Ying Yu Jade
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I collect old jade. You would drool if you saw my collection, it's like one of the famous jade museums in China. There's something about old jade, the energy and history, that feels so special. Most of my old jade is displayed so I can enjoy it every day. There are (of course) bangles, but also pendants, jewelry, carvings. I've put some of my personal collection on two pages and this weekend you can take $10 off any jade item #TI with coupon code OLD10. January 30
A friend and reader summed up my thoughts about fixing a broken jade bangle with gold ends and turning into a hinged bangle: "When a favorite lavender bangle broke (rather nicely in half) I took it to (my jeweler) . He suggested gluing it. Since I love the look of gold and jade together, I had 14 kt gold "wraps" put on over the glue. But then of course having the metal, it doesn't have the organic, protective embrace which is what I love about a solid jade bangle". Agree. January 28
I gave one of my favorite girlfriends who is also a neighbor a jade bangle that is a "sister" to one I wear a couple of years ago. Since then she has been diagnosed with cancer and completed chemo and on her way back to feeling better. Today when I walked by her house she stopped me to tell me she was really upset and started crying because her jade bangle broke today while she was working around her house. She didn't hit it on anything, it just broke in several pieces. It was a thick one, too, so a surprise that it would break because of it being so substantial. But that's the nature of jade. Perhaps it had used up all its energy during her illness and didn't need much to break, or perhaps it protected her from something she didn't realize. Whatever the reason, she is hearbroken about losing it, and feeling odd without having it on. Some of us get very attached to our jade, and Chinese people have believed that the jade becomes the person who wears it, so it really is a part of us. But jade has its own wisdom, and when it's "done", it will be not be a part of you anymore. It's a lesson that nothing in life is permanent, even when it seems strong and has been around for thousands of years. Jan 28
The last of the jade heart pendants for Valentine's Day, and jade tiger pendants for Chinese New Year have been listed. Althought I order these months in advance, they take a long time to arrive, and then I never get as many as I ordered. So if you are looking for either of these, this is the time to get them before they get sold out. By the way, if your Chinese astrological sign indicates that the year might be a difficult one for you, it's auspicious to wear both your own zodiac for protection and the current year zodiac for luck. January 27
After jade is carved and polished the first time, it is coated with wax for final polishing. The wax helps the polishing tool give a high polish to the jade. Until the wax is completely cleaned off the jade piece, some residue remains. The wax also helps to protect the jade as it is being transported. So if you find some wax on your jade eggs, bangle or other item, you can either polish it with a soft cloth or wash with warm soapy water to remove the wax. I usually clean the jade bangles before I take a photo so the wax doesn't interfere with the photo quality, but most other jade pieces might have some wax residue. Just think...your jade made it all the way from China to you. What a trip! January 26
The jadeite bangles priced $250 and under are now listed on JadeBangleBracelets web site, there is a new page with these new jade bangles, click here to view. These are specially low priced for Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year. The photos were taken in natural daylight, and they are so nicely polished that they really reflect light, have good translucence, and natural color that you can wear proudly. January 25
Thanks to customers who purchased during YYJ Haiti fundraiser for donation to the Red Cross. The dontation has been sent. When you wear your jade, use your rollers or gua sha tools, you will certainly feel good knowing your purchase helped people in distress, not costing you a penny. January 23
New jade items being listed every day. The Year of the Tiger is near, and the jade tiger pendants are being added. Several customers have asked for gold "spacer" bangles to wear between jade bangles when you wear more than one on the same wrist, and I purchased some very good quality gold plate bangles that are 18k gold plate like Asian gold. I bought a sample several months ago to test the quality and they look as nice as my real 24k gold bangles.They are stunning and I'll try to get them on the web site over the weekend. Problem is, I waited too long to get them after I tested them and they looked good for a long time, and the quantity is limited. And I'm going to an estate sale tomorrow where I hear there is jade jewelry. Sure am excitied about that! January 22
My web hosting company moved my web sites to a new advanced technology server yesterday. There are some technical problems on my side that are being resolved, but I don't see any problems on the customer-user side. If you notice problems when you navigate the web pages, or make the transition to the automated shopping cart, please let me know. When you click on any "order" link, that takes you to the automated secure shopping cart section. You can see the change in your browser address to "https" from "http". The "s" shows you are on a secure server, which is required for making credit card payments. Always look for "https" when you make any online payments with your credit card. Customers often ask if my web site is secure for payments, and that's how you know if any web page is secure for payments, and any company that takes credit card payments online is required to have secure pages that start with the https. In fact, it's safer to make an online payment than it is to give your credit card on a phone order. Online payments made on a secure server means that your entire credit card number is never given to the seller and is only available to the company the processes your credit card. Phone orders require the seller to keep your credit card number to manually process your card on a terminal. Why do I write about this? I care about my customers and want you to feel safe when you make your payments, and let you know how you can use your credit card safely on any web site. You get more than only jade information here! January 21
I often am asked about how to take care of a jade bangle. Some jade sellers warn people who wear jade to keep it away from lotions, perfumes, hair spray. Those chemicals will damage resin which is often used to color treat jade, as well as material that is not jade, but genuine natural jade is not damaged by every-day chemicals we use on our bodies. Soap and water will easily clean residue, and if your bangle looks dull, spray furniture cleaner (Pledge) on it and polish with a soft cloth. Pure and natural jade with good polish will be beautiful for many years. January 19
I got another box of jade bangle bracelets out of storage, and it's an older box, when prices were lower, so I'm going to list some of them on JadeBangleBracelets web site over the next couple days. I'll make a page of these jade bangles in the under $250 price range. Wow! What a deal. So watch as I add them, and get a great bargain now. Tomorrow is the final day for the Haiti fundraiser, so it's a great time to buy. Costs you nothing, and you are helping them with your purchase. January 18
Both YYJ and JadeBangleBracelets web sites are going to move to a new, more secure and technologically advanced server sometime on Monday and/or Tuesday. I don't know if the moving will affect what you see, how it works, but if you have problems navigating the web site, hopefully it will be working properly by Tuesday. Yes, I'm nervous because it's something my hosting company is doing, over which I have no control! January 17
Went to a trade show today. I've been going to these trade shows for awhile and have met vendors who bring me special jade things. I bought a ton of stuff, at least that's what carrying all those jade stone items felt like. There are some magnetic necklaces with a jade cross, wood hair stick with jade stone, jade bead and stretchy bracelets and three chunky jade stone and crystal beads necklaces, as well as some other things. My credit card is burning! Part of this trade show is wholesale orders, but the other part is the cash and carry, and I love it when vendors pull out a box under a table full of jade goodies they set aside for me. So watch for some of this new merchandise-after I get done playing with it, I'll start getting it on the web site! January 16
Thanks for your orders and support of the Haiti relief fundraiser. Customers have purchased items they have looked at for awhile, on their Wishlists, and wrote that it will have more meaning to them knowing part of their purchase payment is going to help others. YYJ customers live all over the world, and it's an honor to know how many of you care so much. January 15
After seeing the devastation in Haiti following the major earthquake, I'm going to make a Ying Yu Jade donation to the international Red Cross for relief efforts. We'll donate 10% of profits from sales through January 20 to the Red Cross. If you are planning to make a purchase in the near future, for Valentine's Day, Chinese New Year, or just for yourself, and you want to be a part of helping Haiti, please make your purchase during our January 14-20 fundraising event. It won't cost you anything,and part your purchase will help those who are suffering in Haiti. If your purchase is for $300+, I'll send you a Guan Yin, Buddha of Compassion, Protector of women and children, mala bracelet with your order, write a note in the comments box. I've done this kind of fundraiser to donate to the Red Cross in the past to help with disasters not only in the USA but internationally, and dear YYJ customers have made their purchases during the fundraising period and we've all felt good about our project to help others who need our help now. You will enjoy your jade more knowing that your purchase helped someone who was suffering from the earthquate disaster. January 14
The Chinese New Year begins February 14 and is the year of the Yang White (Metal) Tiger. According to feng shui it will be an amazing and exciting year. I'm working on my article about Year of the Tiger and am excited to see what the new year brings. I purchased some jade Tiger pendants and have listed some today, will list more as the Year of the Tiger gets closer. There's only a few, so if you see one you like, be sure to get it. Wearing a tiger amulet protects you throughout the year and brings you luck, happiness and fortune. Check them out, click here. More about Tiger year later. January 12
I'm getting my business records ready to take to our accountant to prepare taxes. Last year, he shook his head and tsk'd my record keeping while I explained discounts and credits that were not regular pricing, and wondered aloud if I had a "jade social club", or a real business. Well....if I can't have fun while doing business, then I may as well get a real job with a real salary, and real health insurance and benefits. He sent me a reminder and worksheet to bring to my appointment. I suppose since I pay for his advice, I should take it, so I'll take some of it, but still have fun. That's the yin and yang of Ying Yu Jade: balance. January 11
There was SNOW and SLEET in Kissimmee, FL yesterday, and with below freezing temperatures at night, the flowering bushes, trees, plants are quite dead. Even the jade bangles I put around some of them couldn't protect the killing of the green tender foliage. And our homes don't have furnaces, and heat pumps don't work in the freezing weather, we've been quite cold and miserable! I've kept the windows covered with blinds, curtains, to keep more cold out, and I'm used to daylight and lots of it, and that's kind of depressing, too. So have been wearing lots of spring green jade to keep warm and keep spirits up. The new jade saddle pendants will be the weekly special, I have been wearing one with a thick silver chain (silver for the brightness!) and it's awesome to think about that chunk of jade that was in the ground on the other side of world, now on my neck. It helps me feel more connected to nature, the Dao, f the cycle of nature, and reminds me that this very unusual cold spell for central Florida is a reminder that it's part of nature, a cycle, and that we can't control many things in our lives. But we can choose how we will respond to them. Chinese medicine principles encourage sleeping later and getting a later start on the day in cold weather, and keeping our lung qi flowing smoothly with qigong and tai chi. Drinking black tea is good for the body, mind and spirit. Wear an "emerging spring" or "moss in snow" pattern jade bangle to remind you that we have to endure this cold winter to get to warm spring. January 10
My girlfriend who is a jeweler and I went to the "big" trade show today. We'd been excited about it all week, and went early because we have vendors who bring us specially requested merchandise. We were surprised to see many fewer vendors today, and most of our regular vendors weren't there. I went to the vendor who sells the jade carvings and he said they don't sell they now because the price of the jade and the sea shipping has gone up so much. My friend couldn't find good gold and silver findings for her jewelry, and my supplier for jade and metal earrings, pendants wasn't there. A beads seller had some jadeite bangle bracelets, very highly and poorly colored and they were selling for $1000+.One of the vendors sell the jade pendant necklaces on adjustable cords, and bracelets, and his prices for wholesale were higher than mine are for retail! We were stunned at wholesale prices, and I left with only one big bag of things, when I usually have 4-5. She bought so few things they fit in her handbag. So the trend is that jade and jewelry prices are going up because they cost more, and the shipping is much more. I'm not raising prices to reflect the present costs, but new items will surely be higher.My friend who adds beads to the Ming pottery shard pendants to make necklaces paid 10 times more than she did a year ago. I'll continue to buy most of my items directly from China, but the shipment I received today had such a high shipping price that you know I have to make it up somewhere. If you see something you like, get it while the price is still lower. January 8
I had a stressful event to deal with today, couldn't find my jade worry stone to put in my pocket and I wan in a rush, so I stuck two of the smooth undrilled jade eggs in my pocket. I wanted to remain calm and having those eggs in my pocket to rub, squeeze made me more comfortable, helped me to stay relaxed. Many readers write that they wear their jade when they have a difficult situation or a tough day ahead of them. Jade has balancing, good qi energy, whether you wear it, or just put some in your pocket to touch during the day. January 6
Can't decide which jade bangles to get? Need a "wardrobe" of jade bangles? Try Jade Bangle of the Month. Get a 10% discount when you purchase three jade bangle bracelets. Enroll today and get an extra 5% on your highest price jade bangle. You can get one each month for three months, or all at the same time. A fun way to get the jade bangles you have been longing for! January 5
Several readers have commented that their favorite jade bangle either won't go on, or off, because the wrist got "fat" from holiday eating! I think mine did, too. I tried to get it off to take a photo of it, and my wrist seemed bigger. My downfall is salty snack, so my fat wrist is from water retention. I'm sure. I used a thin plastic bag to get it off. Slip a plastic bag over your hand, under your jade bangle, then it will come off easier. BUT be careful it doesn't go flying off and hit something hard, get damaged. There's a video on the plastic bag technique, click here. There's also one for getting a tiny jade bangle on. Then let your jade balance your body until it gets back to normal! January 4
It's so cold here in central Florida, and I don't have many cold weather clothes so I've been layering. The days have been dreary, which is unusual, and not seeing the sun is kind of depressing. I was looking for jade to brighten up my dark outfit, and came across a crystal dragon pendant that I put on a bail. It catches the light beautifully, and has good energy, looks fabulous on my black sweater. So I thought I'd make the crystal pendants the Daily Special, because if you live in cold weather country, you might want something pretty, different and brightening for your winter outfits. You can order a bail separately, then wear it on your favorite chain, I have both gold and silver bails I can attach to the pendant. Shipping is free when you pay with Paypal, and if your order other jewelry your entire order will be free with Paypal payment. The shipping will be refunded when your order is processed. Free shipping is a great value because shipping prices have increased today, and I about gagged when I made the mailing label for two pounds Priority mail! So get a pretty crystal pendant, free shipping, and some other small things, get your shipping charge refunded when you pay with Paypal. January 3
Just listed some new Chinese river jade natural color jade bangles. They are so pretty. They look different in every lighting. When I took the photos outside in natural light, then brought them inside to list, the color difference made me stop and take a good look to see if I was listing the correct one! Added some to JadeBangleBracelets.com, too. They are pure and natural and look great any time of the year, casual or formal. Coupon on Twitter. January 2
Happy New Year! I wish you the very best for 2010, good health, good luck, and much happiness. Start the new year with a new jade bangle, $25 discount on jade bangles $300+ with coupon code NEWYEAR25.
The
Calm Spirit / Ying Yu Jade complete
January newsletter is available online now, click here. This month
features Chinese medicine wellness information for January regarding balance
of body, mind and spirit. There is information about what kind of jade
to wear this month if you wear jade for your health, and more
.
