Ready...Set...Assessorize!

My Mother shared this with me!!!

2010-09-01T19:19:00.000-04:00

This is one of the

Best prayers

I think I have ever read.

PRAY THIS EVEN IF YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE IT!!

IT WILL ONLY TAKE A MINUTE.

I started not to do this, but as I read it....

I understood God to say,

'You need a miracle tomorrow'

So here goes....

You never know

When God is going to bless you!!

Good things happen when

You least expect them to !!!!!!!!

Dear Lord, I thank You for this day,

I thank You for my being able to see

And to hear this morning.

I'm blessed because You are

A forgiving God and

An understanding God.

You have done so much for me

And You keep on blessing me.

Forgive me this day for everything

I have done, said or thought

That was not pleasing to you.

I ask now for Your forgiveness.

Please keep me safe

From all danger and harm.

Help me to start this day

With a new attitude and plenty of gratitude.

Let me make the best of each and every day

To clear my mind so that I can hear from You.

Please broaden my mind

That I can accept all things.

Let me not whine and whimper

Over things I have no control over.

And give me the best response

When I'm pushed beyond my limits.

I know that when I can't pray,

You listen to my heart.

Continue to use me to do Your will.

Continue to bless me that I may be

A blessing to others.

Keep me strong that I may help the weak...

Keep me uplifted that I may have

Words of encouragement for others.

I pray for those that are lost

And can't find their way.

I pray for those that are misjudged

And misunderstood.

I pray for those who

Don't know You intimately.

I pray for those that will delete this

Without sharing it with others

That God changes people and

God changes things.

I pray for all my sisters and brothers.

For each and every family member

In their households.

I pray for peace, love and joy

In their homes; that they are out of debt

And all their needs are met.

I pray that every eye that reads this

Knows there is no problem, circumstance,

Or situation greater than God.

Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight.

I pray that these words be received

Into the hearts of every eye that sees it

Amen!

If you prayed this prayer,

God Bless ! ! ! ! !

If you shared this God Bless you even more!

Just repeat this phrase and see how God moves!!

God I love you and I need you,

please come into my heart.

Share this message with10 people except you and me. You will receive a miracle tomorrow.

Don't ignore this and God will bless you.

Know that you are already blessed.

How to take care of your handcrafted jewelry

2010-08-02T13:12:00.000-04:00

Taking care of your jewelry can mean that you have beautiful pieces for some time. With just a little extra love and care you can maintain the beauty of all your jewelry.

Remember to take it off before bathing, cleaning and swimming. Some chemicals and harsh additives can destroy your jewelry such as chlorine and bleach. Abrasives can scratch and damage stones and metals. One good tip to remember is apply lotions and perfumes, etc. before you put on your jewelry. Another would be to wipe it with a 100% cotton cloth that is lint free before storage then store it in a zip lock bag can also keep it from tarnishing.

Don’t store pearls or opals in the sealed zip-lock bags. Both stones are sensitive to humidity and could be damaged from improper storage. It is best to keep pearl and opal jewelry in the soft cloth bags or wrap in tissue paper.

These bags and cloths also keeps it from contact with others pieces which can cause unwanted scratches and the loosing of stones. Always check for loose stones and fittings before wearing or cleaning your jewelry.

I have heard of using toothpaste, but never use toothpaste because it has abrasives. You can clean it with a mild soap and warm water. Then with a soft bristle toothbrush just gently clean your jewelry. Allow it to dry completely before storing it back in the bag.

The greatest method to reduce tarnish is to wear you jewelry often. Our natural body oils helps keep fight against tarnishing. This is also great for pearls because our body oils can keep them from drying out.
To remove tarnish on your Sterling Silver try this method which is something you can easily do at home with

glass dish,
hot water
aluminum foil
baking soda

Place a piece of aluminum foil in the bottom of a shallow dish. Set the tarnished item directly on the aluminum foil. For this to work it has to come in contact with the aluminum foil.
Heat a quart of water to boiling in a saucepan, then carefully and slowly add 1/4 cup baking soda. Be careful, because it could fizz up and spill over, So you may want to do this in the sink or a deep container. Now mix until the baking soda is dissolved. Pour the water into the dish until you have covered the jewelry completely. The more tarnished the pieces the longer this process may take.

Jewelry cloths and liquids cleaners are also a popular cleaning item but before you purchase one - Read the cautions listed on the cloth. These cloths are chemically treated and can't be used on :

Amber * Coral * Emarald * Ivory * Jadeite * Lapis Lazuli * Malachite * Opals * Pearls *

Remove light grease or dirt, add a small amount of mild liquid soap to a half cup of warm water, soak 2-3 minutes, rinse thoroughly with clean water and dry completely before storing in an air tight plastic bag. You must be very careful when using any soaking method to clean jewelry that has soft stones such as Amber, Lapis lazuli, or turquoise. Extended soaking in any solution may harm the polish on the stone.

You can also store your handmade jewelry in a dry dark place. Try to avoid places with lots of moisture because this can cause jewelry to tarnish and corrode. The less exposure to the light the better because this can cause metals to tarnish and some stones, like turquoise to fade and loose it's beauty.

We also sell antique jewelry which we believe that you should take your items to a reputable jeweler to have them clean it for you. Special care must be taken because glues and stones can become loosened over time.

If you have tips or ideas on cleaning your handcrafted jewelry we'd love to hear from you.

A friend shared this with me, now I share it with you.... Who will you share it with?

2010-07-24T21:50:00.000-04:00

THE STONE

TWO FRIENDS WERE WALKING
THROUGH THE DESERT  .
DURING SOME POINT OF THE
JOURNEY, THEY HAD AN
ARGUMENT; AND ONE FRIEND
SLAPPED THE OTHER ONE
IN THE FACE .

THE ONE WHO GOT SLAPPED
WAS HURT, BUT WITHOUT
SAYING ANYTHING,
WROTE IN THE SAND ,

TODAY MY BEST FRIEND
SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE .

THEY KEPT ON WALKING,
UNTIL THEY FOUND AN OASIS,
WHERE THEY DECIDED
TO TAKE A BATH
THE ONE WHO HAD BEEN
SLAPPED GOT STUCK IN THE
MIRE AND STARTED DROWNING,
BUT THE FRIEND SAVED HIM.

AFTER HE RECOVERED FROM
THE NEAR DROWNING,
HE WROTE ON A STONE:

'TODAY MY BEST FRIEND
SAVED MY LIFE'
THE FRIEND WHO HAD SLAPPED
AND SAVED HIS BEST FRIEND
ASKED HIM, 'AFTER I HURT YOU,
YOU WROTE IN THE SAND AND NOW,
YOU WRITE ON A STONE, WHY?'
THE FRIEND REPLIED
'WHEN SOMEONE HURTS US
WE SHOULD WRITE IT DOWN
IN SAND, WHERE WINDS OF
FORGIVENESS CAN ERASE IT AWAY.
BUT, WHEN SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING GOOD FOR US,
WE MUST ENGRAVE IT IN STONE
WHERE NO WIND
CAN EVER ERASE IT'
LEARN TO WRITE
YOUR HURTS IN
THE SAND AND TO
CARVE YOUR
BENEFITS IN STONE.
THEY SAY IT TAKES A
MINUTE TO FIND A SPECIAL
PERSON,
AN HOUR TO
APPRECIATE THEM,
A DAY
TO LOVE THEM,
BUT THEN ,
AN ENTIRE LIFE
TO FORGET THEM.
SHARE THIS WITH
THE PEOPLE YOU'LL NEVER
FORGET.

I JUST DID..

IF YOU DON'T
SHARE IT TO ANYONE,
IT MEANS YOU'RE IN A
HURRY AND THAT YOU'VE
FORGOTTEN YOUR FRIENDS.

TAKE THE TIME TO LIVE!

DO NOT VALUE THE THINGS
YOU HAVE IN YOUR LIFE, BUT VALUE
WHO YOU HAVE KNOWN IN YOUR LIFE!

Be kinder than necessary,

for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Revamped Victorian Filligree Cross

2010-07-23T16:20:00.001-04:00

re·vamp

tr.v. re·vamped, re·vamp·ing, re·vamps

1. To patch up or restore; renovate.

2. To revise or reconstruct [ a piece of jewelry for example ;) ]

Reworking jewelry is a big trade in the handmade community. Like I said before it's something that my mother has been tell me to do for a while. If you actually think about it's a great concept. Take something old or new and add new life to it. Make into something completely new. Take a necklace that looks like it missing something and add to it, or completely change it. What I live most it there is that you'll have a unique and one of a kind piece of jewelry like no one else. Your unique and unlike anyone else on this planet so why shouldn't your jewelry be also?

We found this Victorian cross on one of our shopping sprees. We aren't sure how old it is but it definitely has a vintage look to it. The previous owner really had gotten some wear out it. Most of the black stones were missing and it had an wonderful aged look to it. There was also a chain and black cord attached to it also. So we decided to buy it and give it little tlc and some color.

A co-worker of my mother's had previously given us a huge amount of jewelry to work with. Thanks you so much. Which included Swarovski fancy rhinestones I believe are topaz. Just what we need , some color and sparkle. I also added Swarovski flat-backs in clear to play off the gorgeous brown color. Then removed the black cord and left the original chain attached. And here is the results. I love it and I hope you do to.

The before front side


The back

The revamped finish!


Beautiful!


The color is fabulous


Tell me what you think?

So now be sure to check our new Etsy section properly name Revamped!

Sensational Crystal Owl Necklace Exclusive for Christmas in July

2010-07-19T15:32:00.000-04:00

First time ever on Etsy. Brought to you for Christmas in July.

This is a Swarovski crystallized vintage looking owl pendant with chain. This pendant is 1 3/4" by 1" and comes with a chain in your desired length.

This is an amazingly beautiful pendant. it's vintage looking with a modern flair. I love the pendant when I first saw it. But then decided to add to it's beauty with some fascinating color. For this one we used Swarovski crystals in brilliant aquamarine & amazing blue zircon. Guaranteed to brighten your day.

Comes packaged in a organza gift bag.
Chain styles vary depending on what we have in stock, unless your choose a leather cord.

We'd love to do a custom order for you.Lets us personalize one of these necklaces just for you in your favorite color or birthstone. Contact us with your color requests, these necklaces are promised to please.

Get yours today. http://www.etsy.com/listing/51853118/sensational-crystal-owl-necklace-a

Bringing You Bold Stylish Vintage Jewelry.

2010-07-14T17:46:00.001-04:00

Our handbags!!!!

2010-07-13T16:57:00.029-04:00

Here's some of our handbags from our Ebay store
Don't miss out on these!!! Handbags go fast Ladies!!! We have something for everyone. Check back often so you won't miss a sale! Whats does your handbag say about you? Need a new one we've got what your looking. Lots of different sizes and colors. That's what Ready...Set...Assessorize! is all about.

♥¨) ¸.•´¨(♥ I think I'm in Love...... with "Bliss-ology"♥*¨) ¸.•´¨(♥

2010-07-13T08:21:00.006-04:00

There is also another Fabulous boutique on New York Ave in St. Cloud, FL. Its called Bliss-ology. I love all this shop has to offer. My mom and I went inside and I knew I was in love. The shop owner Cynthia is an incredible artist. You would absolutely love all that she has to offer. I spent sometime talking to her and she is so down to earth and honest. I asked her what inspires her. She says " I'm my biggest inspiration. I can look at a piece of jewelry and see just what fabulous piece she's able to turn it into." She takes broken jewelry, others pieces she finds and completely revives it into some spectacular pieces. Something my mom has been telling me to do for sometime now. Now I'm so inspired. She can make custom pieces from your jewelry that you don't like or just don't wear anymore and give you a one-of -kind piece that you'll definitely gets some comments on. She calls it "JuNk" and I love it.

I showed her some of my handmade pieces and she gave me tips on how to improve them. How to give them some extra flair. We talked for about a hour or so and she is so open about what she does and how she does it. You won't find these pieces in any other shop because these are all one-of-a kind handcrafted pieces. She says she doesn't sell on line because she happy running her boutique. She also says she got plans for a blog in the future... She's already got on follower, me! Check out these pics I took of this incredible artist's boutique.

You really have to give Bliss-ology a visit. You leave with some dynamic treasures. This is what I want to work towards in the future. Our own fabulous one-of-a-kind shop. We wish you much more success with your shop Cynthia. And thanks for the tips!

I Love This..... The What Not Shop

2010-07-13T07:40:00.003-04:00

Since we started "My Mother's" vintage section in our shop on Esty , we have had some a good response. A fellow etsian Lori who is starting a shop in downtown St. Cloud FL. called "The What Not Shop" offered us a chance to rent some a space in a window case and sell our Vintage jewelry. Its a great offer in uncharted territory. A big step for us.

This shop is on New York ave. and Lori is combining 2 stores into one.What a huge endeavor she has taken on. It's full of so many unique and one-of-a-kind items. This shop has collectibles , handcrafted jewelry, and beautiful handmade soaps. She's got items for kids , items for your kitchen, there is even It just full of goodies. She offered spaces to some local residents of the area , some of which have shops on etsy. You really would have to go in and spend some time looking at all this store has to offer.You are guaranteed to find some really great gifts.

I took some pictures of the shop to post on the blog so you'd get a better idea of what The What Not Shop is all about. Hats off to Lori. Good Luck to your awesome shop!!!

So as you can see tons of items all for everyone. And there's more because some of my came out to dark.I also was given a chance but I'm not able to commit to that right now. But we'll see how it works out for my mom. If your ever in the area take a few moments to stop in, no scratch that take and hour or so and shop at the "The What Not Shop". You'll love it!

Dad's Big Milestone!!!

2010-07-11T21:34:00.004-04:00

This was a milestone for the Gaston Clan this week. Dad turn the big 60. My mom had planned that we would go to his job and surprise him with cake. She had also planned to make him a money tree out of the money we would give him as gifts. So that's what we had all planned to do. She ordered a huge sheet cake so that he could share it with some of the others at work. That would have been a big surprise she said because he would never expect for us to show up at his job. And she would have been right but.... Dad decided he wasn't going to work on Fri. So...Now what? That's a huge cake!

Okay now it's time for plan B. Wait one minute, we don't have a plan B or C for that matter! So mom decides that she'll make a b/day dinner and we just go from there. So what do we do about today since today is his birthday. So we decided that I would stop by the store and grab a quick gag gift and take it to him. Where else would he be when he's not working? Duh, at the lakefront fishing with his buddies. So me and my sister-in-law set out to put our plan in action. So I stopped at the CVS to grab a card and something silly. I found a card that was perfect, it was a Bugs Bunny Card that said I want to give you all the lottery numbers you would need for the rest of your life. On the inside it had all the numbers from 1 to 45. Then I picked up a portable fan that runs on 2 AA batteries. You know the tiny ones that would only blow cold air if your sitting at the South Pole. Okay this should do it, I was laughing so hard the when I got to the register. I got some strange looks from the cashier. OOOOh, but what do I see sitting on the counter Silly Bands. Yep, Dallas Cowboys Silly Bands. Even better, because dad is the biggest Cowboy fan in the world. And he's not gonna know what silly bands are. This is gonna be funny!

Okay now off to find dad, but when I get to his favorite fishing spot he's not there. I actually don't recognize anyone one the pier. Okay lets check the other side of the lake. No not here either. Hmmm... So I try calling his phone and it's going straight to voice mail. I call home and still no luck. So now I call mom and she says check the store where they stop at after they are done fishing. Yep she's right... Him and Mr. Jimmy in they usual spot trying their luck at lottery tickets. So I now lets see how this is gonna work out. I give him his card which I have stuck the silly bands in. Feeling the envelope he says it feels kind a "fat". I try to keep from laughing. So we talk a little then I ask him if he's gonna open his card. He say you don't want me to open it in front of your mom. I tell him no, it's not for her it's for you. 'Cause I'm dying to see the look on his face. So he opens it and if you could see the look on him and Jimmy's face... To funny... He doesn't have clue what these are. I tell him they are the latest trend and he got the best ones Dallas Cowboys... He says "all right" then with one of those funny looks he's known for. I'm rolling so hard by now. I then tell him you're suppose to wear them as bracelets. Mr Jimmy knows something is up cause he's looking at me like they got to be up to something. So we leave and tell dad well see him later.

So mom decided that we would hide our original gifts of cash...moolah and money inside of others things so when we have dinner tomorrow so we could have some more laughs and that we did. So we had a taco bar for dinner with all the great trimmings. And it was very good too. Now it's time for gifts and cake and some laughs. Mom hid her gift inside a box of band-aides and that was funny. She then hid some inside a can of cashews.

Now it's time for cake. Some huge pieces cause this is a Giant cake.My boyfriend Steve and I move the cake for dad so he can blow out 60 candles. Yeah right he settled for 6. Is there even room on this table for this cake. Dad your gonna need more water than that. But it was a great evening as we celebrated dads milestones. Happy 60th Birthday dad.

Baby grant want some cake and ice cream too! Looks like he doesn't see what so funny. Where's my gifts too?

There's my mom, my baby bro. Jason and girlfriend Keri and their baby Grant. There is also joey who's taking the pictures so he's out of all the shots. i think that was planned. All celebrating with dad. Sweeet! All is good in the Gaston clan!

2010-07-06T17:56:00.002-04:00

Laughter is good for the soul!

2010-07-05T20:44:00.002-04:00

Quote of the Day

It is by the goodness of God that in our country we have those three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practice either.

Mark Twain (1835-1910) U.S. humorist, writer, and lecturer.

2010-07-03T20:24:00.002-04:00

Quote of the Day

"Between yesterday's regrets and tomorrow's dreams is today's opportunity"
Anonymous

I Love This.....

2010-07-01T21:01:00.003-04:00

Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

Mahatma Gandhi

2010-06-30T16:50:00.002-04:00

Quote of the Day

Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole

staircase, just take the first step.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Blinging Out My Mother's New Jewelry Loupe!!!

2010-06-28T09:09:00.003-04:00

Bling ... Bling and more Bling!!!

This is a simple way to bling anything. Swarovski Crystals! They come in many sizes and shapes and a huge variety of colors. The sparkle from these crystals is incredible. Can't afford diamonds well here's your answer. You can add sparkle to lots of things but for this tutorial we are adding it to my mother's new jewelry loupe. I'll also have a tip section at the end.

Choose whatever you want to add some bling to cellphone or a cellphone case, shoes, t-shirts and jeans. The choices are unlimited. Get creative.... Or what have you.

Now for the other materials you definitely need :

Swarovski Flat Back (non hot fix) Crystals in your chosen colors

Glue- Gem Tac

Something to pick up & place the crystals- you can use tweezers for this, but I'm using a nice little tool called the picker upper :) it's available at Sally's Beauty Supply for $4. It's a valuable little tool .

Now first you want to layout your design. As I did in the photo above. Play around with it. I chose to alternate the colors. The package I bought came with two colors in three different sizes. When you have your desired design you simply place a drop of glue in the desired spot. The gently place the crystal in it's spot. Don't press the crystal hard this causes the glue to spread out from under the crystal. Then you simply continue until you have completed your piece.

Now my mother's loupe is blinged out. For far cheaper than buying one that has the same crystals on it for $100. Yes that's right they sell for just that much. I spent half that and that includes the purchase of the loupe. She doesn't know it yet but she soon will cause the secret is out.Now when my mom's out shopping for those Fabulous Finds she's got this eye-catching loupe. Enjoy mom.

Tips.

Crystals - There are several different flat-back crystals on the market. But the two most popular ones are Swarovski and Czech Preciosa. These are the top two on the market and are available online and in craft stores. They come in 2 different types - Hot fix and Non Hot fix. The hot fix one would be the ones you would use to add crystals with the hot fix tool. You've probably heard of a popular one called the Be-dazzler. There are also several different ones on the market. I actually own one called Jolee's
hot- fix tool from Micheal's. Now the non hot- fix ones you would use to add with a glue product. Even though I seen crafters use both types on a variety of things.
- These Crystals are LEAD crystals. That's why the have the incredible shine. I wouldn't add crystals to anything for young children. In the US they are very adamant this. So don't do it. And if its for an adult. Keep your phone or whatever your adding these to out of your mouth!
Glue- I use Gem-Tac. There is also a huge variety of glues available. But I've found that this one works best for me. Glues like E6000 seem to get tacky and leaves tiny strands of glue that you'll have to remove. Here's a great link to explain this in more detail if your interested in giving this a try .http://www.rhinestoneguy.com/glue_techniques.htm

Here is a cross that I also added crystals to for the Pastor's wife at our church.

So there are lot of things that this technique can be applied to. Like I said before the possibilities are endless. You can add new life to a pair on jeans. Give a lampshade some flair. Jazz up some hair accessories. If They can bling out a car, I'm pretty sure you can find something to try this with. Enjoy!

Here's some inspiration...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wBnuPQpg8U

or how about this

http://www.rhinestoneguy.com/Ideas_in_rhinestones.htm

Now if this isn't any inspiration for you... I may begin to wonder!

Thought of the day.........

2010-06-23T12:24:00.001-04:00

 
Read  quietly

To realize

The value of a sister/brother

Ask  someone

Who doesn't have one.

To realize

The value of ten  years:

Ask a newly

Divorced couple.

To realize

The value  of four years:

Ask a graduate.

To realize

The value of one  year:

Ask a student who

Has failed a final exam.

To  realize

The value of nine months:

Ask a mother who gave birth to a  stillborn.

To realize

The value of one month:

Ask a mother

Who  has given birth to

A premature  baby.

To realize

The value of one week:

Ask an  editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize

The value of one  minute:

Ask a person

Who has missed the train, bus or plane.

To  realize

The value of one  second:

Ask  a person

Who has survived an accident.

Time waits for no one.

Treasure  every moment you have.

You will treasure it even more when

You  can share it with someone special.

To realize the value of a  friend or family member:

LOSE ONE.

The origin of this  letter is unknown,

Remember....

Hold on tight to the ones you love ones !!!!!!

Share this with those you love and cherish. 

And May GOD Bless and Keep You.

Our Fabulous Shop Expansion

2010-06-21T20:32:00.001-04:00

We have this exciting section added to our shops. My Mothers Vintage!!!! Some of the pieces are from my mother's personal gigantic jewelry box , while others are from those Fabulous finds shopping trips that my brother Joey and her have been taking. I have just recently joined in on the fun.

My brother always would talk about the huge flea market held on the weekends in sunny Orlando where he would go on his way to work. This would be where he would find the Diva in our family some lavish pieces of jewelry for her personal collection. Like I've said before that my mother knows here jewelry. He would always talk about this lady with lots of vintage jewelry. We would find out later this was all her grandmother's jewelry, who was definitively a diva. He would buy some great pieces from her and then my mother started going. And bam ! More Fabulous finds.... Some for resale and of course for that jewelry box of hers. I can't say I blame her. lol.

Then there are those incredible pieces that she finds from online actions. So we now have a huge Vintage jewelry section in both shops. I must admit I wasn't into the vintage , but after seeing whats out there, you'll get easily hooked. We also took a shopping trip to Webster which has a huge flea market on Mondays. When I say huge, I mean unbelievably huge. So many people and so many things for sale. They actually have a giant section of antiques. You can't possibly take it all in in one day.

You have to check out our new sections and newest editions to the shops to see the remarkable additions before they are gone. We also have some amazing sales on both shops. From handbags, handcrafted items, inspirational items, & body oils, and now Vintage jewelry. Are you wondering where we're going next. I am.

Come grow with us... Lots of sensational items to add to your collection.
All at can't pass up prices!

http://stores.ebay.com/Jewelhedz-Designs-and-Finds?_rdc=1
or check our other shop at
http://www.etsy.com/shop/jewelhed

Getting to know Ready...Set...Assessorize!

2010-04-25T18:19:00.008-04:00

We wanted to give some insight on what we have to offer on eBay.

Our motto is Designs for your Mind...Body...& Soul.

We sell authentic Handbags. We have everything from Liz Claiborne to Baby Phat to Elle. We have handbags for all occasions and any season. Looking for a bag for yourself or to give as a gift. Check us out. You're sure to find something that no one else is carrying. On a budget, well aren't we all these days? We offer fabulous prices on all that we sell and some of the bags are on auction while others have the buy it now option. And if your familiar with how eBay works you can browse and find some amazing deals without leaving your home. We have something for everyone.!! Want to see our latest sales, check out what we have to offer on eBay today. http://stores.ebay.com/Jewelhedz-Designs-and-Finds?_rdc=1

Then we offer you, our line of Premium Body Oils. These little roll on bottles are fantastic. They come in 1/3oz bottle and come in all your favorite fragrances . Just a little oil goes a long way. Available for both men and women. These also make great gifts. You can purchase these for $5.99 or get 4 for $20. Stop paying the high prices for your perfumes/colognes. Once you try these body oils you will realize that you've been paying to much for those high priced perfumes/colognes. After shave is also available in some fragrances. Just contact us and lets us see if we can get it for you. If you have a favorite that you can't find, lets us know.

Then we offer jewelry. Some from our Original Jewelhedz Designs collection. Which includes earrings, bracelets, pendants and necklaces. Made with only the best materials. We also offer one of a kind items. You will find sometimes pieces not designed by us, but we wanted to offer these beautiful pieces to our customers at really great prices.
We also have vintage pieces available.

Ready...Set...Assessorize... also offers things for your Mind... Which can include inspirational books, Cd's, bible covers and posters. Our inventory changes often so you may want to check back often or sign up for our newsletters so you won't miss any incredible sales.

Free Glass Pendant Tutorial

2010-04-21T18:33:00.002-04:00

This is my very first tutorial. It's for those adorable glass tile pendants that you've seen all over the web. You may even own some yourself. If you haven't seen these yet or just want to make some for yourself or to give as gifts. They are really easy to make. I have some in my shop JewelhedzDesigns& Finds Jewelry artists have been making these for awhile, I'm just getting started late. Lol.

The supplies are fairly simple and can be found on the web.While others I have purchased from the local craft stores (Micheal's or Jo-Ann's). Lots of Etsy sellers sell the supplies and tutorials in their shops. Shop around and find what meets your budget.

Now I've purchased some tutorials and tried some of the free ones. But what I have found out is that your gonna have to experiment with them and see what works for you. And if there is something that I do that's different than the tutorials that I've tried. It will be marked with a asterisk * and list what I do different in the tips at the end. So lets get started.

Supplies: Glass tiles- they come in lots of shapes & sizes. *
Clear glaze/sealant- Modge Podge,Glossy Accents, or Diamond glaze. *
Images- scrapbook paper,digital images, photos, magazine clips.*
              Glue- E6000
Bails to attach to the back of the pendant. And something to cut out your images, Exacto knife, scissors or paper cutters*
Misc. - toothpicks or a safety pin, paper towels, and a piece of scrap paper, small paint brush if you want to use Modge Podge.

First you want to make sure that your glass tiles are clean. Simply clean them with warm water and dry with a lint free cloth. Then decide which images you'll use. Be creative! You'll want to check to see how the image will look with the tile you're using because all images and tiles aren't made the same. What I mean is that if you use a digital collage sheet you may loose some of your image. You can then either pre-cut them to the size you need or apply the sealant your using right to the image.

I like to use both of these techniques depending on what type of paper I'm using. Decoupage papers are really thin so you may want to add the sealant to the tile. Make sure that you get it along the edges. Depending on the humidity you may have to work fast before your glaze starts to get tacky. Another thing to watch for is to make sure you cover the edges really well. You don't want you image lifting. If there are bubbles in your glaze, you can simply pop them with a toothpick or pin. And you'll want to do this before you apply the paper or tile to the other.

Now apply the image to the tile or vice versa and press firmly . Make sure that there is no air pockets between the two pieces. Smooth the image with your fingers, you wanna make sure that you don't have any wrinkles in the paper etc. Check to make sure that the image is straight and lined with the tile. If it seeps out the sides you can wait until it's completely dry and then you can scrap it off with your fingernail. I like to use my knife. Allow to dry, at least 10 to 20 minutes. You'll now want to add some glaze to the back. Make sure you get it close to the edges of the tile. This was tricky for me when I first tried to this a year ago.

Now you'll want to set them aside someplace out of the way to dry, your drying times will vary. Depending on the humidity 24hrs is the best to be sure they're completely cured. Then when completely dry you can attach the bail. Add a small amount of glue to the bail itself and center it on the tile and press it firmly to the back of the bail. If glue seeps out the side you can simply clean it off with a toothpick. Check to make sure again that its centered. Then allow to completely dry and cure for 24hrs.

And now you have your own glass tile pendant. You can adorn them with ribbon or ball chains as shown in these pictures below. I like to use leather cords and there are lots of things you can use. Remember to just have fun

Tips.....Tips....Tips....
   Glass tiles- there are a lot of places to purchase tiles on the web. And some say that they are all crystal clear. I've found out that some are better than others. AnniesHowes or SunandMoon or some that I have purchased. And they also have kits available.

Glazes- I have tried lots of glazes,but ModgePodge, Glossy Accents, are my favorites. You may want to purchase small bottles until you find what works for you.Both are available at your local craft store. If you have a local Micheal's or Jo-Ann's you can get 40% to 50% coupons in your Sunday paper or online. So you can get a bottle for $2. I've read about Judi-Kins Diamond Glaze, I myself have never used it. Now if you get any bubbles remember to pop them with a toothpick or safety pin. I read that you can blow on them through a straw... never tried that though. Applying the glaze can get tricky. Try to hold the bottle at a angle so that your have as much control over to how it flows.
Images- Now there are lots of ideas here for you to try, you can use some of your own digital images or photos. You will have to seal the images to prevent bleeding if you don't have an inkjet copier. Or have them printed at Staples or some other coping service. They do sell some products to seal your images on the web. Because Staples can get pricey. You can also buy collage sheets from on Etsy. There are lots of fabulous artists out there that will sell you sheets to use in your work. Here are my some of my favorites- Wild BluberryInk or Barbosaart both on Etsy. Both have great images and different styles. You can also use scrapbook paper, wrapping paper, or anything you choose.

                       Glue- I've only tried on glue and that's E6000. But don't go out and buy the large tube get the smaller one. The large one seeps and waste product.

   Bails- These you can get on Etsy. The shops I mentioned earlier that sell the tiles have them. You want to make sure that your bails are the right size for your tiles.

                      What ever you choose to cut with make sure that it's sharp. It will give you a clean edge. You can buy paper punches online or at your local craft store. These can make things a whole lot easier. You'll just wanna check that the image will work before you've punched it out. Like I said before not all glass or images are created equal.

                      Have fun creating things. Do your research before you rush and buy supplies. Search around and compare products and prices. Because if your not careful this could get unnecessarily expensive. Because you may have to experiment with this before your please with the results. Please follow the products individual instructions. And you'll do fine. Again this is from my own experiences. You can use this tutorial just don't sell it or reproduce it.

Shopping Day Fabulous Find

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We went shopping to see what fabulous finds we could add to our collection . And in Florida you have to get out before it gets to hot. So my brother Joey, mom Shelia and I set off to a local Flea Market that's held every Saturday. My brothers had some luck with finding some really great items there.

This time he found some postcards from 1900"s. They were still in good condition, and you could make out most of the written, they travel the world. One was when they had settled down for a days rest in London. Others where from other places like Fl, NY and Washington.

But my MOM was the lucky shopper that day. She found a Pristine vintage brooch! R.J. Griziano. With it's fabulous Australian crystals. It's really beautiful. And in awesome condition, but the best thing was the incredible price. Now will she offer this for sale I don't know. But I had to brag about. Now she did find another vintage brooch, a feather by Monet but it doesn't compare to this.

Welcome to our Blog !

2010-04-19T08:03:00.002-04:00

Welcome.

This is our attempt at blogging about Ready...Set...Assessorize!- aka Jewelhedz Designs & Finds.

I'm hoping that this blog will be window into our small business, things we like,and things we've learned. We might not be a savvy as some of the others blogging. But in time we will grow. So come grow with us. We welcome all comments and suggestions.

Here's some insight to who we are Ready...Set...Assessorize! is a small business founded by my fabulous mother, Shelia and I. We sell handbags - No Knock Offs-, jewelry some of which you'll find are handmade by me Jewelhedz Designs, body oils and other fabulous finds. You can find us on Ebay http://stores.ebay.com/Jewelhedz-Designs-and-Finds?_rdc=1 and Etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop/jewelhed .