BMJ Blog

Holiday Cocktail Recipes: Edible Gold Leaf Champagne

Posted on December 21, 2015 by Mary Hood | 0 Comments

Looking for that special cocktail to wow your holiday party guests? Try the Golden Barbotage—a perfect choice for New Years Eve festivities. The Golden Barbotage is an adaptation of the classic Barbotage cocktail. Our version is simply dressed up with edible gold leaf

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Posted in DIY, edible gold leaf, gold, gold leaf cocktail, holiday cocktail, recipe

7 Lovely Eco-Friendly Gift Wrapping Ideas

Posted on December 17, 2015 by Mary Hood | 0 Comments

Put your creative side to use with eco-friendly gift wrapping.

Opting for eco-friendly gift wrapping is a beautiful way to honor Mother Earth--and show off your creative talents. The following are only a few options for green giving. There are so many ways to adorn your gifts in conscious style. Simply use your imagination--How can old containers be repurposed and made pretty? Also, when necessary, seek out earth-conscious companies that produce fine papers made from recycled and sustainable materials. 

1.Wrap Gifts with Fabric

Save scraps of cloth from sewing projects or head down to your local sewing or craft store and pick out some festive prints. Cloth is a gift itself because it can be repurposed a number of ways. It can be turned into pieces for a quilt, part of a reusable shopping bag, napkins, or even a rag! 

2. Gift with Reusable Shopping Bags

While we're on the topic of reusable shopping bags, why not share gifts in a decorative reusable shopping bag or cloth tote (again, another gift itself)? If you're efficient with a sewing machine, totes are pretty easy to whip up. You can choose from a variety of patterns here. 

3. Decorate Gift Packages with Backyard Findings

 Explore the great outdoors (or just your backyard) in search of pretty, natural findings to decorate your gifts. Delicate twigs, small pinecones, and sprigs of holly and berries make eye-catching additions. 

4. Go Black and White and Re(use)d All Over

 

Newspapers and magazines make playful and inexpensive green wrapping options.  Simply find a visually interesting page (the comics section is always a good choice), layer over another piece of newspaper (since newspaper tends to tear easily), and go to town! Tie off with yarn, ribbon, or baker's twine. 

5. Seek Eco-Friendly Gift Wrapping Paper Printed with Soy Ink

This cute paper by the Green Field Paper company is made from 100% recycled materials and printed with soy ink.  Soy inks are a smart green option because but they only release a minimal amount of volatile organic compounds into our atmosphere during the printing process. Soy is also a renewable resource while petroleum, the base of most conventional ink, is nonrenewable—and not very friendly to the atmosphere. Soy ink comes in vivid, long-lasting colors, and paper companies may not need to use as much ink to produce stunning graphics (like these adorable dogs!). 

6. Use Banana Fiber Paper 

Banana fiber is created with stems leftover from a banana harvest. The paper has an organic texture that lends it an earthy yet sophisticated feel. Perfect for understated (but high-impact) gift wrapping. 

7. Get Adventurous with Old Maps 

Save your old atlases for some fun gift wrapping. While any page will make for interesting packaging, consider the recipient of your gift--Where have you travelled together? Where is she originally from?  Choose your map paper accordingly for extra thoughtful wrapping :)

Photos: Erika G via Flickr, Martha Stewart, ohsohappytogether via Flickr, Green Field Paper Company, eCrater, Eric Christensen via Flickr, 

Posted in creative, DIY, eco-friendly, fun, gift wrapping, holidays, style

December Birthstone: Zircon

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Mary Hood | 0 Comments

Zircon is one of the birthstones associated with December (the others are turquoise and Tanzanite). “Zircon” may be derived from the Persian word “zargun,” meaning “gold-colored.” The word may also be derived from the Arabic word “zarkun,” meaning “cinnabar” or “vermillion.”

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Posted in birthstones, cubic zirconia, december, gem facts, gem lore, zircon

DIY Holiday Decorations with Vintage Jewelry

Posted on December 03, 2015 by Mary Hood | 0 Comments

The holiday season is a wonderful time to get crafty. Sharing crafts (and decorating duties) with family and loved ones can make for special memories. It's especially fun to gather folks around and make an event of it.

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Posted in brooches, decor, DIY, eco-friendly crafts, holidays, vintage

What is Filigree?

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Mary Hood | 0 Comments

Filigree is an ancient metal working technique that spans millennia and world cultures..... created by twisting, curling or plaiting fine and pliable precious metal wires into an intricate design.

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Posted in Ancient jewelry, antique jewelry, filigree, jewelry history, precious metal

November Birthstones: Topaz and Citrine

Posted on November 12, 2015 by Mary Hood | 1 Comment

From ancient days to the present, both topaz and citrine have been credited with long lists of healing properties. Not to mention, their glowing colors serve as a perfect accent to any fall color palette!

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Posted in citrine, gems, informational, jewelry, November birthstone, topaz

Goldsmith Fables in Buddhism

Posted on November 05, 2015 by Mary Hood | 0 Comments

Of the precious metals, gold is accompanied by arguably the richest collection of fables and legends that span eras and world cultures.

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Posted in Buddhism, gold, gold fables, gold lore, goldsmith