A Fake Diamond?

Cubic Zirconia gets a bad rap in our society. It's considered a "fake" stone, when in reality it's only "fake" when some unscrupulous seller tries to pass it off as a diamond.

Do those really look like diamonds? Or are they simply beautiful earrings that deserve appreciation on their own?

Fake is one of those slightly subjective terms..."she's so fake." But how can something be fake if it is just representing itself? Cubic Zirconia isn't "fake" anything...it's Cubic Zirconia. Yes, it is a simulated, man made, material ... but that does not classify it as fake in my book. To me, just because a 'stone' is grown in a lab does not automatically make it "fake" (my mom disagrees with me, but I take my view from my grandmother who was a wonderful rock hound).

I have some gorgeous CZs and think they make lovely earrings and pendants.

The great thing with CZ is that it costs a fraction of what natural gemstones would cost in the same shapes and sizes. Those Amethyst CZ briolettes above would cost me a fortune, but with CZ I'm able to create a gorgeous look at a much more reasonable price. Since my goal with these earrings is fun and flirty I don't need the natural stones. Sometimes I do want to go with the "real" (again, a subjective term to me) thing, but not always.

Now, trying to pass CZ off as a diamond is wrong and fraudulent. If you are unsure as to whether a stone is CZ or diamond (like in a ring or earrings or something) there are just a few ways you can tell without using a microscope or chemicals.

• CZ weighs a lot more than diamond. 1.7 times more according to Wikipedia.
• Also, if the 'stone' you're looking at is absolutely colorless but is selling for a low price, it's probably a CZ. Only the very best, and rarest, diamonds are truly colorless. Most have some sort of inclusions or color to them. A "cheap" colorless diamond doesn't exist.
• If the 'stone' is set into sterling silver or a less expensive plated metal it is highly unlikely to be a diamond...while I might combine sterling or fine silver with diamond, most people don't bother. Diamonds generally go with gold or platinum.
• And the cut of a stone might tell you whether it's diamond or CZ...although if you're anything like me you can't really tell the difference with the naked eye. CZs are often cut using different facets than are used with diamonds.

There really is nothing wrong with wearing CZs though. I think they're pretty and sparkly ... and if you have moral issues with diamonds they can give you the same look without the guilt. :)

No Spam Allowed

Having to delete comments that are spammy really sucks.

If you have something to share I welcome comments. If you just want to post your link and try to sell your product (whatever it is) you're getting deleted.

My blog. My rules.

I hate spam.

What Are Leverbacks?

Before I started making jewelry I rarely gave much thought to what various components of jewelry were called. I knew the term "posts" because those are fairly obvious types of earrings. I didn't know that the hook style ones were technically called "French hooks" ... and why is that by the way? I'll have to look that up because I have no idea.

And I was clueless as to what the 'other' kind of earring backs were called - you know the ones. They go through the ear and then a little 'lever' flips up and closes the earring so they don't fall out.



They're called Leverbacks and I find them to be the best type of earring, simply in terms of safety and security. But many people don't know what they are or are intimidated by wearing them because they take a little extra maneuvering to get on.


With a little bit of practice though they are super easy to wear and I find them easier than French hooks now. You have to tilt the leverback piece at the right angle so that the portion that enters your piercing goes in straight. With a French hook you can just sort of "approach" the ear with the earring up and down - the wire is bent enough to slide into the piercing. But with a leverback you need to tilt the earring so it is horizontal to the ear and slide the wire in level. Then it can be tilted to be upright and the lever closed.

Another big benefit of leverbacks is storage. I can't tell you how many times I've been digging around my jewelry box trying to find matching pairs of earrings to wear...posts or french hooks. But not with my pairs of leverbacks...because I can hook them together so they don't get separated.


There is a slight drawback to leverbacks and that is their cost. They're more complicated and use more metal than posts or french hooks and therefore are more expensive. And it's not a design that I can create myself, whereas posts or French hooks I can make from scratch.

I've seen sterling leverbacks as high as $5 a pair wholesale! I try not to pay that much. And 14k gold leverbacks start in the $30s wholesale. Remember, an artist has to factor in their costs and a lot of folks use a percentage and multiply their costs...so that $5 pair might add $15 to the cost of a pair of earrings.

I still think they are worth it though. For security and for keeping earrings in pairs instead of orphans. :) Check out my Etsy shop for earrings with leverbacks, as well as the other styles.

P.S. The photos shown here are a pair of Black Onyx and Swarovski crystal earrings that didn't make it to my shop before my mom bought them. =) And their matching necklace. She has good taste, right?

I Thought of Something...

...and now I can't remember what it was. I swear, I have the worst memory ever. I will set my keys on my desk and two minutes later forget where I put them.

I even forget orders sometimes! How sad is that?!?! Luckily, I generally have a nagging feeling in the back of my mind and will double check my Etsy shop (they have a list of "sold" items) and get things on their merry way. But it's kind of unnerving to only be 30 something and be this forgetful.

Hubby now says that he's pulling a "Megan" when he can't find something or forgets something. I wonder if I have early Alzheimers.

Seriously...it's like I have a swiss cheese brain.

I had a great idea for a blog post...something really interesting and then I get to my blog to write and __________________________ nothing. My mind is blank.

Hopefully I'll think of it again...although most of my really good ideas come to me while I'm in the bathroom. I know I can't be the only one who gets their best ideas while taking care of business. :)

Not Sure How This Works

I started a Facebook "page" for Casto Creations. I'm not quite sure how it works, but I am sure that I will figure it out. I think I can link the blog to it, but I'm not sure how to do that yet. Will you become a fan? =)

The potential for this to help me keep people up to date is huge...way better than an e-mail distribution list. People can become "fans" of the page and I can post updates, new pieces, tutorials, sales, etc without any cost (like there is with a newsletter). But I can also still do a newsletter.

My goal is to update the page every day with at least something...whether it's a tidbit about a gemstone I find interesting or a link to a new piece in my Etsy shop.

I'm very excited about 2010. I've got exciting new plans that should give me a little more time to make and design jewelry if I'm careful with my time. I'll probably be giving notice to my current employer in the next month or so and will definitely share my future plans once they're a little more firm.

Big Bead Sale at Jewelweaver

Jewelweaver is having a big year end clearance sale on everything. I've been a customer there for several years and their prices are very good, as is their quality. Read the descriptions - they're accurate so it's important to note if there are any flaws so you aren't disappointed.

Here's the sale details:

"We are offering a 7.5% discount on all orders over $50, and an additional 7.5% discount on top of the discount you would normally receive for all orders $100 and above. For example, if you place a $350 order, your discount would normally be 15%. For the duration of this sale, your discount for that same purchase would be 22.5%. Check the discount schedule on our home page for further details about how our system works."

I need more beads like I need a hole in my head...but I'm still going to browse. :)

Not Always as They Appear

A few folks have given me wonderful compliments about my photos...which I appreciate a ton. I never quite believe them though... =) I'm very hard on myself and being a perfectionist means that I'm never quite happy with things.

I think my photos are a gazillion times better than they were when I first started making jewelry though. And I think I manage to get some decent shots. I've learned a lot. Like, you don't have to have a "pretty" set up to get good photographs. And using the macro setting is vital.

I use a photo tent that I bought at least three years ago now (time flies) for around $300 (could've been more...I have a horrible memory) and it has paid for itself several times over. They have kits that start at less than $200...and of course there are lots of people out there who spend just a few bucks and make their own. I tried that but never could get the right effect that I wanted.

So, this funky set up in my kitchen....

Can yield this more attractive photo (not a perfect photo, I grant you, but better than many photos I see out there and 1,000 times better than the pictures I used to try to take outside)...

Pictures are the only way you can sell online and a good photo can be the difference between a sale and nothing. I rarely buy anything online if the seller doesn't have good photos that are detailed and show every angle as if I were able to handle the item myself in person.

My photos certainly aren't perfect and I've had a couple of complaints about not being able to tell the size of the item, but I try hard to make sure the photos represent as much detail for each piece as possible.

Mama's Little Helper

So...it's not easy to make jewelry with an infant, but I'm managing to find a way. He doesn't nap during the day and really doesn't like being left alone without being held. *sigh* I'm trying to train him to like the Baby Bjorn facing outward so he can see things. We're having mixed results. But on Saturday and Sunday I managed to get him to give me about an hour before the screaming started.


Here we are taking photographs. Boy is it hard to keep a camera still while juggling an infant on your front! Most of the shots came out okay though.




I've been posting a lot of new work and reposting some older pieces in my Etsy shop. And there are other items listed in my 1000 Markets shop. Items should still arrive in time for Christmas if orders are shipped by this Wednesday.

Glass bead and fringed necklace.

Fine silver and sterling earrings.

CPSIA Is a Nightmare

Government is such an intrusive force in our lives...as Reagan said, "Government is not the solution to our problems. Government IS the problem." That is never more true than these days we live in.

And if affects parts of our lives I never would have imagined...the CPSIA is the insane anti-lead / chemical law that, as usual, was passed with good intentions but has horrible ramifications.

If you aren't yet aware of this law and how it impacts small businesses, including stay at home mom's making children's clothes, consignment shops, even libraries and used book stores, you should really do even just a small amount of research. It doesn't take long to see what a horrible law this is.

There has been a stay on the required testing portion of the law, but there are some in government trying to end it and push forward to implement this ill designed law.

To read about some of the consequences of discontinuing the stay, head over to this blog posting by someone who has been keeping up to date on this issue.

We may be small individuals in comparison to large corporations, but if we come together we can make a difference!

Back in Gear

It has been a while...I went back to work this week and it's been quite an adjustment. Thankfully hubby is at home this whole month to watch the boy. :) It's a lot easier not having to drop him off at daycare yet.

I've also been on a roll listing new items (and relisting some older items) in my Etsy shop. I have a few orders and it's a lot of fun getting gifts ready for people to give.

Here are a couple of newly listed designs.

A tiny version of my fine silver Cherry Tree pendant necklace. I love this miniature style.


I made a fine silver version of this and it's sold (I can make more but just haven't yet). This is made with Bronze clay, which I won't be using anytime in the near future because I don't have a kiln yet...it can't be hand fired. But I have two of these small sea shell pendants that I made this summer. This is one that I made into a necklace with 14k gold filled chain.


I just love the color of these freshwater pearls. This is a simple, but I think elegant, pair of earrings.


I made this pendant ages ago, but this summer decided to add some color. Then it sat for another few months before I finally added it to a chain to complete the necklace. :)


If you're looking for something personalized...like my custom alphabet bracelets...let me know right away. I'm not making a lot of "made to order" items. Most of the items I'm listing are already made. I've got just a little bit going on in my life right now so the simpler this selling season is, the better. =)