Artistry meets jewelry – Yumi Chen’s Japanese kimono cloth bead bracelets

Talk about multi-talented! Yumi Chen is an accomplished concert violinist, professional pastry chef, and mathematician. In 2003, she redefined herself as a jewelry designer and entrepreneur, launching her online store at yumichen.com.

Although we all love our silver and leather bracelets, it’s not difficult to see why everyone’s buzzing about Yumi Chen’s stunning cloth beads bracelet collection! Her recent Chirimen (the ancient art of crafts made with handwoven Japanese cloth) line is heavily inspired by her Japanese heritage. But she’s added her own twist – combining exquisite Japanese kimono cloth beads with beautiful Swarovski crystals. “I instantly fell in love with chirimen and began searching for books and supplies about the subject,” Chen revealed to PrWeb in February of last year.

Let’s take a look at some of Chen’s latest creations from her Hibiscus Collection. All three are priced at only $70 USD!

Complete your everyday look with this gorgeous teal bracelet. Assorted aqua/teal Japanese kimono cloth beads are adorned with blue zircon Swarovski crystals and teal Swarovski pearls. Exquisite!

For a fabulous summer look, try this luscious mint and peach bracelet. Japanese kimono cloth beads mix and mingle with light peach Swarovski crystals and olive Swarovski pearls. Delicious – and my favorite!

Spice up your nightlife with this funky-chic black floral bracelet. Dramatic black floral Japanese kimono cloth beads are accented with jet black Swarovski crystals. Stunning!

For more totally unique bracelets, visit www.lusterforever.com and shop for leather bracelets and silver bracelets too!

©2012 Totally awesome. All Rights Reserved.

Here’s a quick guessing game! They pack a ka-pow color explosion, each one is totally unique and they’ve been around since 1291. What are they? Italian Murano glass bracelets and jewelry, of course! If you haven’t yet discovered Murano glass jewelry, you’re about to go to glass jewelry heaven!

Here’s some background. In 1291 Venetian glassmakers moved to the Italian island of Murano. Their Murano glass jewelry creations and Murano glass beads were so ‘hold your breath’ beautiful that the glassmakers were almost nobility. Their technique was, and is, called ‘millefiori’, meaning ‘thousand flowers’, and once you see a real Murano glass jewelry piece, you’ll know why! Each glass bead is hand-made, and as a result, is totally individual.

Murano glass bead bracelets and jewelry is hot this season, and no wonder! There’s a Murano glass bracelet to match every outfit in your closet. Be careful though – make sure when you’re buying that you’re getting the real thing and not an imitation. How will you know? Consider these tips!

By far the safest and easiest method is to order from a reputable Murano glass bracelet and jewelry dealer. One of our favorites is www.lusterforever.com. Lusterforever has an incredible selection very fine Murano glass jewelry (guaranteed to be authentic Murano millefiore) at very affordable prices – and their reputation is impeccable. They also throw in free shipping, a customer satisfaction guarantee and various other ‘special’ offers depending on the size of your order and the time of year. Check ‘em out!

Know your prices! A Murano glass bracelet costs between $100 and $300 US – roughly. It’s possible to purchase a ‘Murano-style’ bracelet for less, so read the fine print to make sure you’re getting the real thing.

Check the Murano glass jewelry closely. Real Murano glass bracelets and jewelry are always totally individual because they’re hand-made. If you see two pieces that look the same, they’re probably not genuine Murano glass jewelry.

Visit www.lusterforever.com to shop for exquisite Murano glass bracelets and jewelry, plus leather bracelets and silver bracelets too!

©2012 Totally awesome. All Rights Reserved.

You probably don’t remember when Mom dressed you in rompers or onesies. This year, one piece shorts and pants sets are back in style! From Australian khaki to elegant white, designers are pairing these simple one piece designs with exotic jewelry accessories like silver and leather bracelets to create a one- of-a-kind fashion statement for spring 2009.

Harem Pants. Hey, everything else about the eighties is coming back. Why not? This year’s take on M.C. Hammer’s stage apparel features trim, fitted designs that resemble jodhpurs or Hessian pants more closely than “I Dream of Jeannie”, offering lightweight comfort for those desert summers.

The skinny pant returns as well –new, improved and skinnier than ever! If you loved the tight jeans of the ‘80’s, you’re going to love this spring’s skinny pants. There’s no limit to just how tight they’ll go, and in pretty pastel colors like turquoise, pink and yellow, and sewn in light silks and satins, they’re certain to beat the heat this spring and summer! Don’t forget to add a white leather bracelet!

‘Mamma Mia’ may have been the inspiration for this season’s Mediterranean casual ruffled sundresses in chiffons and silks. Paired with trendy jeweled sandals and Grecian-inspired fashion bracelets, these beat-the-heat dresses are a hip fashion statement for all ages.

What’s this season’s biggest fashion blunder? Capri pants or cutoffs worn with heels! It’s so yesterday, ladies – so trade ‘em in for sandals or ballerina flats, then don on a hip leather bracelet and be stylin’ for spring 2009!

For today’s hottest trends in jewelry accessories including silver and leather bracelets, visit www.lusterforever.com!

©2012 Totally awesome. All Rights Reserved.

A traditional, handcrafted Indian ankle bracelets.

If you’re walking down the street in the USA, and you see someone covered in jewelry from head to toe, you’ll probably think they’re strange, eccentric or maybe even a little odd. But if you’re in India, and you see that same person, you’d think they were perfectly normal. In India, you see, wearing copious amounts jewelry on as many body parts as possible is a status symbol. It shows marital status, financial status and even status in the eyes of the gods.

Indian ankle bracelets are still very much a trendy part of the complete Indian wardrobe. Let’s face it, today we’re a multi-ethnic society, so it shouldn’t come as any surprise that our jewelry comes from all over the world! If you’re looking for the latest and greatest in Indian jewelry, the name of the game is silver bracelets, gold bracelets, and silver and gold ankle bracelets in opulent handcrafted styles, often embellished with richly colored gemstones.

Think belly dancer. No, this isn’t one of those moments where you should think Shakira! Belly dancing is an ancient form of dance expression, and the thickly beaded, cheerfully clanking gold and silver on belly dancers’ costumes, although traditionally more Middle Eastern than Indian, are the same key elements used in Indian ankle bracelets as well.

While we in the US don’t necessarily wear ankle bracelets to mark our social status or our tribe (or, for that matter, to declare us to be fertile and ripe for the picking!) an Indian anklet is still a jazzy addition to any outfit. So enjoy them! Summer is the ideal season to show off a gold or silver ankle bracelet against your sun-kissed skin.

For more fun and interesting ankle bracelets , sterling silver bracelets , and leather bracelets , visit www.lusterforever.com!

©2012 Totally awesome. All Rights Reserved.