Calling all dragonfly lovers! This mismatched earring set is right on trend and features charming dragonflies and a floral Lazer Lace™ component for an artistic effect.

The rainbow in an opal, the jardin of an emerald, the shimmering asterisk in a star sapphire—learn why gemologists call these "phenomena" or "inclusions" instead of "flaws."

Whether city slickers or local yokels, the fashion world is calling designers out at high noon. Will you say howdy to Western trends?

(also called leaded crystal or leaded glass) A material used by adding small amounts of lead oxide to molten glass in order to change its properties. Crystal glass has a higher density and increased light refraction, creating brilliant sparkling effects when cut.

(also called rosetta beads or star beads) Glass bead style first created in Italy in the late 1400s. Chevron glass is composed of a varied number of consecutively-laid layers of colored glass. In between layers, the glass is pressed into a mold, to create the patterns within the beads. The glass is stretched to create a long tube, then cut into beads. Individual beads are then beveled or rounded at each end to reveal the chevron or star patterns in the glass. Only those beads with the internal structure exposed by beveling, cutting or grinding the end surfaces away are called Chevron Beads. All others are called rosetta or star beads.

Giving back to the community, jewelry making and Christmas decorating--this article tells the process of creating a tree to auction for charity at an event called Winterfest.

Q: I saw a tennis bracelet pattern in Bead and Button book. I have made quite a few of them for gifts for my family although I used 6mm bicone crystals instead of the 4mm the instructions called for. The best one I've made so far was for myself, it was made using 6mm crystal AB. What I'm asking you is this: The pattern calls for mono filament beading thread. I am wondering if this line is going to get cut using the bicone crystals? Also, the pattern calls for a box clasp, mine keeps coming apart every time I wear it--what else can I use instead?

Q: I want to make a necklace out of small tiles, but I can't put a hole in them. I need a type of ring to glue on the top to put the beads through. What is it called, and how do I find them?

Q: Some instructions call for ''charlotte beads''... What are they, what size are they, and if not available, can another be substituted? I notice Fire Mountain does not have them.

Q: I recently purchased "The Bosses Bag." In it was a long chain with crystals in the links. I think it might be called a cup chain. I would love to make tennis bracelets with the chain but I cannot find anything on your site that tells me how to add a clasp to the ends. Please help.

With an incredibly storied past, bloodstone was called "the Stone of Babylon," then later "the stone of martyrs," thought to have drops of Jesus' blood and believed to make rain.

Coral is a highly prized substance believed to be endowed with mysterious sacred properties. Coral has been called the "garden of the sea" because it was once believed to be a plant.

When life has you down, design with rainbow jasper. Rainbow jasper is called a "sustaining stone" in metaphysical beliefs and thought to be helpful in times of emotional fatigue or stress.

The gemstone with a dozen names, prehnite has been given numerous other names over the years. Whatever you call it though, the soft, soothing green gemstone is a delight for jewelry.

Cinnabar is an ore and a crystal, a variant of quicksilver--what medieval alchemists called the element mercury. Cinnabar is considered a powerful stone both physically and metaphysically.

How pietersite forms is an interesting process involving one mineral changing into another. Learn how this happens, why pietersite is called the tempest stone and more intriguing facts.

Called mountain ''jade,'' this stone is actually high-grade dolomite marble from Asia. For jewelry, this material is frequently dyed rich, vivid colors, but its white form is also beautiful.

Ammonites are eoliths of now-extinct marine molluscs called ammonoids. It's no surprise that ammonites, with their spiral shape, are symbols of change and positive motion.

From the earliest of times, citrine was called the "sun stone" and the gemstone was thought capable of holding sunlight.

(also called Omega necklace) A type of neckwire where bands or links of metal are assembled on a wire or woven mesh. The embedded wire or mesh provides the structure and necklace strength, so the visible links can take on any design.

(also called bar-and-ring clasp or T-bar clasp) A style of clasp consisting of a loop (usually a circle, but sometimes other shapes such as stars, hearts or leaves); the other piece is a ''T'' shaped bar. The clasp is closed by pulling the ''T'' shaped bar through the open loop. Immensely popular and easy to use, the toggle clasp is available in almost infinite material options and in a variety of styles, weights and designs. They are commonly used for necklaces (especially lariat style), bracelets and anklets.

(also called lustre) A description of how light interacts with the surface of a material. Originally applied to gemstones such as the pearl or opal. The use of luster/lustre has been expanded to indicate a glossy sheen on other materials such as glass.

A fine silver film deposited on a base metal by electrolysis, in the same kind of electrically-charged bath used to make gold electroplate. The film can be as thin as seven millionths of an inch. A silver plate item cannot be called sterling or bear a marking of "silver."

A mechanical bonding with a silver alloy of at least 92.5 percent fineness. The bonding must be equal to at least one-twentieth of the metal in the article. This can also be called silver overlay, but never silver plate.

Originally quartz from the gold washings along the Rhine river. Today, generally means colorless potash-and-lead glass that contains quartz in the form of melted lead crystal and is cut like a diamond. Also called strass, diamante.

Also called Hook-Style Clasp. A clasp with a hook on one side and an open loop on the other. The loop is usually circular or oval, but other open shapes can be used. Possibly the oldest style of clasp in the world. Can include Adjustable Clasp, Crimp Clasp, Magnetic Clasp and Multi-Strand Clasp styles.

The intricate ball patterns are created through a process called granulation. Tiny uniform ball shapes are fashioned into precision patterns, heat fused onto the surface, then carefully antiqued and polished, creating a visual masterpiece.

Fishes that have a neutral grey background with bluish or purplish tinges, sometimes referred to as "black chrome." Its name derives from a particular alloy of copper, bronze and zinc, which was originally used in gunmaking, though many alloys currently use the gunmetal designation as it is currently based on appearance. The original alloy (also known as "red brass," patinaed over time to a near-black shade of grey. Gunmetal alloy is resistant to corrosion from steam and salt water. There are many alloys called "gunmetal."

Also called essence d'orient. A crystalline substance extracted from fish scales and combined with acrylic resins. Used to make imitation pearls. In better imitations, the essence is applied over opaline glass beads; in cheaper imitations, over plastic beads. Discovered in 1565 by Jaquin, a French manufacturer of rosaries, when he accidentally dipped some pearls into water in which he had washed fish. Refined versions today produce spectacular results.

Follow along with Sue Ripsch, renowned chainmaille artist, as she walks through the steps to create what she calls Sputnik earrings, a pair of chain mail earrings made with various jumprings and a bicone bead.

This design is called "Thrill of the Fight," but there's no struggle involved in making your own version when you follow our step-by-step instructions.

Polymer clay guru Christi Friesen calls this little doggo a lump mutt. See how to make this adorable new pet using polymer clay— complete with perked ears, studded collar and little red tongue. Written instructions included below video.

Lisa Pavelka, mixed media artist extraordinaire, shows how easy it is to give any flat surface a glass-like effect for jewelry making, even if it doesn’t have a bezel wall, thanks to the self-leveling UV resin called Magic-Glos®.

(also called Cat's Eye Glass) This glass gets its name from its similarity to Cat's Eye Quartz and the unique way the two materials refract light. The whitish "eye" or line resembles the oblong center of a cat's eye.

(also called fire polish) A process in which beads are machine faceted, then polished by glazing inside a red-hot glass oven. This softens the edges of the facets and gives the beads a smoother feel than machine-polished crystal beads. Fire-polished beads traditionally originate in the Czech Republic.

(also called bullion) Tightly coiled, fine wire that forms a flexible tube. It is used by jewelry makers to conceal and protect stringing materials from abrasion by metal jewelry findings, especially the clasp. Also sewn onto fabrics in textile embellishment projects and used as a spacer material with high-end gemstone beads.

(also called Bohemian glass or Bohemian crystal) Glass, usually in the form of beads, created in the Czech Republic. Historically, Bohemia was a district in the former Czechoslovakia and has been famous for its glass-making since the 13th Century.

(also called Fiber Optic Glass) Created with manmade fiber optic glass, cat's eye refracts light in a way reminiscent of the oblong center of a cat's eye. This center appearance of movement is caused by chatoyance, which is defined as changeable luster or shine.

A cultured pearl originally non-nucleated, grown in a freshwater mussel from Lake Biwa in Japan. Only those actually produced there should be called Biwas; others are simply called freshwater cultured pearls.

(also called Cheyenne stitch or Comanche stitch) An off-loom bead-weaving technique used by many cultures across the world. In brick stitch, beads are woven together similarly to how bricks are stacked in a brick wall.

(also called Bola tie or Bolo tie) A type of necktie popular in the American Southwest, created using a length of cord fastened with a clamping slide finding, and finished with metal bolo tip ends. The finding is often hidden by a cabochon, carving or other large design motif.

Colorful sugar skulls, called calavera, are a staple in Día de los Muertos celebrations. This rainbow calavera is adding some wonderful color to a stainless steel chain.

Calling on inspiration from ancient Egyptian jewelry trends, Ezartesa found a beautiful balance of classic meets modern with her seamless blend of color and geometric shapes.

Radiate warmth while wearing this jewelry set. Cubic zirconia beads and drops in rich tones call to mind hot summer days and cozy campfire evenings.

Peridot chips dangling within elegant curved frames call out to East Asian architecture and design, forming a set that's both aesthetically and symbolically pleasing.

Call this design a fine specimen. Experiment with custom metal shapes and the organic patterns of extinct creatures to create your own fossilized fashion.

Cubic zirconia drops with AB finish call to mind the northern lights over a frozen landscape, beautifully accented with sterling silver.

Zinc is a pure metallic element, listed on the periodic table as Zn, which is commonly used in metal jewelry components. Zinc is found in alloys such as brass (a mix of copper and zinc) or used as an anti-corrosion coating over other metals. The process of using zinc as an anti-corrosion coating over iron or steel is called "galvanization."

(also called Accu-Guard™ or wire protector) A horseshoe-shaped loop of metal used to cradle and protect beading wire, thread or cord from fraying through contact with metal components such as clasps or links.

Alloys with heavy tin or lead content, such as pewter. Also called Britannia metal or tin plate. One of the most commonly used metals in costume jewelry.

(also called Murano glass) A glass bead created in the style of the glass artists of Venice, primarily on the island of Murano. Venetian glass beads are famous the world over for their color, craftsmanship and exceptional quality. Many glassworking techniques still in use today were created or raised to extraordinary levels in Venice, such as caneworking, chevron glass, millefiori glass and more.

(also called beading loom) Frame designed to hold multiple strands of thread parallel. A piece of thread strung with seed beads in a predetermined order is run back and forth between every other thread to create a pattern.

Also called Gold Color or "washed." The base metal is brass or steel and the product is electroplated with a non-standardized thickness of gold.

A fine silver film deposited on a base metal by electrolysis, in the same kind of electrically-charged bath used to make gold electroplate. The film can be as thin as seven millionths of an inch. A silver plate item cannot be called sterling or bear a marking of "silver."

Also called Silver Color or "washed." The base metal is brass or steel and the product is electroplated with a non-standardized thickness of silver.

Anita Kozinko combines her love for dollhouses and beading in this jaw-dropping "Crystal Retreat." Piece by piece, Anita embroidered this exquisite creation from the foundation up, resulting in a beautifully decorated domicile any doll would be proud to call home.

I am currently designing my website and I have a jewelry page called Red Romans Jewelry on Facebook where I upload and

Delicate crystals and ice flake quartz glisten like fresh snowfall in these cascading earrings. A snowflake drop calls to mind winter's chill in this elegant design.

Rose quartz has often been called the "stone of love." This pretty little bracelet will hold the key to your heart ... or of that special someone.

The beaded clusters in this chainmaille bracelet have an almost floral effect. This variation on the Byzantine weave is sometimes called tryzantine.

Amber heishi beads give this design an autumnal feel, while the spaced-out style calls back to tropical shell creations.