Pray As You Go

My favorite online praying/scripture site is Pray As You Go.  I have mentioned this before but each time I listen and find great joy in the scripture and music, I again am reminded how much I love it.  This weekend:

The Feast of the Holy Family

Season of Christmas, Ecclesiasticus 3:2-6, 12-14

Merry Christmas!

I found this as I was thumbing through quotes for today and thought I would share because it speaks to me about giving items to our loved ones that are handmade by an artist.  Artistry comes in many forms.  Each rosary, chaplet, or Christian jewelry that I make is designed by me and I feel this poster speaks from the heart....

It is less than a week until Christmas. It's time to slow down the work in our shops and focus even more time on our families and friends as we celebrate the birth of Christ, our families, and the love we share for one another.  

Praying that this year brings each of us closer to God, praying more daily, thanking Him more for all of our many blessings, and listening to Him in the stillness of our prayers. 

God Bless you all! Merry Christmas!!

Jen  

Rosary Bracelets

Every item in my Etsy store has free shipping, using USPS, through the month of

December 2017!

 If you are looking for beautiful Christmas gifts that are unique and handmade, I have items to share with you. Recently, I hand wired and added two Rosary bracelets to my Etsy store.  Both are made using the "unbreakable" rosary pattern.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/562758714/handmade-rosary-swarovski-bracelet-pink?ref=shop_home_active_2

https://www.etsy.com/listing/576762993/handmade-rosary-swarovski-bracelet-black?ref=listing-shop-header-0

Both bracelets are made using beautiful Swarovski crystal beads and hand wired using golden brass 20 gauge wire.  

St Michael One Decade Rosary - Patron Saint of Police - Police Protection Rosary - Sale Through November 2017

 Using vintage Swarovski beads, this police protection Saint Michael One Decade Rosary has just been added to my Etsy Shop:  Let Our Light Shine. 

Most items in my shop are now on sale through November 30th, 2017.  If you are like me, you are shopping online for Christmas.  I hope you find something you would love to give as a gift in my shop.  God Bless,

Jen  

10 % off Sale - Let Our Light Shine - Starting Tomorrow - For the Remainder of November

https://www.etsy.com/shop/LetOurLightShine

Beginning November 18th, 2017, everything in my online store, with the exception of 5 Decade Rosaries, is 10% off.  No minimum orders. Just in time for Christmas orders. 

Please send me a note if you have any questions.

God Bless, Jen  :-)

Stocking up my Etsy store for Christmas!

Several  years ago, when getting ready to do my Christmas shopping, I made up my mind that I wanted to do something different....

It all started somewhere around Thanksgiving of that year, as I started to gather my list together and try to think of ideas for my individual gifts.  Usually, I hunted within the brick and mortar stores  and sometimes I would find things right away, other times, as the days quickly passed and Christmas was only a few days away, I would begin to panic.  I did not have Christmas gifts for everyone on my list.  

This particular year, I ran across Etsy.  I was super excited.  I thought of each person on my list and tried to find a matching gift.  I found something for EVERYONE! It was at that time that I knew how important Etsy was to those of us who appreciate handmade, quality items AND want to try something new this Christmas. 

It wasn't right away, but several years later, as I began making my handmade, wire wrapped rosaries and Christian jewelry, I knew Etsy was where I wanted to set up my online store. 

I do not mass produce things.  I collect beads, vintage and new. Then, I plan a design and pick out the wire I will use.  Some designs take days.  Others I can make in several hours but all are made with love.  My shop will not be the inexpensive priced shop. My beads are quality beads and my items are labor intensive.  I take great care in purchasing my supplies and work carefully to produce a quality product for my customers. 

I will continue to work and add new items to my store;  not only to get ready for Christmas, but also for special occasions: weddings, birthdays, and other occasions that are close to your heart.

I can't believe it is already November 16th.  If you want to find the BEST holiday gifts, give Etsy a try.  There are many excellent sellers on Etsy.  I've had excellent experiences with purchasing on Etsy. I hope you will give us a try.  :-)

Happy shopping!! Jen

https://www.etsy.com/listing/558926256/handmade-heirloom-topaz-five-decade?ref=shop_home_active_1

https://www.etsy.com/listing/561354151/swarovski-womens-handmade-bracelet?ref=shop_home_active_14

https://www.etsy.com/listing/561354151/swarovski-womens-handmade-bracelet?ref=shop_home_active_14

https://www.etsy.com/listing/571349679/handmade-saint-jude-chaplet-st-jude?ref=shop_home_active_2

Christian Bracelets with New Swarovski Cross Beads

Today, I added two new bracelets with Swarovski cross beads.  I ordered just a few of these beautiful beads to try them out in my wire wrapped designs.  I am excited to see if you like them. I love Swarovski beads.  I know there are copies out there and maybe some people can't tell the difference and prefer to pay less, but for me, they are exceptional and I love using them in my designs.

Below are the two new bracelets.  One has the cross Swarovski bead woven inside the bracelet and the other has the Swarovski cross bead as a Christian charm.  Which one do you like best?

Have a wonderful day! God Bless!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/558306734/handmade-swarovski-silver-christian?ref=listing-shop-header-1

https://www.etsy.com/listing/572122473/handmade-swarovski-crystal-rondelle?ref=shop_home_active_1

Christian Bracelets - Wire Wrapping - Unbreakable Pattern

What makes these bracelets different?

One of the suggestions that I've read from my Etsy handbook is to explain why a customer should buy my product.  So today, I'm going to give you a few reasons why I personally think you should buy Christian bracelets from: Let Our Light Shine, my Etsy store.  

Here are a list of reasons why I think items from my store, today talking about bracelets, are a great item to buy.  These reasons are in no particular order.

1. Each bracelet (and every other item) is handmade in my home individually and is uniquely different.  When I say handmade, it means that each turn of the wire was made by me.  I have seen where people purchase rosary wire wrapping on large spools.  Someone could claim that they made the item by cutting from the spool and attaching a clasp and a charm, this is not the case with my bracelets.  I purchase wire which has wonderful reviews and carefully make each portion of the bracelet; each little tiny section by hand. I also try to buy wire that is affordable.  At this time, the six different types of wire that I use in my store are:  Silver over Copper, Brass over Copper, Bronze over Copper, Nickel Silver, Raw Copper and Stainless Steel.  I also will be adding 100% Brass in the near future.
   

   
2. The second reason is because I carefully select the beads, making sure they are excellent quality.  Many of my bracelets are made using Swarovski crystals, both vintage and new.  If they are new, I have purchased them from a certified Swarovski dealer so that I know they are not copies. If they are vintage, I use a specific checklist (an example: each facet is cut with extreme precision and never has bubbles or flaws, as well as, listed qualities that only a vintage Swarovski crystal will possess.  If you would like to read about this further, I discuss it in an earlier blog post: Vintage and New Swarovski Crystal Beads . I also use Czech beads, old and new, which I purchase new from an authorized dealer.  I do also have a few vintage Czech beads which are easily recognizable and I have had them in my collection for over 20 years.  
   

   

   https://www.etsy.com/listing/554205844/handmade-swarovski-crystal-womens?ref=shop_home_feat_4

   This would be an example of using Czech Vintage beads (large purple) with new Swarovski beads. 
3. The next reason that I believe my store items are extra special is because I tell you in the description every detail about the item.  For example if I am using Nickel Silver, I explain that along with the gauge of wire.  If I am using Silver over Copper, I also give you those details.  It's very important to know exactly what you are buying.  There are no surprises. 
4. I spend lots of time giving you multiple photos of the bracelet or store item.  I take the photos from all angles.  If you have a question about anything you see in one of my photos, please send me a message.  I'll be happy to get back with you quickly with an answer.
5. I use split rings, rather than jump rings.  It is a personal preference.  I like the fact that the ring has several rows so that they do not pull apart without great strain on the ring. They are a similar design as key rings. If you look closely at all of the photos, you will see split rings on every item.
6. One of the most important reasons is that I do not over price.  Some companies raise the price of their items so that they can do a storewide sale.  This is similar to grocery stores who have a high price on something so they can offer a two for one sale.  I can honestly tell you that I add up all of the costs of my items and add a little for my labor, which changes by item due to how long it takes me to make it, from several hours to several days. For this reason, unless I am clearing out a section of older items in the future, I do not often have sales.  I feel the sale price is how they are currently priced.  It would probably cost me more to replace them than I charge in many instances, particularly the vintage items. 
7. Most important: Every item is made with love and prayer.  It is my prayer that you find something in the store that is beautiful, strong, symbol of faith, and shares your faith.  There are a few items that are not marked with Christian charms, etc. but the majority are made with  a symbol of our faith.  In these times, sharing our love of God is keeping our light shining and not hid under a bushel as the old song states. Each item, because of the quality and workmanship, are made to last a lifetime, a gift that someone will treasure now and also when they get old and eventually will want to pass along to someone special. 

I hope these things have given you a few reasons to take a look at my Christian Etsy store.  The section for the bracelets is: Let Out Light Shine: Bracelets

God Bless!  Jen

St. Benedict Rosary with The Devil Chasing Medal

Background of the St. Benedict Medal; also called the Devil Chasing Medal

There is no special way prescribed for carrying or wearing the Medal of St. Benedict. It can be worn on a chain around the neck, attached to one's rosary, kept in one's pocket or purse, or placed in one's car or home. The medal is often put into the foundations of houses and building, on the walls of barns and sheds, or in one's place of business.

The purpose of using the medal in any of the above ways is to call down God's blessing and protection upon us, wherever we are, and upon our homes and possessions, especially through the intercession of St. Benedict. By the conscious and devout use of the medal, it becomes, a constant silent prayer and reminder to us of our dignity as followers of Christ.

The medal is a prayer of exorcism against Satan, a prayer for strength in time of temptation, a prayer for peace among ourselves and among the nations of the world, a prayer that the Cross of Christ be our light and guide, a prayer of firm rejection of all that is evil, a prayer of petition that we may with Christian courage "walk in God's ways, with the Gospel as our guide," as St. Benedict urges us.

A profitable spiritual experience can be ours if we but take the time to study the array of inscriptions and representations found on the two sides of the medal. The lessons found there can be pondered over and over to bring true peace of mind and heart into our lives as we struggle to overcome the weaknesses of our human nature and realize that our human condition is not perfect, but that with the help of God and the intercession of the saints our condition can become better.

The Medal of St. Benedict can serve as a constant reminder of the need for us to take up our cross daily and "follow the true King, Christ our Lord," and thus learn "to share in his heavenly kingdom," as St. Benedict urges us in the Prolog of his Rule.

Source: http://www.osb.org/gen/medal.html

St. Benedict One Decade Rosary with Devil Chasing Medal

This St. Benedict Medal is on a beautiful garnet one decade rosary:

 https://www.etsy.com/listing/570835599/handmade-garnet-one-decade-rosary-with?ref=shop_home_active_1

Saint Jude the Apostle

I added two St. Jude Chaplets in my Etsy store, Let Our Light Shine, this week.  If you have someone who is praying with hope for a particular suffering or request, one of these chaplets may be for you.
I make the items God lays on my heart.  God Bless.  Jen

https://www.etsy.com/listing/556658050/saint-jude-chaplet-st-jude-rosary-patron?ref=shop_home_active_2

https://www.etsy.com/listing/556662654/saint-jude-chaplet-st-jude-rosary-patron?ref=listing-shop-header-0

https://www.etsy.com/listing/571349679/handmade-saint-jude-chaplet-st-jude?ref=shop_home_active_1

Miraculous Medal - The Story and Symbolism

On many of my rosaries I have the Miraculous Medal as my centerpiece. If you ever had questions about what each of the symbols mean, this may be a great explanation for you. I found it on Pinterest and have it saved under Holy Rosaries on my Let Our Light Shine on Pinterest site.

God Bless,
Jen

Chaplet of the Holy Family

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph - The Holy Family

https://www.etsy.com/listing/482968359/handmade-holy-family-chaplet-swarovski?ref=shop_home_active_1

https://www.etsy.com/listing/470391369/chaplet-of-the-holy-family-handmade?ref=shop_home_active_2

Prayers:

Introductory Prayers on the Crucifix:

Blessed by Jesus Christ, true God and true man.
Blessed by the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.
Blessed by St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse.

On the first set of three beads - Our Fathers - In honor of Jesus.
On the second set of three beads - Hail Marys - In honor of Mary.
On the third set of three beads - Glory Bes - In the honor of Joseph.

Concluding Prayer on the Holy Family medal:

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I love you!  Save souls!

Chaplet of Our Lady of Czestochowa

I recently added the chaplet of Our Lady of Czestochowa to my Etsy collection. Below are the  suggested prayers. God Bless.  Jen

https://www.etsy.com/listing/474896358/handmade-our-lady-of-czestochowa-chaplet?ref=shop_home_active_4

Our tradition explains that Mother Mary sat for the portrait of Our Lady of Czestochowa as Luke the Evangelist painted her beautiful portrait.  The painting was found by St. Helen who brought it to her son, the Roman emperor Constantine.  In 1382, it was taken to Poland and made it through numerous attacks against the Polish people. Our Lady of Czestochowa is also known as the Black Madonna.

Prayers:

On the nine beads, say:

The Our Father - 3 times
The Hail Mary - 3 times
The Glory Be - 3 times

Concluding prayer:

O Almighty and merciful God! You gave the Polish nation a wondrous help and defense in the most holy Virgin Mary and You honored Her sacred image at Jasna Gora with remarkable veneration of the faithful.
Grant in Your mercy that, under Her protection, we may struggle confidently throughout our lives and at the moment of death be victorious over our enemy.  We ask this through Christ Our Lord.  Amen.

Lady of Jasna Gora, our Mother, Queen of the Polish nation! Trusting in your maternal goodness and powerful intercession with your Son, we place before you our humble prayers and petitions.  To you we commend all our needs, in particular... (your intention), and all children of the Polish Nation whether in their native land or elsewhere in the world.
Amen.

(Referenced: 2006 The Rosary Shop)

Which Social Media Sites do you use for your Etsy Store?

This post will give you a list of the social media sites that I use to promote my Etsy Store. 

Let me preface this by saying that I have had my Etsy store up for a little over a year and realized that due to the vast numbers of people who have a store on Etsy, it is important to publicize your store using social media and I have made this a major priority in recent weeks.  It is my goal to compare which social media site gives me the most clicks.  Etsy shares statistics which give you the entryway through which your visitors arrived.  This is all new to me at this posting so I will have to get back with you and share my impressions on the results.

In no particular order, the first Social Media site I use is Twitter.

My Twitter page is: https://twitter.com/LetOurLightShin

Every time I add a new item in my store, I share a link and photo on Twitter.  In the last week, I also hashtag each item with the following: #EtsySeller and #LetOurLightShine which is my Etsy store name.

The second Social Media site I use is Pinterest.

My Pinterest page is: https://www.pinterest.com/letourlightshin/

As of today, Pinterest is the social media site where I have received the most clicks into my store. So far, I have not paid for ads in Pinterest, but I do have a business account. My goal is to also add every finished item onto two boards that I have created.  I have two Pinterest Boards that directly reflect my Etsy store. 

• First Board: Let Our Light Shine: Rosaries and Chaplets
• Second Board: Let Our Light Shine - Christian Gifts

The third Social Media site I use is Facebook:

My Facebook business page is: https://www.facebook.com/letourlightshineUSA/

Last week Facebook offered to give me $30 in ads if I would pay anything.  So I paid one dollar and got $31 worth of ads.  I'm not sure I will do it again any time soon because I got 3,000 clicks on Facebook but NONE on my store.  Many said they liked my Facebook photo of my item, (the ad was one item in my store), but no one actually clicked on the link which would take them to my store. So, I'm still thinking about this one.... No more ads with Facebook for now.

The fourth Social Media page is: Instagram:

My Instagram page is: https://www.instagram.com/letourlightshineUSA/

I have added a few clicks with Instagram and I can honestly say it is the site that I've spent the least amount of time on as of today. 

My goal for the month of November is to really research how to share on all of these sites and see which one gives me the most feedback.  Whichever one that is, will get most of my attention as I work on my Social Media with Let Our Light Shine!

On a store note...

I added this five decade rosary this week and it is beautiful.  It is all Swarovski crystals and they are vintage.  I also added this Swarovski vintage one decade rosary.  Also gorgeous! Please take a look and if it interests you, please click over to my Etsy store.

Bye for now... and God Bless! Remember... prayer is everything!

Jen :-)

https://www.etsy.com/listing/455417200/handmade-vintage-swarovski-rare?ref=shop_home_feat_4

https://www.etsy.com/listing/568414335/handmade-swarovski-vintage-blue-beads?ref=listing-shop-header-0

Let Our Light Shine now ships INTERNATIONAL!

My Etsy store (https://www.etsy.com/shop/LetOurLightShine) now ships to the US and other International countries. Check out individual listings on Etsy for countries available. 

Let Our Light Shine has now been open almost a year and a half.  I see that we have views on this blog from countries all over the world.  As a storefront, when I originally chose to ship only to the US, only those in the US could view my online store.  Now, I have added hundreds of additional countries so my viewing area, beginning today, has grown significantly. Yeah! 

I'm SO excited.

If you live outside of the US and would like to take a look at my Etsy store, Let Our Light Shine, please visit the store links listed on this page.

Another exciting bit of news, that was announced today on Etsy, is that Etsy now gives Etsy Sellers the opportunity to offer gift wrapping during checkout. This means that if you purchase an item from my store and would like to have it gift wrapped and shipped to someone on your gift list, then you may select this option during checkout.  I have included a photo of my gift wrapping; viewable during checkout, too.  

Notes from my Etsy Store:  I also added a new set of one decade rosaries yesterday. The photo and link are listed below:

Divine Mercy and Lady of Fatima - One Decade Rosary

Rosary for Breast Cancer Patients - St. Agatha of Sicily

Today I added a one decade rosary with the centerpiece of St. Agatha to my Etsy store.  This rosary is made with vintage pink fire polished Czech beads, a vintage pearl glass Czech Our Father bead, and the St. Agatha centerpiece.  The 1 1/2 inch crucifix was made in Italy and the whole rosary is hand made by me using the unbreakable rosary pattern with nickel silver. 

My grandmother had breast cancer many years ago and through the power of prayer, she had it removed and was healed.  St. Agatha had her breasts removed in an act of torture. Even through this horrendous act, she stayed fast in her faith.

St. Agatha is the patron saint of breast cancer patients.

More details about St. Agatha may be read here: Wikipedia of St. Agatha of Sicily

One Decade Rosary - St. Agatha Rosary

What kind of jewelry wire do you use?

I don't know about you but whenever it is time to start a new wire-wrap project, the first thing I look for is the size and type of wire that I will be using.  If money were no object, I guess I would choose pure gold and silver but since that is not the case, then I need to pick the wire that best suits my project and makes the items affordable for me, as the designer, and those visiting my online store.

We all have favorite types of wire and of course find new types of wire along the way but for now, I will be sharing some of my favorite types of wire.

I don't endorse any company or get kickbacks from sharing certain brands.  I like reading what other artists use when they are sharing from their heart, not their purse. However, you may be able to recognize the brand from the details that I share.

I LOVE copper based wire.  There is a company that I use most of the time that makes over 190 different sizes and styles of copper based wire.  It will depend greatly on how you are using the wire in your design but for me, most of my designs use wire wrapping.  I need the wire to be sturdy enough to be used as a bracelet or rosary, to name a few, but also look gorgeous and smooth as the wire is wrapped, trimmed, and given a smooth edge.  The KEY is to find "tarnish resistant".  This means that they have coated the top metal with a protective coating that will keep the metal from turning color.  I have bought silver for many years and have been so disappointed when it turned to a lovely dark color a few weeks after purchase.  If you don't mind that discoloration then the plain metal is for you but I prefer the protected wires that keep the metal the same bright and shiny color for a long time, especially if you keep the item in an air tight container or zip lock bag. I use the silver and brass over copper with the tarnish resistant coating.

If I am looking for one of the strongest wires, for some of my rosaries, I choose a stainless steel wire.  The stainless steel is so strong that it makes callouses on my hands. I use the 20 gauge for a regular wrap but if I am going to wrap several times around the wire, I will go to the 22 gauge.  Both are amazingly strong and should never change in their appearance.  It has a nice handsome silver color and yet is very light in weight and STONG.

One of the newest wires that I'm using is nickel silver.  It is easy to work with like copper based wire and holds its shape but has a sterling silver color.  The surprise for me was that it has absolutely no silver in it.  It polishes up beautifully. (Note:  I just finished a one decade rosary with the nickel silver and LOVED the way it looks!)

The two wires that I use the most are silver over copper along with brass over copper.  Both have the tarnish resistant coating and I have used them for years and they still look beautiful.

Christian Women's Bracelets

Christian Jewelry?

I looked around at some of the Christian Jewelry available from commercial stores and never found exactly what I was looking for so I decided to make my own.  I wanted a bracelet that was beautiful, yet represented our Christian faith. 

Matthew 10:33  King James Version (KJV)

³³ But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

The two bracelets below are both made with vintage Swarovski crystal beads. The first is a turquoise crystal beaded bracelet on silver wire with a silver cross charm.  The second is a one decade rosary bracelet also made with Swarovski crystal beads, brass wire and crucifix.

Both completely different in design, yet symbolizing our faith, prayers and our focus on the cross.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/558513915/womens-bracelet-handmade-wire-wrapped?ref=shop_home_active_13

https://www.etsy.com/listing/480660605/one-decade-rosary-bracelet-handmade?ref=shop_home_feat_1

In the near future, Etsy is going to add gift wrapping options within our Etsy stores during checkout.  I have all of my supplies ready so I'm excited to begin with this newest feature. 

**As always, no animal products are used in any of my store items or packaging. **

New Swarovski Peridot and Tanzanite Crystal Bead Bracelets with Vintage Swarovski Charm * Rosary Wire Repairs

Two new bracelets listed this week at:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/LetOurLightShine

New Peridot Swarovski Crystal Beads on Golden Brass Artistic Wire

New Tanzanite Swarovski Crystal Beads on Golden Brass Artistic Wire

These two bracelets were listed this week in my Etsy shop.  I am working hard to get as many items completed as possible as I know we are all looking for Christmas gifts.  In addition, there are weddings being planned, birthdays to celebrate, and many other reasons you may want to purchase an item in my online Etsy store.  

Each item that I make is completed by hand in my home and is made to the best of my ability.  If I don't like the way something looks, I start over and/or redo the part that I don't think is up to my standards.  

Both of these new Swarovski beads are gorgeous!  I love the colors and they look beautiful within the bracelets.  

I have vintage and new Swarovski crystal beads within the items in my Etsy store.  I love both.  If you have a personal preference about the lead within the older crystals, then the new Swarovski beads will appeal more to you.  I love them all! 

Here are a list of my social media pages:

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/letourlightshineUSA/
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/LetOurLightShin
• Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/letourlightshin/
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/letourlightshineUSA/

Someone asked me about repairs on my rosaries and I would like to address this question.  As long as someone is willing to pay for the shipping both ways, to my home and back to your address, I will be happy to repair the wire on one of my rosaries or other wire repair items free of charge.  They should not break under normal use but if they are pulled with great strength, anything is possible.  As far as the beads, if one is lost or broken, I can not replace those because many are vintage and limited in supply when I make the item.  I do not keep extra beads after an item is designed and sold.  However, the wire is always available and I'm happy to repair any problems with the wire. Hopefully, that should never be necessary.  :-)

New Czech Alabaster Opal AB Fired Polished Beads * Vintage Swarovski Beads * Five Decade Rosary * Stainless Steel Wire

New Five Decade Rosary - Czech Alabaster Opal Beads - Swarovski Vintage AB Clear

I am really pleased with my new white AB Czech beads and the way they look with the Swarovski vintage beads from my collection.  It is a great blend of the vintage and the new!

If anyone questions the value of stainless steel in a rosary, they would know how strong it is by the callouses on my hands.  When you are bending the wire, it takes added strength so it leaves its mark on the palms of my hands afterward.  However, knowing that the rosary will last a lifetime gives me great pleasure.  So, if you are unsure about which rosary wire to use, stainless steel is a great option because it is amazingly strong, yet light in weight.  It will continue to look the same for years to come. Anything will break if used inappropriately, but if used as it is made to be used, it will last for years and years.  My thought is that it would make a wonderful wedding gift which should look exactly the same when the couple is celebrating their 75th Anniversary!

Please check out this latest rosary on my Etsy site from my online shop: Let Our Light Shine!

 

Light Rose Swarovski Bracelet and Earrings

I'm really pleased with the new beautiful Swarovski bracelet and earrings.  Almost everything in my store is adorned with a cross or Christian symbol.  There are only a few exceptions and earrings are one of them.  I had several requests for earrings to match my bracelets so this is an example of a matching set.  

My bracelet is hand wire wrapped and honestly I take great pride in my work.  I am not trying to mass produce items as fast as possible to turn a profit.  Of course, I want to make a few dollars on each one so that I can buy more beads and wire, however, to me, each piece is artwork.  I take a lot of time on each item and make sure it is something I would want to wear myself or give as a gift to a loved one.   There are other wire distributors that have wire that is cheaper but this wire has been wonderful for me and it shapes beautifully and items I made for myself over a year ago have never tarnished.  If they do tarnish at some point, I know I can use a silver cloth to clean them but so far, I have not needed to do so.  

I also love the vintage beads as much as I love the new beads.  Each have their own personality and look.  As with any jewelry item, it is all personal preference.  The handmade, hammered hook may be pushed it a little to form a tighter clasp if you prefer.  

These earrings are minimalist hand-hammered ear wires that match the bracelet above. I make my own ear wires so I do not have any clip earrings at this time. 

As always, I do not use any animal products in my jewelry items or wrapping supplies. As a Christian Vegan, everything is made to glorify God and keep animals safe. Hope you enjoy the new items I have added to my online store.  :-)

Vintage and New Swarovski Crystal Beads

In many of my designs, I use vintage and new Swarovski beads. I believe they are ALL absolutely beautiful.  When Swarovski originally designed these beautiful crystal beads, he said he wanted everyone to be able to afford a "diamond".  The idea being that his crystals looked like diamonds but were affordable. 

The following two sets of beads are in two bracelets that I have on my site, Let Our Light Shine. Each are beautiful in their on unique way.  One is vintage - one is new. Could you tell the difference?

Now, these two sets of photos do not have duplicate beads so the comparison is not exact, however, I share the two comparison sets of beads to share the beauty of both. The first photo is Aurora Borealis which gives the rainbow shimmer on each bead but the second design is not Aurora Borealis so you can see the visual difference.  Otherwise, both are turquoise, close in color, and have beautiful cut and design, looking completely uniform in every way, flawless.  

The first photo is a vintage pair of Swarovski 5000 round AB (Aurora Borealis) turquoise beads. They are vintage and I have had them in my collection for over twenty years.  Each bead is exactly like the next in that group and you see no bubbles within the bead; no flaws. 

The second photo is made with NEW turquoise Swarovski 5000 beads.  The beads in both photos are 8mm.  The new Swarovski beads are also flawless and have no air bubbles within the beads.  The facets all match and each bead is exactly like the next in that size, color, and shape.

In September 2012, Swarovski introduced a crystal which was virtually lead free.  I prefer to use Swarovski frequently in my designs as it is the most beautiful bead, in my opinion.  When I use other beads, if the design allows, I always include a Swarovski bead in the design.

If you want to read more about Swarovski beads, here are a couple of links for your reading pleasure:

https://www.swarovski.com/Web_US/en/brand

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swarovski

New Tanzanite Swarovski Beads 8mm Silver Women's Bracelet

 Newest Swarovski Silver Wire-wrapped Women's Bracelet

https://www.etsy.com/listing/548003310/womens-bracelet-handmade-wire-wrapped?ref=shop_home_feat_4

I love purple and the color of Tanzanite so when I found these Swarovski beads in the color of Tanzanite, I knew I wanted to use these beautiful beads for bracelets for my store. There are plenty of photos so you can see the beauty of Swarovski beads. Keep an eye out for more new colors, as well as, vintage beads in Let Our Light Shine!

New and Vintage Swarovski Beads

My newest Swarovski Peridot Women's Bracelet

For the last several years, I have been making jewelry, rosaries, and chaplets out of only vintage beads which I collected for over twenty years.  However, I knew the day would come when I would choose to design an item and need a specific color that I no longer had in my collection.  So, I found a certified dealer of Swarovski crystal beads and purchased new, beautiful beads to complete new items before the Christmas season approaches.  

This bracelet was using their beautiful peridot, bicone beads 8mm.  The beauty of Swarovski is so outstanding when it comes to crystal beads!  I am very pleased with the finished product and have several new colors that I will be adding to my store this week.  

I have also ordered Czech beads which I will be using for new rosaries. I will share photos when they arrive and my first new rosary is complete.  I have a large collection of vintage Swarovski beads which I will continue to use in all of my store items. I prefer to use the Swarovski beads for the Our Father beads in my designs and also most, if not all, of my bracelets and other jewelry.

Hope you take a look at the items I will be adding this week to my online Etsy store.  As always, everything in my store is free shipping to the US.  At this time, I am only shipping to the US but in the future, I hope to add other countries to my list of shipping destinations.

Let Our Light Shine!

Jen 

Swarovski Vintage Beads

All of the beads that I currently use in my jewelry and rosaries are vintage.  The reason that I know this, for a fact, is because they have been in my possession for over 20 years; some longer.  When they were purchased, they were purchased from those selling beads from years past.  At some point, way into the future, I will have to purchase beads because I will eventually run out of my collection.  Already, there are colors that have been popular and those beads are limited in my supply or completely gone.  For that reason, I have been researching how to identify Swarovski beads and make sure that I am not purchasing copies, many made in China. Here are several things that I've learned along the way in my research of vintage beads, particularly Swarovski crystal beads.  

There are three different cuts of vintage Swarovki beads in one of my bracelet designs.

Daniel Swarovski was born in 1862 in Northern Bohemia. He moved his business to Austria to use the beautiful streams as a resource for powering their company and to be in a remote area where their designs are kept secret. This is also where they continue their successful business with Swarovski's fourth and fifth generations in charge of their designs. Making beads and crystals is only a part of their business.  They also design the tools that their creations are made upon, as well as, other tools. 

The Aurora Borealis crystal effect was invented in 1956 in cooperation with Christian Dior. A special finish was given the name AB, taken from the phenomena in the northern skies known as the Northern Lights. AB, short for Aurora Borealis, is the abbreviation for a special finish which was applied to beads in the early 1950's to make them more radiant. Many of us, who were living at that time, remember our mom's wearing these beautiful beads. 

Over thirty five years ago Swarovski switched their numbering process from 2 or 3 digits to 4 digits. Therefore; the article numbers with 2 or 3 digits are the oldest and are a little more expensive if you are purchasing them in the original boxes. Daniel Swarovski used numbers, rather than color names, to protect his products from being copied. He rarely sold his beads in strings unless it was for a particular designer.  So, those beads, never used, would be packaged in boxes with product numbers.

If you compare a Swarovski bead with a copy, you should be able to pick it out for several reasons.  The first reason is that the cut is perfect and uniform.  Each bead in the number series have the exact match in color and cut.  The points are exact.  The second reason is that they are no bubbles or marks within the beads.  Daniel Swarovski and his family make all beads within a color group to match and are without blemish.  Keep in mind, that when these beads are recycled, they may have scratches on the surface, but never inside.  

In my current jewelry, all of the beads have been taken from original designs from the 50s and 60s so these beads have been recycled.  Eventually, I will be looking for vintage beads in the original boxes to make sure I am purchasing original Swarovski beads.  

(All of these bracelets but one have been sold.)  Can you pick out the Swarovski beads? 

The beads, from left to right, are blue Swarovski bicone 6mm, Purple Fire Polished Czech beads 8mm, Swarovski bicone 6mm lilac beads, Swarovski bicone Pink 10mm, and Swarovski turquoise round 8mm. All beautiful! All vintage! 

Wire-Wrapping with Stainless Steel Wire

When I am making a bracelet, rosary, or other wire-wrapped item, I usually use four basic wires: stainless steel, silver over copper, brass over copper, and copper wire.  The hardest and strongest wire that I use is stainless steel - 20 gauge.  I use 18 gauge for handmade hooks but normally 20 and 22 gauge are my go-to wire.

To be honest, I try to make one item with stainless steel wire and then wait a while before beginning another project using the same wire because it is so strong that it puts calices and sometimes cuts on my hands.  However, it is worth it to complete a finished piece that you know is very resistant to breaking and bending. If you are looking for an item that will last for years and years, stainless steel is a wonderful choice.  It all comes down to what you are looking for in your custom made item.

I love all of the wire that I use, each for different reasons.  For bracelets, I prefer a silver plate, bronze, or copper.  For rosaries and prayer beads, it depends of your personal preference, as they all make beautiful and long lasting items.

Another tip, if you are making an item with stainless steel wire, keep a different pair of wire clippers just to use with the stainless steel wire.  Since it is so strong, it tends to dull the standard jewelry wire clippers quicker than other wire, so keep a pair just to use with stainless steel wire.

Two items that I have currently designed using stainless steel wire are:

https://www.etsy.com/your/shops/LetOurLightShine/tools/listings/order:ascending/455287730

https://www.etsy.com/your/shops/LetOurLightShine/tools/listings/order:ascending/525029083

You can see how beautiful the stainless steel wire looks with the crystal beads, yet is amazingly strong and difficult to bend or break.

If you are looking for an heirloom piece that will last a lifetime, a great choice is stainless steel wire.