Old Fashion Girl

Archive for February, 2010

Best of Tucson Gem and Jewelry Shows

J.O.G.S. Tucson Gem and Jewelry show is the largest and most popular independent jewelry trade shows in the Tucson, Arizona area. Wholesale manufacturers, miners and international dealers gather at the Tucson Expo Center, the site of the J.O.G.S. show, every winter.
Buyer attendance at the J.O.G.S. show exceeds 27,000, composing over 4,000 jewelry firms. The majority of these are registered business owners representing the retail jewelry industry of the United States. The attendees of the J.O.G.S. show are owners of gift shops, private galleries, boutiques, department stores, and retail jewelry shops. The buyers are able to buy jewelry right on the floor as it is delivered; this makes J.O.G.S. a cash and carry show.

For the 2008 show, there will be approximately 800 booths of exhibitors selling wholesale finished jewelry, cut stones, gems, beads, coral, turquoise, amber and much more. The exhibitors are divided up by pavilions.

Must see at J.O.G.S.

A truly one of a kind Southwestern jewelry pavilion can only be found at the J.O.G.S. show. It is composed of great Mexican and Native American designs of turquoise and coral set in silver. Exhibiting are the top dealers, miners and manufacturers with the largest stock of jewelry from Albuquerque, Mexico and China.

The American Amber Association presents, at the J.O.G.S. show, the largest U.S. Amber pavilion. The pavilion is composed of amber designers and amber manufacturers from all the Baltic countries famous for their amber source. If you are an amber retailer or are just an amberholic, you will love this pavilion. The J.O.G.S. show is your once in a year opportunity to buy these great designs at an excellent price.

The Art Gem Dcor pavilion contain some of the most beautiful dcor items crafted out of stones, gems, copper, wood, metal and other materials. These are museum quality pieces created by some of the most talented artists in the world. This is truly one of the most unique art collections you will ever see, it is like an art show inside the J.O.G.S. show. Besides the exquisite art pieces, you can also find some great everyday interior design pieces. Other J.O.G.S. pavilions include the many international pavilions which represent the rich jewelry heritage of Indonesia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Mexico and Nepal.

Products at the J.O.G.S. show

There are products at the J.O.G.S. show to suit just about any buyer. The product range covers all price points, from high end one of a kind designs to everyday popular items available at wholesale prices. Often buyers rely on the expertise of the wholesale sellers to pick out next seasons hottest selling lines. Buyers can be seen purchasing large quantities at wholesale prices as well as occasional one of a kind purchases intended for personal and private collections.

Venue of the J.O.G.S. show

Each J.O.G.S. show is held in the state of the art Tucson Expo Center, one of Tucsons largest professional convention centers. The whole show takes place under one roof and on the same floor, ensuring that buyers visit every booth and no vendor gets left out. Great promotion, a complimentary lunch buffet for the buyers, top security and a red carpet atmosphere has been responsible for the success of the J.O.G.S. show.

Designer Cufflinks: Wearable By Design

It seems to you you’ve spent half your life waiting to see Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, “Mona Lisa” in person. You have read virtually every book and article about the mystique surrounding the work. You saw “The da Vinci Code” thirty times, which is probably a world record. On several occasions, you have burnt the midnight oil studying reprints of the artwork. Now here you are — in Paris’ Louvre Museum, standing in front of one of the world’s most famous artworks! Your eyes zoom in on the magnum opus like a microscope, examining the details of the painting, inch-by-inch. You realize that something is wrong with Mona Lisa’s smile, but you find it hard to put a finger on it. Then, it hits you what the problem is. Her mouth is missing! A detail missing from such a masterpiece is like a formal outfit without the perfect designer cufflinks.

More than Mere Details
The brilliance of artwork masterpieces is in the details. In another of da Vinci’s works, “The Last Supper,” the artist includes extra details of the background, which provide the work with increased depth and realism. Each of Jesus’ apostles displays a different reaction to their leader’s words. In addition, Michelangelo needed four years to complete the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, which includes one of his most renowned works, “The Creation of Adam.” The artwork meticulously shows the artist’s familiarity with the human body. Similarly, while a man’s formal outfit might not take four years to complete, its designer cufflinks must be chosen carefully to make the ensemble a masterpiece. The set of cufflinks puts the finishing touch on a work-in-progress that includes a shirt, a suit, a belt, socks, and shoes.

Shaping Up to Be a Masterpiece
In painting, the use of shapes is one of the numerous methods to perfecting details. For instance, some medical experts have indicated that in “The Creation of Adam,” the shapes and figures behind God form a human brain. If this were true, it would reveal the artist’s mastery in manipulating objects in artwork, to create shapes of other known objects. Also, in Georges Braque’s “Woman with a Guitar,” the artist expertly uses cubism to create his unique yet effective portrayal. Likewise, designer cufflinks can come in limitless shapes, from simple oval and square, to palm trees and faucets.

Mass Media
As important as the painting itself is what the painting is painted on. Masterpieces can be created using numerous media, including watercolor, pastel, oil, ink, fresco, and acrylic. For example, Claude Monet painted “Woman in the Garden” using oil. While Michelangelo’s artwork on the Sistine Chapel was done using frescos, in modern times, perhaps he would have used his talent to create the newest CGI animation blockbuster. In the same way, designer cufflinks can contain an array of materials, including fine stones, silver, gold, and even diamonds!

Soup and Superheroes
Finally, remember that details on a medium create the big picture. When an artist sits down in front of a white surface, his imagination alone limits what he can create. Vincent van Gogh painted sunflowers. Andy Warhol painted soup cans. Edvard Munch painted a screaming dude with a very bad hair day. In choosing designer cufflinks, the sky is the limit! Basic designs include your first name’s initial or naturally paired words. If you feel a little more expressive, go for the superhero or sports team logo. If you want truly wacky designer cufflinks, choose the telephone or acorn models.

A masterpiece does not happen by mistake. It requires great vision, planning, and attention to detail. Designer cufflinks are the same. A lot of vision, planning, and attention to detail go into their selection. It’s all worth it, however, because designer cufflinks make each suit you wear a singular modern masterpiece.

Beaded Lanyards: Quasi Jewelry

The typical lanyard is a length of basic rope, wire, or cloth that is designed to secure a small object. They are often purchased in large quantities and are fairly inexpensive. Many employees wear lanyards around their neck to secure identification badges while on the job.

Beaded lanyards can be as basic as an inexpensive metallic, beaded chain. They can be ordered through most typical lanyard suppliers and feature a variety of hardware attachments to secure small objects. These lanyards are often in several different lengths and an array of colors.

Other beaded lanyards are quite unique and are referred to by some as jewelry. They are designed by skilled artisans and can be extremely expensive depending upon the type of materials used. The cost of a beaded lanyard depends on the type of beads and wire used in its design. Beaded lanyard patterns may consist of colorful patterns of seed beads, glass beads, crystals, or even gemstones.

The most popular beaded lanyards are used to secure eyeglasses or sunglasses around the neck. They attach to the temples of the glasses, allowing them to hang around the neck when not in use. These exquisite neck lanyards are often referred to as eyeglass necklaces or eyeglass holders. They are a fashionable way to keep track of an item that can be easily misplaced or damaged. Beaded lanyards allow the wearer the freedom to easily put on and remove glasses frequently throughout the day.

Many bead artisans also offer jewelry pieces to coordinate with beaded lanyards. The beaded lanyard patterns are often duplicated in a bracelet, anklet, or pair of earrings.

One drawback of the beaded lanyard is that they are often fragile. They may look elegant but also may not have the durability of a nylon or cotton lanyard when worn frequently.

Dealing with Your Teenager and the Latest Fashion Trends

Are you the parent of a teenager? If you are, you likely already know that many teens want to look their best, at least fashion wise. For that reason, many teens keep up on the latest fashion tends and use them. While this is okay in some aspects, it can result in your teenager wearing baggy pants showing their boxers or revealing shirts that show off too much cleavage. While these do seem to be popular fashion trends, do you really want your child displaying them? If not, you may be wondering what you should do.

When it comes to your teenager and fashion trends that you may not necessarily approve of, your first thought may be to lay down the law. As a parent, this is your right to do, but did you know that you may actually end up causing more damage? Do you remember what it was like being a teenager? If you were like most teenagers, there was a good chance that the last thing you wanted was to be told how to dress by your parents and the same is likely so for your own teen. That is why you may want to think about taking a different approach.

One of the many instances where you should speak to your child about their fashions is if it may end up causing them some harm. As previously mentioned, many of the latest fashion trends for women and for girls are low cut shirts and low rise pants. This often ends up leaving a good portion of the body exposed. In todays society, you always need to be on the lookout for sexual predators. While your teenager may not necessarily be interested in someone, someone may actually end up getting that type feeling from them. This could put your teenager in a weird and possibly dangerous situation. If that is the case, you may want to take the time to explain that, as it may sink in better than if you were just to say change your clothes; you cant wear that.

It is also important that both you and your teenager remember that fashion trends regularly change. It is not uncommon for a fashion trend to only last a few months. If you are not happy with the current fashion trends, but your teenagers are, you may want to encourage them to explore other options. There are a number of fashion magazines and online fashion websites that have a large number of fashion trends and information on those trends. Not all fashion trends require the wearing of skimpy, clothing. For that reason, you may want to explore other options. If your teenager is a girl, it could actually turn into a neat mother daughter bonding experience between the two of you.

Something else that you may not necessarily think about, but should, is if your child goes to high school. Many high schools have dress codes and these dress codes often prohibit the wearing of revealing clothing. While not all schools actively enforce their dress codes, many out there do. Like with being told not wear certain clothes by their parents, many teenagers may feel angered being told by school officials. For that reason, you may want to take action before anything serious happens that could seriously jeopardize your child and their school records. It is not uncommon to hear of instances where children are suspended from school due to not following the schools dress code.

In short, teenagers and fashion are something that just seems to click together. While it is important for your teenager to fit in with others and be popular at school, they do not necessarily have to be wearing the hottest, clothes or fashion accessories to do so. They may not necessarily understand it at the time, but as a parent it is your job to help them and keep them safe.

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Art Of Jewelry Making

There are some jewelry hobbyists that exhibit their creative edge and brilliant talent when making their own jewelry designs. It is a very rewarding experience that is made quite simple through Internet jewelry websites. These fine jewelry retailers maintain an inventory of jeweler tools, castings and ring mounting devices to let a jewelry making enthusiast explore all possibilities at a reasonable price.

With so many gem choices to pick from, creative jewelry craftsman have the opportunity to cut, polish and enjoy brilliant works of art in jewelry form that they can give as gifts to special people in their life. These jewelers are very knowledgeable of what it takes to create a diamond, and are skilled craftsman when it comes to cutting multi-faceted gemstones with exquisite precision.

Its hard to believe that an unattractive chunk of carbon could be crafted into something so beautiful. People love to wear these chunks of coal around their necks as pendants, and around their fingers as engagement rings to show the world they are truly loved.

Some jewelers like to explore all of the possibilities and keep an abundant amount of amethyst, citrine, aquamarine and garnets and other semi-precious gems on hand to fulfill custom orders that will add wonder and magic to someones day.

Some people have a particular stone in mind when they come in to place their custom jewelry order. They get captured by the beauty of loose gemstones that they see in a highly lit display case and hand select several gemstones to be added to their order. These extra touches of color will make a truly special wearable jewelry item that is custom ordered in their favorite setting.

The shaping of gemstones is offered in at least 15 varieties and each will prominently display the refined tastes of the particular jewelry fancier. There are heart shapes that are typically ordered by star crossed lovers who enjoy a continual reminder of how they feel for each other. The marquise, rectangle, square and round shapes fill a more traditional shape that is found in most jewelry fashions on the market today.

For creating unusual and unique shaped jewelry pieces, jewelry enthusiasts might choose a trillion cut or perhaps a triangle cut that will turn a unadorned ring band with few possibilities into a work of art in very little time at all. The rectangular Octagonal and Cushion shapes make dramatic shaped gemstones gifts for the most astute jewelry wearer in your life.

Whether you prefer a ring setting that is basket shaped, or prefer bezels with baguettes running vertical and horizontal in a swirled and very ornate jewelry creation, there are certainly many opportunities to display your favorite gemstones in exquisite styles that fit your personality.

Many people bring in their older jewelry pieces to have them remounted into exquisite settings that give new life and satisfaction to an old ring arrangement that they are no longer comfortable with. Gems such as diamonds and rubies are collectible items that families pass down as heirloom items that the entire family can enjoy with a little work by a skilled jewelry craftsman.

Custom Embroidery Hats Protection And Fashion Rolled Into One

Custom Embroidery Hats Protection And Fashion Rolled Into One

Hats have been around for centuries. They were originally used to protect the head from the heat of the sun, but over the years, hats have been worn for so many different purposes. Men and women alike have used them as fashion accessories and even as status symbols in some parts of the world.

Today, hats are becoming popular once again, especially since people are more aware of the dangers that excessive sun exposure can bring to their health. But instead of wearing plain, boring hats, people are opting to protect themselves with style by wearing custom embroidery hats that reflect their own personal taste. With these custom embroidery hats, they can shield their heads from the sun while standing out from the crowd at the same time.

Many stores today sell a wide variety of custom embroidery hats, but if you are an artistically inclined individual, you may also choose to embroider your own hats. Just buy a plain hat and add your own embroidery designs to it. You can also breathe new life to your old hats just by adding a few decorative stitches to them.

Custom embroidery hats have also become very popular in sports especially in baseball. In almost every corner of the United States, you would see baseball fans proudly sporting custom embroidery hats or caps with the logo of their favorite major league team.

With the advent of embroidery machines that can mass produce custom embroidery hats, many companies have taken to attaching their logos onto caps. They have realized that this is a very effective and inexpensive way of advertising their company to the general public.

Using custom embroidery hats as a marketing strategy started with food chains and pizza parlors. But today, many different kinds of companies in different industries have their own custom embroidery hats.

If you have a business and are planning to promote your product or service by creating custom embroidery hats for your employees, all you have to do is go online and you will see hundreds of websites that can help you out. There are several companies out there that specialize in custom embroidery hats.

The prices for custom embroidery hats are very reasonable, but you would usually save more if you order in bulk. The exact cost would also depend on how complicated your logo is. Some companies would offer you more discounts if you choose to buy the blank hats from them, but that is not always the case.

The best thing to do is to visit several companies that make custom embroidery hats and compare their prices before placing an order.

There are five easy embroidery stitches that are started with. These stitches are known as the cross stitch, the back stitch, the 3/4 stitch, and the half stitch. the back stitch is used to create lines that go around something. The first step in completing this stitch is to find the center of the fabric and mark it. Place the fabric inside of the hoop and put it to the side. Seperate the DMC thread into six seperate threads that are about a foot to fourteen inches long. Do not put the two threads together. Insert them into the end of the needle and tie a knot to make sure that it is tight.

3 Steps To Having An Old Fashioned Christmas Holiday

There are many Christmas traditions that are gradually being lost in today’s high-tech, always-on-the-go world. But Christmas is the perfect time to slow things down and get back to basics to really enjoy the season. The following are three ways to have a traditional, old-fashioned Christmas.

1. Decorations

For many people, decorations are what make Christmas time special. The right decorations can set the mood for a traditional Christmas and let the whole family get involved in creating the Christmas spirit.

Start with an old-fashioned Christmas tree. Traditional decorations were all hand-made. Take a day early in December to get the whole family together to create the decorations such as stringed popcorn and chains made from colorful paper. Play Christmas music, serve eggnog and get everyone into the spirit.

Check your local thrift or antique shop for some old-fashioned decorations. Wax or blown-glass ornaments were commonplace in years past, and there are often some great examples to be found in thrift stores for next to nothing.

You can also look for antique tins with Christmas themes. These make great candy or fruit dishes.

2. Baking and Cooking

Baking and cooking come a close second to the Christmas tree for setting the mood for Christmas. Cookies, pies, and hot cider are all staples of an old-fashioned Christmas celebration.

The entire family can take part – even the non-bakers. They can help to decorate the sugar cookies or gingerbread men. Kids can help cut the cookie shapes before they’re baked.

3. Christmas Day

There are plenty of Christmas day traditions that can help create old-fashioned fun. Find someone to play Santa Claus and deliver the presents for everyone in the family.

Make the gift exchange time special. Don’t just tear into them en mass, give everyone a chance to open them separately. This gives everyone a better chance to show their appreciation, and people get to watch their reactions.

If you’re lucky enough to have a white Christmas, take some time out of the day to go sledding or have a snowball fight. Top it off by serving hot cider or hot chocolate.

These family traditions can be passed on from generation to generation, with each one adding their own extras.