The Sensuality of the Victorian Age…

Lace. Beads. Beauty. Fancy. Frilly. The hallmarks of ladies fashion of the Victorian Era of the 1800s. This time period is often described as romantic and sentimental. The jewelry designers of the day aspired to create pieces that reflected the spirit of the courtship and marriage of the young queen, Victoria. Indeed, her own passion for jewelry led her to create her own designs, not only for her personal use but to give as gifts to members of her extended family.

This is exactly the essence of beauty that is captured in the creative artwork of Israeli jewelry designer Orly Zeelon. Inspired as a teen when browsing antiques shops, she learned to appreciate the beauty and intricacies of the old handmade lace, embroidery and jewelry. Borrowing from these styles, Orly has created a line of jewelry that reflects the unique magnificence of that bygone era.

Although a very modern designer, Orly still uses the old techniques when crafting her designs. The pieces are hand embroidered using glass beads, Swarovski crystals and metals. Orly’s creativity is clearly demonstrated in each piece, made by hand, either by Orly herself or one of the skilled artisans in her workshop. They are produced in limited quantities that make each and every piece extra special.

Orly, who is not classically trained as a designer, gets her inspiration from her soul…Victorian influences with a totally modern twist.

That’s Orly Zeelon.
You can find selected pieces at www.FromIsraelToYou.com

The Scientist, the Zionist and the Amethyst

Handknit gold wire necklace with Swarovski crystals. Handmade in Israel.

People always laugh when they learn that I’m a microbiologist. I’m not viewed through that lens. Rather, my friends and my community know me as someone who dedicates her professional and volunteer life to something that is quite unscientific. “How in the world,” they say, “did you wind up as a pro-Israel activist, selling Israeli jewelry?!”

The evolution was natural. As a scientist, I am accustomed to approaching an issue or problem with a question. As an American and a Jew, the line of inquiry was clear…. what can I do to ensure that Israel, as our steadfast ally in the Middle East, remains safe and secure?

It didn’t take very long to come up with an answer and a plan. Israel is America’s only stable ally in a volatile region. Israel is an American value. As an American, I must preserve this relationship so that my country, the United States, will benefit. As a Jew, I believe that the work I am able to do here at home is possible because there is an Israel. A successful country has a strong economy. Israel must have a strong economy. Therefore, I will work to preserve the US-Israel relationship and promote Israel as an economic ally.

Gold and silver earrings with green pearls. Handmade in Israel.

Not exactly an easy task. This tiny little country of miracles and beauty is 6000 miles away. How can I share the creativity of her people with the world?

About 10 years ago, I was involved with an extraordinary project. It was 2002, and tourism to Israel had all but died due to the violence called “the Second Intifada.” At that time, I was the director of the America-Israel Chamber of Commerce, located in Philadelphia, PA.  We partnered with the Jewish Federation to create a week long traveling bazaar called The Mitzvah Malls. Sponsoring 36 vendors, artists, and shopkeepers from Israel, we hosted them on a tour throughout the region. If the tourists weren’t going to Israel, we’d bring Israel to them. It was a remarkable and gratifying success.

Soon after, I left that post to work with Israeli technology companies. The scientist in me began to merge with the Zionist. We focused on helping these firms with their business development needs in the United States. It was a comfortable place for me and the bi-national relationships I built gave me an opportunity to become even more connected with Israel.

When the call came from an Israeli jewelry organization, I was surprised. They asked us to help market their artists and designs to the pro-Israel Christian community. It seemed such a peculiar request. But as we talked, it began to make tremendous sense. Moreover, it began to  answer the questions I raised earlier.

Sterling silver and opal ring. Handmade in Israel.

The birth of From Israel To You was a proud event. From the start, we were honored to represent a group of independent artists; some of whom had no other access to the global marketplace. We started to gain traction and attention. Not only did the Christian Zionists love our merchandise, but the broader community did as well.

Sterling silver scrolls with Rose Quartz. Handmade in Israel.

It was clear that I had come full circle. I speak with Israel almost daily, working to find more artists and brainstorm about novel ways to showcase their designs. The response to the website, the social media postings, the invitations to participate with organizations to sell our products or form fundraising partnerships prove to me that, what I call Economic Zionism, is a productive philosophy and one which guides my business, and my personal principles and standards.

In the face of those advocating a boycott of Israeli products, we can successfully counter with BUYcotts of Israel. We are able to give people a little piece of Israel to have with them everyday. A necklace. An earring. It’s small, but it’s something that they can keep close as a reminder of this oasis in the Middle East. A place we love. Israel.

Sterling Silver Star of David. Handmade in Israel.

April is for Diamonds

This is the time of year when we herald the arrival of Spring and welcome the return of baseball. Opening day games always bring out the most ardent fans. The fields are lusciously green; the pitcher’s mound the only bump in the diamond.

But in April, baseball is not the only reference to diamonds. This most precious of gems is this month’s birthstone and the traditional symbol of love. The word itself comes from the Greek “adamas,” which means indestructible. No wonder that the gift of a diamond represents the promise of a lifelong relationship.

Raw, uncut diamonds

It is also accurately describes the world’s hardest mineral. By the time a diamond reaches the earth’s surface, it had survived millions of years as a clump of carbon under extraordinarily high pressure and temperature. The youngest diamonds are 45 million years old! Though we mostly think of diamonds as crystalline and colorless, they actually exist in a rainbow of colors.

A rainbow of diamonds

Mother Nature is not the only creator of diamonds. In the laboratory, diamonds are synthesized by several different processes. The resulting gemstones are almost indistinguishable from the geologically-generated stones. Only by using special spectroscopy tests that measure infrared or other wavelengths, can they be identified as real or fabricated.

That laboratory-created diamonds can be used in place of natural diamonds is great for the fashion industry and wonderful for the consumer. Where once glittery and glamorous diamonds were only for the wealthy, all of us can now enjoy the sparkle and elegance of this gem, as the prices for synthetic diamonds are so much more affordable.

Cubic Zirconia set in sterling silver. Made in Israel.

Used as the focal point in so many jewelry designs, one such faux diamond is the Cubic Zirconia. As the low cost alternative to diamonds, this structurally identical impostor has become a leading design element for jewelry.

Just as there are specific locations where diamond mines have been located, there are various centers across the world known for their diamond cutting expertise. Among them are Antwerp, New York City and Tel Aviv in Israel. In fact, most of the diamonds coming out of Tel Aviv land in the United States.

Even though Israel is one of the centers of diamond and gem cutting excellence, the talented and creative jewelry artists across the country know that the cubic zirconia (CZ) makes the perfect stone for their designs. Using a CZ of brilliant color in a gold or silver item, makes it immediately accessible and perfectly priced for the mass market.

So the way I see it, April is for Diamonds but CZ’s are really a girl’s best friend.

GOOD MORNING. What a magnificent hamsa .

GOOD MORNING. What a magnificent hamsa ..Opal and Onyx— http://ow.ly/2p9DO

News Flash… Jewelry Makes You Skinny!

After all my years of calorie counting, eating frozen diet dinners, erratic exercising and just plain frustration that I’ll never be skinny, I discovered the most wonderful solution to my angst. It’s jewelry!

Really. I’m  not kidding. Most women seek advice on what sorts of jackets to wear to camouflage their hips or the length of their hemlines to make their legs look longer. But all you need to do is dig into your jewelry box to help you highlight, not disguise, your best features.

Fashion consultants agree that the best thing you can do for an immediate makeover is to use what you have, but use it differently. From now on, your focus should be on drawing attention to your strongest physical attributes. The shimmer of metal and jewels and gemstones will attract all eyes to where you set the target.

Let’s start at the top.

If you have a pretty face, consider a choker. Not only will it elongate the neck, but the piece will frame your face.

Consider the shape of your face and chose a design that complements it. For instance, adding a pendant to a collar will elongate a round face. Earrings too have a place in defining the focus factor. Dramatic hanging earrings add length to your visage, while a smaller design will offer the sparkle that will draw the eye to your face.

For those gals lucky enough to have cleavage, consider a piece to flaunt your decolletage. Necklaces that lie on the breastbone have the advantage of highlighting not only the chest, but the face as well. Depending on your build, chose a piece that doesn’t overwhelm your physicality, but blends with it.

Where a fashion consultant will tell you to wear a belt to show off that thin waist, you can draw the eye to it with a long chain. This will not only focus the eye on your hour glass shape, but will help to make you look taller by creating an elongated silhouette.

So treat yourself to a skinny piece of jewelry. Guaranteed to put a smile on your face and a whistle on an admirer’s lips.

Israel-An American Value

Imagine. You live in New Jersey. The states bordering you are New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware. They hate you just because you live in Jersey. They don’t allow you to travel to them, don’t allow you to take an airplane to Ohio because you’d have to fly over their territory.

Imagine. You live in New Jersey. You manufacture a lifesaving medical device. There are sick people in the surrounding areas, but they can’t call you to order the equipment because their governments refuse to allow telephone service (land line or cellular) to Jersey. The sick people die.

Imagine. You live in New Jersey. You send your children to the park to play. All of a sudden, a missile launched from New York lands in the playground. Children are killed and maimed. The NJ National Guard sends its members to New York to destroy the rocket launcher and bring the criminals to justice. The world cries that you are the aggressor.

Imagine this.

Entrepreneurs in New Jersey develop communications tools like Instant Messaging and the Intel Pentium Chip that runs all our computers. Scientists discover and manufacture new drugs that are affordable to all. Doctors volunteer for weeks at a time in places that normally don’t welcome Jerseyites, because those places have been devastated by earthquakes and tsunamis. Imagine that New Jersey is a beacon of light.

Is that really difficult think about? That New Jersey, in spite of being the brunt of so many jokes, could actually be such a stellar place?

Now, imagine this! That it’s not really New Jersey, but Israel. A country the same size as the Garden State, surrounded by populations that constantly call for the annihilation of the people living there. A country, that in spite of all the difficulties of geography, has developed into a blooming desert flower, literally.

And what’s more, Israel is a democracy in a region of dictatorships and theocracies. A place where the value of human life is respected. Where religious expression is welcome. Where women are recognized as valuable citizens and given equal rights. An outpost of American values among a sea of countries where children are encouraged to commit murder by strapping explosives to their chests. And then, those killers are praised for killing other children.

You may think I’m joking. That I’m making this up. But it’s true. Don’t take my word for it. Listen to the Rev. DeeDee Colman. You’ll be surprised at what she has to say. An African-American Baptist minister from Detroit, Rev. DeeDee, as she likes to be called, loves Israel as much as I do. And she proudly proclaims it to be the most moral place on earth.

Let me know your thoughts!

Have a Sweet Passover.

Have a Joyous Easter.

What to wear with your little black dress….

Pearls. Diamonds. Beads. Chains. Something with a little color.

Pearl and Sterling Silver Ring

Seems that when it comes to what to wear with black, there is no consensus of opinion. I posed the question in a very unscientific survey, just to see what women prefer. The responses showed me that we girls have a very definite idea of what we like, what looks good and what is in our jewelry boxes.

Elegant Black Pearls with Silver and Gold Beads

The overwhelming preference is pearls. The opulance of this organic gem is what is most appealing. Although natural pearls are rare, most of the pearls in today’s market are cultured pearls. Pearl “farmers” place a seed (actually, a piece of organic material) in an oyster that, over time, is coated with many layers of natural minerals and proteins. The layers, called the nacre, sometimes taking up to two years to form, are what create the beautiful luster of the pearl.

Color too is what makes pearls so luxurious. Typically white, they also appear in cream, yellow, pink, silver, green and even black, creating distinct cool and warm hues. Sometimes, the gem has a hint of secondary color, or overtone, which can be seen when light reflects off the pearl. So a strand of white pearls may  reveal a hint of pink floating over its surface.

Creating pearl jewelry designs that are artful and unique involves the use of different sizes and shapes of pearls. The highest quality of pearl, and the rarest too, is round. Freshwater pearls or Tahitian pearls, for example, often appear oval and these different shapes can give you a whole lot of pearl without breaking the bank.

Pearl Discs with Silver and Gold

World's Largest Natural Pearl

Size matters too. Depending on whether it’s a necklace, bracelet, earrings or rings, pearls measure from small to large. The largest pearl known was discovered in 1934 off the coast of Island Palawan in the Philippines. At one time valued at $3.5 million, its wherabouts today are unknown.

Your pearls can last a lifetime with the proper care. Wearing them often is the best way to preserve your gems by allowing your body’s natural oils to rub off on the pearls, keeping them lustrous. However, like with any jewelry, it is important to keep them away from household chemicals including hairspray, perfume and makeup. Store them separately from your other jewelry to avoid scratching the surface and wipe them with a soft cloth before putting them away.

And remember, your pearls are the last thing you put on when you slip into your little black dress. And the first thing you take off….

Rare Green Pearls with Silver and Gold Leaves

Haiti and Israel

It’s been 10 days.

Ten horrifying days filled with death, destruction, fear, horror, sadness and loss. But yet, there is hope. There is community and camaraderie. There is song and prayer. There is a world coming together to help a neighbor who has suffered the pains of a natural disaster.

There has been tremendous praise for all the volunteers who have devoted countless and sleepless hours, digging, searching, calling out for survivors. They too are in danger for the Earth has not stop stretching. Witness the rumbling of the aftershocks, almost as fierce as the first quake.

In all of this chaos, there has been an extraordinary example of order. The Israeli Defense Forces arrived on the scene just hours after the devastation became known to the world. Two planes, two 747s—one filled with sophisticated medical equipment, the other with medical specialists—left Israel and flew to Haiti to set up a field hospital that rivals many permanent facilities in many parts of the world.

The IDF field hospital in Haiti has a fully equipped children’s department with nine pediatrics doctors, where the young victims of the earthquake,  are being treated. Dozens of children have been cared for, including a young brother and sister who were rescued by an American team, after being trapped for seven days in the rubble. As with other rescue teams, the Americans transferred them to the Israeli hospital, because it is the best equipped and offers the best care.

There is a maternity ward. IDF nurses delivered seven babies to mothers who must have been so scared that they would never make it to a hospital or that they might not deliver their babies alive. Yet, the first baby born after the quake was a boy. He was born with the help of Israeli nurses. Healthy. His grateful mother named him “Israel.”

So far, 383 people have been treated in the hospital, among them dozens of children. 140 life saving operations were performed.

Who are these people who have committed to stay in Haiti for more than a month? To leave their own families behind, 6000 miles away?

These wonderful citizen-soldiers are ordinary people who serve in the military after high school and remain in the reserves for 20 or more years. Each year, they are called for duty, leaving families and jobs behind for weeks at a time. Dedicated, devoted, diligent, and dutiful, these men and women may very well be the creative artists who, when at home, sit in comfortable studios and craft the most beautiful designs from metal and gemstones. The same Earthly elements that came crashing down on the heads of the Haitians. These are the people I usually write about, whose jewelry you can see on my website. They are artists and they are soldiers. It is the same nurturing spirit and emotion that drives them to help others and also sparks the artistry that we can pin to our lapels or drape around our necks or adorn our fingers.

Israel is a remarkable country, as I’ve told you before. Only the size of New Jersey, with a population of 7 million, it is surrounded by enemies sworn to her destruction. In spite of, and because of, this neighborhood, Israel has honed its emergency skills. What this expertise allows them to do is on display in Haiti. They are always the first to offer help and arrive on the scene whenever and wherever disaster strikes.

In the days after Hurricane Katrina, even while she was under missile attack from the terrorist organization Hezbollah, Israel loaded a plane with clean drinking water, food rations and experts in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and flew to the stricken areas of the Gulf. Israel was on the ground in Turkey, Spain, Kenya, Indonesia, all corners of the planet, when there was a catastrophe.

It’s part of the Israeli soul, this worldwide caregiving. More than just chicken soup, Israel’s recipe for being a member of the world community is to jump in when needed. Without being asked.

Please watch these videos. If you are human, you won’t be able to keep from shedding a tear. It’s a joyful one. So go ahead and cry.

Birthstone Beauty

The brilliance and sparkle of gemstones always adds light and life to a beautiful jewelry design. But then there is the significance of a birthstone—the unique nature’s wonder that is assigned to each month of the year. Where does this tradition come from? And why do we all know what our birthstones are?

The Breast Plate of the High Priest Aaron, Brother of Moses

We probably feel very connected with birthstones because of their biblical origins, dating back thousands of years to the time of Moses. Under his direction, the Breast Plate of the High Priest was designed, with a different colored gemstone representing the twelve tribes of Israel. This is alluded to in Exodus 39. The Breast Plate was lost at the time of the Temple’s destruction.

The number twelve took on a special significance over the centuries. First there were twelve tribes of ancient Israel, then the twelve apostles, twelve foundation stones of the Holy City, twelve months of the year and twelve signs of the zodiac.

As this concept began to take on almost mythical proportions, people wanted to own all twelves stones on the Breast Plate, incorporating one gemstone in each of twelve different pieces of jewelry. Each piece and gemstone was worn for a single month of the year, according to the Julian calendar. In time, in order to establish a sense of personal identity, people began wearing a single stone for an entire year. Thus began the concept of birthstones, with each one purported to carry a special magical power, from curing blindness to protecting a warrior in battle to immunizing the wearer from drunkenness.

Opal and Onyx Hamsa. Sometimes, this ancient symbol is called the Hand of Miriam, a reference to the sister of Moses and Aaron.

Modern usage of the birthstone has become a decorative element in jewelry artistry. Each stone is specific to the month and each stone is assigned a special meaning. Often times, the stone itself is believed to be a clue to the innate qualities of the person or what a person can hope for if they wear the stone.

The list of birthstones that is used today was compiled in 1952 by the American National Retail Jewelers Association, the National Jewelers Association and the American Gem Society. Over the years, many stones have fallen off the list, only to be replaced by other dazzling ones. Several months currently have more than one birthstone.

So what’s your birthstone? Does it represent who you are?

What exactly is 925 Sterling Silver Anyway?

Silver nugget

Making beautiful jewelry is truly an art. Using the most appropriate materials allows the artist the ability to craft a lump of metal into a unique creation.

Silver, or Fine Silver, is 99.9% pure. In this state, the metal is just too soft for use in large, functional items.

When it is mixed with other metals, like copper , the result is Sterling Silver, an alloy of 92.5% silver and usually 7.5% copper. The new combination gives the silver strength and resiliency but keeps it malleable—perfecting for making silver jewelry and preserving its lovely white luster.

Silver Necklace with Green Quartz

Metals other than copper are sometimes used, with the  intent of giving the finished piece a specific quality, like tarnish resistant properties. The use of alternative metals is up to the craftsman, but given the abundance of copper due to improved refining techniques combined with  lower prices, copper has become the first choice of jewelry designers.

Sterling Silver Bracelet with Smokey Quartz

The best way to ensure the quality of the jewelry you are considering for purchase, is to look for a hallmark. This is a mark that is stamped directly onto the piece to indicate the purity of the silver. Many designers also include their personal mark. Be sure to find the “925” stamp, usually near the clasp of on the back of the piece.