Jewelry has always been essential to people who loves toaccessorize. One special piece can make such a difference in the presentation of same outfit. There are so many different variations and handmade jewelry standsout because of its uniqueness. Beaded, carved, filigreed, engraved, sequined,knitted, and painted, various techniques for handicraft arts have beencontinually developed in all cultures throughout time, which certainly expandthe variety of handmade jewelry.

Handmade jewelry makers utilize many types of metals andgemstones in their work, such as brass, copper, silver, gold; and crystal,quartz, turquoise, coral and amethyst. Many contemporary jewelry artists makeuse of even more diverse materials such as glass beads, fabric, acrylic as wellas organic /natural material such as wood, leather, shell, hemp, raffia grass,animal horns, bones and even teeth. In fact jewelry made of these materialsgains more and more in popularity.

Compare to mass-produced jewelry, handmade jewelry involvesmuch more with culture, humanity and history. Most handmade jewelry has acertain ethnic flair. Or I should say, most culture has their own uniquehandmade tribal jewelry. Miao, for instance, an ethnic group at South WestChina, is well-known for their amazing women's 20+ kg silver costume jewelryset as well as their extraordinary craftsmanship on silver jewelry making. Although Miao silver(a combination of nickel and copper) is utilized as a more affordablealternative nowadays, the popularity of Miao handmade hair-sticks andaccessories is still increasing because of their varied and creative designs.Tibetan handmade jewelry, on the other hand, featured bold styles and dramaticcolors. The styles are versatile enough for you to find "go anywhere"pieces to wear with anything from jeans to evening dress. Thanks to theconvenience of internet, I have collected native American cuffs, Africanleather necklace, Tibetan style beaded turquoise and coral bracelets, Miao hairjewelry sets, Indian Kundan necklace and earrings, and oriental carved lacquerand Cloisonn hair-sticks, with some simple clicks of mouse. My biggest surprise was a piece of one-of-an-kind refractory porcelain hair-stick. The exquisitely handmadeflowers look so real and almost too pretty to wear.

Finding a gift for loved ones or special events such asbridal shower is never easy. If you want to make an unforgettable present, you might want to consider handmade jewelry. My friend Maggie, a pretty and smart girl,bought dozens of Tibetan silver cuffs studded with gemstones for her bridalshower. "How many times will a woman want to wear identical stuff assomebody else's?" She said. How true! Her gift turned out to be a "bomb"on that day!

Price is always the concern. The price for handmade jewelryvaries in a large range depending on the material, craftsmanship and sometimesbrands. The most important thing to remember when shopping for handmade jewelryis that you are looking for uniqueness. It does not have to expensive or madeof precious material. It is the style that catches you and others eyes. Also,while the internet made it easy for us to shop at home, it also provides means for us to compare styles and prices, as well as searching for best deals such asfree shipping, on-sale and coupons.

Whether youare looking for something to accent a dress for the special occasion or unusualgifts for the loved one, try handmade jewelry and make the memory timeless.