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Over the past few weeks, lots of changes have happened on some of the pages on this website, a good example is the new Wedding Arrangement section just added to the Accessories page. Following some of your suggestions, I have combined all of the wedding-related items into one heading titled Wedding Arrangements and we are currently still adding to that section for the coming summer, in spite of all of the shutdown related activities due to the coronavirus. Even wedding ceremonies have undergone some changes with virtual wedding starting to replace regularly scheduled wedding ceremonies.

Our news page (this page) was recently updated and there is more summertime fashion related news on its way soon. Under Women's Apparel on the Accessories page, the former home for all of my scattered wedding information pieces, two new links have been added for Boho jewelry fashion and Sexy costumes. For the Do-It-Yourselfer especially in the jewelry-making department Jewelry Making Supplies have been added to the Fabric Craft page for the cord, wire, embellishments, and finding you need to create your own handmade DIY jewelry pieces.



There are a lot of legends and lore surrounding the practice of wearing birthstones. A lot of people believe that the idea of wearing birthstones started out as a marketing ploy by companies selling jewelry, and in these commercial super media times that would not be a good guess, but the reason behind the practice goes much, much deeper than that. The practice of wearing birthstones is actually rooted in astrology and religion. This post explores some of the myths behind the practice of sporting a birthstone.

One of the earliest stories connected to the practice of wearing birthstones came from the Christian Bible, the book of Exodus to be exact. The Breastplate of Aaron is described to have been mounted with twelve precious stones: ruby, topaz, beryl, turquoise, sapphire, emerald, jacinth, agate, amethyst, chrysolite, onyx, and jasper. These twelve stones represented each of the twelve tribes of the Hebrews.

Other ancient cultures, like the Hellenics and the Babylonians in particular, have associated certain precious stones with their gods and goddesses, and later on with the planets and the stars represented in astrological signs. These stones were given attributes relating to the astrological signs they are linked with, as well as supernatural, protective powers. To wear the particular gemstone associated with a particular month on that given month is to invoke the protection offered by the powers of the stone.

Over the years and as Christianity came to rise, the Church tried to downplay astrology in the lives of the flock, and so wearing gemstones came to represent guardian angels and the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ instead. The idea that gemstones have the power to protect its wearer was nonetheless retained. However, since only wealthy people can afford to own a different gemstone for each month, most people have adopted the practice of wearing just the gemstone that represents the month of their birth. Since that time gemstones have been referred to as birthstones.

There is a different birthstone for each month of the Gregorian calendar January the Garnet birthstone, February the Amethyst birthstone, March the Aquamarine birthstone, April the Diamond birthstone, May the Emerald birthstone, June birthstone is represented by the pearl, the only gemstones that come from a living creature.

July the Ruby birthstone, August the Peridot birthstone, September the Sapphire birthstone, October the opal birthstone, November Topaz is the birthstone, and the month of December Turquoise is the birthstone.

The practice of wearing birthstones goes deep beyond any marketing ploy. Wearing a birthstone is a practice of ancient origins, with deep religious and astrological roots. Birthstones are one of the most versatile gifts to give any season for any occasion.



Romantic jewelry is that jewelry that makes a woman feel special, like a princess. Perhaps that is why gold is such a popular metal for jewelry. In ancient Egypt, only the pharaohs and those especially favored by the pharaohs were permitted to wear gold. Another form of jewel that inspires feelings of romance are pearls, emeralds, and rubies... and, diamonds.

Pearls are both sensuous and mysterious and feel wonderful against the skin. To look deeply into a fine pearl is like looking into eternity. There is also something intriguing about a pearl, knowing that it came not from the cold hard ground, but from a living mollusk.

Historically baroque pearls (large irregularly shaped pearls) were used to make wonderful and fantastic jewelry back pearls, particularly Tahitian black pearls have become very popular in recent years. They come in a range of colors from spectacular purples and greens. The most beautiful black pearl necklace I've seen had the pearls arranged in a rainbow strung together so that each color melted into the one next to it and it was stunning.

Emeralds and rubies I consider the emperor and empress of gems. Perhaps it is their vibrant colors that inspired our ancestors. Certainly, that vivid blood red and the cool serpent green are still hard to ignore. Even today emeralds and rubies of equal size and quality are more expensive than their diamond equivalent.

In Victorian times colored gems were used to spell out love messages. Sometimes this made for interesting and not necessarily attractive settings, but it is very romantic. For instance, a piece of jewelry might have these gems in order:

LOVE: Lapis, Opal, Vermeil, and Emerald. REGARD: Ruby, Emerald, Garnet, Amethyst, along with Ruby and Diamond. The shape of jewelry too can harbor a romantic message. Hearts and clasped hands, hands holding a heart, and cupids are self-explanatory, but some shapes are a bit more subtle.

For many cultures, including the Romans and the Victorians, snakes were a symbol of enduring love. A snake biting its own tail to form a circle is a particularly potent symbol of everlasting love. Prince Albert gave Queen Victoria a snake engagement ring at the beginning of a celebrated and long marriage.

Interestingly lizards and frogs were (and perhaps still are) also symbols of wedded happiness. Perhaps this explains the continuing popularity of jewelry depicting these wiggly creatures.

Jewelry in the shape of flowers may also be symbolic. To quote Ophelia "There's rosemary, that's for remembrance; pray, love, remember: and there are pansies. That’s for thoughts."

Other flowers commonly found in jewelry are daisies for innocence, roses for the growth and continuation of love, and bouquets expressing the commingling and compatibility of marriage. When you are considering the perfect gift from that next anniversary, rather than the common "anniversary ring" how about a more romantic bouquet pendant?

So the next time you are looking through your jewel box before that special tryst or looking for the perfect gift for the perfect lover, consider the symbolic romance of jewelry and gems.





The ancient Egyptian language is displayed in symbols and one of the most recognizable symbols is the Ankh cross, the Egyptian symbol for the word life. The ancient is an ornate cross with an open loop at the top. The Egyptians referred the Ankh as The Cross of Life or the Key of Life. The Ankh symbolizes our mortal life, the afterlife, and fertility.

The Ankh was believed to have magical powers and was used in cult worship to fertility ritual. The Ankh predates the Christian cross in fact some scholars believe that the Ankh was model for the Christian cross.

Even though fashion has changed a lot since the fall of the ancient Egyptian empires this ancient symbol of immortality and death, the male and female balance seems to be as popular today as it was hundreds of years ago. So, if you've ever wanted to add to your collection of jewelry a piece of attractive Egyptian protective bling that represents a life that spans not only living in the material world but life in the spiritual everlasting afterlife as well then this ancient good-luck-symbol may be for you.

Dressing in ankh decorated clothing or jewelry has a history that is worth learning a little about. I found it interesting to know that there was once great unity and change connected to the power of ancient fashion and culture. Ancient people understood the powerful meaning of what geometry and symbols had to offer them, and how those things could affect the vibrations in their environment and the direct effects on them related to the physical plane of existence. Whether you're feeling like connecting with the ancestors and working on your spiritual connection to consciousness or just looking to add a fashionable finish to any wardrobe choice you make---add a little ankh to it.

The joy of life's energy is represented in this historical Egyptian symbol and even though you will find Ankh jewelry rings, Ankh jewelry bracelets, sweatshirts, and other Ankh-cross-images, all presented in many wonderful designs and color combinations, the true beauty of the Ankh is in its meaning---life!

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