Charms Make Perfect Gifts

If you are thinking of a present to give to somebody, have you ever thought of giving them charms that they could use as a pendant or as something they could hang on their bracelets. You could include with the gift a bracelet or a necklace and then every special occasion you can give them additional charms or pendants to add or use as a substitute for the ones they currently have.

These gifts will be appreciated by people of different ages and backgrounds irregardless of their gender or race. They make perfect gifts not only because they look so adorable but every charm could somehow represent a significant or important moment in their life that they could treasure as a special remembrance.

I know of somebody who has a bracelet full of charms, some given by friends and some she purchased herself. The charms on her bracelet somehow reflect the different experiences and memorable moments in her life. One of her charms is a flag to constantly remind her of her heritage and culture. She has an Eiffel Tower charm to remind her of her honeymoon in romantic Paris. You could also do the same with your very own charms as well as when you give these to friends or family as a gift.

You can find these trinkets in a variety of designs, shapes, sizes and style to find a perfect fit for whom you will be giving it to. You could start by buying a charm bracelet with a single or several charms and your recipient would then just add charms according to her tastes or you could give her one every time there would be any special occasion. In time the charms will accumulate that not only looks cute and attractive but would also begin to tell a story of the different memorable experiences in her life.

It is important though that when you buy charms for someone that you know well the person you are giving it to so that you would have at least a general ides of what she will like. If you will be giving a man a charm or pendant for his necklace, opt to buy those that are masculine looking so that he would use it. You also have to consider the size as well as the weight of the charm. Quite often it does not look nice to have very big charm on a bracelet with small chains. Also, others don?t look good with very big charms or pendants on their necklaces especially if they have small necks. If you will be buying from the internet verify if the charm you will be buying is flat, 3d or hollow. It is imperative that you select an online store that provides products that are of quality and can provide good customer service.

Mary Lorainne writes about JewelryBracelet sales, ICEcom promo and jewelry coupon

Diamond Cross Pendants - A Symbol of Faith

Diamond cross pendants have become a marvelous way for people of the Christian faith to show their faith as well as wear an attractive and distinctive piece of diamond jewelry. There are quite a few styles and types of pendants and chains to choose from when one is looking for a new pendant , and here are a few things you may want to keep in mind when you?re out shopping.

Diamond cross pendants come in many styles. Some of the more popular ones right now would be the curved pendants. These bring a simple elegance and classy style to your piece of biblical faith wear, and lend an almost fluid sense to the cross itself. Other popular styles include is a chunky cross pendant. These are obviously bulkier and heavier, and quite more substantial. These styles are less traditional and more distinctive, but also serve as a great way to get a conversation started and share your faith. Other hot diamond cross pendants right now might include dual finish silver cross pendants, usually presented with diamonds either in the center or the corners of the cross itself. These have become very popular and are relatively inexpensive as well.

Diamond cross pendants can be a very distinctive piece of jewelry and unless the diamonds themselves are huge, not very expensive to boot! Though the size of the diamonds ion your diamond cross pendants may not seem worthy of consideration when it comes to things such as the 4 C?s, there are still a few times you?ll want to bear in mind when you?re shopping for them. The clarity and quality of the stones themselves is of concern as is the setting in which the diamonds are actually seated. Does it seem secure? Are any diamonds in jeopardy of falling out. Look at them carefully, for even though this may not be the most expensive diamond purchase you?ll ever make, you still don?t want it disintegrating on you!

When shopping for diamond cross pendants, or for any other type of diamond jewelry, bear in mind you have many choices. You can patronize offline ,traditional jewelry stores, particularly if you really want to get a feel for the piece. For me, however, if I?m looking for a diamond cross pendant I?m going to do it online. The selection and prices are going to be so much more favorable online, and since there are so many styles of this particular kind of jewelry, it could take far too long to search out this many choices offline. I might lose faith! (Joke!)

However you decide to acquire your diamond cross pendants, you?ll soon find yourself wearing an enduring and evocative symbol of your faith, bound to touch many lives!

Keith Thompson is fascinated by the diamond trade, and sits up nights working on his site http://www.diamondstoday.info If you'd like a wealth of information on diamond cross pendants come visit today!

Dependants and Military Brats

Servicemembers aren?t the only ones who create friendships and then have to move on due to a transfer or release from service. Families can also build these close relationships and have to move on to new situations.

Social Networking provides not only a method to stay in touch, but also a method to conduct a search for people who might have been at a post at the same time they were present.

Some of these relationships can last for a lifetime, if they can be kept alive. Merely keeping in touch can keep contacts going and allow relationships to be rekindled when opportunity provides a chance to be together again.

Especially for teenagers, moving away from close friends can be traumatic. Social networking sites allow these teenagers to stay in close enough contact to justify keeping a friendship going. While a loss of contact can be permanent, if contact is retained, it is very possible to arrange for meetings in the future, perhaps even arranging to move to the same region at some point.

Of course, the same reasons that servicemembers might want to find other soldiers who share similar interests apply to dependants and military brats. Finding someone who shares your experiences, being at the same post at the same time is potentially interesting, but it can be even more rewarding if you find someone who has the same interests and has shared experiences.

This can also allow finding people who share some interests even before you reach your new home. Just as much as for soldiers, spouses and children also like to reduce the uncertainty of a new move, and having someone you know on the other end telling you what to expect can make life much simpler. Even when the news isn?t what you want to hear, knowing will allow planning and a response, while ignorance just allows panic.

For those so inclined, even separated by half a continent, these social networking systems can allow shared experiences such as friends taking the opportunity to see a movie on the same night even across the country, or a virtual visit. With a webcam and speaker, it is possible to hold a group chat with friends from all over and have almost as much fun as you can manage in person. The possibilities are limited only by the imagination, and whatever is currently popular.

Parents will be relatively happy since most of the bad things that can happen in teenage relationships are much harder to arrange over a modem. Teenagers will like having relationships that they can keep to themselves, as something uniquely theirs.

On the other hand, parents can talk to each other with other parents who have children and who are facing similar situations. They might even be able to identify the parents of the dreamboat their daughter is talking with online so they can all figure out what little can be done about it.

For a great way to network with or keep in touch with US Military members please check out the author's US Military based social website at http://militarysociety.com

Tiffany Pendant Lighting - Upward Versus Downlight

Tiffany pendant lighting options are as varied as they are beautiful. The storied and infamous tradition of glass-art lighting creations has been carried on to perfection by such manufacturers as Medya Tiffany and Dale Tiffany, Inc. While these are not the only companies manufacturing Tiffany pendant lighting fixtures, both of these companies do employ the same techniques and high quality materials used over a century ago when Louis Tiffany was still creating his masterpieces. However, while the quality of Tiffany pendant lighting made by reputable manufacturers may not be in doubt, the type of fixture to purchase may be causing some confusion.

Tiffany pendant lighting can be found in two basic varieties: upward or downlight. Upward Tiffany pendants are designed so that the light is bounced off of the ceiling and then reflected back downwards into the room. In other words, the upward Tiffany pendants are inverted so that their bulbs and shades both face the ceiling.

For Tiffany pendant lighting fixtures designed in the downlight style, the bulbs and the lampshades (or enclosures) are facing downward and directly illuminate objects below. Other than the directionality of illumination, there really is no other significant differences between the two varieties of pendant styles. However, this subtle difference is enough to make it worth your time to understand how it may affect the lighting in your home.

Tiffany pendant lighting fixtures made in the upward design are actually more traditional. Pendants were designed based upon the chandelier which originally used candles instead of bulbs to provide the illumination. Thus, the candles stood upward and light was reflected back off the ceiling downward. This is an indirect form of ambient lighting and one of its benefits is a reduction in glare.

For Tiffany pendants manufactured with a downlight design, there is indeed a tendency for increased glare. However, this possibility is minimized by the colored art glass shades which tend to diffuse light gently and thus reduce the possibility for glare. However, a downlight Tiffany pendant will better illuminate objects below but may not provide the same level of overall ambient lighting as an upward pendant.

Things will be better illuminated beneath the fixture but the corners of the room may appear darker because light is not first bounced off the ceiling. When the light is directed towards the ceiling, it is diffracted better so that all aspects of the room receive better ambient lighting. In downward pendants, the light is more focused but less distributed.

Quality Tiffany pendant lighting is available from a number of reputable manufacturers who construct the fixtures to the same or better standards than those employed when the art-glass fixtures were first being created. Innovations and demand have led to Tiffany pendants that are available in both upward and downlight varieties. Each type of pendant offers advantages and disadvantages when compared to one another but both are excellent lighting choices for you home. Deciding which Tiffany pendant lighting fixture is best for your home will depend on your particular ambient lighting needs, the size of your space, and the other furnishings in the d?cor.

Pamela Tice is the owner of numerous lighting and home decor websites including http://www.tiffany-lamps-store.com. Her store offers product and information about Tiffany Lighting and beautiful Dale Tiffany Lighting as well as stained glass windows and fireplace screens that add beauty and richness to your home.

Pendant lighting for your home

The use of pendant lighting in the modern kitchen has gained widespread popularity over the past few years. This is largely due to the fact that pendant lighting offers a great deal of style to spaces which incorporate modern design elements.

In homes decorated in the Traditional style, it is common to see a chandelier or other ornate hanging fixture gracing the formal dining room. Many homes of today, however, sport eating areas in informal nooks attached to the family room or in-kitchen bar seating. In these places, the formal style of the chandelier would seem strangely out of place, but stylish and functional task lighting is still needed. It is to meet this lighting need that pendant lighting has become a favorite option in pre-existing home remodels and new constructions.

As was touched upon previously, pendant lighting falls into a category of lighting called task lighting. Task lighting delivers essential illumination for specific tasks like reading or cooking. This type of lighting is localized, shadow free, and easy on the eyes. In the kitchen, many different types of task lighting are required for different tasks performed throughout the room. Pendant lighting is most often used in eating areas of the kitchen and dining room.

There are many styles of pendant lighting, but all are identified by a single, long cable hanging from the ceiling with a small globe attached to the end. The glob itself is small in size and can either be inverted or traditionally hung depending on what effect you want to create. A pendant light can be a solo affair, or it can be hung side by side in a whole strip of pendant lights to illuminate spaces such as bar countertops or long dining tables.

Far from being reserved for Contemporary decors only, pendant lighting can be incorporated into any one of today's popular decorating styles including Mission, Traditional and Eclectic. You can choose from pendant lighting fixtures sporting geometrical patterns to ornate, floral affairs complete with exquisite detail.

And pendant lighting is extremely affordable. A good quality pendant lighting fixture averages around $100 for each globe. That means that if you were to choose a fixture with three globes, you can expect to spend around $300. When compared with other quality decorative lighting fixtures such as chandeliers, pendant lighting fixtures might be your most economical option in addition to being a very stylish one.

There are also many other reasons why pendant lighting may be your best bet over more traditional lighting options. Take for instance rectangle and oval dining tables. A centered chandelier would likely look out of balance with a long dining table, and it would not be very efficient at lighting the ends of the table either. A fixture consisting of three or more pendants, on the other hand, would add balance to your d?cor and ensure that the whole table was sufficiently lighted.

So, if you are looking for a stylish solution to your kitchen lighting issues, perhaps you should browse the large variety of pendant lighting available. You may just find exactly what you're looking for.

Pamela Tice makes it easy to find lighting products including http://www.BarnesAndWagner.com. Her store offers lighting products such as Pendant Lighting and Floor Lamps

Mother and child pendant: the gift of a mother's love

A mother's love is the greatest gift of all. With no requirements or demands; nothing is held back. Rare is the jewelry design that truly captures the emotion and power of maternal love. A Mother and Child pendant is a loving symbol of the unbreakable bond between a mother and child. No matter what a mother will always love her child.

A mother and child pendant is a stylized pendant depicting the embrace of a mother and child. They come in a myriad of different styles, using white or yellow gold, or even two tone. They can even be set with diamonds. For mothers with more than one child mother and child pendants come in twin or triplet styles. The original and most beautiful designs are those created by Janel Russell.

Janel Russell's story:

Janel Russell is blessed with two gifts: her creativity and her son.

When Janel was a young mother she enrolled in the Minneapolis Vocational School and studied jewelry manufacturing and design. Later Janel went to work for Gary Bonstrom at G. Allen Jewelers. After work hours were done Janel would stay to work on her own designs. She dreamed of creating a design that would celebrate her great love for her child.

Janel had worn a single pearl around her neck ever since her son had been born. It was her unconscious habit to constantly play with the pearl until it would literally wear out and need to be replaced. In 1980, after her pearl had worn out yet again, Janel decided to create a design that would showcase to the world the unbreakable bond between her and her son.

In 1980 the mother and child pendant was born. Janel proudly wore the beautiful piece, and soon friends and family were asking Janel to make one for them. The mother and child pendant became a phenomenon. In 1981, Kirchner Corporation, who arranged to market it in the U.S. as Mother and Child?, discovered Janel's copyrighted design. Janel's Mother and Child? jewelry line quickly became one of the most sought after family-theme jewelry items in history.

Where is the best place to purchase a mother and child pendant?

To get an idea of the different styles and prices that are available in a mother and child pendant it is convenient to view them online.

Just type "mother and child pendant" into an Internet search engine like Google or Yahoo and you will find several reliable websites that specialize in mother and child pendants.

The cost of a mother and child pendant is dependant upon the metal used and whether or not it is set with diamonds. In solid 14K yellow or white gold, a mother and child pendant should cost about $150 to $200. The same pendant with diamonds can range from $260 to $350, depending on the diamonds.

The bond of love:

Every mother cherishes the bond she shares with her child. A bond so strong that nothing and nobody can challenge it. A mother and child pendant signifies and celebrates that bond. A mother and child pendant celebrates love at its most profound.

Casey Buell is an expert in the field of gemstones and diamonds, and a contributor to the award winning mother's ring website located at http://www.momsring.com

Pendant Lighting Layout - How To

 

Pendant lighting has gained a great deal of popularity for use in kitchens over the last few years. A common place to install them is over an island or peninsula. One of the most frequent questions I see is how high do I hang them and how do I space them out? Both questions can be answered in several ways and as with any home design aspect there is no absolute or right answer. There is however some guidelines to use that can help you make the right decision.

One consideration on the height is with the fixture you choose. If a fixture has an open bottom and it is installed to high, it can become very annoying looking up into the light bulb all the time. By the same token, a fixture that is designed so that the top is not made to be viewed, if installed too low, can be very unappealing. There is an average height you can use as a guide, about 68" - 72" off the floor to the very bottom of the fixture. This puts the fixture at about eye level for the average person. The reason there is no correct answer is in a house where everyone is 6' 4" and taller this height would most likely be too low.

Over a dining room table this same rule can be applied. A little tip or word to the wise. If your fixture is going to be installed before there is actually a table under it put something there in its place. It could be a large box, bench, folding table or a chair. It will save someone a trip to the hospital for stitches after walking into the fixture or a broken fixture.

Spacing the pendants when there is more than one is a matter of a little mathematics. The most common mistake is to just split the space into even sections but that is not entirely correct and I'll explain why. Let's say your island is 60" long and you have two pendants. A common thought would be to split the space into three sections that are even. This would give you each fixture 20" off the ends and 20" between them. A better choice would be 15" off each end and 30" between them. Why is that you ask? Well for one thing you'll see it is more visually appealing. The other reason is the light spread on most pendants is in the shape of a circle. If you can imagine the actual light that falls on the counter area picture two circles of light. To best illuminate the counter we want the edge of the circle to hit the edge of the counter. The other two edges should meet or overlap in the middle.

If you are not sure what it is I am describing take a look at the link below and view the diagrams along with the explanation.

For more info on How to layout Pendant Lighting visit: http://www.forteelectric.com/PendantLayout.html Paul Forte is a licensed electrical contractor with over 25 years of experience in residential lighting. If you would like some lighting ideas for your project contact Paul or visit his website http://forteelectric.com