Q: I am making bracelets using 4.6mm alphabet letters and 2mm leather cording. My letters (arranged into a word) are centered on the cord. To hold them in place so they don't slide, I tie a knot on each side of the word. I am looking to use some type of bead, crimp or something instead of the knot to prevent the letters from sliding on the cord. Any suggestions? I saw something called smart beads but I don't think the hole is big enough to fit the 2mm leather through it.

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 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.

A type of neckwire where bands or links of metal are assembled on a wire or woven mesh for structure, for a flexible design. Also called Omega Necklace.

(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.

A mechanical bonding with a silver alloy of at least 92.5% fineness, which must be at least 1/20th of the metal in the piece. Also called silver overlay.

A clasp which secures jewelry with two or more strands. Some styles are accented with gemstones, enamel or inlay work. Can be called by a myriad of names.

Originally quartz sourced along the Rhine. Today, it means colorless potash-and-lead glass that contains lead crystal quartz. Also called strass, diamante.