For The Love of Beads BlogThe adventures of Suzanne, Nibbler, and friends in the world of beads and jewelry making crafts

Hello beaders!

We’ve added a great new selection of hematite beads for your beading pleasure.

Hematite is a stone with a rich tradition of use, from paint pigment to royal gifts. Abandonded hematite mines have been found dating back to 5000 BC, and it hasn’t fallen out of fashion since.

A beautiful silvery gemstone, it makes a perfect centerpiece for your beading creations, for anything from anklets to earrings. We offer a variety of sizes and shapes such as the Large Hematite Barrels shown to the right, so be sure to check them all out!

If you are looking for classic elegance, Black Agate is the right stone for you. There are many available options when you want something black as the central motif for your next beading project, but black agate is one of your best choices, due to its natural elegance, huge versatility and good price.

That´s why black agate is one of the most requested beads from customers. It´s well known that black color must be present in your jewelry box. Besides it´s considered the gemstone that brings happiness, prosperity and good luck to the wearer.

Black Agate was one of the first gemstones used in jewelry. Its black color has always been a source of inspiration for jewelry makers since at least 4,000 years.

Black agate is a gemstone of great appearance and bold beauty and its ultra-smooth texture makes it as the perfect central piece of your jewelry project. Here at FtLoB we have black agate beads in drops, cylinders, ovals, coins, rounds shapes. This wide variety of different kinds of beads allows you to play with this gorgeous stone and create a lot of designs for necklaces, earrings and bracelets.

USEFUL TIDBITS OF INFORMATION ABOUT BLACK AGATE

• Black agate is known to have a very calming effect on the body
• It´s believed to balance your energy levels
• It’s considered as a protective stone against any physical danger
• it promotes courage and self-confidence
• Black agate brings strength and that’s why it was considered the stone of warriors in ancient times

• Agate is a variety of quartz

• The price of the black agate makes this semi-precious gem very affordable for your jewelry designs.

• And last but not least, its elegant black color looks incredible, whether you are at work or in at that special occasion.

So, if you are considering using it as the theme for your next jewelry project or just like to use it as a talisman, it’s a good idea to have one of these stones close to you.

Here at FtLoB we offer you not only the best quality beads and material you need for your jewelry projects but also the best prices and attention you can find on the web.

Is black agate your favorite stone? If not, what is?

Amethyst Rectangles

Would you believe there was a time that amethyst was more valuable than emerald, sapphire and ruby? It’s true - this gemstone fetched prices as high as diamond, and was coveted as one of the most precious gems in the world. There was even a time that amethyst was highly appreciated by the European monarchies: it’s part of the British crown jewels, and it’s well known that Queen Catherine of Russia had a special affection it.

But in the 19th century (and fortunately for us simple mortals who are not part of any royal house), amethyst was found in such great quantities around the globe that its price was brought down drastically and now we can enjoy a truly royal gemstone at a very affordable price.

The impressive and enigmatic purple color of this stone ranges from violet to lavender. So, if you are considering these colors for your a next beading project we can assure you that amethyst is the stone you are looking for.

Isn’t it amazing how Nature can supply all the colors we need for doing everything? And it’s also wonderful to learn the stories people like to make up, in an effort to explain to ourselves how these colors were created.

Amethyst Teardrops

In the case of amethyst, it is said that Dionysus, the god of wine in Ancient Greece, was making amorous advances to a beautiful maiden named Amethystus but she rejected him because she wanted to remain chaste.  She asked for help and Artemis, goddess of the hunt, turned her into a quartz stone in order to preserve her chastity. Dionysus, ashamed of this, poured red wine over the stone to honor the maiden and that’s how amethyst got its characteristic color. There is some variations of this legend, but it always involves the same players.

Whatever the case may be, the stone and its color were associated with drinking alcohol. Actually, the word amethyst comes from Greek and it means “not intoxicated”. There was a belief that amethyst could protect the owner from strong drink.

Amethyst is found in many areas around the world but the best stones come from Brazil, Uruguay, Russia and Canada. Although Amethyst is now very cheap due to its availability, there are some stones which can still reach high prices because its extraordinary quality.

It’s said that amethyst has healing properties and if you place one stone under your pillow before going to sleep, this can help you against insomnia. It’s believed it is very helpful for headaches as well. If you wear an amethyst on a regular basis, it releases tension and of course according to the Greek myth, amethyst protects against drunkenness.

Amethyst Spheres

But one thing is for sure. Amethyst is a very delicate gemstone and it requires a lot of care. This stone can appear to fade, so keep it out of direct sunlight and avoid any contact with household cleaners which are also very harmful to its appearance.

Here at FTLOB, we offer you amethyst beads in spheres, rectangles and teardrop shapes, all in striking deep purple color. And we’re always adding more!

And as always, at FTLOB we’d love to hear your opinion about this or any other subject. And if amethyst is your favorite gemstone, please send us pics of your creations.

Small Jade Coins

This is not just another ordinary green bead. Jade is the gemstone that evokes the power of one of the greatest empires in the world’s history, China, and it should be the central piece in your next beading project.

Jade has been appreciated by humanity for at least 7,000 years, not only because of its beautiful color but also its remarkable toughness , which made this stone very useful for making weapons and tools before the Iron Age.

Although Jade is known for its green color, this is not always the case. Jade comes in a huge range of colors, from very dark to almost white. It doesn´t matter what color you choose, its shiny and sparkling surface always looks good in necklaces, earrings or bracelets, and it will turn your beading project into a sophisticated piece of jewelry.

Geologically speaking, there are two types of Jade, Jadeite and Nephrite. These two are very alike and for centuries they were considered the same mineral, because is very hard to say the difference between them. Truth is, both minerals are so similar that even the most experienced mineralogists can confuse them without a chemical test.

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Don’t think twice if you’re considering these special beads for your next jewelry project.

Lava stone has drawn my attention not only for its deep black color and rough texture, but also for the way it was developed. The simple fact that lava stone is indeed solidified lava makes my imagination go wild.

This stone is a genuine testimony of one of the most impressive and destructive forces on Earth and now is at your reach, through For the Love of Beads, as the central piece for your next beading project. It can be found in our other gemstones section.

When you have a lava stone bead in your hand you can feel through its unique texture that this stone is one of a kind. Its rare and pitted surface tells you how powerful the natural process were that made it.

This stone has been used in the construction industry for centuries due its light weight but strong and majestic appearance. No wonder the Spaniards used it to cover the facades of huge and stunning palaces and churches in Mexico City after the Conquest of Mexico.

It wasn’t until the 19th century that jewelers around the world incorporated lava stone beads to their designs. Its black and red color makes it very appreciated by people who are looking for an earthly look and want to make an homage to Mother Nature as well.

We have this beautiful stone in black color and 3 different styles and sizes. It works very well if you combine it with other natural beads, silver or glass.

Although there are plenty of places where there have been a constant volcano activity the material is not always available in the beads market because the shortage of lava stone bead´s skillful artisans.

Hurry up because the demand for this stone is growing up and we are running out of these unique beads.

And be aware of fake lava stone beads. There are some people who create faux lava rocks with polymer clay. The way to know if they are fake or not is simple. The real ones are resistant to pressure and scratching.

Lava stone has been considered for many cultures as the stone of the survivor. And because its obviously straight relation with fire, lava stone is also regarded as a powerful and energetic rock.

It´s said that the wearer feels a flow of energy as soon as they connect on a metaphysical level with this stone and also that they strenghten our connection to Mother Earth.

So, let fly your imagination and start making beautiful pieces of jewelry with the stone made with fire and please, send us pics of your creations.

Are you thinking of making a piece of jewelry that not only you can wear on a daily basis, but also symbolizes the love you feel for that special someone? At For the Love of Beads, we have in our gemstone section the stone you are looking for. Rose quartz is considered the stone of love. Choose this stone and make a piece of jewelry that expresses loudly to the world that LOVE is in your heart.

Cherry Quartz Oval Shaped Pendant

There are several kinds of quartz used in the jewelry industry but rose quartz is the only one that it’s universally regarded as the love stone. No matter if you are planning to use it in a necklace or a bracelet, there are several reasons why a rose quartz piece of jewelry must be in your wardrobe accessories.

For starters, rose quartz is not only one of the most popular quartz stones on Earth, but also one the most beautiful. Rose quartz is found in Madagascar, Scotland and the USA, but the biggest mines are located in Brazil.  It’s a curious fact that in early times, it was thought that crystal quartz was water ice frozen through time.

Rose Quartz Ovals

Rose quartz has always been used in jewelry although it has never reached high prices like other gemstones. It’s very frequent to use it in cabochons, beads and heart-shapes. It comes in a range of colors from pink to rose red but all hues related to love.

It’s said that rose quartz stones add love and energy to sentimental relationships. It’s also said that replaces negativity with harmony and it heals emotional wounds. It’s believed to hasten recovery from surgery. It can help balance the body and physical emotions as well. It also helps as the rejuvenator of the skin. It’s said that if you wash your face in water charged with rose quartz, it will keep your skin young.

To take care of the beads you have in your wardrobe, we recommend you to keep your rose quartz away from the sun, as it tends to fade when it’s overexposed to the sunlight. We have this beautiful stone in 4 models and in 6 sizes, along with others kinds of quartz beads.

Have you ever seen one of those artisans who sell their beautiful jewelry on the streets? These guys are in the streets of almost every large city in the world and yet you can´t help wondering why they prefer to be selling such nice things outside rather than in a store.

Well, today we are going to present to you an interview with one of those enigmatic guys. He lives in Mexico City, but you can find him almost anywhere. He´s that kind of artisan who likes to travel around the country selling his stuff at the main public squares or in the Zocalos. I met him one particular weekend when he came to my hometown. His name is Pedro Lopez and he sells semiprecious gemstones hand coiled in silver wire. He likes to use amethyst rectangles, black agate coins, coral beads, lapis lazuli beads, turquoise beads, jade beads, among other stones. Sometimes he mounts the stone in a silver frame with a loop at the top for stringing. He sometimes uses chamois leather or silver wire when he adds more little stones.  His prices range from a few pesos to hundreds and despite the simplicity of his designs they are made with good taste. He seems to balance perfectly the color, size and quantity of stones.

So, we approached to ask him a few questions about his work.

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One day, my wife and I had decided to expand our beading business and we came up with the idea that the best way to do it without neglecting our booth, or our jewelry making was to approach to a retail store. We soon found out that it was more complicated than we thought; putting your things in another place where you are not going to be selling them personally requires from you a lot of organization, even before going to talk to the store’s owner or the manager-in-chief.

For starters, you need to realize that you are going to attach yourself to a big promise that, in some cases, could involve legal liabilities. Therefore, you must be very serious about this. First of all, it´s very important to establish what kind of jewelry you are making and its potential market. From this, it decides what kind of store you want to approach. Once that´s settled, go to pay a visit and look around, but don´t make any appointments yet. Your goal here is to check out if they already have similar items to what you are trying to sell. Store owners always want to sell originals products.

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