This morning we’re beyond thrilled to announce that Blogger has signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by Google, the Internet search company. This is exciting news not only for all of us on the Blogger team, but for our users, our partners, and most importantly -- the blogosphere itself.

Understandably, you probably have lots of questions about what this means for Blogger and Blogger users. Below, we've put together some initial answers to many of the biggest questions. More info will be available as we figure it out. Thanks for your support as we transfer into this next exciting phase.


Q: Why did Blogger sell to Google?
A: Well, on the surface, it may look obvious: A company of Google's size could give Blogger the resources we needed to do things better, faster, bigger. It's been a long eleven+ years since we started the company, and not all of them were very fun. We had been making serious progress over the last year or so, but bootstrapping (growing without funding) is always a slow process, and we were a long way from where we wanted to be. We wanted to offer a better service. And with Google, it wasn't just their size, of course. They had clearly done an incredible job building their technology and business, and we'd been big fans.

However, that doesn't mean it was an easy decision. We'd seen many small companies doing interesting things die (or at least become uninteresting) after getting acquired. It was only after becoming convinced that: a) There were sensible, cool, powerful things we could do on the technology/product side with Google that we couldn't do otherwise; and b) It was a good company, run by people we liked, who wanted the same things we did (i.e., they wouldn't screw up Blogger or make our lives miserable).

We became convinced both of these were the case rather quickly after thinking about the product side and talking to lots of Googlers. Also, Google liked our logo. And we liked their food.

Q: Will Blogger go away?
A: Nope. Blogger is going to maintain its branding and services. While we may integrate with Google in certain areas there will always be a Blogger.

Q: What does the acquisition mean to Blogger users?
A: Greater reliability, new innovative products and a whole lot more that we aren't ready to share quite yet (truth is, we're still figuring a lot of it out). Right now, we're mostly bolstering up our hardware -- making things faster and more reliable -- and getting settled. Next, we're going to be working on some killer ideas we've been wanting to implement for years. It'll be fun.

Q: Will there be any changes to my account?
A: Not right now but if anything does change we will notify you ahead of time, as we've done in the past.

Q: Will there be any changes to the Blogger products?
A: We will be making some changes in our product line. We've been working on a new version of Blogger for some time now that will be coming out soon. We'll tell you more as soon as we know.

Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: We are building a nuclear powered... Wait, you almost had us. We aren't telling, yet! But we will have more in a few weeks.

Q: Does this mean my blog will rank higher in Google search results?
A: Nope. It does mean your blog might be stored physically closer to Google but that's about it. The people at Google have done a great job over the years making sure their search results are honest and objective and there's no reason they would change that policy for Blogger or anyone else.

Q: What will happen to all the nice kids that work on Blogger?
A: We’ll still be working on Blogger and making it better.

Q: Are you still as handsome as ever?
A:

These jewelry making kit ideas include projects for both girls and boys. You might consider creating and selling kits like these as a business, or giving them as gifts, or using them to offer beading parties for kids.

Popular Projects for a Teen / Kids Jewelry Making Kit

Children and teens love to make and wear jewelry. And a trendy jewelry project with a cool name can make a lot of sales!

These are some popular jewelry projects for kids of all ages to make. They are great designs to teach at a jewelry workshop or beading party, or to offer as kits.

1) Friendship Bracelet - for boys or girls. This has been a hot jewelry item for the past several years, with no sign of declining. Nice made with either "natural" beads, or colorful glass / plastic ones, and strung on leather or hemp cord.

2) Friendship Anklet - similar to the bracelet above, except made ankle-size. (Less likely to be worn by boys.)

3) Surfer Dude / Surfer Chick Necklace - for boys or girls. A rustic choker-length necklace featuring a few beads and sometimes a small pendant. You can offer a variety of rugged, "natural" beads like clay, bone, horn, wood, recycled glass, etc. The beads and pendant are strung onto leather cord or rubber tubing, fastened with either sliding leather knots or a basemetal clasp. This is an especially popular teen / older kids jewelry making kit.

4) Princess Bracelet - an extremely popular jewelry making kit for girls. Possible components: large-hole beads to string on a pretty ribbon that ties onto the princess' wrist with a bow; beads to string on heavy-duty stretch cord; beads to string on beading wire and fastened with a basemetal toggle clasp. Pink and purple are a must in these designs.

5) Dragon-Bone Necklace - a popular jewelry making kit for boys. Simply provide a variety of bone beads and a few interesting spacer beads to string on leather cord and fasten off with sliding, adjustable knots.

6) Magic Bracelet - for boys or girls. An assortment of small magnetic hematite beads in a variety of shapes makes an endlessly fascinating toy as well as a piece of jewelry.

Tips for Creating a Jewelry Making Kit

Many of the commercially-made jewelry kits are disappointingly junky. They have a skimpy assortment of cheap components, flimsy tools, and poorly written instructions - packaged in a deceptively large box. It's very easy to create something that's vastly better than these!

When I create a jewelry making kit for workshops or for sale, I put myself in the customer's shoes - what would be exciting to find in the kit? Here's an example of how I created some bead bracelet kits:

Each kit contained beads in a popular color scheme, with some nice contrasting accent beads and at least one cool focal bead. I included an inspiring mix of bead colors, shapes, etc., and used a beadboard to measure how many inches of beads I was putting into each kit.

Then I tossed in a few extra inches of beads, so the recipient would have a good selection to design with, plus some leftover beads for other projects. I added a coil of leather stringing cord (cut a few inches longer than even the largest wrist would need), and instructions for good design, a comfortable fit, and making sliding knots.

A diamond is considered to be women's best friend. But having this best friend is not an easy affair. One needs to shell out a huge amount for it. In that case, diamond replica jewelry comes as an easy way out. It is exactly the same as real diamond jewelry, but the only difference is that it is a replica. Diamond replicas have also become a rage these days. The beautiful diamond jewelry worn by famous personalities becomes a fashion statement and comes in the market as diamond replica jewelry.

Besides diamond replica jewelry, you can also go for some real diamond jewelry. You can get some of the unique designs in real diamond jewelry. There are some of the best designs in diamond rings. A diamond engagement ring is the best you can give to your fiancé. Diamond rings and bands are also ideal as a gift. Fine diamond jewelry must be the main priority when buying diamond jewelry. A diamond is also said to be forever, so even if you buy it generally it will be a treasured possession.

Diamond is one of the Indian astrological stones. Many a times, a diamond is prescribed for astrological reasons. Amongst all the gemstones, diamond is considered to be the most expensive. If you want to wear a diamond for astrological reasons a diamond ring appears to be the best option. A diamond is said to add its sparkling rays in a positive manner to your life.

Diamond bracelets and diamond bangles are also very beautiful and add a beauty to your wrist. Diamond necklace jewelry and diamond necklace sets spread sparkling rays all over you. So you can also get the diamond rays sparkle over you and on others by having diamond jewelry. Then you can make others jealous of your style by wearing a diamond necklace set or diamond bangles or even a diamond bracelet. Diamond is the in-thing lady. So get it and flaunt it. But why should men be left behind in this race. There are beautiful diamond rings, bracelets and studs for you.

Diamonds are often called symbols of love. Giving diamonds as gifts proclaim our love and commitment to that person. Pure diamonds have four natural characteristics which determine their value. They are the color, cut, clarity and carat. While clarity, color and carat are naturally acquired qualities of a stone, it is the 'cut' which actually determine the desirability of diamonds.

Diamonds obtained from different parts of the world differ mildly in character. A diamond with the requisite carat and color can be transformed into an object of desire by the artful hands of a diamond cutter. Proportionate and properly angled cuts increase the clarity of the diamond.

It has become a fashionable act to wear stone jewelry. Jewelry can be made of any premium metals like, gold, sterling gold or titanium. But it is the embedded diamond which gives the jewelry its attractiveness. Fine jewelry made of diamonds and yellow metal are highly coveted by our women and girls alike.

Modern jewelry comes in many shapes and types. Diamond necklace simply make a woman shine among a gathering. Sparkling earrings simply make others swoon (either in jealousy or appreciation). Brooches, rings and bracelets are the other commonly used diamond jewelry pieces.

Women love jewelry, especially diamonds. It is for this reason that jewelry is more commonly associated with women than with men. However, men are also starting to wear jewelry. This is not a new phenomenon as history would prove that men have started accessorizing themselves even during the ancient civilizations. Men wore rings, pendants and even necklaces that carry with them different symbols and sings like their social status and rankings.

At the moment, the groom's ring is the most popular jewelry among men. The past decade has witnessed the groom's ring's rise in symbolizing the groom's prosperity and stability. Groom's ring does not come in a single design as different men have different preferences for their jewelries. Others prefer their rings to be subtle and subdued, while others prefer rings that matches their bride's rings. Whatever design these men prefer, it is sure that their personality is reflected in their choices.

Men are now also opening their choices and are starting to wear more jewelry other than wedding bands. The jewelry industry has responded to this fact and has produced cufflinks, bracelets, money clips, watches and necklaces that are masculine. Nowadays, purchasing a diamond ring for your special man is a possibility and you can do so with ease. A lot of department stores and retailers have made available jewelries for men. And if you can't find one that you fancy in these stores, there are always online shops that you can check out for the newest designs. They also post detailed information about other men's accessories so more options are available.

It is a fact that most females are interested in learning about jewelry because they are interested in wearing them. Wearing diamond jewelry is a dream for every woman. However, a very few of them are aware of its properties.

Diamond is the hardest substance on this planet. Apart from that, it is one of the most expensive stones. Its cost changes according to the weight, category and size. In chemical terms, diamond is an allotrope of carbon. In addition to that, carbon is one of the softest substances on earth. However, both these substances have the same chemical structure. Thus, their properties are similar to some extent as well. Knowing the properties of a stone is very important for a person who is interested in it. The thermal conduction levels of diamond are very strong. This level is four times stronger as compared to copper. However, diamond is not a very strong conductor of electricity.

There is a property of diamond which also determines the level of its purity. The strength of this substance depends on the extent to which light can pass through it. Impure diamonds have small interferences called inclusions. These interferences prevent light from passing through the substance. In addition to that, diamonds having large inclusions are termed as weak. This is one of the significant things which you should know about diamond jewelry.

Apart from the properties mentioned above, the cut pattern of the stone is very important as well. How can you describe a well shaped stone? First of all, the edge of the stone goes in contrast with the facet. All strong diamonds have this property attached with them. However, the edges do not carry a regular shape in case of weak stones. This is one the factors which is used in determining the price of the stone. Diamond jewelry is a very expensive and a lot of factors have to be considered before buying it. Do not buy this stone from an unreliable resource to save a small sum of money. There are some prestigious companies which actually do not charge higher than what the actual worth of the stone and provide the stone in its purest form. Making your purchase from one of these companies ensures that you are buying a pure and original product.

YEAH! Tonight I'm leaving to Norway for my holidays. I'm excited! :D Today I said goodbye to two of my best friends and I packed my bags this afternoon. We're leaving at 5 a.m. tonight. We are going to drive to Kiel (Germany). And then we take the boat to Norway. The boat trip takes 20 hours!! There's a pool and lots of shops, how cool?! Friday we arrive in Oslo, and we'll spent the whole day in the city! That means: SHOPPING. I love Oslo, the city is just amazing, even after 10 times. :P Well, I see you later and have a beautiful holiday lovers. See you soon! ♥♥♥

maroon 5 ft christina aquilera - move like jagger

sorry for my lack of posts, next Thursday i am going to go to Norway for my holiday with my parents and sister. these days consist of preparing for the holidays and say goodbye to my friends for 3 weeks. so here are some random pics. enjoy!

1 random picture. i love braids.
2 detail of my new selfmade skirt! i love it so much. i think the fabric is amazing, my amazing mom bought it for me! <3
3-4 my selfmade etui. i think it's cute
5 my granny won two cinema tickets and gave them to my sister and i. so this afternoon i am going to the cinema to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2!! i'm so excited. :DDDDD

simple plan ft natasha bedingfield - jet lag

The craze for silver jewelry is always there internationally among a whole lot of communities around the world. The pureness of silver in a jewel to the maximum possible proportions adds on to the beauty, luster and brightness of the product. When it comes to silver jewels, the most important aspect is the maintenance part of it.

One has to always bear in mind about this very important fact that the silver jewels tend to react with the atmosphere quite easily when compared to the gold and diamond. It is this quality of the silver, which makes it inferior to gold. Still ornaments, which are made out of silver, are of a wide range. It is because of the enormous amount of flexibility possible in manufacturing silver commodities of intricate design and elegance. Not all those complicated designs that are made with the silver can be made out of the gold as well. It is because of the tensile strength variation between the two metals.

The reaction with the atmospheric gases, dirt and dust makes the metal to lose its luster in due course of time. One can find the silver rings to slowly diminish in their color, brightness and attractive looks. The silver necklaces gradually tend to become darker and one cannot say that it is a precious commodity any more. Still even under such worst conditions, the silver jewels could be polished to regain back the original luster and shine.

Usually polishing is done with some additional amount of fresh silver so that the component weight will be maintained as its original. Chemical reactions that take place in the surface of the silver metal over the years make it to lose some weight. Moreover before polishing certain process like washing in acid and brushing are carried out. All these involve removal of the outer layer of the metal to a certain extent. Hence, in order to compensate for this lost weight, it is customary to buy and give the smith some more new silver.

Sometimes people think my colour sense is a bit crazy, but look at the bracelet(above and below) and tell me that it isn't beautiful! Dark faceted citrine nuggets, faceted peridot rondelles, faceted amethyst nuggets,and faceted ruby rondelles make this bracelet a colourful knockout!  It has one of my favorite second strands also: a simple strand of sterling silver tiny cube beads from the Thai Karen Hill Tribes; two little bezel-set amethyst charms dangle from it.  This bracelet epitomizes what I love about handmade bracelets.  It is a combination that you would likely never find in any commercial jewelry store. I probably like these colourful bracelets a lot because of my personal wardrobe; I wear a lot of black and white, usually with all white or all black with a touch of one other colour.  The mixed gemstone bracelets add a bit of dash to my outfits which, although I like to think of them as sophisticated,could also be thought boring otherwise.

I really like chrysoprase, the gemstone that I believe is most often mentioned in the Bible. It was often used in ancient times, both in jewelry and art, and still has an undeniable beauty. This chrysoprase bracelet features artist's lampwork beads, a second strand sterling silver chain, and one of our prettier toggle clasps in sterling.

The peridot bracelet (pictured above and below) illustrates my penchant for mixing different gemstone cuts of the same stone.  The artist's lampwork beads have a flash of metallic colour that adds sparkle as well. (Peridot is the August birthstone, so watch for more peridot jewelry).

Sparkle works great in the summer! Imagine this Swarovski bracelet with an all-white outfit. The Pacific opal Swarovski crystals are a favorite with me. I adore their glow, and they remind me of the water in the Bahamas.  The sterling silver chain adds that "something extra" and dangles three Swarovski charms.

Turquoise is also great for summer. Below,the  lampwork beads in this turquoise necklace determined the colour scheme. The beads are turquoise,clear, and dark amber. Sleeping Beauty turquoise and other genuine turquoise stones are complemented by brown chalcedony that picks up the dark amber colour in the lampwork beads.  The carved gemstone flower is actually carnelian.

   Below the necklace is a hunky, chunky turquoise bracelet with wonderful large turquoise nuggets mixed with golden vermeil from Bali.  A single golden key charm hangs from one side of the bracelet.

A favorite combination of mine is emeralds and abalone, and in this last bracelet, you can see why I love it so much. The rough emeralds look great with abalone; the vermeil accents really adds to the glow of this bracelet.

FREE FIRST CLASS SHIPPING WITH 50.00 PURCHASE OR ABOVE; LOW 1.95 FOR PURCHASE UNDER 50.00!!! at Cluny Grey Jewelry.

I tell you, it is just crazy. I can never remember my log in and password for my blog. What is that all about? So it takes me about 5 minutes to actually log in, and by then I have forgotten what I wanted to write about. Oh My Goodness.
Of course, I remember I wanted to write about Connosseurs' Marketplace, the show coming up this weekend in Menlo Park. It is a really good show, down the center of Santa Cruz Ave. in Menlo Park. My husband's booth of paintings is next to mine. It looks like the weather will be mild this weekend, so I just have to get to the studio to finish some work, and we are off!!

 Yesterday I spent my day with my friend Naomi. Haha I'm sorry for the overload of pictures but we made a lot of them yesterday. Today I don't feel like doing anything, the weather is awfull and my stomach hurts as hell. Unfortunately I have to deliver newspapers and I've promised that I'll clean my house today. Life's hard. Well, enjoy lovers.

shorts: cut by my sister, shirt: vintage (H&M, but old collection I think), shoes: dolcis, belt: unknown

gavin degraw - not over you

I thought this was an interesting article from styleathome.com.  I display my grandmother's Sherman jewelry on, around and draping out of an old musical jewelry box I received from her.  Do you have any interesting ways of displaying your jewelry?



http://www.styleathome.com/decorating-and-design/styling-secrets/unique-ways-to-display-vintage-jewelry/a/21731





Here are some of our mall displays for your viewing pleasure. You can see my grandma's jewelry box in the top left of the second picture. I "borrowed" it to my booth at the antique mall to display my jewels.