Alabastrite
Alabastrite is made from oxylite and polystone which forms a stone-based polyresin that can be intricately molded and painted. Clean by dusting; do not wash water soluble paints with water. The manufacturer says the paint will not come off if it gets wet, and that they have had no complaints in this regard. If your alabastrite product does get wet, at the worst, there may be some minor color fading.
Alexandrite
A mineral, a type of chrysoberyl, that appears to be different colors depending on whether it is viewed in natural or artificial light. Alexandrite appears to be red when seen in candlelight and blue to green when seen in fluorescent light. Alexandrite is mined in Russia, Brazil, Burma, Ceylon, and Rhodesia. Alexandrite has a hardness of 8.5.
Aluminum Reflector
Light reflector that is part of a bulb and is closed around the base of the bulb. When you hold this bulb up to the light, you will see no light leaking between the reflector and the bulb. Produces a white light.
Amethyst
A form of the mineral quartz and is a relatively common gemstone. Amethyst is usually purple, but can range in color from pale lavender to a very deep, reddish purple to a milky color to green.
Art Deco
Art Deco was a style popular from the mid-1910's until the mid-1920's, originating in Paris, France, characterized by geometric lines and angles.
Baguette
A baguette cut is a stone (usually a diamond) that has been cut into a long, rectangular shape. Baguette means "stick" or "rod" in French.
Baroque
Baroque is a term that refers to irregularly-shaped stones or pearls.
Baroque Pearls
Baroque pearls are irregularly-shaped pearls. Baroque pearls can be natural or artificial.
Barrel Clasp
A jewelry fastener that resembles a barrel. The two pieces of this clasp screw together.
Bas Relief
A sculptural effect in which forms stick out only slightly from the background; no figures are undercut.
Beam Spread or Angle
For reflector type lamps/bulbs. The total angle of the directed beam (in degrees) to where the intensity of the beam falls to 50% of the maximum value.
Bezel
The bezel is the part of a cut stone that protrudes above the edge of a setting. The bezel is also known as the crown.
Bezel Setting
A bezel setting is a way of setting a stone in which the stone is held by a band of metal around the outside of the stone.
Bone China
White clay with bone ash added. Bone ash content must be at least 25% by U. S. guidelines. Fired at 1800 degrees, the translucent material is finished with a glaze or underglaze (matte). Lighter, stronger, more expensive than porcelain.
Bracelet
A bracelet is an ornament worn wrapped around the wrist. Types of bracelets include solid and hinged bangles, expansion, cuff, beaded, charm bracelets, Yurman-style and, and link bracelets.
Brass
Brass is a metal alloy containing at least 50% copper and zinc.
Cabochon
A stone with a rounded, convex shape, polished, with no facets.
Carat
A carat (ct.) is a standard measure of weight used for gemstones. One carat weighs
0.2 gram (1/5 of a gram or 0.0007 ounce). A hundredth of a carat is called a point. The carat unit was introduced in 1907.
Cathedral Ring Setting
A cathedral ring setting is a simple band that arches when seen from the side (like the arches of a cathedral).
Cat's Eye
A is a yellow to green-yellow stone (chatoyant chrysoberyl) with a bright, pupil-like slit that seems to move slightly as the stone is moved. Most Cat's eye are cut as cabochons to maximize the distinctive pupil-like effect. Found in Brazil, the Cat's eye has a hardness of 8.5.
CFL
Compact Fluorescent Lamp, bulbs designed to take the place of standard incandescent lamps/bulbs saving energy costs by producing more light with less energy.
Channel Set
Channel set jewels rest in a metal channel, held in only by a slight rim which runs along the edges of the channel. Channel set jewels are usually round or baguette shaped.
Choker
A choker is a type of necklace that fits tightly around the neck. Chokers are from 14" to 16" in length.
Color Temperature
Warmth or coolness of the lamp/bulb, measured in Kelvin (K). The higher the temperature the cooler the appearance of the light. The higher the temperature the greater the blue component in the spectrum and the smaller the red component.
Copper
Copper is a soft metal often used in jewelry. It is used in making bronze, brass, and gold alloys. Copper turns green as it ages, and copper exposed to weather will age faster.
Crystal (Glass)
Crystal is high-quality glass containing at least 10% lead oxide. Lead added to the melt produces very clear glass resembling rock crystal.
Crystal (Natural)
Crystal is a solid whose atoms form a very regular structure. Some crystals include quartz, diamond, and emerald.
Cuff Bracelet
A cuff bracelet is a stiff, relatively wide bracelet.
Cubic Zirconia
The most successful simulated diamond. Cubic zirconia (or cubic zirconium) is an inexpensive, lab-produced gemstone that resembles a diamond. Cubic zirconia was developed in 1977. Properties such as refraction, hardness and specific gravity are remarkably similar to diamonds and cubic zirconia are very hard to distinguish from diamonds. Often a jewelers loupe will be needed to see the difference.
Cultured Pearl
Cultured pearls are pearls produced by oysters that have been surgically injected with bits of mussel shell. After 5-7 years, the oysters are retrieved and the pearls are harvested.
Decoupage
The technique of decorating a surface with cutouts, as of paper, then coating with twelve layers of lacquer. Each application of lacquer is hand-polished, for a rich shine and an ultra-smooth finished texture.
Diamond
Extremely hard, highly refractive colorless or white crystalline of carbon. Diamonds, like all gemstones, are judged in terms of carats, or weight (different from karats, as in gold purity).
Dichroic Reflector
A reflector that projects light forward while deflecting heat backwards, toward the socket, so the light beam itself is cool. Quartz halogen incandescent light bulbs frequently contain an integrated dichroic reflector which is slightly open around the base of the bulb. This lets some of the almost invisible red color spectrum escape out the back of the bulb but may create a slight pinkish glow. This type of reflector is generally desirable for studios or churches because of the pinkish glow. When you hold a dichroic bulb up to the light, you will see light leaking between the reflector and bulb.
Dolomite
Usually gray, pink, or white mineral, essentially used as a construction and ceramic material, for a furnace refractory, and in fertilizer. A magnesia-rich sedimentary rock resembling limestone.
Emerald
An emerald is a very hard, green precious stone with a hardness of 7-8 and a specific gravity of 2.6-2.8. Emeralds belong the beryl group of stones which includes aquamarines, morganite, and chrysoberyl. Emerald, and all forms of beryl, have large, perfect, six-sided crystals.
Emerald Cut
Emerald-cut stones are rectangular with truncated, or cut, corners. The emerald cut is frequently used on emeralds and diamonds.
Enameled Jewelry
Enamel is a glassy substance (powdered glass with colorants) fused onto metal using heat.
Eternity Ring
An eternity ring is a narrow ring with encircled with gemstones.
Fashion Jewelry
Fashion jewelry is another name for costume jewelry.
Engraving
Engraving is a method of surface decoration in which a design is etched into the surface with a sharp tool.
Faux
Faux means false. A faux gem is an imitation gem.
Fluorescent
A high effiency lamp utilizing an electric discharge through low pressure mercury vapor to produce ultra-violet energy. UV excites the phosphorus lining which transforms into visible light.
Fimo
Fimo is a polymer clay used for detail work, including millefiori, has brillant color intensity, and is fade-proof and odorless. The finished product is very much like a very hard plastic which makes it watertight and washable.
Filigree
Delicate, lacelike ornamental work of intertwined wire of gold or silver.
Footcandle (FC)
Illuminance on a surface. One lumen per square foot equals a footcandle.
Freshwater Pearl
A pearl that was harvested from a freshwater mussel (a mollusk). These pearls are frequently shaped like crisped rice cereal, and are less valuable than oyster pearls.
Frosted Acrylic
Acrylic is given the French Lilac process used on glass to achieve the distinctive frosted look. The drama of frosted glass without the weight.
Gallery-mount
Gallery-mount or gallery canvas means the canvas is wrapped around the frame with the staples on the backside so it may be hung with, or without, a frame.
Garnets
A group of semi-precious silicate stones that range in color from red to green (garnets occur in all colors but blue). Garnet has a hardness of 6-8.
Gemstones
A gemstone, also called a precious stone, is a mineral that is valuable, rare and often beautiful. Rubies, sapphires, emeralds, amethysts, often treasured as birthstones.
Gemstones are priced and graded by carat weight. A few organic materials, like amber, coral and pearls are also considered gemstones.
Giclee
(French: "zhee-klay") Sophisticated printing method, where images are generated from high resolution digital scans and printed with archival quality inks onto various substrates like canvas, smooth or textured watercolor paper. The process provides better color accuracy than any other means of reproduction and is commonly found in museums, art galleries and photographic galleries, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art and Chelsea Galleries. Sometimes mistakenly referred to as Iris prints.
Gold
Gold is the most malleable (hammerable) and ductile (able to be made into wire) metal, doesn't rust or tarnish. A precious metal that is very soft when pure (24K). Graded by purity. In the U.S. a scale of 24 is used. 24 karats (24K) is 100% pure. 10K is the legal minimum for karat-graded gold. Gold is alloyed (mixed with other metals, usually silver and copper) to make it less expensive and harder. Alloyed gold comes in many colors: Yellow Gold is 50% silver and 50% copper; White Gold is Nickel, zinc, copper, tin and manganese; Pink (rose) Gold is 90% copper and 10% silver; Green Gold is high proportion of silver or cadmium; Blue Gold is some iron; Grey Gold is 15-20% iron. (See "karat" below.)
Gold-Plated
Gold-plated metal has a very thin layer of gold on the surface, usually applied by the process of electroplating.
Graduated
Regularly increasing in size, such as a graduated pearl necklace, where small pearls gradually increase in size, one pearl at a time, to one large pearl at the center.
GPH
Gallons per hour.
Gypsum
A white mineral usually used to make Plaster of Paris.
Halogen
A high pressure incandescent lamp/bulb containing halogen gases such as iodine or bromine which allow the filaments to be operated at higher temperatures and higher efficacies. Halogens emit damaging UV rays, which cause color fading of sensitive fabric and artworks, just as the sun would. Lamps based on Halogen technology can not be handled by bare hands without shorting lamp/bulb life. Dirt, oils, grease, fingerprints must be wiped clean with rubbing alcohol before using your halogen bulb. Drug stores always carry rubbing alcohol, the 90% is better, as the 70% alcohol is 30% water. Contaminated bulbs will blister, shorting bulb life by either a breach of the Quartz lens or the filament not burning at an even temperature. Contaminates, dirt, oils on the lens create hotspots which lead to premature failure.
Hematite
A lustrous, opaque, blue-black to silvery gray mineral often used in jewelry. Hematite is iron oxide (Fe2O3) and is found in England, Mexico, Australia, Brazil, and the Lake Superior region of North America.
Hong Tze
Created from special stone found in China, known for its deep red color. The stone is pulverized, mixed with a binding agent and molded, much like alabastrite. Hong Tze pieces are highly polished, further bringing out the intense deep red of the stone.
Incandescent
Incandescent light is generated by heating a thin filament wire in vaccum by an electric current passing through it.
Jade Porcelain
Jade porcelain is a type of porcelain made with a finer clay. Usually no glaze or only a colorless glaze will be applied at the final firing to exhibit the very smooth surface and to preserve the translucency. Jade Porcelain is used for night lights because of its high degree of translucency when lit.
Japanese Beetle
 Adult Japanese beetles are 3/8-inch long metallic green, with copper-brown wing covers having five small white tufts on each side, which distinguishes them from similar beetles. Adults emerge from the ground and begin feeding from early June thru early October peaking in July. Japanese beetles can feed on about 300 species of plants ranging from roses to poison ivy. They feed in large groups leaving the leaves skeletonized. Even before emerging in June, the white grubs are feeding on the roots of plants, including sod, leaving dead patches that can be rolled back like a carpet. Adults can fly as far as 5 miles and move from site to site eating and laying eggs. Females lay 40-60 eggs in turf.
See all Japanese Beetle pictures Goto Japanese Beetle Trap
Karat
Karat (K) is a measure of the fineness of gold. 24 karat gold is 100% gold. 18 karat is 75% gold. 14 karat is 58.3% gold. 10 karat is 41.7% gold. Gold is a soft metal and is often mixed with another metal to give it strength. See "gold" above.
Kokopelli
Petroglyphs of Kokopelli are found carved on walls throughout the southwest dating back 3,000 years. A symbol of fertility, the hump on his back is said to be full of seeds, which are scattered over the earth to bring new crops. Some legends say he brings Spring, his flute music warms the earth and causes villagers to dance the night away. In the morning, the crops are sprouting and all the women are pregnant. Kokopelli is thought to bring joy, a regeneration of life, and gaiety.
Lead Crystal
Lead crystal, also called crystal, is lead glass that has been hand or machine cut with facets. Lead oxide added to the molten glass gives lead crystal a much higher index of refraction than normal glass and much greater "sparkle". People who have lead crystal items should not store liquids in lead crystal glasses or bottles; should not drink from lead crystal on a daily basis, especially if you are pregnant;
and should not feed an infant or child from a lead crystal baby bottle or cup.
Lobster Claw Clasp
A lobster claw clasp is a jewelry fastener that resembles the claw of a lobster. A tiny spring keeps the arm of this clasp closed.
Lumen
Total light output of source.
Mandarin Ivory
A perfected technique that allows alabastrite to be processed to look like ivory.
Maracasite
A shiny, metallic semi-precious stone. It is actually iron pyrite, generally faceted.
Marquis Cut
Marquis-cut stones are shaped like an oval with two pointed ends.
MDF
Medium density fiberboard engineered from wood fibers combined with wax and resin to form panels under high pressure and temperature. Similar to plywood or Masonite™ and denser than particle board.
MOL
Maximum overall length including base or pins.
Mother-of-Pearl
The iridescent coating on the inside of oyster shells. Mother-of-pearl is used for jewelry, buttons, etc.
Mystic Fire
Mystic fire (also called mystic topaz or rainbow topaz) is topaz that has been color enhanced by coating it with a fine layer of metal atoms (in a process called vacuum deposition). This stone has red, green, violet, and blue streaks. Mystic fire has a hardness of 8.
Neodymium Glass
The neodymium oxide may be either in the glass itself or a coating sprayed onto the inside of the light bulb glass. Light bulbs made with neodymium glass have a purplish color. These types of bulbs emit full spectrum light, as does the sun; a simulated natural daylight that is crisp and vivid, increasing the contrast of colors. It filters out the excess yellow color found in standard light bulbs providing accurate, clean light. Most commonly available as incandescent bulbs, or CFLs (compact fluorescent lamp), and may be sold under the names neodymium, daylight or full spectrum bulb/lamp. Produces an uplifting and bright light. Helps people who suffer from SAD (Seasonal Adjustment Disorder) or "winter depression" or "winter blues".
PAR
An acronym for Parabolic Aluminized Reflector. A PAR lamp/bulb may use either an incandescent filament, halogen filament tube or HID arc tube.
Patchwork
Designer fabric is stretched over ceramic figurines, then coated with twelve layers of lacquer. Each application of lacquer is hand-polished, for a rich shine and an ultra-smooth finished texture. The texture of the fabric can only be "seen", not "felt", because of the twelve layers of lacquer covering them. Patchwork vases are decorative only and do not hold water.
Pearl
Smooth, lustrous, variously colored round gemstone originally formed as a deposit around a grain of sand in the shells of certain shellfish. Pearls may be formed naturally or "cultured" through an artificial implanting process.
Points
Measurement of diamond size. See "carat" above.
Porcelain
Fine ground white clay, molded and fired in an oven for eight hours at 1200 degrees, finished with a glazed or underglazed finish. Glazing produces a high gloss; underglaze produces a matte finish. Bisque is a matte finish without glaze.
Powder Post Beetle
The larva of this beetle feed on cellulose in wood turning it to powder and cause extensive damage. The beetles are especially destructive in a moist warm environment where they thrive, although some species occur throughout the United States.
Promise Ring
The promise ring is given for any type promise made between two people - as a pre-engagement ring; as a chastity or abstinence ring, sometimes called Purity Ring, given by a parent to a child that the child will remain sexually pure until marriage; or from a boy to a girl for the same reason; or to promise that the child will remain substance free. A promise ring can be a pact between friends knowing they will each be there for the other. A promise ring can be worn on any finger. Usually the ring finger of the left hand is reserved for pre-engagement. The right hand is used for any other promise so there is no confusion.
When giving a promise ring, be sure both parties understand the promise. It is heartbreaking when one misinterprets the gift of a ring. A simple note, given with the ring, will make your intentions clear.
Quartz
Type of pure silica material which is clear and can withstand a higher melting point than standard glass.
(Halogen bulbs are made with Quartz because regular glass would melt.)
Rhinestones
Rhinestones are highly reflective glass cut and polished to imitate gemstones. The original rhinestones were quartz stones (rock crystal) obtained from the Rhine river.
Rhodium
A white precious metal, extremely expensive, is often used to plate precious and base metals, giving jewelry a hard, platinum-like sheen.
Rose Gold
Gold mixed with 90% copper and 10% silver to give it a pink/rose tinge. See "Gold" above.
Sapphire
A precious gemstone (a type of corundum) that ranges in color from blue to pink to yellow to green to white to purple to pink-orange. Six-sided asterisms (stars) sometimes occur in star sapphires.
Sapphires are related to rubies and have a hardness of 9.
Shabby Chic
Or Shabby Elegance. Popular decorating and design style with a distressed, or worn look, finish.
Soapstone
Soapstone, also called steatite, is a soft, easily-carved, fine-grained metamorphic rock that can be green, brown, or gray. This stone has a greasy, soapy feel to it, hence its name. Soapstone is carved into figurines, beads, seals, bowls, pipes, cookware, and other items. It has a hardness of 1-1.5 (extremely soft - it can be scratched with a fingernail).
Spun Glass
Fine blown glass having delicate, often spiral threading or filigree. Best way of cleaning is probably a feather duster in combination with compressed air. (Compressed air is available in the Attic Trunk computer section.)
Soldier Bug
 Podisus maculiventris These predatory stink bugs prey on Mexican bean beetles, Colorado potato beetles, hornworms, cabbage looper, webworms, armyworms and other garden and crop pests. Both nymphs and adults feed on caterpillars and the larvae of beetles. They can eat caterpillars that are so big that few other predators can handle them. Prey is harpooned, injected with a substance that paralyzes it within 60 seconds, and is killed as body fluids are sucked out through the harpoon. Podisus are highly mobile. Nymphs can walk quickly from plant to plant. Adults will spread rapidly by flying and walking.
Solitaire
A ring set with a single stone, usually a diamond.
Sterling Silver
To qualify as "sterling" a given piece must be composed of at least 92.5% pure silver.
Stoneware
White clay with fine ground stone. Working with stoneware demands great expertise, and is in fact becoming a lost art. Stoneware is safe to use in microwave and conventional ovens.
TCZW
Total cubic zirconia weight.
TDW
Total diamond weight.
Tennis Bracelet
A simple, flexible, in-line diamond bracelet. The name was first used when tennis player Chris Evert dropped a diamond bracelet during a tennis match in the summer of 1987 at the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament. Since then, that style of bracelet has been called a tennis bracelet.
Turquoise
A non-translucent, porous semi-precious stone that is usually cut as a cabochon. Persian turquoise is robin's egg blue and has no matrix (streaks of the mother stone from which they were found). North American turquoise is greener and has a matrix streaks. Over the years, oil from your skin is absorbed by the stone and it will change color slightly. Turquoise has a hardness of 6.
USPS
United States Postal Service, i.e., Post Office.
UV Block, UV Filter, UV Protected, UV Stop, UV Radiation
Radiant energy in the range of about 100-380 nanometers (NM). Halogen light bulbs create UV (ultra violet) rays. Bulbs with UV block, filter or protected bulbs block up to 80% of the UV rays, the industry standard. Most manufacturers do not state just how much UV blocking you are actually getting, leading consumers to believe that they are getting 100%. UV Stop is the only one that blocks 100% of UV rays. Over time, UV rays can fade fabric and paint colors just as direct sunlight will do. Halogen bulbs that are white, frosted or have a glass cover(CG)usually do have UV blocking.
Voltage
A measurement of the electromotive force in an electrical circuit or device expressed in volts.
Watt
A unit of electrical power. Wattage is the energy used or power consumed.
Xenon
Xenon lamps/bulbs do not emit damaging UV rays, which make these ideal for highlighting sensitive fabric and artworks.
Xenon lamps/bulbs are much more tolerant when dealing with unstable voltages resulting in longer life. Xenon bulbs are filled with low-pressured xenon gas. Lamps based on xenon technology can be handled with bare hands with no effect on lamp life.
Yellow Jackets/Paper Wasps
  Yellow jackets have bright yellow and black horizontal stripes, are attracted to food, and can be very pesty at your picnic table in late summer. They nest in the ground, in an abandoned rabbit or field mouse hole, or between rocks and in logs. A yellow jacket nest has only one entry. One yellow jacket queen can make a colony of 4,000. Paper wasps have a longer body, slim waist, and long legs that hang down in flight. Their nests are usually under eaves, are often umbrella shaped, entirely open at the bottom and hung by a single thread. A sentinel will usually be present. Paper wasps will attack if their nest is threatened but usually mind their own business and are not as pesty as yellow jackets. Only the queens of both wasps hibernate over the winter; all the others die off. Early in spring, the queen will make a nest of only a few cells and lay eggs for workers. The nest is enlarged as more and more eggs are laid. In late August, queen cells are developed to produce queens to overwinter for next year. Both species are beneficial as they consume many kinds of insects, including flies and mosquitoes. They are a problem when man and wasp invade each others' "personal space." Goto Yellow Jacket Trap
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