Monthly Archives

February 2011

Chain that charms

February 7, 2011

Guest blogger, Rings & Things’ Nory, suggests:

Make a jingle to your design jangle with our inspiring new
Charm Chain.

This dangle chain is bound to add movement and improvement to any design!

"Bell Flowers" bracelet by Mollie Valente

Within this unique style of chain, choose from several style variations:

"Greek Goddess" earrings by Tiffany White

Each soldered link has two charms attached. This Charm Chain or Fringe Chain, as some folks have started calling it around here, appears in 5 plating styles:

  • antiqued brass
  • antiqued copper
  • antiqued silver
  • matte black
  • matte silver

"Spring Skies" necklace by Cindy Morris

We currently offer Charm Chain in a generous meter portion (3.28 Feet), and a bulk 10-meter spool (32.8 Feet).

A week ago, I challenged some of our in-house designers to come up with a design project using our Charm Chain with whatever else they felt “charmed it together”. I gave each designer half a meter of the 40-092-02-AB, the classy leaf design in antique brass pictured above, and let them loose to creatively construct these wonderful designs seen here.

A meter of this chain makes 9 pairs of 2″ earrings… With more than enough jingle in a meter to get any design dangling off the ground, try it out and tell us how you love it!

Make a statement, with fired agate beads!

February 4, 2011
Make a Statement with Fired Agate Beads
Add sophistication to jewelry designs with fired agate beads, including new mustard fired agate & milky fired agate. Also known as crackled agate, this gemstone’s appearance is created by applying heat, hence the name “fired.” In person, these new faceted round beads sparkle & shimmer irresistibly! More news: Contest Early-Bird Deadline!
Fired agate beads give jewelry designs sophistication and sparkle.

Fired Agate Gemstone Beads

Jewelry Inspirations:

Create a Chan Luu style bracelet with shimmering milky fired agate gemstone beads.
“Cracked & Wrapped” Bracelet
Make these opulent chandelier earrings with mustard fired agate beads.
“Midnight Enchantress” Earrings
Add faceted fired agate gemstone beads to this simple chainmaille endless necklace.
“Milky Way” Chainmaille Necklace


Mardi Gras: A Celebration of Beads!

February 3, 2011

Here at Rings and Things, we eat, sleep, and breathe beads. In fact, some nights I think I actually dream about beads! We are by definition bead enthusiasts. Every year I can think of only one day, in one city, that celebrates beads in a way that can possibly rival our passion here at Rings and Things: New Orleans on Mardi Gras!

Let the good beads roll!

Each year, 46 days before Easter Sunday, the Big Easy erupts into a Bead Mecca. Beads are thrown from the balconies, collected by party-goers and hanging from the trees. The city is literally decorated in beads like a Christmas tree is adorned with tinsel.

In honor of such an amazing display of beads, I have decided to design some Mardi Gras-inspired jewelry that can be easily re-created to celebrate the big day, whether you live in New Orleans or New Hampshire!

This jewelry features beads in classic Mardi Gras colors; Purple, Green and Gold. (Did you know? — these symbolize respectively Justice, Faith and Power.) There are also cute little gold Fleur de Lis charms, an image synonymous with New Orleans. The jewelry is done using all gold-plated findings.

All of the supplies to make these items are readily available at our on-line store, www.rings-things.com! Any questions on making the jewelry? Contact us at 1-800-366-2156 and mention this blog!

Mardi Gras is on March 8th this year. So hurry and get your jewelry making supplies to celebrate Fat Tuesday in style! These projects are both affordable and fun!

Tiffany, Designer, Rings & Things

P.S.: Want more Mardi Gras jewelry inspirations? Enjoy our “Mardi Gras Memories” bracelet and “Mardi Gras Choker” designs!

Design contest: Early-Bird prize deadline!

February 2, 2011

Your Designs Rock Contest Early-Bird Drawing

Enter our annual contest by Monday, February 7, and we’ll add your name to our Early-Bird Drawing for a goodie bag!

Last year’s Early-Bird goodie bag included gemstone beads, wooden chain & gold-filled components.

Contestants are entered in the drawing 1 time for each of up to 3 complete entries submitted by February 7.

Don’t delay — that’s less than a week away! Contest details & entry form.