Saturday, July 27, 2013

5 Simple Ways to Wear a Scarf

A scarf can turn mere clothing into an OUTFIT!  Add a scarf to a T-shirt and jeans, and voila!  Outfit.  Add a scarf to a skirt and top, and voila!  Outfit.

Let's take a look at 5 simple ways to accomplish that.  

We're going to take a black skirt and black top - a staple in every woman's wardrobe.  It's quite fine all by itself.  But look how much pizzazz a simple scarf can add to it!

1. Tie the ends and wear it long around your neck.


 We're using a 74" long scarf that's 20" wide.  It's a gorgeous silk chiffon, so very sheer and lightweight.  The black background ties it in beautifully with the black outfit, yet the brightly colored butterflies and flowers create a cheerful vision.  (Don't worry - there's a chance to purchase this one-of-a-kind scarf at the end of this blog).

To accomplish this look, simply tie a knot into each end of the scarf, and put it around your neck.  Let the long ends hang down freely in front.  Easy-peasy!

2.  Loop the scarf once around your neck, and let the ends fall freely on each side.




For this effect, loop the scarf once around your neck, and pull it down a bit so it creates a bit of a drape, like a cowl-neck top.  Then simply let the ends fall freely on each side of the cowl.

One can see more of the scarf with this, since it opens it up more than our first example.  Isn't that a pretty scarf?

3.  Put both ends of the scarf through a loop around your neck.


To achieve this look, before putting the scarf on, fold it in half the long way.  You now have a loop in one hand, and two ends in the other.

Put it behind your neck.  Put the two ends through the loop.  Make it as tight or loose as you wish.

This is a very common way to wear a scarf.  It creates a charming assymetrical look, which is especially nice on top of a solid color, like this black.

4. The Twist!


This effect begins the same way as #3.  Before putting the scarf around your neck, fold it in half length-wise.  Now you have a loop in one hand, and two ends in the other.

Put the scarf around your neck while holding the loop and ends, one in each hand.

Now, rather than putting BOTH ends through the loop, just put ONE end through.  Continue holding the loop.  Let go of the end.

Give the loop a half-twist, so you now have a NEW loop.  Put the second end through this new loop.

This is a particularly pretty look, and it lays flatter against the body than the look of #3.  For a video on how to achieve this, check out our previous blog post.

5.  Wear it as a belt!


Wrap it around your waist and wear it as a belt or sash!  Doesn't it change the mood of this outfit totally?  Simply wrap it around the waist, and make a SINGLE loop to "tie" it closed.

A double loop make a big lump, and isn't very attractive.  A single loop should do the trick.

If the scarf you choose is on the slippery side, you can keep the tie in place with a pin.

Now, if you've fallen in love with this scarf, and have to have it, here is your chance!  Check out this close-up view of the design:

It is a sheer chiffon scarf, measuring 74" long x 20" wide.  It is 100% silk.  It has a black background with red poppy-like flowers with yellow centers.  Various butterflies in purple, yellow and green flutter around the flowers so beguilingly.  It's a one-of-a-kind scarf.

 So there you have it!  5 super easy ways to wear a scarf.  Try one or two out, if you haven't worn scarves much in your life.  These 5 ways are the most common ways people wear them.

And stay tuned for more ways to wear scarves coming up!  We have SCARF ACCESSORIES that expand the things you can do with a scarf, and make them even more fun to wear!

Jeff and Manya

MaJeGallery.com

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Four Peaks Amethysts

Manya has been fond of amethysts since her youth.  In fact, her very first purchase of an artisan-made craft was a cast sterling ring with an amethyst in it!  She says some babysitting money made it possible.  Believe it or not, she still has that ring today!

MaJe Gallery master faceter, Bill Booze, recently purchased a collection of amethysts mined from the Four Peaks mine in Arizona.  This mine produces some of the highest quality amethysts in the world!  They are famed for their deep purple color with vibrant flashes of red and magenta.  The paler, more lavender hued amethysts have bright flashes of pink.

One source describes the color as rivaling amethysts from the Ural Mountains, "which were used to depict the best color of amethyst."  Those amethysts are not mined, leaving us with the Four Peaks mine as the only source for the top quality amethysts.

What's so unusual about this?  Since 1997, all amethysts from this mine have gone to a single location which cuts, sets and sells them exclusively.  Our lucky Bill Booze purchased them from a man who had mined them before 1997, and we are the fortuitous recipients of Bill's talented faceting, which makes these gems just gleam.

7.5 carat Four Peaks mine amethyst, by master faceter Bill Booze.
The above ring above features a 7 carat Four Peaks amethyst.  The hand-faceting by Bill Booze brings out the maximum depth of color and takes great advantage of the flashes of magenta and red in this stone.  It's set in sterling silver with a square shape, which is quite comfortable.  This ring is currently a size 7.  It can be expanded about a half size, but due to the particular nature of this ring, it cannot be re-sized more than that.

7 carat Four Peaks amethyst, top quality stone.
This ring, shown above, is the absolute highest quality and displays a deep rich purple hue.  The flashes of magenta and red in this stone are superb.  It is set in a charming prong setting with a decorative bottom, and is on a wide, fairly thick, sterling band. It is currently a size 7, but could be made in any size.  Just let us know.

This is a large, 8-carat cushion cut amethyst set in sterling silver.
The amethyst in the ring above features a cushion cut, which is a classic shape for a gemstone that is somewhere between a rectangle and an oval.  It's very pleasing to the eye.  Due to the size of this stone, the sterling band is quite wide, giving it the appropriate proportions.  It's a big ring, and you definitely know it's on.  It's a real show-stopper!  The amethyst itself is of a lighter hue than the other two rings above, and has flashes of vivid pink.

15-carat Four Peaks amethyst on handmade sterling neck ring
The simplicity of the setting of this neck ring is very striking and bold.  The Four Peaks amethyst is a wopping 15 carats, and features the wonderful deep purple hue along with the flashes of red and magenta the Four Peaks mine is so famous for.  Bill Booze did the sparkly faceting, with lots of little facets down below that simply dance in the light.  Also a silversmith, Booze created this interesting setting himself.

Even if you are not a fan of amethyst, we hope you'll enjoy the delightful beauty created by nature itself, and enhanced by a master gem faceter with over 30 years experience and expertise.  Should you find yourself in Edmonds, Washington, stop by to see these amazing pieces of art in person!

Jeff and Manya
MaJeGallery.com