Barrettes are part of the official uniform for childhood for just about every girl with long hair. Many girls take great pride in coordinating their barrettes with their outfits. Help them out by customizing prefab barrettes to wear and share. Buy plain barrettes at your local drug or discount store and decorate them with your [...]
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During the Flower Power era, the renewed interest in Asia and the Far East led to a return to natural materials such as bone, ivory and Indian metalwork. Western jewelers were influenced by the varied assortment of goods being imported from Asia, and leather thong jewelry hung with dyed feathers and wooden beads typified the [...]
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In the 1930s, the glamour and extravagance of the twenties gave way, particularly in America, to increasing economic hardship and to the Depression. This had a number of different effects on the jewelry trade. On the one hand, people were less able to afford expensive jewelry, and so the costume jewelry market was comparatively thriving, [...]
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The world of the twenties was changed dramatically from that of the prewar period. New technologies and materials developed during the war had changed the very nature of the manufacturing industries. The fashion industry in particular took off, and it was catering for women whose role had been changed by the war. No longer were [...]
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Whereas some costume jewellers of the late 20th century are happy to exploit artificial materials to create a contrived and sophisticated look, the dawn of a growing awareness of the value of natural products — like wood, paper and leather – means that strong references to all that is natural are now influential too.
Inseparable from [...]
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The design sources of many of the jewellers whose work is illustrated are as diverse as can be, but their inspirations derive from four broad categories: the materials they use; historical influences; looking at what is around them with an open mind; or a strong commitment to a concept that they want to encapsulate in [...]
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Woodcarving
Paint is not the only decorative possibility for wooden jewellery — woodcarving is worth considering too. The best wood to use for this is a hardwood like beech or sycamore which, although it is more difficult to carve than softwood, will survive more wear and tear. Small tools are essential for carving pendants and brooches [...]
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Fillers and strengtheners
Fillers are normally used to improve colour, to produce metallic effects or to strengthen the resin and make it scratch-resistant. Fillers start off dry and are mixed in with the resin before the addition of the catalyst. Inert filler is specifically for use with polyester resin, making it durable and water-resistant. Metal fillers [...]
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