Beads Made From...Bread Beads?

Just three ingredients is all that is needed to make these beads. And you probably already have them on hand. Well, plus a toothpick. And maybe a little bit of paint. Five. Five ingredients is all that is needed to make these beads.


Remove crust from three slices of bread. I guess any type of bread will work but I used the regular white sandwich bread.

Crumble the bread into a bowl and add 3 teaspoons of glue. It would probably be best to stick to the regular white school glue.

Knead until the dough is no longer sticky. Roll the dough into balls. Not too small but not too big. You can try to keep them all the same size or assorted works too.

Pierce each ball with a toothpick. Make sure you stay in the middle of your ball when piercing with the toothpick. Otherwise your beads will be lopsided. But hey, they are your beads, you decide.

Let your beads dry for a least 12 hours. Then string them up with dental floss. Dental floss is a good idea because it's sturdy. The price is right too.

Options for decorating your beads are endless. Dip in paint. Colored pencils or markers could work. Glitter would work really well for Christmas garland. These beads are a lot of fun too make with the kiddos. Have fun, and let me know your ideas by leaving a comment. Thanks for stopping by. B

Which Finger Will You Choose?

Thumb

• self-assertion and will-power. 
• carnelian, garnet and ruby 
• fashion statement on either hand in modern times.
• men will often wear a ring from a loved one on their left or right hand thumb if it isn't an engagement or wedding ring.

Index Finger

• self-confidence, leadership, ambition and spirituality.
• lapis lazuli, amethyst and blue topaz.
• history tells us a ring worn on the left or right index finger aannounced a man's wealth and status. Often a ring with the family crest was worn here. In certain cities men below a certain rank were banned from wearing anything on either index finger.
• A ring worn on the either hand's index finger is sure to get noticed. Wear a high impact piece.
• Traditionally in Jewish culture the right index finger is the proper place for a wedding ring. Some Jewish women will choose to place the wedding ring on the left ring finger after the ceremony and others will leave it on the right index finger.
• class rings or fraternal rings quite often are worn on the index finger of either hand by men.

Middle Finger

• balance, justice, the law, responsibility and soul-searching.
• rose quartz, coral and aquamarine
• most cultures do not place a significant meaning to the middle finger on either hand.
• prominent in it's placement it communicates leadership, strength or power.
• wearing a statement piece is viewed stylish when worn on either hand's middle finger.

Ring Finger

• relationships, creativity, the love of beauty
• moonstone, jade, amethyst, sapphire and turquoise.
• people believe the custom designating the left ring finger to be the proper place to wear a wedding ring dates back to ancient Romans. Long held belief that a vein travels directly from the left ring finger to the heart.
• also believed to be an ancient Roman custom is wearing a ring on the left ring finger will announce the wearers engagement or commitment to soon be wed. At the time of the wedding ceremony, the bride can choose to continue wearing the engagement ring along with the wedding band or put it on any other finger.
• many young people will wear a promise ring, meant for the seriously romantic promises or a chastity (purity) ring, representing their personal commitment to abstinence from intimate relationships until marriage.
• some countries like Germany, Russia, India and others place the same significance on the ring finger but on the right hand.

Pinkie

• intelligence, communication, persuasion and intuition.
• moonstone, amber and citrine.
• a pinkie ring worn on the right hand represents professional status, a symbol of graduating with a degree in that field.
• a pinkie ring worn on the left hand in Great Britain as well as some Western countries symbolizes family and status. This type of ring,featuring the family coat of arms is passed down through generations. 
• most professional rings are simple bands made of iron, silver, stainless steel or other metal.
• members of the mafia were known to designate themselves by wearing pinkie rings.

Left Hand

• indicator for character and beliefs.
• wedding band
• yin (feminine)
• "rocks the cradle" De Beers 2003 campaign
• says I'm married.
• receiving in
• we

Right Hand

• greater visibility, fashion statement.
• engagement ring.
• yang (masculine)
• "rules the world" De Beers 2003 campaign
• says I've made it.
• sending out
• me

9 Clues for Dating Vintage Costume Jewelry

These 9 tips will help you distinguish between the old and new costume jewelry pieces out there for sale. A hands-on approach is the best way to learn. Don't you agree? Don't forget to take your magnifier when you go out treasure hunting. I have a little black light that I take along with me. This trick will bring to light glue spots, repairs, cracks and even help when you are trying to figure out if it includes a real semi-precious stone.

I am assuming that you already know to look for a maker's mark, hallmark, metal mark of any kind. These can be your best clue. But you know that already, right? Unsigned pieces are collectible too. It has not always been a requirement for jewelry to be stamped with the gold, silver or platinum content like it is today. And it is still not a requirement that the maker sign each piece of jewelry. Learning and discovering the details is part of the fun when collecting vintage costume jewelry.

• Prong-set rhinestones represents quality in vintage jewelry.
• Authentic vintage jewelry most likely will show signs of wear especially on the clasp.
• 1955 is when copyright symbols first appear on jewelry.
• Aurora Borealis rhinestones were not introduced until after the war in the mid 1950's.
• The textured metal on the back of vintage jewelry is not as old as the smooth surface.
• The sharp end of the pin stem that secures a brooch is longer on older pieces of jewelry. 
• Older jewelry will be heavier and the construction more solid.
• Something I have noticed is that newer jewelry is more likely to have sharper edges. 
• When a "plastic" piece of jewelry is in question, a mold line can be a clue.

Pixabay has awesome free images of jewelry.

Love to Know has a lot of good info about collecting vintage costume jewelry.

The Spruce is another great resource for info. Don't forget to check out the links.

Invaluable is a recent discovery but I can tell it's going to be useful

Really digging these rings! Leave a comment with your tips!