beads and more

chilly winter nights call for hot beverages and warm fires as well as something to keep idle hands occupied.

Swarovski makes beautiful crystals in a myriad of colours and shapes as well as "pearls".  The hues and finish make them indispensable for simple stringing to complex designs.

Gemstone beads have an added bonus of history; ancient civilizations from Egypt to Greece to China believed that gemstones bestowed certain attributes on the wearer.  

The birthstone guide was originally created so people could wear the "proper" gemstone for their birth month.  It was superstitious to wear a birthstone that was not yours.  Today, people wear jewellery for a variety of reasons, some because they like the colour, or perhaps they are drawn to a specific gemstone for spiritual purposes.

Whatever the reason, bright, colourful, sparkly gems still hold appeal.