Check out http://missrie.artfire.com.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Designs By Missrie Now on ArtFire.com!
I've just opened a studio on ArtFire.com. The nice thing about ArtFire.com for buyers is you do not need to register or open an account to purchase! Come check it out!
Check out http://missrie.artfire.com.
Check out http://missrie.artfire.com.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Time for another Sale!
Hey everyone! I'm offering 20% off all items in my shop this weekend. Sale ends 12:00pm EST Sunday. Please reference "June Sale" in your notes to the seller and wait for an adjusted invoice in your email!
http://missrie.etsy.com
http://missrie.etsy.com
Friday, October 17, 2008
**WEEKEND SALE**
Hey folks! I'm offering 20% off all items in my shop this weekend. The weekend does start on Friday of course! Sale ends 10:00pm EST Sunday. Please reference "Weekend Sale" in your notes to the seller and wait for an adjusted invoice in your email!
http://missrie.etsy.com
http://missrie.etsy.com
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Book Swap!
For about a year now, I've been a member of Paperback Swap and I absolutely love it! In case you dont know, PaperbackSwap.com is a site where you share books with other members. For every book you give away to a member, you get credit for a book to grab from another member. So you're pretty much paying postage. If you love books as much as I do, you need to check this out!
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Snow White
Last week I was so flattered to be included in this Snow White treasury. This treasury was created by the very talented JET member Vandivalicious. Please click on the picture below to get a good look at all the beautiful creations.
Vandivalicious specializes in making earrings and pendants on wood tiles. Some of her creations are made on scrabble tiles. I think that's very clever! Two of my favorite items from her shop are
Black Magic Wood Tile Earrings
and
Bloom - A Scrabble Tile Pendant
Please check out more of Vandivalicious wonderful designs in her Etsy Shop!
Vandivalicious specializes in making earrings and pendants on wood tiles. Some of her creations are made on scrabble tiles. I think that's very clever! Two of my favorite items from her shop are
Black Magic Wood Tile Earrings
and
Bloom - A Scrabble Tile Pendant
Please check out more of Vandivalicious wonderful designs in her Etsy Shop!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
How to Tell If Jade Is Real
I found this interesting article and had to share! Useful info for fellow jade lovers!
http://www.wikihow.com/Tell-if-Jade-Is-Real
How to Tell if Jade Is Real
Jade is a beautiful stone that can be green, orange, or white. If you are about to go shopping for jade or have an old piece of jade, here is an article that will help you tell if you have found the real thing.
Steps
1. Become familiar with imitation jade. Only jadeite jade and nephrite jade are authentic jade. The most expensive and desirable jadeite (Burmese Jadeite, Burma Jade, Imperial Jade, or Chinese Jade) usually comes from Myanmar (formerly Burma), and small quantities are mined in Guatemala, Mexico and Russia. 75% of the world’s jade comes from the mines of British Columbia in the form of nephrite, but it's also mined in Taiwan, Canada, the United States and (in small amounts) Australia.[1] Materials passed off as jade include:
* serpentine ("New Jade" or "Olive Jade")
* prehnite
* aventurine quartz
* grossular garnet ("Transvaal jade")
* Chrysoprase ("Australian jade" - most of it comes from Queensland, Australia)
* Malaysia Jade (permanently dyed translucent quartz that may be called by its color – Red Jade, Yellow Jade, Blue Jade)
* opaque dolomite marble ("Mountain Jade" - from Asia, dyed in vibrant colors)
2. Irregularities mean it's probably real
Hold it up to a bright light. If possible, examine the internal structure with a 10X loupe. Can you see little fibrous or granular, felt-like, asbestos-like intertwinings? If so, it's probably genuine nephrite or jadeite. Chrysoprase, on the other hand, is microcrystalline, so it'll look homogenous.[2]
If you see anything resembling layers with the 10X loupe, you're probably looking at jadeite that's been "doubled" or even "tripled" (thin layer of gem-quality jadeite sometimes glued over a different base).[2]
3. Observe the density. Both jadeite and nephrite have a very high density (jadeite - 3.3; nephrite - 2.95). Density is measured by dividing the weight (in grams) by the volume (c.c.).
* A specific density gravity test can be performed as described below, or you can judge the density less accurately by tossing the stone in the air and catching it in your palm. If it feels heavier than most stone pieces of the same size, it is more likely to be authentic jade.[3]
* Another way to judge density is to observe the sound of plastic beads gently tapping each other. If you have a piece of real jade, clink it against the stone in question. If it sounds like plastic beads, then the stone in question is probably fake.
4. Should be cold and stay cold for a bit
Hold the piece of jade in your hand. It should feel "cold, smooth and soap like to the touch".[4] It should take a while to get warm if it is real. However, this is very subjective, and most helpful when you can compare it to real jade of a similar shape and size.
5. Perform a scratch test. Jadeite is very hard; it will scratch glass or even metal. Nephrite, however, can be much softer, so performing a scratch test improperly may damage a genuine piece. Use the blunt end of a pair of scissors and gently press down and draw a line on an area on the jade piece that is not visible (bottom or end of the piece). Avoid any weathering surfaces because these are much softer and can be easily damaged. If the scratch makes a white line, gently wipe it off (it might be metal residue from the scissors). Is there still a scratch? If so, it's probably not authentic jade.[5]
* Perform this test at your own risk. The piece may be very valuable, even if it's not made from jade, and can lose significant value if scratched.
6. Look for other deceptive practices. Even if you have real jade in your hands, it can still be treated by dyeing, bleaching, use of stabilizing polymers, and creating jade doublets and triplets. Jade is divided into three categories based on these possibilities:
* Type A - natural, untreated, undergoes a traditional process (plum juice washing and polishing with beeswax), no "artificial treatments" (e.g. high temperature or high-pressure treatments), "true" color.[6]
* Type B - Chemically bleached to remove impurities, injected with polymer with the use of a centrifuge to enhance translucency, covered with hard and clear plastic like coating, subject to instability and discoloration over time because polymer gets broken down by heat or household detergent, still 100% real jade with 100% natural color.[6]
* Type C - chemically bleached, dyed to enhance color, subject to discoloration over time due to reaction with strong light, body heat or household detergent.[6]
Density Test[7]
1. Gather the Things You'll Need as outlined below.
2. Use crocodile clamps to grasp the jade item. If the scale doesn't come with crocodile clamps, wrap the tested jade with a piece of string, a rubber band or a pony tail holder.
3. Lift the spring scale by its top handle and write down the weight of the jade item in air.
4. Gently place the jade item completely into the water bucket and write down its weight in water. The clamp can touch the water; it shouldn't significantly affect the weight. If you're concerned, however, use one of the alternatives described above. Since the test is based on the difference in weight, as long as the string, band or pony tail holder remains on the jade both in the air and in the water, the difference will be the same.
5. Calculate the volume of jade item: weight in air minus weight in water.
6. Calculate the density of the jade item: weight in air divided by volume. Jadeite has a density of 3.20-3.33, while nephrite has a density of 2.98 - 3.33.
Tips
* If you really love jade and want high quality pieces, the piece you purchase should be accompanied by a lab certificate verifying that the piece is "A" quality. Most established, high end retail jewelers only sell A quality.
* If there are air bubbles in the jade, it is not real.
Warnings
* Ancient jade pieces are usually unique. If you see a dealer selling many designs that look similar, this is a red flag. Ask plenty of questions, and request a certificate of authenticity.[3]
* With a scratch test, you can destroy a perfectly good piece of nephrite jade.
Things You'll Need
For the density test:
1. spring scale (100 gram, 500 gram, or 2500 gram, depending on the weight of the piece(s) you're testing)
2. bucket, big enough for you to dip your piece(s) of jade in
3. strings
4. pony tail holder
5. rubber bands
6. paper towel (to dry items)
Sources and Citations
1. ↑ http://www.dragonfly-jewelry.com/blog/2005/04/jade-real-deal-or-fake.html
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.colored-stone.com/stories/may01/jadegemid.cfm
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://reviews.ebay.com/Bidding-on-Ancient-Chinese-Jades_W0QQugidZ10000000000855969
4. ↑ http://dreamartgallery.blogspot.com/2008/01/collecting-jade-dream-art-gallery.html
5. ↑ http://reviews.ebay.com/Is-it-really-Jade_W0QQugidZ10000000000917865
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 http://www.jademart.com/type.htm
7. ↑ eBay Guide - Jade density test
http://www.wikihow.com/Tell-if-Jade-Is-Real
How to Tell if Jade Is Real
Jade is a beautiful stone that can be green, orange, or white. If you are about to go shopping for jade or have an old piece of jade, here is an article that will help you tell if you have found the real thing.
Steps
1. Become familiar with imitation jade. Only jadeite jade and nephrite jade are authentic jade. The most expensive and desirable jadeite (Burmese Jadeite, Burma Jade, Imperial Jade, or Chinese Jade) usually comes from Myanmar (formerly Burma), and small quantities are mined in Guatemala, Mexico and Russia. 75% of the world’s jade comes from the mines of British Columbia in the form of nephrite, but it's also mined in Taiwan, Canada, the United States and (in small amounts) Australia.[1] Materials passed off as jade include:
* serpentine ("New Jade" or "Olive Jade")
* prehnite
* aventurine quartz
* grossular garnet ("Transvaal jade")
* Chrysoprase ("Australian jade" - most of it comes from Queensland, Australia)
* Malaysia Jade (permanently dyed translucent quartz that may be called by its color – Red Jade, Yellow Jade, Blue Jade)
* opaque dolomite marble ("Mountain Jade" - from Asia, dyed in vibrant colors)
2. Irregularities mean it's probably real
Hold it up to a bright light. If possible, examine the internal structure with a 10X loupe. Can you see little fibrous or granular, felt-like, asbestos-like intertwinings? If so, it's probably genuine nephrite or jadeite. Chrysoprase, on the other hand, is microcrystalline, so it'll look homogenous.[2]
If you see anything resembling layers with the 10X loupe, you're probably looking at jadeite that's been "doubled" or even "tripled" (thin layer of gem-quality jadeite sometimes glued over a different base).[2]
3. Observe the density. Both jadeite and nephrite have a very high density (jadeite - 3.3; nephrite - 2.95). Density is measured by dividing the weight (in grams) by the volume (c.c.).
* A specific density gravity test can be performed as described below, or you can judge the density less accurately by tossing the stone in the air and catching it in your palm. If it feels heavier than most stone pieces of the same size, it is more likely to be authentic jade.[3]
* Another way to judge density is to observe the sound of plastic beads gently tapping each other. If you have a piece of real jade, clink it against the stone in question. If it sounds like plastic beads, then the stone in question is probably fake.
4. Should be cold and stay cold for a bit
Hold the piece of jade in your hand. It should feel "cold, smooth and soap like to the touch".[4] It should take a while to get warm if it is real. However, this is very subjective, and most helpful when you can compare it to real jade of a similar shape and size.
5. Perform a scratch test. Jadeite is very hard; it will scratch glass or even metal. Nephrite, however, can be much softer, so performing a scratch test improperly may damage a genuine piece. Use the blunt end of a pair of scissors and gently press down and draw a line on an area on the jade piece that is not visible (bottom or end of the piece). Avoid any weathering surfaces because these are much softer and can be easily damaged. If the scratch makes a white line, gently wipe it off (it might be metal residue from the scissors). Is there still a scratch? If so, it's probably not authentic jade.[5]
* Perform this test at your own risk. The piece may be very valuable, even if it's not made from jade, and can lose significant value if scratched.
6. Look for other deceptive practices. Even if you have real jade in your hands, it can still be treated by dyeing, bleaching, use of stabilizing polymers, and creating jade doublets and triplets. Jade is divided into three categories based on these possibilities:
* Type A - natural, untreated, undergoes a traditional process (plum juice washing and polishing with beeswax), no "artificial treatments" (e.g. high temperature or high-pressure treatments), "true" color.[6]
* Type B - Chemically bleached to remove impurities, injected with polymer with the use of a centrifuge to enhance translucency, covered with hard and clear plastic like coating, subject to instability and discoloration over time because polymer gets broken down by heat or household detergent, still 100% real jade with 100% natural color.[6]
* Type C - chemically bleached, dyed to enhance color, subject to discoloration over time due to reaction with strong light, body heat or household detergent.[6]
Density Test[7]
1. Gather the Things You'll Need as outlined below.
2. Use crocodile clamps to grasp the jade item. If the scale doesn't come with crocodile clamps, wrap the tested jade with a piece of string, a rubber band or a pony tail holder.
3. Lift the spring scale by its top handle and write down the weight of the jade item in air.
4. Gently place the jade item completely into the water bucket and write down its weight in water. The clamp can touch the water; it shouldn't significantly affect the weight. If you're concerned, however, use one of the alternatives described above. Since the test is based on the difference in weight, as long as the string, band or pony tail holder remains on the jade both in the air and in the water, the difference will be the same.
5. Calculate the volume of jade item: weight in air minus weight in water.
6. Calculate the density of the jade item: weight in air divided by volume. Jadeite has a density of 3.20-3.33, while nephrite has a density of 2.98 - 3.33.
Tips
* If you really love jade and want high quality pieces, the piece you purchase should be accompanied by a lab certificate verifying that the piece is "A" quality. Most established, high end retail jewelers only sell A quality.
* If there are air bubbles in the jade, it is not real.
Warnings
* Ancient jade pieces are usually unique. If you see a dealer selling many designs that look similar, this is a red flag. Ask plenty of questions, and request a certificate of authenticity.[3]
* With a scratch test, you can destroy a perfectly good piece of nephrite jade.
Things You'll Need
For the density test:
1. spring scale (100 gram, 500 gram, or 2500 gram, depending on the weight of the piece(s) you're testing)
2. bucket, big enough for you to dip your piece(s) of jade in
3. strings
4. pony tail holder
5. rubber bands
6. paper towel (to dry items)
Sources and Citations
1. ↑ http://www.dragonfly-jewelry.com/blog/2005/04/jade-real-deal-or-fake.html
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.colored-stone.com/stories/may01/jadegemid.cfm
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://reviews.ebay.com/Bidding-on-Ancient-Chinese-Jades_W0QQugidZ10000000000855969
4. ↑ http://dreamartgallery.blogspot.com/2008/01/collecting-jade-dream-art-gallery.html
5. ↑ http://reviews.ebay.com/Is-it-really-Jade_W0QQugidZ10000000000917865
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 http://www.jademart.com/type.htm
7. ↑ eBay Guide - Jade density test
Friday, July 25, 2008
Kindred
I spent the afternoon at the beach with some friends a couple weeks ago. We were looking for beach glass, when one of my friends found this stone. I knew I had to make a necklace with it.
The stone is white with black streaks running through it. It almost has a stripe effect to it. I've carefully wrapped sterling sliver wire around the stone. I thought this piece should be simple so I've put the pendant on a double strand of delicate chain. The length of the necklace is 20" and the clasp is handmade by me.
The stone is white with black streaks running through it. It almost has a stripe effect to it. I've carefully wrapped sterling sliver wire around the stone. I thought this piece should be simple so I've put the pendant on a double strand of delicate chain. The length of the necklace is 20" and the clasp is handmade by me.
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