Strength:
All jewelry is strung on 49 strand Beadalon or Accuflex cable.  This special cable is nylon coated and weighs as much as #8 jewelers silk, but is 4 times stronger.  Cable is as flexible as silk, and all necklaces hang naturally without bends or kinks, and will not stretch, rust, or discolor.  The cable I use is .014" and has a strength tested for 20lbs.  On pieces with heavier stones I use .019" with a strength of 26lbs. 

Crimps:
The crimp is what holds the wire on a piece of jewelry.  The crimps I prefer to use are .925 Sterling Silver.   The quality is much higher and they are 10 times stronger then brass or aluminum.

Toggles and S-Clasp:   
All Toggles on bracelets are .925 Sterling Silver and the S-Clasp on the necklaces are also .925 Sterling Silver.  For the jewelry were I use gold Toggles or gold S-Clasps, I use Vermeil which is Sterling Silver, heavily electro-plated with 22kt yellow gold.  I use only Toggles or  S-Clasp on my jewelry because they allow you to hook your jewelry with ease. (Ever have a favorite piece of jewelry you just couldn't hook yourself?)  Much easier than the lobster clasp.  I do have some pieces with Sterling lobster clasp for those who prefer this type of clasp.

Swarovski Crystal and Czech Crystal:
Swarovski is the producer of the finest quality Austrian full-lead crystal in the world.  Swarovski crystals are renowned for their brilliance and clarity, because of their precise edges and angles light passes through and reflects in a prism of colors.   That is why they are considered the top of the line.
Czech Crystal beads are high quality machine cut lead crystal beads from the Czech Republic. They are of good quality, but not as brilliant as Swarovski.

Lampwork Beads:
So, what is a lampwork bead? 
The hand making of glass beads is called lampwork, because hundreds
of years ago, artisans heated glass using oil lamps. I use a propane/oxygen torch to heat imported glass rods to over 1700F.
Then I wind the molten glass onto a "mandrel", which is a stainless
steel rod, and using gravity, a variety of tools, color, form and design... each bead I create is a small wearable treasure. 
Lampwork Beads are truly unique one of a kind works of art.
I also purchase Lampwork beads from some very talented artist
who make some really fantastic beads.

Sterling Silver Beads:
I use .925 Sterling Silver beads on most pieces.  I also use Bali beads because of there beauty,  they are known world wide for there wonderful intricate beads and  Sterling Silver pieces.   (Sterling has gone up 20% in the pass year due to the weak US dollar)

Freshwater Pearls:
Freshwater pearls are the product of mussels that inhabit freshwater lakes and rivers.  Freshwater pearls are characterized by their irregular shapes and unusual colors. Supply and demand also contribute to the value of pearls. There are vast quantities of freshwater pearls available each year?unlike saltwater pearls whose perfectly round shapes and mirror-like luster make them more difficult to acquire. This is why freshwater pearls are so affordable. Whereas saltwater pearls are investments.   Freshwater pearls make for beautiful jewelry at affordable prices.

Turquoise is getting harder to come buy, and for that reason more expensive.  High-grade turquoise is already hard to find, with not enough to satisfy the market. It is actually much rarer than diamonds or other stones like lapis. The price must increase.  Alot of the Turquoise you see in stores  are actually composites of Turquoise dust and hardener.  Then of course there is the Red Coral on the market..Another fact is they have stopped all harvesting of Red Mediterranean Coral.  The Red Coral you see now is really Coral that has been dyed red, but the quality of the Coral itself is very important.  I hope I have given you some useful information and a understanding of how I make my jewelry.  Thank you, Denise