May is LUPUS AWARENESS Month

This month I am donating 100% of my profit from Your Daily Jewels on Etsy.com to The Lupus Foundation of America.  

A Myriad of Custom Silver and Bronze Initials at Your Daily Jewels

"Help us solve the Cruel Mystery" is their latest campaign. Please sign the petition at CruelMystery.org asking Congress to fund more research for this incurable disease of which there is no known cause. I have been on the same drugs for 22 years. Only one new drug has come out for Lupus in the last fifty years.

I don't tell people I have Lupus until I have known them for a long time. I do this for me. It helps me avoid being known as "sick."  I would much rather be known as "me" and  once I know someone and feel close to them, I tell them. At that point I am "Norah, she has Lupus". I am not tagged as "My sick friend." It helps me not to have the tag of "sick" because I have to be careful not to buy into this myself. It would be too easy to drop out and say, I can't participate in life, I am "sick"

Oh, believe me, I do my share of loafing around and not participating, but that is because at that point I am really sick.  

Lupus Foundation Image of the Classic Lupus Butterfly Rash

Me, Butterfly Rash and Hair Loss

Remission: Happy, Healthy in my Studio

People have asked me what the hardest part is about living with Lupus. The being sick part is not #1 on the list because that problem has solutions: treatment and time. Although, I have never had life threatening kidney involvement. The dreaded diagnosis Lupus patients fear everyday. At that point, or other life threatening situations that occur with lupus, this list will change.

 The hardest part of having a chronic, unpredictable illness for me is:

•  Making plans.  At 9:00am, I don't know how I will feel at 3:00 pm; never mind tomorrow or next week. Having important plans set in stone is very stressful for me because I am anxious about disappointing people I care about and love; and missing out on life. It is usually pain, fatigue, and a fever from nowhere that wipes me out. Stress exacerbates Lupus, and 'round we go.

• Worrying when I am too weak to get down two flights of stairs to my jewelry studio, and my orders are running late.

• Staying out of the sun. The day I was diagnosed, that was the first thing the doctor told me. "No more sun." She could have easily have said, "Tomorrow you move to Siberia". I grew up with baby oil and tin foil reflectors!   Now I am fully covered, sun-screened, or inside all Summer. I do get an occasional spray-tan :)  I have to wear sunscreen and a hat under my studio lights and in the car. I feel like I have the flu immediately if I have 20 minutes of sun exposure. This can trigger a Lupus Flare-up that can last a month

• Living in fear. Since being diagnosed with Lupus I have been diagnosed with Sjogrens, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Raynaud's, Vasculitis, Hashimoto's, and Celiac disease.I have  had bone, joint, and connective tissue involvement. Lung, heart, vision, skin, vascular, and very scary brain involvement. Everyday, while in remission the fatigue is staggering. But it is the fear of what might happen next that is difficult. It may be tomorrow; perhaps five years from now; maybe it will just leave?

 I dream of living fearlessly

 If you have Lupus, or think you might and you would like to connect with me, please do! If you would like to learn more, the Lupus Foundation Website   (http://www.lupus.org) has great easy lists of what it is, what the signs are, how you can help, links to local Lupus societies, Lupus fundraisers in your area, and lots more.

Some of my jewelry pieces speak to me about my own journey with Lupus. Maybe they will speak to you, and 100% of your purchase price will go to The Lupus Foundation.

While I liveI'll Crow

Latin: Invicta: UNDEFEATABLE - 1800's Livery Button

"Alls Well" English Intaglio- year: 1850

Thank you so much for reading,

Timeless, Classic, Beautiful Pearls

 

-->Pearls: freshwater and saltwater

Pearls fit into two categories: freshwater and saltwater. As their name implies, freshwater pearls are formed in freshwater mussels that live in lakes, rivers, ponds and other bodies of fresh water. By contrast, saltwater pearls grow in mollusks that live in the ocean.

I have to send a special thank you to Lynn of Urban Pearl Studio on Etsy.com for finding me these beauties. I can't wait to see what they will become.

 

 

Urban Pearl Studio  is THE go to for handmade artisan wedding jewelry, from pearl strands, to  earrings; multi-strand necklaces and bracelets with gorgeous gemstone box clasps,  and so much more.

 

Multi Strand Keshi Pearl Necklace with Kyanite Box Clasp

 Lynn  has another shop where you can source out your own gemstones, TexasBeadz, or purchase more of her wonderful artisan gemstone jewelry at BeadzNBling, also on Etsy. Thank you again, Lynn, for finding me these gorgeous pearls!

Natural pearls are those pearls that are formed in nature, more or less by chance. Cultured pearls are those in which humans lend a helping hand, such as in China’s dominating freshwater pearl farms. Today more than 99% of all pearls sold worldwide, both fresh water and salt water, are cultured pearls, "designed" from the start to be primarily flawless.

The Different Types of Pearls 

Akoya Pearls are the pearls most people think of when they think of pearls. Perfectly round, gleaming and lustrous, white Akoya pearls were the very first cultured pearls available anywhere in the world. The classic look still reigns today as the definitive standard of the pearl industry. Akoya pearls are saltwater pearls from both Japan and China, and generally range in size from tiny 2.0-3.0mm seed pearls to the largest and rarest 9.5-10.0mm sizes.

Black Tahitian Pearls are rare black pearls from French Polynesia, shimmering with vibrant overtones that are unmistakable and unforgettable. Popular overtones include Peacock, which is a green-gold mix tinged with rose, to Aubergine or deep eggplant; silver and steel tones, and aquamarine or shades of blue-green, all laid over a palette of dove and dark charcoal greys..

Traditionally ranging from 8.0mm up to 16.0mm in size, their glamorous sizes, combined with their unique, naturally-occurring range of greys and blacks make these pearls very desirable.

South Sea Pearls: large and luminous in white and golden from Australia and the Philippians are the largest and rarest of all cultured pearl types in the world. Pearls cultured in the Pinctada maxima saltwater oyster, which can grow up to a foot in diameter at maturation, routinely obtain sizes that range from 9.0mm up to an astonishing 21.0mm! The pearls’ golden and white colors are completely natural, needing no dyes or artificial enhancements.

Cultured South Sea pearls are also known for their soft, satiny glow which is due to their thick nacre layers, acquired through as much as 4 years’ cultivation time. Gorgeously glowing. They truly draw me in.

freshwater

Freshwater pearls come in a variety of colors and shapes to suit every taste, occasion, and budget; from perfectly round, gem-quality pearls to cute button-shapes. Known for their natural pink, lavender and classic white hues, freshwater pearls are an affordable choice that brings the beauty of pearl jewelry to many, without sacrificing quality. 

Fresh water pearls are usually dyed or irradiated and it is not difficult to tell whether a pearl's color is natural. There is even a tutorial in Fire Mountain Gems on how to dye your own freshwater pearls!

There are several different types of Freshwater Pearls that you may be familiar with:

Biwa Pearls

The most famous type of freshwater cultured pearl is the Biwa  pearl which used to come from mussels grown in Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest freshwater lake which is now polluted. These grow to become what we know as “stick” pearls

Keshi (sometimes spelled Keishi) Pearls ( my favorites)

Keshi Pearl Necklace by Your Daily Jewels

Keshi (in Japanese it means "poppy seed") may be salt or freshwater and are sub-products of the pearl. Basically, pearl garbage. When the oyster rejects a nucleus or a pearl, the fragments of epithelium may yield keshi, baroque-shaped pearls of small diameter which have no nucleus. Keshis come in different size, shapes and coloration.

Mother of Pearl

Mother of Pearl is the iridescent substance that forms the lining of the shells of some fresh-water and some salt-water mollusks. Mother of Pearl jewelry is  made from the inside part of the oyster shell. Like the pearl it is a secretion of the mantle, (nacre). Among the chief sources are the pearl oyster, found in warm and tropical seas, chiefly in Asia; freshwater pearl mussels, which live in many rivers of the United States, Europe, and Asia; and the abalone of California, Japan, and other Pacific regions.

To learn more about pearls, how they are made, their role in history, how they are graded, etc. there is a beautiful exhibit, full of really interesting info. at the online site of the American Museum of Natural History-online . 

 also, great information on PBS at The Perfect Pearl.

Here is a hint of what will be coming from those lovely pearls I got from Lynn.

YourDailyJewels

everyone loves pearls!

Don't for get to scroll down for some JET Pearls! 
Thanks for reading,

Norah

EARTH DAY and the Disney Baby Blog

I am honored, excited, and thrilled beyond words that I was asked by the head writer for Disney's Baby Blog to be part of their feature titled:

Earth Day 2013: Eco-Friendly Gifts Ideas For Mom & Baby

They only featured ten items and one of them was one of my most popular initial styles"

I have every initial available recycled silver and eco-friendly bronze

Thank you  Nadia Carriere!

Right around the corner is Mother's Day. This initial is a perfect gift for mom for this, or any occasion.

Celebrate Earth Day everyday and I will see you in a few...

      

         Thanks for reading,

Recycled Silver Monogram Initial Pendant Necklaces

 

Finally! After many requests, Your Daily Jewels is creating personalized monogram pendant necklaces from 100% recycled fine silver. Hot off the press, and not even listed yet. Please contact me at my Etsy shop if you are interested.

Did you know Humans,prior to written language, as early as 350 BC were using monograms as a means of identification. In ancient times, monograms were used to sign art works or coins. In the middle ages their use spread widely as a signature. It's imporant to remember that most kings and emperors were not able to write or even to sign their own name!

Monograms were used by the Greeks and Romans who marked their coins with the initials of the ruler of the region and then later added to mark valuable items of the royalty to show their place in high society.

Today the traditional monogram is three initials, the first name initial , followed by the last name initial (centered and larger) and finally, the middle initial. The earliest monograms were just a two intitials.

Just a little tidbit on a Sunday afternoon

Thanks so much for reading!
Norah

Livery Buttons - A Short History

 

Happy Bunny on Labradorite Chain - 1850's  Your Daily Jewels

Livery Buttons

Invicta -" Undefeatable" - estim. 1790.

Sometime in the 13^th century the idea of a buttonhole and button was conceived.

In the 18^th century, buttons were truly tiny works of art. Button making became a profitable sideline for many of the starving artists of the day. Typically, the most exquisite of these buttons was about the size of a 50- cent piece. 

A “livery” is an insignia, symbol, or uniform button worn by one who provided service to a noble or aristocrat to represent their relationship to their employer.

My passion, my quest, my contribution to history:

As a card-carrying member of the National Button Society, one of my favorite pastimes is scouring the earth for 18th and 19^th Century relics in order to preserve them. I cast from them, in order to create beautiful modern heirlooms for you, to be worn and passed on for centuries more.

Initial Pendants are Made from Wax Seal Stamps and Livery Buttons at Your Daily Jewels

The word itself comes from the French “livrée”, meaning delivered. Most often it would indicate that the wearer of the livery was a servant, depend-ent, follower, or friend of the owner of the “livery.” Like heraldic Crests, a livery button was a fast way to identify friend or foe in a time of war.

Notre Dame - Early 1800's - Made to Order at Your Daily Jewels

The fashion for livery buttons started among the upper classes in the mid-eighteenth century, and lasted as an accepted practice into the Edwardian era of the early twentieth century. 

After the first World War, new income tax and changing social and economic conditions quietly put an end to the era of the livered servant among the wealthy upper class. 

Scottish Livery, "I Ready Myself with Arms"

Beyond the prevalent use of Latin, there is a whole cryptic language  and symbolism to livery buttons, heraldry, and crests & shields. I am having fun learning the meaning behind many of them. 

For fascinating history you can read The Big Book of Buttons by Hughs & Lester, http://www.ukdfd.co.uk, and Fairbairns Book of Crests, London : T. C. & E. C. Jack.  I will be more sharing as I learn.

Scottish, Cuff button

Thank you for reading,

Norah

Visit Your Daily Jewels on Etsy, here:

Spero Melior - Hope for Better Things - 1832

 

Earth Day 2013

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Ok, green stuff aside. Can I be really superficial now and talk about celebrities if I  promise to talk about Earth Day and Climate change closer to the day (April 22)?

I have been chosen to be a part of a great gifting opportunity. I will be giving my 100% recycled silver compass pendant to a small group of celebrities at this year's Earth Day event that will be covered by

-->Valerie Guerrero of The Artisan Group (TAG) of which I am a member.

 

This is just the start! So far, I know I will be giving one to #LeonardoDiCaprio,  #CameronDiaz, #SherylCrow, #OrlandoBloom, #Sting, and #Pink. More names to come!

I have more compasses in the tumbler right now. I will be back to show you some in golden bronze in a day or so.

For info. on Earth day check out the official website:

-->

http://www.earthday.org/

If you are local in NY:   http://www.earthdayny.org/

Each state has their own Earth Day activies you can become involved in.

For more info. on Valerie and the Artisan Group, check out her website above or visit the TAG Facebook page 

Thank you so much for reading!

Norah