Guest Writer: Where does Mens Jewellery originate and how its development has changed?

Thank you to our guest writer John Lewis.

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Where does Mens Jewellery originate and how its development has changed?

Where does the word jewellery originate? Well in fact its true meaning is plaything derived from a word from the Latin language jocale but it was the stylish French that used the word jouel describing anything made from precious stones or metal and used to wear about your person that first reinterpreted the meaning into its popular form today.

It is ironic to think that jewellery has been around in its most basic form at the same time as tools were discovered by early man. Mens jewellery was an integral part of ancient cultures and so on to this day men want to wear silver jewellery designed especially for them. Man made jewellery began with the idea of using shells as a form of symbolism. Dating back tens of thousands of years shells were discovered in Europe that had been crafted into beads. From these humble beginnings mens jewellery has developed and evolved into the many choices we have today. Many different types of material were used to create jewellery including teeth and bones from animals, shells, wood and stone carved into shapes by hand. In time these were eclipsed by precious metals such as silver but the ancient inspirations remain intact to this day with the use of languages engraved into modern silver jewellery.

The earliest jewellery known to man was made from shells. They were discovered in Africa and thought to be over one hundred thousand years old. Todays modern fashion trends are influenced by the aged look in both clothing and jewellery. Using specialist techniques the appearance of ageing can be produced. The fundamental reason that jewellery was originally invented was entirely a practical one. Pins were created to simply fasten clothing together securely. It was after this that the items were designed with adornment in mind. Decorating the body with silver became a fast growing trend for everyone. Mens jewellery has all ways been worn as a symbol of success and still continues to be so to this day. Jewellery was also worn by men to ward off evil and protect against medical conditions.

The ancestors of Homo Sapiens began making jewellery over forty thousand years ago when they started living in Europe. The dawn of mass jewellery making had begun. Originally mens jewellery was quite crude in design and was created by prehistoric man using many differing materials including stone, teeth, bones and shells. Jewellery made from metals first appeared about seven thousand years ago with copper being the first to appear. Nowadays silver jewellery is the most popular for men but when it was first available on the high street many men considered it effeminate. This however changed in the forties with the advent of modern designs especially created for men. Mens jewellery has gone through quite a significant change over the last few decades starting off in the nineteen forties with the introduction of retro modern styling choices using curves. These curves have evolved into more organic styling ideas and todays modern jewellery has took this idea even further. The history of mens jewellery continued to develop through the hippie era in the late sixties influenced by American crafts from the native red Indians. From then on in the seventies sterling silver became popular for men and has since become the number one choice.

John Lewis runs a website that features unusual mens jewellery that is handcrafted in the UK.

Albuquerque Downtown Grower's Market 2009

It's that time of year again!

During the Summer and Fall you can find Eclectic Elements at the

Albuquerque Downtown Grower's Market
2009 Season

Every Saturday
June 6th through October 24, 2009

7 am - 11 am

in September hours change to 8am-Noon

8th and Central
Robinson Park

• Arts and Crafts
• Music
• Fun for the kids
• Food
• Fresh local produce
• Honey, flowers, herbs and more!

It's great fun! Be sure to get a breakfast burrito from Java Joe's and check in with our friend and favorite "famous artist" Cay Garcia!

Hope to see you some time over the summer!
sam

Eclectic Elements

Cay Garcia

2008 Season of the Albuquerque Downtown Grower's Market

It's that time of year again!

During the Summer and Fall you can find Eclectic Elements at the

Albuquerque Downtown Grower's Market
2008 Season

Every Saturday
June 7th through October 25, 2008

7 am - 11 am

in September hours change to 8am-Noon

8th and Central
Robinson Park

• Arts and Crafts
• Music
• Fun for the kids
• Food
• Fresh local produce
• Honey, flowers, herbs and more!

It's great fun! Be sure to get a breakfast burrito from Java Joe's and check in with our friend and favorite "famous artist" Cay Garcia!

Hope to see you some time over the summer!
sam

Eclectic Elements

Cay Garcia

Eclectic Elements Buys Scrabble Tiles! (and other game pieces!)

Eclectic Elements Buys Scrabble Tiles!

Eclectic Elements is always in need of Scrabble tiles for their recycled and upcycled fashionable "Trashion" creations!
Full sets and partial sets of the tiles are fine.

The always need J K C M and Q tiles, but they will take everything you can send.

Please use the contact form to let them know you have game pieces available.
Click here to contact Eclectic Elements if you have old games to sell

Also, they can trade game pieces for finished jewelry if you like!

Be sure to use the contact form so they can discuss what you have and prices or trades.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Upcycle, Go Green!

Click here to visit Eclectic Elements

SCRABBLE is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A. and Canada by Hasbro Inc. and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons, PLC of Enfield, Middlesex, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro.

Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners.

Mineral Makeup?

Mineral makeup is all the rage right now.

Here is a link to a balanced review of the subject.

From WebMD
http://www.webmd.com/skin-beauty/features/the-lowdown-on-mineral-makeup

An educated consumer is a happy consumer!
Enjoy!

Peace, equality, justice...

We must move past indecision to action. We must find new ways to speak for peace in Vietnam and for justice throughout the developing world, a world that borders on our doors. If we do not act, we shall surely be dragged down the long, dark, and shameful corridors of time reserved for those who possess power without compassion, might without morality, and strength without sight.
--Martin Luther King, Jr.


Once one assumes an attitude of intolerance, there is no knowing where it will take one. Intolerance, someone has said, is violence to the intellect and hatred is violence to the heart.
--Mahatma Gandhi


Stability and peace in our land will not come from the barrel of a gun, because peace without justice is an impossibility.
--Desmond Tutu

Happy New Year!

A sincere thank you for
your support in 2007.

Best wishes for the New Year!

Sincerely,

sam
Eclectic Elements

http://www.eclectic-elements.com