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.

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.

Glass, usually in the form of beads, created in the Czech Republic. Also called Bohemian glass or Bohemian crystal.

Cat's eye glass refracts light in an oblong like the pupil in a cat's eye. The appearance of movement is called chatoyance, a 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.

An off-loom bead-weaving technique. In brick stitch, beads are woven in a pattern like a brick wall. Also called Cheyenne or Comanche stitch.

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.

(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.

A glass bead in the style of the glass artists of Venice. Venetian glass beads are famous for their color, craftsmanship and quality. Also called Murano glass.

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.

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