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

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

How to Choose a Colored Gemstone

Diamonds are a girls best friend, so it is said.  But they are as ubiquitous as blades of grass.  Choosing a colored gemstone offers a huge range of options, making it a rather daunting task!  Recently, more and more colored gemstones are mined and faceted, offering a larger array of choices than ever before in history.

Let's help narrow the focus a bit with these helpful tips.

22-carat Four Peaks Amethyst, by master faceter Bill Booze

Alone or with neck ring

Pendant only $1,000.00 USD Pendant with neck ring $1,100.00 USD

The same Four Cs apply to gemstones as they do for diamonds:  Color, Clarity, Cut, Carat.

Color is almost always the first consideration when choosing a gem for yourself.  We each have favorite colors.  These colors show up in our wardrobe, in our decorating, in our car color, and of course, in our jewelry.

In a gem, the intensity, tone, and evenness all affect the price.  Take the 22-carat amethyst shown above.  Nature doesn't make very many amethysts in that size, that are of such an even hue.  Amethyst grows with rock crystal, and often has clear or white elements, making it difficult to find large specimens where all the right elements come together.

Different parts of the world produce different hues of the same gemstones as well.  Let's take that 22-carat Four Peaks amethyst again.  It is the only mind in the world that produces amethyst of this particular hue.  It is an especially bright purple, with flashes of magenta, red and fuschia as the light bounces off the facets.  Brazil is known for very deep, dark purples.  Other mines produce pale-hued amethyst.

Left: darker, more blue Brazilian amethyst.  Right: pale amethyst

This is true of nearly all gemstones.  Check out this array of color choices!

Just about any color you can imagine can be found.  Isn't it glorious?  So think of your favorite color, and go on a hunt to find a beautiful gemstone in that color.

Clarity is important here, but with some caveats.  In some cases, inclusions are a valued part of a stone, such as rutilated quartz in which golden hairs are captured inside a clear crystal.  In other cases, a rougher version of a stone can have its own raw beauty because of the inclusions.  It becomes a matter of personal taste in this case.  In fact, in the case of a star ruby, for example, it casts a ray of light because of tiny inclusions that bounce light back to the eye.

Example of a star ruby

However, when searching for a colored gemstone without inclusions, take a look at the stone in various kinds of light to make imperfections more visible.  A crack near the surface can affect the durability or brilliance of a stone, while inconspicuous inclusions may have no affect.  In some cases, like emerald or red tourmaline, the lack of inclusions is very rare, and of course, it will be reflected in a higher price.

Cut, when it's good, gives a gem some real charisma! A bad cut makes a gem appear dull or washed out.  Look at the overall balance of a gem's shape, surface condition, and brilliance.  A well-faceted gemstone reflects light back evenly across its surface when held face up.  If the stone is too deep and narrow, areas of the gem will appear dark.  If it is too shallow and wide, it will seem washed out and lifeless.  Do some investigating on your own, and you'll begin to notice the variations easily.

We are so lucky to showcase a large selection of colored gemstones by master faceter Bill Booze.  Faceting of gemstones is almost a lost art in this country.  Most is now done in China and India.  Bill's 30-plus years of mastering this skill are evident in his collection.  You must stop by to enjoy them sometime!  Plus, it will help you learn how to recognize all the things we're talking about here.

Chrome Tourmaline by master faceter Bill Booze.  14k gold prongs, sterling band.
The stone is .84 carats in weight.  The ring is a size 7.

 Carat weight doesn't necessarily have to be a top priority, unless size really matters.  In addition, some stones are heavier than others, which can be confusing when you see two 3-carat stones who appear different in actual physical dimensions.  Again, it comes down to a matter of personal taste and what you feel comfortable wearing.  Do you want to wear it every day?  You might choose something a bit smaller.  Want a real show-stopper for fun?  Then a large gem is definitely called for.

As mentioned above, in certain stones, finding a large one with enough clarity to cut is rare.  Others are more common in larger sizes.  Naturally, this will be reflected in the price.  In the chrome tourmaline stone set in a ring above, such stones are not often found very large, and the particular shade of green (called "chrome" tourmaline because it is the mineral chrome in the earth that gives it that particular hue) is also much more rare than other shades of tourmaline.

Trio of red garnets by master faceter Bill Booze, in unusual cuts with superb clarity.
Even though set with bezels instead of prongs, there is a lot of life and play in the stones.
Set in 14-karat gold bezels with a sterling band that is size 7.

Of course, Compromise is the 5th "c", and will help you select the best gem for yourself.  Budget dictates the range of qualities you can afford.  Try to get the best gem you can get.  And remember, there's often more than one option within a color family.  If ruby is too expensive, then spinel or garnet are excellent, and much less expensive, choices in the red family.

We hope these tips are helpful.  It's a fun adventure to embark upon, and you'll learn so much in the process!  Of course, we invite you to stop by and start your learning adventure at MaJe Gallery, and enjoy our large selection that covers just about every price point, too, with earrings starting at $28!

Your Beauty Ambassadors,

Jeff and Manya
 
www.MaJeGallery.com

What is Contemporary Fine Craft?

Guest blogger Rani Richardson posted this excellent response to a question we frequently get at MaJe Gallery too.  Rani owns a gallery featuring all handmade in America products, made by artisans all across America.  Her gallery is called Random Acts of Art.  Isn't that a great name?

Here's how she answered that question: What is contemporary fine craft?

***

That is a question I frequently get asked, and it's a hard one to answer. When I say that I have a contemporary craft gallery people mostly ignore the word gallery and assume I have a store that sells scrap booking and knitting supplies. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against scrap bookers and knitters (some of them are my best friends), but it's not what I do. I've searched the internet for a definition of contemporary crafts. Most of what I found was extremely limited or so esoteric as to not make any sense. Now, I'm not promising to make any sense, but I'll do my best.

The things I look for in contemporary crafts and craft artists are:

1.Utility---Not everything that is contemporary crafts is functional, but most can trace its roots back to something that was (or still is) a part of everyday life. A perfect example of this would be blown glass. The work of Dale Chihuly is in no way utilitarian. It was never meant to be anything other than beautiful and decorative. Yet, you can trace the roots of glassblowing back thousands of years in the making of drinking glasses, bowls, windows, and more. 

 2. Vision---The ability to see something in a common object that wasn't readily visible to others. When you see a piece of scrap wood, do you see fuel for a fireplace or do you see the figure of an angel with something to say? When you see an old muffler, do you see something to throw away or do you see the body of a dog?

3. Mark of the Hand---Contemporary craft should show that it was made by a person, with skill and care. Even when something is made with the most cutting edge machinery, it should still show something of the artist in it.

My description of contemporary craft is by no means definitive. Some people will disagree with it totally. Some will say it is too broad. Some will say it's too vague. I challenge them to come up with their own definition (it's not as easy as you think.) These are just the guidelines I use for choosing work for my gallery. After that, it just comes down to what I love. And even then I've been known to throw the rules out the window for something I truly love!

***

Thanks, Rani, for offering this definition.  We definitely use those concepts when choosing work for our gallery too.

What about you, dear readers?  What do you think?  Let us know in the comments, or with an email directly to us at info@majegallery.com!

Jeff and Manya

MaJeGallery.com
 

How To Wear Scarves - part one

A scarf can turn a pair of pants and a top into an OUTFIT.  It can tie the pieces together, and make you look so much more put together.  And it is a super simple way to Beautify Your Self!  Of course, an artisan-made scarf is even better, since it will be as unique as you, too.

Everett, Washington, fabric collector and master seamstress/designer Susie Howell just brought in a new collection for us (since the first batch sold out so fast).

Susie Howell - encompassed by all the new scarves

she

 brought in for us the other day.

She's a bit of a ham, too, so we had a lot of fun putting this photo together!

Many of our customers don't really know how to wear a scarf, so we're going to give you a few ideas!  You probably don't want to copy Susie up here, so instead, check out this one...

Manya in a double twist tie

This versatile scarf is made from a lovely and soft French cotton that's got a sheer quality to it.  It is very lightweight and comfortable.  The multiple colors make it go with just about anything.  I've paired it here with a black dress.  It is tied with a variation on the most typical scarf tie.  That most typical tie folds the scarf in half so there's a loop at one end, and the two ends at the other end.  Wrap it around your neck and put the two ends through the loop.


However, this one is even better!  Check out the video below to learn how to do it yourself...

Okay!  You are now armed with a tried and true way to wear a scarf!  But wait...there's more!

Look how pretty, and different, that same floral scarf with the black background looks when opened up and thrown across the shoulders as a shawl...

I opened it up and draped it across one shoulder.  One end hangs down the back, and the other down the front.

Doesn't that turn a very plain black dress into a piece of wearable art?  To do this, you must make sure the scarf is wide enough to carry it off.

One benefit of wearing a scarf like this - as opposed to an actual shawl - is that it's not so bulky and full.  You get to see a lot more of the outfit with a scarf.


Take a look at this picture below to get a close-up view of the pattern in this scarf.  And then below that, the full view of the scarf plus an opportunity to purchase it.

The scarf, as mentioned above, is a charming floral print on a very fine and soft cotton.  Susie says the fabric is from France!  You won't be finding it on anyone else nearby!

Black with floral print, fine cotton from France.

This next scarf is even more fun!  It's pieced from various black and white knits that Susie cut on the bias.  This lends it some beautiful fluid movement that's very compelling.

It's also an extra-long scarf, meaning there are even more ways to wear it and have some fun.

Here I am in that same black dress, but with the black and white scarf this time.  See how the personality of this scarf makes the entire outfit have a more funky feel?


In this image, I am wearing it in perhaps the most simple way people wear scarves - one loop around the neck with both ends in front.


You can play with this method by making the loop tight and close to the neck, or pulling it down a bit to show more fullness.

In this picture, I'm actually wearing it the exact same way as the above photo.


What's different, you ask?


I have one end a bit shorter than the other.  Because of Susie's clever pieced design, it looks almost like a completely different scarf.  Isn't that fun?


Look just below to see the scarf in its entirety....

Black and white pieced scarf

This extra-long scarf is 90" long and 14" wide.  It's made of various interesting cotton knits and can be hand washed.  It is $89.And it is now SOLD!












Sometimes we need very bright colors in our life!  Check out this vibrant floral print with so many fun colors in it!

I'm wearing it here with my lime green and coral top.  I've looped it around my neck...

but...

instead of having the ends hang down in front, I flipped them over my shoulders to stay in the back.  Isn't it great how it ties those two bold colors together and makes it an outfit?

If I were wearing a longer skirt, another favorite way to wear a scarf like this is to wrap it around my waist like a sarong.  The chiffon fabric lets the under color of the skirt show through, and looks so pretty and fluttery.

In this picture, I put it on in that simplest of ways - around the neck with both ends hanging down in front.


It just makes you feel like a summer day!


Check out the pictures below to see detail and a full image of this scarf.  This scarf is 75" long and 14" wide.  It's made of a polyester chiffon that is as soft as silk.  You can wash it by hand.  It is $49.  Only one available.

Stay tuned!  More scarf ideas coming soon!

In the meantime, enjoy playing with your scarves, and make a commitment to wear at least one each week!

Your Beauty Ambassadors,

Jeff and Manya

DIAMONDS - April's birthstone

As the saying goes, "Diamonds are a girl's best friend."  But we think that might hark back to an earlier age, when women preferred being "girls", and needed men to give them their wealth rather than earn it themselves.

But times have changed!  Women earn their own wealth now, and choose how to spend it!  And for the most part, women still like diamonds.  After all, who can resist all that sparkle of the rainbow captured within a tiny little thing?  There's a bit of magic there.

And yet, diamonds are still closely associated with engagement, weddings, love - as well as wealth and gold.  None of those things are inherently bad.  But what if your birthstone is a diamond?  You don't necessarily want to associate it with any of those things.

We also know that fans of MaJe Gallery specifically look for ways to express themselves that are different from the masses.  You depend on us to seek out and find those distinctive things that help you hone your distinctive style!

Enter.....colored diamonds!  Check out this very unusual, one-of-a-kind ring by Seattle's Sarah Gascoinge, featuring a blue diamond.  The particular shade of blue of the diamond is just gorgeous!  She's set it in a unique sterling silver band with a splash of 24-karat gold.  It's sized at 6 1/2.

Sterling ring by Sarah Gascoigne featuring a blue diamond and a splash of 24-karat gold.

Or check out this option, also by Sarah Gascoigne, featuring a cheerful yellow diamond.  This band is also sterling silver with a splash of 24-karat gold.  Notice the unusual split band.  This is a size 6 ring.

Sterling ring by Sarah Gascoigne featuring a yellow diamond and a splash of 24-karat gold.

No one will ever mistake either of those two rings for engagement or wedding rings!  Those are just two of the unusual diamond rings we have in stock.

But perhaps you prefer a pendant!  What about this simple yet distinctive pendant in white gold with a 10-point diamond?  It features a diamond-cut white gold chain, which sparkles as the light hits it.  A perfect companion to a diamond!  The chain is 18" long.

So, while you may not have considered MaJe Gallery a place to find diamonds, hopefully this will change your mind.  Come on down and see what we've got!

Manya and Jeff

www.MaJeGallery.com

Fiber Art - Thread Scarves by Andi Shannon

A beautiful and unique new scarf style has found its way to MaJe Gallery recently.  Andi Shannon takes threads, ribbon, floss, yarn, and other nifty things and sews them into the most lovely scarves we've seen in a long time!  Check out this example:

Andi Shannon Thread Scarf in purples and plums. 60" long x 10" wide.
SOLD!

Andi Shannon Thread Scarf in multiple colors. 62" long x 10" wide  SOLD!

To create her unique pieces of art, Shannon lays threads, floss, yarn, ribbon, and other paraphernalia on a dissolvable film.  Another piece of the film gets laid on top.  Then she meticulously stiches it all together with her sewing machine until every piece is locked in place.  Then, she dissolves off the outer layers, and voila!  We get to see these amazing scarves!  Here's an example of her machine sewing a scarf with the dissolvable film still on.

Andi Shannon's sewing machine sewing things together between dissolvable films.

Shannon has an excellent goal for her art: "My goal is to create art that delights the eye, inspires the mind, and encourages the soul."  We think she's done it!

Andi Shannon Thread Scarf in black.  60" long x 9" wide

Some of Shannon's thread scarves have a lace-like quality to them.  Take the black one above for example.  Very lacy and oh so very pretty!

Andi Shannon Thread Scarf in moss, olive and lime green. 59" long x 10" wide

But this one is a bit more dense, yet still retaining an airy quality to it.

Andi Shannon Thread Scarf in red and burgundy.  64" long x 8" wide

This red and burgundy one is sort of in-between.  The color choices Shannon makes are all so very pleasing to the eye as well.  And there's not really a color combo she couldn't tackle.

Andi Shannon Thread Scarf in turquoise, sage and teal.  57" x 9".

This one incorporates wider strips of ribbon, for yet another intriguing look.

We invite you to stop by and visit these mesmerizing scarves to see for yourself.  They are even better in person!  Spruce up your spring wardrobe with an art scarf!

Always find more work available at MaJeGallery.com!   Or "like" us on Facebook!  Are you a Pinterest fan?  Then we invite you to follow us there, and see all the beautiful things we add on a regular basis!

Or stop by our gallery, and see everything in person!  We'd love to meet you and show you around.

Best,
Manya and Jeff (AKA MaJe!)