Simply Jules

February Birthstone- Amethyst

2012-01-31T14:16:00.007-06:00

Sorry...I've skipped a couple months of birthstones. Here is February's...one of my favorite gemstones to work with because of the beautiful deep purple hues.

Gemstone Properties: Amethyst crystals grow on the inside surface of agate geodes (as seen in photo). Geodes containing amethyst crystals are formed when sand, silt, clay or gravel are deposited and compacted by running water. Some of the largest amethyst geodes have been found in Brazil. You may also find amethyst mined in India, Uruguay, Sri Lanka, Australia, Germany, Mexico, Russia, Africa and the United States.

Amethyst colors range from deep purple to pale lavender depending on the presence of manganese and iron.

History of Amethyst: This gemstone traditionally adorned the crowns and robes of rich and powerful monarchs. Purple is associated with wealth and prosperity and amethyst is still considered a prosperous stone.

Leonardo Da Vinci wrote that amethyst holds the power to ward off evil thoughts and quicken one's intelligence. It was also used as a symbol of peace, thought to evoke feelings of serenity and calmness for those who wear it.

Some naturopaths use amethyst to help treat insomnia and to relieve headaches.

*Description was written using information provided on Fire Mountain Gems website.

November Birthstone

2011-11-17T11:17:00.008-06:00

Citrine is a gemstone with a beautiful warm yellow color, which is perfectly complemented by gold and silver. Its name derived from the word citrus because of its pale yellow color, which is due to its iron content. It was also known as the "sun stone" and the gemstone was thought to hold sunlight. It was thought to improve communication and to attract wealth. For the Romans, it was the stone of Mercury, the messenger god, and it was used for carving intaglios.

Like aventurine, rose quartz and amethyst, citrine is a macrocrystalline form of quartz. Due to its color, citrine is often confused with yellow topaz.

New Lobster Clasp Pendants

2011-02-10T15:58:00.010-06:00

I am so excited to introduce our newest line of jewelry...handcrafted beaded lobster clasp pendants. These exciting new pendants are made using a sterling silver lobster clasp to make it as easy as possible to change your look. They are easy to use with just a basic sterling silver chain...just open the lobster clasp to add or remove your pendant. You will love the vibrant colors in the lampwork glass, czech glass, and swarovski crystals.

Don't have your own sterling silver chain? We carry these in sizes ranging from 14" to 20" in length. Here are a few of the new pendants...to see all of our newest pendants, check out our page. www.simplyjules.com/pendants.html

Not Enough Time In The Day

2011-02-10T10:22:00.008-06:00

Lately, I've been so busy with work (my day job), housework, errands, etc... that I have not been able to make many new pieces of jewelry. Or, if I have had time to make anything, I have yet to photograph it and upload it to my website! I am so excited about a new line of products that I will introducing to Simply Jules. In addition, I just received my order of Czech glass beads that are so beautiful. The colors are so vivid and the detail in each bead is incredible. I can't wait to create more jewelry with these gorgeous beads.

Stay tuned for new items, which should be coming in the next few days! In the meantime, here is a sneak peak...

Simply Jules and Mimosa Rose

2011-01-09T17:59:00.004-06:00

We are so excited to announce that Mimosa Rose is now carrying some of Simply Jules' jewelry in their adorable shop. You can reach them at:

Mimosa Rose
6734 Westheimer Lakes North Drive, Suite 104
Katy, TX 77494
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mimosa-Rose/140319739317663

Please stop by to see their beautiful store and check out our jewelry while you are there

My Little Corner of the World

2010-06-25T17:07:00.016-05:00

Since I started making jewelry over 5 years ago, I've wanted a space dedicated to jewelry making. Either a room, a corner, or even a closet, to make jewelry and not worry about packing up all my beads every time I want to make a piece.

Well...after our most recent move into our 4th house, I finally have my "beading" room. I am so excited! I have decorated it just the way I imagined it for the past 5 years. I even made the wall art, using fabric and canvas bars. I'm not finished yet, but I wanted to let you see what I have so far.

This room allows me the freedom to desgin and make jewelry without the worries of cleaning up right away, ruining a kitchen table with liver of sulfur (to oxidize sterling silver), or getting in my husband's way. It is the perfect little room and it truly is my little corner of the world.

Grand Opening

2010-06-22T12:18:00.027-05:00

I have been making handcrafted beaded jewelry for over 5 years and www.simplyjules.com is almost 2 years old. However, I have just recently been able to devote full-time hours to Simply Jules, therefore, I am considering this to be my "Grand Opening". I have updated the website with many new products and will continue to do so over the next couple weeks. We have most recently added sterling silver rings to our jewelry collection. These rings are made with sterling silver wire and a variety of beads.

Thanks for visiting the Simply Jules Handcrafted Jewelry Blog. To view all of our handcrafted jewlery visit us at www.simplyjules.com