What makes lapis high quality?

Let's discover what makes lapis qualify as "high quality". There are a few things to look at when classifying lapis:

Died or not? If it is died the color will look very consistent. Natural lapis should have some variations in color. So in conclusion the more the color varies the lower the quality.

Is it waxed? Waxing the stone is just part of the polishing process. Waxing doesn't efffect the quality, but it does create a shinier stone. The centerpiece of Butterfly with Lapis Necklace at our website is a good example of a waxed, high quality lapis stone.

Is the Color Consistent? I mentioned above that the more uniform the color, the higher quality… as long as the stone is natural. Some lapis will have streaks of gold or patches of white. This indicates a lower quality, although this can add texture and dimension to the stone.

What is the real truth about pearls?

When trying to value pearls, there are two main characteristics to consider: size which is measured in millimeters and the quality of finish. The quality of the finish or nacre coating gives a pearl its luster.

Did you know there are several types of pearls? Pearls require no polishing or faceting to shine. Both natural and cultured pearls are made of mollusks but natural pearls are made without human intervention and cultured pearls need an irritant added to the shell in order for the pearl to grow.

Most pearls used in jewelry necklaces, bracelets and earrings are either cultured or imitation. In fact, since the 1920's natural pearls are very rare. That's one more reason to know the difference between natural and cultured pearls and to trust the source of your handmade and unique jewelry.

The women in my family have all been quilters, going back three generations to my great-grandmother. When I was growing up, I never understood why they would spend months under a lamp creating a quilt, one stitch at a time. When they were done they would put their beautifully handmade quilt in a safe place away from the sun, dust bunnies, and dirty little hands.

I am older now, and I finally appreciate the time it took them to make those quilts. Now I understand that dust, the sun, and my dirty hands would have ruined them. My grandmother and great-grandmother are gone, but I am grateful for those memories. They left behind beautiful quilts that I will someday give to my children and my grandchildren.

With advanced technology in the world, even in the arts and crafts world, quilting has progressed to level of mass production. In a sense this is good because it increases the value of those hand-made, custom-designed quilts from the days of yore. But this raises another point. What about the quilts from days of yore?

There are still quilters that hand build quilts from beginning to end. That means the squares or other shapes of fabric are chosen with a purpose, or artistic statement in mind. The design and fabric that holds those shapes of fabric together are not held together for efficiency, but rather with that design in mind and with the long life of that quilt in mind too.

The quilts created by retailers or online vendors are cheap, and production is fast. You may even be allowed to choose the design, what color of fabric will be used, and where on the quilt pieces of fabric will be placed. Most of the time, these types of quilts are done quickly and end up looking just like many other quilts. If you want a quilt that is long-lasting and has been created artistically, then a custom handmade quilt is for you.

Not only can you choose the colors and design for your quilt, a custom quilter can help you decide which colors and designs will best compliment your desired look. Fiber artists truly care that your quilt is beautiful; after all, they do put their names on their quilts. You do not see this with a mass produced quilt.

Although custom handmade quilts are more expensive and take longer to make than mass-produced quilts, this is the best option if you want a keepsake. You will get a beautiful quilt that will last so long that future generations will be able to hide this keepsake from the sun, dust bunnies, and the dirty hands of their children.