ltdbeads web store FAQ section

There's still a box out in my garage, labeled "Joan's Stones". I collected them as a child − and started beading not long after, making rosaries for the missions. Educated at LeMoyne College, I began my career in the graphic arts, eventually running a local typesetting shop. Now, quite a few years later, I've decided to return to a field I love − making beaded jewelry. My designs are available at local stores and craftshows, as well as here on the internet. My jewelry reflects a love of nature, rocks, beauty and fun. I love classic designs that stay stylish as well as beautiful eclectic pieces. At LTD Beads, I prefer to use fully natural materials − gemstones that are not dyed, reconstituted or treated in any way. Unfortunately, there are times when this is impossible − for example, turquoise is nearly always coated (stabilized) to enhance strength and durability. However, the coating is on a fully natural stone. I may use gold or silver plated beads to keep prices reasonable. If you'd like one of my designs in precious metal, drop me an email at Joan@LTDBeads.com to find out about availability and price. My creations are made with joy. I hope you enjoy them too.

Simply keeping your jewelry clean by wiping it with a soft cloth after you wear it will prevent much potential damage. Do wipe gently, as even dust contains particles that can cause scratches on soft surfaces. Be sure to apply perfume, makeup and hairspray before you put on your jewelry, and remove jewelry before using hand cream, detergents or other chemicals or doing housework, cooking, gardening or sports. Prevent scratches by storing your jewelry where it will not rub against other pieces. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Organic gems (amber, coral, ivory and pearls) and porous stones (turquoise and opals) need exposure to fresh air and humidity. Opals will benefit from an occasional overnight soak in distilled water. But don't soak ivory beads in water, as moisture trapped inside the beads can ruin them. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pearls scratch easily so should be stored where other jewelry won't rub against them. Pearls can be cleaned with mild soap (non-detergent) and water and left to air dry. Pearls strung on silk are knotted between each bead; don't immerse them in water − the silk will deteriorate since it won't easily dry out. And check the string for signs of wear; get your pearls restrung when necessary. Probably the best thing you can do for your pearls is wear them. They will benefit from humidity and your body's warmth and natural oils. A quick wipe with a soft cloth when removing your pearls will help prevent any acid in perspiration from harming them. You may wipe them occasionally with a tiny bit of olive oil to enhance their luster. Don't store pearls in excessively hot or dry locations, such as on top of a heater or in a safe deposit box. And be sure to remove your pearls if you need to reapply hairspray. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Some stones are temperature sensitive. Opals can crack from sudden temperature change (handling frozen foods on a warm day); topaz can fade, pearls can discolor and amber can melt in too much heat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sterling will tarnish in the open air. Reduce tarnish by storing your silver in tightly closed small plastic bags. You can rub your silver with a bit of baking soda to remove tarnish.

AMETHYST − a violet or purple colored quartz crystal, considered a gemstone. Darker shades are more highly valued. (Silicon Oxide) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AMAZONITE − a green to bluish green variety of microcline feldspar found in granite rocks, primarily in Russia and Colorado. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ARAGONITE − a carbonate mineral that can be transparent to translucent with soft, pretty colors. Aragonite forms inorganically, as in caves, and organically, in the shells of almost all mollusks. (Calcium Carbonate) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CITRINE− a yellow to orange colored quartz crystal. Because it's fairly rare in nature much that passes for citrine is really heat-treated amethyst. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BRONZITE− a mineral containing iron oxide that forms with separations between its oxides and hydroxides, giving it a metallic sheen with a bronze-like luster. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FLUORITE − has a glassy luster and one of the widest range of colors of any mineral. The word fluorescent was derived from its name.(Calcium Fluoride) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HEMATITE/HEMALYKE − an iron ore, hematite is steel grey with a metallic luster. Hemalyke is made of ground hematite mixed with a binder and pressed into shapes. (Iron Oxide). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JASPER − jasper is classified as a chert, a form of quartz with granular crystals too small to be seen without magnification. It is usually of red, yellow or brown color, with markings that can appear in regular bands, stripes or spots. . . . . . . . . . . . MALACHITE− a semi-precious ore of copper with light and dark bands of green. (Copper Carbonate Hydroxide) . . . . . . . . QUARTZ − the most common mineral on earth, it can occur in nearly any color. Some of the best known are purple (amethyst), pink (rose quartz), clear (rock crystal) and grey-brown (smoky quartz). This is a hard mineral that readily forms transparent crystals. (Silicon Dioxide) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RHODONITE − an attractive mineral with a rose-pink color, a luster that can approach pearly and moderate hardness (Manganese Iron Magnesium Calcium Silicate). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TURQUOISE − probably the most valuable non-crystalline mineral in the jewelry trade, with color ranging from greenish blue to sky blue and a dull to waxy luster. (Hydrated Copper Aluminum Phosphate) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UNAKITE − an altered form of granite containing pink feldspar, green epidote, and clear quartz. It is mottled in various shades of green and pink. When of good quality, it is considered a semiprecious stone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PLATED METAL − a coating of silver or gold on another metal − this is done by electrolysis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FILLED METAL − a much thicker layer of silver or gold bonded to another metal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VERMEIL − a coating of gold on sterling silver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . STERLING SILVER/PURE SILVER − Pure silver is too soft for most jewelry, in the U.S., sterling contains at least 92.5% silver. Some intricate beads are made of softer, purer silver. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PEWTER − an alloy of tin, copper and antimony, with bismuth or lead. LTD Beads uses only lead-free pewter. Similar in appearance to silver, it also oxidizes to a dull grey. It is quite soft, and melts at under 250°C/475°F. Pewter was used as tableware before the development of the china and glass industries in the early 1800s.

Since 1912, many people have adopted the Jewelers of America's official list of birthstones. They are listed first here, with alternates following. The color of these stones is often the "birthday color" for the same month. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . January (Red) − Garnet, Rose Quartz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . February (Purple) − Amethyst, Onyx . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March (Blue Green) − Aquamarine, Red Jasper (Bloodstone) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April (Clear) − Diamond, Quartz Crystal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May (Green) − Emerald, Chrysophrase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . June (White) − Pearl, Alexandrite, Moonstone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . July (Red) − Ruby, Carnelian, Jade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . August (Green) − Peridot, Aventurine, Sardonix, Sapphire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . September (Blue) − Sapphire, Lapis Lazuli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . October (Irridescent) − Opal, Pink Tourmaline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . November (Yellow) − Yellow Topaz, Citrine, Turquoise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . December (Blue) − Blue Zircon, Blue Topaz, Turquoise, Tanzanite