Ying Yu Jade
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I was watching an episode of "Say Yes to the Dress" this weekend while I was working on the web site. It's a show about women shopping for their wedding dress, and the brides-to-be try on gowns until they find just the right one. One of the women trying on gowns was wearing a jade bangle bracelet as her only piece of jewelry, and it looked so elegant on her wrist, and her arm as almost all jade bangles do slide half way up the arm. A jade bangle bracelet is so unique, so beautiful, and when worn without other jewelry stands out fabulously. She was a blonde American women, and her jade bangle appeared to be a good quality, not bright or dyed, although as you know jade doesn't photograph well and it was difficult to determine the color because of course the show was color balanced for wedding dresses, not jade bangle bracelets! I've sold Chinese jade bangles to wedding parties, the bride and bridesmaids getting jade bangles that I tried to match the shade of green as close as possible. One bride and her wedding party purchased the dragon phoenix carved Chinese jade bangles for the symbolism of male and female coming together, and they looked very elegant and classy. I truly enjoyed seeing a "regular" woman wearing a jade bangle as she tried on wedding gowns, and I'm sure if she wears the jade bangle when she gets married, it will add not only beauty, but much auspicious happiness, luck and love to the occasion. May 31
I listed a vintage jadeite bangle today that is a "traveler", and it feels like it's ready to travel again to another wrist. Several years ago when I was riding a train from Tianjin to Beijing, China, I sat across from a woman who really really wanted my handbag, a soft leather hobo style with a wide strap that was perfect for traveling. I had limited Chinese, she had even more limited English, but she wanted the handbag, and was pointing to my very pale green jade bangle and showing me that hers was "tai hao le" (much better), so she took it off, and put it on my wrist then asked for my handbag. I emptied the contents into a plastic shopping bag , and trade was complete, both of us smiling. I've traded a lot of my personal things in China, mostly clothes (lightweight white cotton blouses and tee shirts used to be highly desired by Chinese women), and if Chinese women saw me taking a cosmetic from my handbag, they would try to peek inside and see what else I had. I made it a point to carry samples and extra cosmetics to China so I could give them away. Chinese women in the cities are more sophisticated now, and have more Western products available to them, but I'm always ready for a good trade in China, and have had some very interesting interactions. This jade bangle bracelet was one of those unforgettable "trades", and is ready for another wrist. May 30
At YYJ, you always get what you pay for, and sometimes even more like during our Jade Bangle Blowout this weekend. I included the "will be" price so that you know what you can compare this selection to other higher priced jade bangles on the web site. We started with 10, added 5 more as they sold, and have 9 remaining as of Saturday morning. I know two were purchased as graduation gifts because I enclosed gift cards, and they make a great graduation gift for the energy to keep mothers/daughters connected as they go out into the world. Whatever reason you have for buying jade bangles, this selection is a great price for a really pretty jadeite bangle. May 29
A customer commented that she was disappointed that her last jade bangle purchase didn't come with a box, instead it was in a wrapper. Most jade bangles purchased from the jade carver are sold without anything and get wrapped in newspaper for shipping. The traditional jade bangle holder is the red rice paper and silk packet that's folded around the jade bangle, and the jade bangle is held in by sewing it onto the packet with red silk thread. I have to cut the thread to get the jade bangle out to take a photo, so you probably never see that unless I have several that are the same, which I rarely do because unless the jade is color treated, each one is slightly different. The newer red rice paper packets have clear cellophane around them to protect the delicate rice paper, and I put a sticker with the item number on the cellophane. Sometimes I take the cellophane off before shipping, but if I don't I usually enclose a note that you can take it off so it folds up neatly, and you can store your precious jade bangle in the traditional way. May 28
I closed out the Herb and Tea shop from Calm Spirit, as I haven't replenished my inventory for several months. I put the few remaining herbal remedies and teas on YYJ to share with you. Thursday the special is Curing Pill, which I learned about in China and used it myself for stomach distress while traveling in China. It's natural remedy that works good not only for indigestion, motion sickness, but also for that bloated feeling after eating a high carbohydrate meal. I love pasta but after I eat I feel stuffed and my stomach is bloated, and these really help. The Special price is a clearance price, and when these are gone that's the end of them. May 27
I was playing with my jade bangle while we were driving from Pittsburgh to Ohio. The weather was cool and it was raining and I thought it would look really nice because jade is formed in a cool and damp environment. But my jade bangle looked pale and dull. I was concerned maybe I was getting sick and it was reflecting the health of my body. Monday when we returned to Pittsburgh it was warm and sunny, and my jade bangle looked much better. But it really looked like "itself" again when we returned home. I remember when we moved from Ohio to Kissimmee, and I put all my jade things on the screened porch for a couple of days until I got my office organized. When I looked at them, I couldn't believe my eyes because they all looked so much prettier and brighter, the exact opposite of what I expected. So I wonder when customers receive their jade bangles if they look as good as when I shipped them. I certainly hope so! I would think that a jade bangle on a wrist would look better than a jade bangle on a box, because your body qi will manifest in the way the jade appears. I try to keep good energy (feng shui) in my office area, and it really shows in the appearance of the jades: green and natural, bright and reflective. Jade is so interesting, endlessly fascinating. May 26
Here's a "report
card" for our travel experience:
Southwest Airlines: Grade A, on time departure and arrival, easy
to check in iPhone app
Orlando Airport: B-, TSA is chaotic, not enough staff. inadequate
food choice after TSA screening
Pittsburgh Airport: A, well organized, interesting shops with prices
same as outside airport
Alamo Rental Cars: D+, our car had a bent wheel rim that we didn't
see until our first stop, but they gave us a discount, although we didn't
have a safe car to drive and couldn't exchange it
Comfort Inn Seville OH: C, strange room, not clean, included breakfast
not well supplied
ParkFlyRelax Airport Parking: A, $5.45 daily for covered parking,
fast shuttle, complementary paper and water, nice staff.
Good visit with families, and great to be home. A jade travel story tomorrow.
May 25
Our visit this weekend to our families will be a roller coaster ride of emotions. Today I kept reminding myself that for better or worse, by this time next week I'll be home again. Travel opens up the world, and by having an open mind one can grow. I'll be wearing a piece of jade with energy for overcoming adversity, a "hong" (Chinese red) pendant, because I know I'll need it. My every day jade bangle has energy for calm spirit and good health, which I always need.And like any travel, you can stay in your "safe space", or reach out and experience life more. As my farewell special, if you place your order for $80+ by 6PM Thursday May 20, you can take $10 off with coupon code TODAY10. I don't know if I'll have 1) internet access 2) time, but if something interesting comes up, I'll let you know! May 19
A customer who purchase a high-end jade bangle wrote that she had hoped to go to China and purchase a jade bangle, but she didn't think she knew enough about jade to comfortably make a purchase for a more expensive jade bangle. I had to smile, because each time I am in China, with a bag full of renmenbi Chinese money ready to shop, I have very high anxiety. The jade markets are huge, purchases are cash only, and there are no prices and every piece is bargained for. I don't know where to start! After a few purchases, I get my confidence back, and it gets easier and more enjoyable. When I bought my very first jade bangle in China, before I started selling jade, I was 12 days into a 16 day China tour, and had gone to all the tourist "jade factories" the tour guide took us to that really had the lowest quality at the highest prices. Since I was with a tour, we were supposed to stay together, but after dinner and everyone dropped exhausted into bed, I went out to the night market, and found my first jade bangle, genuine and natural color and I could see right away it was different from the "tourist" quality. The tour guide scolded me the next morning, but by then it was too late, I was hooked on jade and took off by myself and bought several more, which is how I started selling jade (buyers remorse and husband displeasure when I got home). In 1999 tourists in groups were on a group visa and not supposed to go out on their own, but the lure of jade was stronger than anything else! The next time I went to China I met a jade carver who spoke English and began my education about jade, and training with him. But I have to say, heading into the jade market is overwhelming, so I understand when women tell me they went to China, hoped to buy a jade bangle, but came home without one because it was too confusing. May 17
We're taking a
long weekend May 21-25 to visit family. Orders made after 8 PM May 20
will be shipped on May 26, so if you need something fast, don't be disappointed
by waiting until Wednesday to order. I think it takes longer to prepare
for a trip than the trip itself takes. It seems like I've been "getting
ready" for this short trip for three weeks! And before I know it,
I'll be home again. That's life. Helps me to remember to not get too task
oriented, and really take the time to enjoy the journey.
May 16
When my web hosting company moved YYJ to a server with updated technology, I lost some web pages, photos which I was able to restore. But the code for all of my forms changed and it taking me a long time to re-write them (and you thought I just sold jade!). When you click the "earth" button, it takes you to a form that is submitted to me, which is more secure than email, and this is the first form I got to work again. But I'm still trying to get "Bangle of the Month" form to work. Bangle of the Month is a great way to buy more than one jade bangle when you can't decide which one to buy, or if you are starting a jade bangle collection. You get a 10% discount. And you can choose to purchase all three at once, and save on shipping with only one shipping charge, or buy one each month and get your 10% discount when the last one is purchased. If you want to do this before the "Bangle of the Month" form is working, click the Earth above to let me know. THAT form works! Selling jade is the easy part of YYJ business, dealing with web sites, payments, and numbers is the real work! May 14
I buy most of the items we sell personally on buying trips to China. However, I have a long-time trusted buyer that I order from every few month, mostly the jade rollers, eggs, ben wa balls, and Chinese jade bracelets and pendants. I wanted some of the jade and silver link bracelets for customers who can't wear a jade bangle, and sent a photo of an example, a green jade and silver link bracelet, and said I would lavender and multi color jade. Then he asked if I wanted the "blue" jade. I asked if it was real and natural color and he told me yes to both questions, so I thought I'd give it a try. Turns out, the "blue" jade was turquoise. Chinese sellers don't mean to be deceptive about what they call "jade". That's why you see so much "fake" jade, that is really quartz, opal, jasper and yes, even turquoise. Those are indeed natural, but not what we think of as jade. So in honor of the "blue" jade, tomorrow's Daily Special will be a really pretty natural turquoise and silver link bracelet. May 12
One last blog about oval jade bangle bracelets, and that's about how to measure. Generally, if your size is, for example, 55mm, you can wear an oval jade bangle that is 55mmx(the smaller number). But you might want to make a hole in a plastic lid or cardboard the size of the oval and see how your hand goes through it. But if you use the formula of add both sides of the oval and divide by 2, the result the size of a standard round jade bangle. For example, an oval bangle 55x49mm, add 55+49=104, divide by 2=52, so it will feel like 52mm AND if your usual size is 55mm, you might not be able to get it on your wrist, so DO use the "make a hole" method. May 10
A reader asks:
I want to know if a bangle is hard to get on and off and you change
it a couple of times a week is there a chance of it breaking or cracking?
Jade is so hard that most likely your hand would break before the
jade would..unless your jade is B or C grade and has been acid washed
as a treatment. Acid makes the jade more brittle, to the point where the
structure barely resembles jade. The bigger risk removing a tight bangle
is that your jade bangle will fly off and land on a hard surface and break
when your taking it off, especially using soap or lotion. The plastic
bag removal method gives you more control when you are removing a very
tight jade bangle. Sit on your bed or a carpeted floor, and be careful!
May 9
My hand and wrist still hasn't recovered from making the video about oval jade bangle bracelets! I put on and took off those small jade bangles so many times that my hand swelled. The small oval bangle was so tight that I had to wait until today to get it off, and now I'm wearing a little larger and more slender jade bangle because my regular one wouldn't go on. Instead of using a thin plastic produce bag, like I recommend, I used a store's plastic bag which isn't as thin, so it didn't work as well. If you change your jade bangles every few days, then you might consider getting your bangles a mm on the larger side so you can get them on and off more easily. I like the wear the same one all the time, so the smaller the better, and the pain is worth the tight fit. And that may change when I get older! May 8
Here's a video
about why oval shape jade bangle bracelets fit closer to your wrist than
round jade bangles. May 6
May 6 is the final day for $25 off a jade bangle bracelet $275+ with coupon SAVE25 on the Jade Bangle Bracelets web site.. There's a good selection of jade bangle bracelets $250 and under also. I try to offer jade bangle bracelets in a variety of price ranges for everyone's budget. There's nothing "wrong" with the value jade bangles. They may have a little less jade in them inside-to-outside, or the polish not as good as an almost identical higher priced one, but if you want a genuine natural jadeite bangle but can't spend more than $300, you can get a very nice jade bangle on Jade Bangle Bracelets web site. When you wear your jade all the time, it will become brighter, prettier as you wear it and it fills up with your body qi. May 5
We're taking a couple days to visit husband's mother, and early Mother's Day visit. Will be back the afternoon of May 5. So you can still get a jade gift for your mother (or wife, girlfriend, or yourself!) in time for Mother's Day if you use the USPS express mail option by May 5. Your jade will go in the May 6 mail, so you should receive it May 7, and if not then, on May 8. If your mother is older, has trouble with her hands, try a jade bead bracelet, the elastic makes it easy to get on and off, and the jade feels cool, smooth and wonderful. May 4.
May 1 turned on the "summer switch" here in central Florida, with temperatures rising into the 90's for the first time this year. I decided it was time to use the pool, and was slathering sunscreen on when a woman commented that I shouldn't get the sunscreen on my jewelry, especially my jade bangle. I've seen some jade web sites caution people to not get any cosmetics, perfumes, lotions on their jade because those things will damage jade. NOT if your jade is natural color with no treatments. I get sunscreen, lotions, hairspray, perfume on my jade every day, but it all washes off in the shower and my jade bangle looks great, because it was highly polished to being with, and natural color. Chemicals in the pool or hot tub don't hurt natural jade either. But leaving your jade in direct sunlight, especially hot sun, will hurt it because heat is a color treatment. I have a permanent "tan line" on my wrist from where my jade bangle rides up when I'm outside, so my jade bangle has been in the sun a lot. But "good as new". One of the benefits of wearing natural, not treated, jade. May 3
The first time I saw Chinese jade that is "river jade", I didn't think it was "real" jade. I saw a carving in a northern China jade market that was not only green, but had browns, honey, "hong" (red), charcoal and the bottom of the carving wasn't polished, so you could see it was all natural stone. My jade supplier told me that is very traditional jade, used for centuries in China and cherished by emperors before Burmese jadeite was imported to China. It was formed near rivers and the minerals from the water gave it all the beautiful coloring. In old dynasty times, very young women were sent into the rivers to find this kind of jade with their feet, under military guard of course because it was considered so precious. They yin of the young women could find the yin of this jade. I had never seen it outside of China until I started selling, now it is becoming more popular. This weekend the river jade bangle bracelets are $10 off. I also have some river jade "donut" bi pendants. No jade collection is complete without some river jade, and use coupon code RIVER10 to get $10 off until May 3. May 2
The Calm Spirit / Ying Yu Jade complete May newsletter is available online now, click here. This month features Chinese medicine wellness information for May 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
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