a 15% off coupon code to be used on any order in my shop!

But why stop there??

To sweeten the deal a little more, share this post on your blog, or Facebook, or Tweet about my Grand Opening #HandmadeJewelryHaven and send me the link, and you will get a 20% off coupon!

You are free to get one or all three discounts that can be used on separate purchases!

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A Bead So Beautiful...You Could Just Eat It!



Amethyst Lampwork Beaded Necklace

It was in Murano that lampwork beads first became widely produced in the 19th century. To this day, the most famous style of lampwork bead is the 'Venetian' or wedding cake bead. the secret of the glass making process was jealously guarded. Many countries tried to lure glass makers away from Italy. While some succeeded in producing lampwork beads, they did not typically put up a challenge to the Murano lampwork beads. In the mid 19th century, a few Bohemian (now Czech Republic) citizens traveled to Italy to work in the glassworks and learn the secrets. They returned five years later, frustrated by the wall of secrecy they had encountered. However, they did learn something and glass bead making was started in the Czech Republic.
The Czech also became masters at making lampwork beads and rivaled Italy on the national market. In time, the Czech and Italians taught the Indians how to make lampwork beads. Today the majority of lampwork beads come from India. The Czech and the Italians still make beautiful lampwork beads in much more limited production.

Handmade Jewelry Haven's beautiful 'Swirl' necklace, bracelet and matching earrings are made with lovely amethyst colored Italian Wedding Cake beads, and is set off by a gorgeous blown glass pendant in soothing colors of purples golds and silvers.
Find them all at Handmade Jewelry Haven's Etsy Shop Here.

source; The Beading Times

Lampwork Beads

To my eye, lampwork beads are the most beautiful of all. Each one is individually handmade and no two are exactly alike. Lampwork beads are made on a metal rod called a mandrel. The mandrel is coated with a white powder that will allow the bead to be taken off the rod when the bead is finished. Molten glass is wound around the mandrel and the mandrel is placed over the flame (originally it was the flame of a gas LAMP). The bead is shaped and decorated. It is then annealed (allowed to cool evenly and slowly) to add durability.
There are lampwork beads designed to fit your every mood, from fun to funky to elegant or classy. There are lampwork beads made to fit every fashion trend and there are lampwork bead styles that have endured through the centuries.
While lampwork beads have been made since 1300 BC in Greece, Venice is considered the birthplace of modern lampwork beads. During the Renaissaince, Italy was the undisputed glass capitol of the world. The glassworks were centered in the city of Venice and glass making secrets were jealously guarded.
Glass making was divided up into tasks so that each person only knew part of the process. Telling the secrets of glass or bead production was considered an act of treason punishable by death. In the late 13th century, the glass making industry moved from Venice to the island of Murano, Italy. Folklore says that the reason glass production moved from Venice to Murano was that an island was better able to isolate the craftspeople and thus the secret process. While this is a romantic notion, it's a myth. In fact, lampworking was extremely dangerous and resulted in many fires. The glass production was moved out of the city of Venice to the Island of Murano to control the spread of fire. It was in Murano that lampwork beads first became widely produced in the 19th century. Lampwork bead making is a cottage industry all around the globe.

There is a huge disparity in the price of lampwork beads. Some can be bought for less than .10 USD. Others fetch prices in the hundreds. Several factors account for this difference.
First of all, the more detailed the bead and the more colors used to make the bead, the more expensive it is.
The type of glass used also contributes to the price of the bead. Murano (Effetre) glass is more expensive than Indian glass. It is also much more beautiful, giving the most gorgeous colors.
Another factor that goes into the pricing of the bead is its country of origin. Labor is cheaper in India than it is in the USA. Also, different countries typically produce different quality levels. The key word is typically. Some Italian bead makers import cheap glass and then label their beads as Made In Murano. It is also possible to get some Indian beads made from Murano glass.
The preciseness of the size and pattern of the beads will also weigh heavily into costing a bead. For example, the handwork on the Czech beads is beautifully done. By comparison, most mass produced Indian beads are sloppy. While each lampwork bead is hand made and they all vary slightly from each other, this variance will be more pronounced in a cheaper bead. The final factor that gets weighed into the costing mix is the annealing process used to finish the bead. Today there are kilns available with computerized temperature controls that allow precise annealing. Ideally, lampwork beads are annealed overnight.

When selecting lampwork beads for my personal collection, I look first for a bead that 'calls to me'. Then I ask what type of glass was used and how it was annealed. I personally have bought some very inexpensive lampwork beads that I love. On the other hand, I have spent a great deal of money on one single bead that I just had to have. In my humble opinion, there is a use and a need for lampwork beads in all different price ranges.

source; Beading Times