Memorial Day at SilverRoseBeads

Today for Memorial Day, we want to take a moment to recognize and remember those who have served and who are serving our country. From CNN.com

"in 2000, Congress established a National Moment of Remembrance, which asks Americans to pause for one minute at 3 p.m. in an act of national unity. The time was chosen because 3 p.m. "is the time when most Americans are enjoying their freedoms on the national holiday."

So while we are spending the day enjoying the beautiful weather here in the northwest and spending time with our families, we will pause a moment this afternoon and remember those who have given us our freedom with the ultimate sacrifice.

SRBeadBucks

How SRBeadBucks work:

Earning SRBeadBucks:

Earnings Period: May 15, 2009 - May 22, 2009 11:59PM Eastern

For every $50 spent at www.SilverRoseBeads.com during an earnings period, you will receive a 25% off SRBeadBucks coupon for your next order.

Redeeming SRBeadBucks:

Redemption period: June 1st - June 30, 2009 11:59PM Eastern

You can redeem your 25% SRBeadBucks coupon during the redemption period on any SilverRoseBeads purchase (Website, eBay items or a combination). Each 25% off SRBeadBucks coupon will have a specific promo code to be used during a specific week in June.

For example: If you earn two SRBeadBucks coupons , the first SRBeadBucks coupon will be valid for the first week of June and the second SRBeadBucks coupon will be valid for the second week of June. The SRBeadBucks coupons cannot be combined with each other or any other offer.

Additional SRBeadBucks Info:

If you return or exchange an item from the earnings period and the qualifying purchase falls below the $50 threshold, SRBeadbucks coupons will be subtracted in 25% increments. On items purchased during the redemption period using SRBeadBucks coupon, you will receive the price paid (after the discount) on all returned or exchanged merchandise. The value of your SRBeadBucks coupon will not be returned if you make a return or exchange.

Celebrating Mothers and others who nurture us!

Mother's Day! What a great reminder to celebrate our mothers and other people who nurture us!
Creativity is often hard to keep alive in our busy world, but if we take time to nurture it and ourselves the rewards are endless.
This year my mother was in London for Mother's day, so I called her and we chatted for a few moments. She is having a great time there with my Dad and brother :)
I got to celebrate with my daughter and husband. They let me sleep in while they created a sumptuous breakfast of french toast and strawberries (of 'frawberries' as my daughter calls them). Then we spent a relaxing day with each other.
All this time away from work, helped me relax and contemplate what a joy life can be :) My family is so close thanks to working together and spending special days away from work.
Here's hoping that you and yours get to spend some special time together nurturing each other and the creative spirit!
See www.SilverRoseBeads.com for up to 50% off all pink and blue beads in honor of Mothers everywhere!
See our Pink & Blue Beads here.

May is Gold Month!

May is Gold Month!

Gold (pronounced /ˈɡoʊld/) is a chemical element with the symbol Au (Latin: aurum) and atomic number 79. It is a highly sought-after precious metal in jewelry, in sculpture, and for ornamentation since the beginning of recorded history. The metal occurs as nuggets or grains in rocks, in veins and in alluvial deposits. Gold is dense, soft, shiny and the most malleable and ductile pure metal known. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without rusting in air or water.

Because of the softness of pure (24k) gold, it is usually alloyed with base metals for use in jewelry, altering its hardness and ductility, melting point, color and other properties. Alloys with lower caratage, typically 22k, 18k, 14k or 10k, contain higher percentages of copper, or other base metals or silver or palladium in the alloy. Copper is the most commonly used base metal, yielding a redder color. Eighteen carat gold containing 25% copper is found in antique and Russian jewelery and has a distinct, though not dominant, copper cast, creating rose gold. Fourteen carat gold-copper alloy is nearly identical in color to certain bronze alloys, and both may be used to produce police, as well as other, badges. Blue gold can be made by alloying with iron and purple gold can be made by alloying with aluminum, although rarely done except in specialized jewelry. Blue gold is more brittle and therefore more difficult to work with when making jewelry. Fourteen and eighteen carat gold alloys with silver alone appear greenish-yellow and are referred to as green gold. White gold alloys can be made with palladium or nickel. White 18 carat gold containing 17.3% nickel, 5.5% zinc and 2.2% copper is silver in appearance. Nickel is toxic, however, and its release from nickel white gold is controlled by legislation in Europe. Alternative white gold alloys are available based on palladium, silver and other white metals (World Gold Council), but the palladium alloys are more expensive than those using nickel. High-carat white gold alloys are far more resistant to corrosion than are either pure silver or sterling silver. The Japanese craft of Mokume-gane exploits the color contrasts between laminated colored gold alloys to produce decorative wood-grain effects.