I thought I would take this off the main page and create a new page with information about the beads I use.

Also please be aware that all the jewellery is hand made by myself, and should be treated with care. To keep your jewellery in good condition, avoid contact with substances such as perfume and hairspray.It is best to spray on perfume and hairspray at least ten minutes before and waiting until it is dry before putting on your jewellery.Keep the items in sealable bag when not being worn, as constant exposure to air will result in the silver tarnishing quickly. Keep them away from young children as the beads could present a choking hazzard.

            A little information about the beads

Cloisonne    Made by wiring flower shapes onto a metal bead with layers of enamel to give the different colours. Beautiful. Slight variations from bead to bead because they are handmade. 

Paua Shell   

Paua is a species of abalone(Haiotis Iris) It is only  found in the sea around New Zealand.This marine mollusk eats seaweed and lives clinging to the rocks at depths of 1-10 meters,normally along the shore line.Paua shell is the most colourful of all the abalone shells.Most other abalone are pale in comparison.

 

Swarovski Crystal; Swarovski represents the height of unmatched quality, unique variety, crystal brilliance.

                                                 

Murano Glass

 

Produced in Italy (the island of Murano gives its name to the glass), these beads are exceptionally high quality and lined with silver or gold.

 

Millefiore Glass     Slender rods or tubes of colored glass fused together and embedded in clear glass; - used for paperweights and other small articles such as beads.  

 

                                       Bead Finishes    

              Colour-lined beads are made with transparent glass but have an opaque colour dyed or painted inside the hole. This colour is protected from excessive abrasion but can be rubbed off by thread.

Iridescent (or Iris, Aurora Borealis (AB) or rainbow) beads are transparent, opal or opaque beads with durable multicoloured shiny finishes applied by fuming metal salts onto the hot glass for a permanent bond.

Lustre beads (known as luster in the US) are transparent, opal, or opaque beads with transparent, uniform shiny finishes that are usually permanent. Opaque lustre beads are often called pearl and opal lustre beads are sometimes called Ceylon.

Matt (known as matte in the US) have flat, dull or frosted finishes.

Metallic (or galvanised) beads are glass beads that have a shiny, metal-like surface coating which is usually a baked-on paint. The coating may wear off over time.

Opal beads transmit light but are milky or translucent. Good opal glass glows like an opal gemstone.

Opaque beads transmit no light and you cannot see through them.

Painted or Dyed beads have bright or unusual colours achieved by applying dye or paint to the finished beads with heat and solvents. These dyes can wear off.

Satin beads look striated or layered because of the many minute air bubbles pulled through while the molten glass is formed. The apparent shade varies with viewing angle.

Silver-lined (or silverlined or SL) beads are made with transparent or opal glass and have a mirror like reflective lining in their holes. Usually, but not always, the hole is square to enhance the bead’s reflectiveness.

Translucent beads transmit light and you can see through them though not clearly.

Transparent beads transmit light and you can see clearly through them.

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