How To Determine Your Correct Bangle Size - It Isn't All In the Wrist

How To Determine Your Correct Bangle Size - It Isn't All In the Wrist

My sterling silver and gold filled bangles are very popular and I get a lot of questions about sizing.

Since bangles slip over your hand, the size is not determined by your wrist. I happen to have very small wrists, but still wear a size medium because my hands are a little larger.

I've created a YouTube video that gives a complete explanation about sizing for my bangles. A visual is so much easier to follow than a written explanation!

January Birthstone - Garnet

So often we give birthstones as gifts to our loved ones, but did you know there is a story behind each stone?

January’s birthstone, the garnet, symbolizes a light heart, loyalty and enduring affections.

Garnet is the modern birthstone for January. It is the Zodiac birthstones for Aquarius, and an alternate for Capricorn. Garnets are given on the 2nd and 6th anniversary.

There are many myths and legends surrounding the garnet. One Biblical legend is that Noah hung this gem on the ark to light his way through the dark and stormy nights of God's wrath. The stone is said to have the power to ensure good health and protect its owner during travel. Therefore, a gift of garnet is thought to be symbolic of love and the desire for a loved one's safe travel and speedy homecoming.

One glance at the deep red seeds nestled inside of a pomegranate fruit explains why the word "garnet" comes from the Latin word "granatus," meaning "grain" or "seed." This name was given to the garnet because of its close resemblance to the succulent pomegranate seed. First mined in Sri Lanka over 2,500 years ago, the garnet is also found in Africa, Australia, India, Russia, South America; and in the United States, in Arizona and Idaho.

Bangles are extremely popular these days. I offer both a sterling silver filled and gold filled version with the swarovski garnet crystal.

Silver Bangle

Gold Bangle

Thoughtful Teacher Gifts Under $30

Personal Teacher Gifts Under $30

There are two times a year when I get lots of requests for teacher gifts - the holiday season and the end of the school year. Often times, I will get an e-mail from a past customer who wants a special gift for their child's teacher and needs a suggestion. Here are my top 8 picks for gifts, each in a different price category.

I do also take special requests so if you see something you like but want it changed up a bit, please don't hesitate to contact me.


Gifts Under $10
Many times, it's the child themselves that is purchasing the gift and so budget is usually a little tighter. Here are very popular items that I suggest.

Tiny Antique Silver Hammered Earrings  - $6.00
These earrings are one of my top sellers. They are very small which makes them appropriate for anyone. Many times it is difficult to judge a person's taste when buying jewelry. These are simple and versatile.

Blue Sea Opal Quartz and Silver Earrings - $8.00
Another big seller are these blue sea opal quartz silver earrings. Everyone loves this color, it's so tranquil and soft, but without being too pastel.

Gifts from $10 to $15
I have so many jewelry pieces in this prices range, that it was difficult to select just two to display here. But, these both are nice choices and appeal to many.

African Turquoise and Gold Bar Bracelet - $12
I have this bracelet in both gold and silver, and both sell equally well. Bracelets are always a good selection for gifts and my friendship style bar bracelets come with a 1" extender for an easier fit.

Tiny Sterling Silver Nugget Earrings - $10.00
These earrings are a very new addition to my shop and I cannot keep them in stock. They sell as quickly as I list them. They are sterling silver, which is always a good choice for a gift. The sterling silver nugget is very small and lightweight, again very appropriate because they are versatile and fit anyone's style.

Gifts from $16 - $20
This category is probably the most popular price point for teacher gifts and my silver bangles are definitely the biggest seller for gifts.

Sterling Silver Bangles - $16 - $19
I have a wide variety of bangles available, but the birthstone bangles are, by far, the most popular. I offer each bangle in every birthstone color. These are great gifts because they have a personal touch.

Personalized Sterling Silver Bracelet - $20
This is one of my personal favorites. It's sterling silver and the chain is a bit chunky so it fits really well. Sterling silver is always a great choice and the personalized stamp makes it extra special.

Gifts from $21 to $25

Personalized Silver Necklace with Birthstone - $22
If you like the idea of the birthstone bangle, but are worried about sizing or not sure if your recipient wears bracelets, then the personalized silver necklace with choice of birthstone is a good alternative

Long Layered Antique Silver Necklace with Antique Discs - $25
If you notice your recipient wears a lot of jewelry, then long necklaces are definitely something to consider. This necklace layers very well with other jewelry and is so versatile, can be worn casually to work and out in the evening.

I hope this list helps! If you have any favorites of your own, please share in the comment section below.

Instagram Giveaway

Theresa Rose Designs Instagram Giveaway

I'm running my first Instagram contest. The winner will receive my very popular personalized sterling silver birthstone bangle.

You can find me at instagram: Theresa Rose Designs

To enter, follow these 3 steps

1. Repost this pic
2. Hash tag #lovetheresarose
3. Tag me @TheresaRoseDesigns. 

You must be a follower. Giveaway is open to U.S. only and will end midnight on Nov. 8.

November Birthstone Jewelry - Theresa Rose Designs

Handmade Jewelry - November Birthstone Ideas

November is just a couple of days away and it seems to be a popular month for birthdays. If you have someone on your gift list with a November birthday - here are a few ideas.

Personalized Gold Necklace with Topaz Quartz Stone- $20.00

 

Topaz Quartz Gold Framed Earrings - $12.00

Sterling Silver Topaz Quartz Earrings - $10.00

November Birthstone Topaz Quartz Sterling Silver Bangle - $17.00

Swarovski Crystal Topaz and Gold Bangle - $20.00

Swarovski Crystal Topaz and Sterling Silver Bangle - $20.00

Simple Jewelry Photography - My 3 Secrets

Simple Jewelry Photography Secrets

I'm often asked about my secrets to taking good jewelry pictures. I've been selling on Etsy for 6 years, and as you can tell from my before and after pictures, I've learned a few things along the way.

I would never refer to myself as a photographer and I have constantly struggled with my photography over the years, but with a lot of research and practice, I now feel like I've gotten a good handle on it. Here are my 3 top 'secrets' that I've picked up over the years.

1. The Right Camera and Lens

Have a good camera with the proper lens! Sorry, but this really is essential. The iPhone just won't cut it, at least not with jewelry. Jewelry photography has its own set of challenges and to get the fine detail that is needed, a good camera with the proper lens is important. I happen to have the Canon EOS 40D which works very well. But, here is the real secret - the 100mm Macro lens. Unfortunately, it can cost between $300 to $500 just for the lens. But, if money is an issue, the 50mm lens also works very well and you can get it for around $100.  These lenses allow you to get really good detailed close-up shots. 

2. Natural sunlight. 

This isn't as hard as it sounds. I still shoot indoors but next to the window (see the video link below for my 'perfect' location). Shooting next to the window allows me to get the natural sunlight that gives the best effect. I add 2 lamps on either side and I get a beautiful, natural setting that works for any color jewelry I photograph. Even better, with this setup I have no need for a light box. I've tried light boxes in the past with inconsistent results.

3. Wear White.

I went years without knowing this great secret. When you are taking pictures, the color bounces off of your clothing and wearing white makes you a natural reflector - cool huh! Wearing a different color shirt can create an off-color cast on your images, making the background color look dull or unnatural. I had always wondered in the past why some photo sessions turned out all wrong. Once I learned this secret, I've always had consistent photography.

Here is a video of my photography 'studio' setup:
Theresa Rose Designs - Jewelry Photography

I hope these 3 tips help you. Please leave a comment if you found this useful and/or you have additional tips to share.

How I Designed My Own Website Without Hiring a Webmaster

How To Design a Simple Website

Creating and maintaining a website doesn’t have to be a monumental task. I think one big mistake people make is that they look at big company websites and are immediately intimidated by the scope and grandeur of these sites. For most of us, it’s just important to have a presence on the internet that contains pertinent information and links to our product offerings on our shopping site, such as Ety.

While I maintain a successful Etsy shop, I also have my own website. This site shows my latest jewelry products in a slideshow and then has links to my Etsy shop, blog, facebook fan page, twitter, and pinterest. There is also an ‘About’ page and a ‘Contact’ page. It took me one week to create and I used all free code found on the internet! I can modify it at a later date as my needs change. But for right now, I have all my important information on one site.

I found a great site on the internet called Free Website Templates. I browsed through their templates until I found one that had the style I was looking for. One caveat -  there are some templates (usually the best ones), that do not allow you to download the code. You can only edit and publish from their site. I quickly dismissed those. There are still many free downloadable templates to choose from. 

Once you download the code, then it’s just a matter of replacing their logos, images, links, and text with your information. Fortunately, I used to be a windows programmer, so I do have a lot of comfort in coding, but html code is very straightforward and anyone can edit it in a simple text editor. The source code is not cryptic and one can usually decipher it readily. If you’re stuck on a piece of code, just google it! You’ll find all the descriptions you need.

The most difficult task was replacing the main body picture with the slideshow pictures. I found a great site on the internet that gave me the free code for the slideshow – with all the instructions needed to integrate their code. There’s even a discussion board to help!

The company is Dynamic Drive and their website can be found here:

http://www.dynamicdrive.com/dynamicindex14/fadeinslideshow.htm

Once I edited the files, cleaned up my images, I copied all the files onto my hosting site (I use hostmonster.com) and I was instantly on-line! It was a great feeling to type in my website and see my jewelry on the internet.

I’m happy to help anyone who may have a question regarding what I discussed today. Please feel free to leave a comment and I’ll help any way I can. I realize that programming can be a bit daunting, but it is so worthwhile to have your own website!

Here's the link to my site: Theresa Rose Designs