More on Thai Silver

Thai Silver is 97-99% pure Silver and is suffused with a warm glow. High-content silver is softer and easier to shape into beautiful, ornate styles. Sterling Silver is 92.5% silver, thus the very recognizable .925 hallmark. Sterling is usually alloyed with Copper to give it enough strength for large objects, while maintaining a high precious metal content.

I use silver from the Karen Hill Tribe of Northern Thailand. Each piece has been individually handcrafted by skilled craftsmen, thus maintaining its uniqueness. No two samples are exactly alike. Thai silver pieces are amazing works of art, all made by hand, and little or no machinery. Beads are hammered and etched, and others are sculpted into shapes, often emulating objects from nature such as ladybugs, butterflies, fish, ocean shells, leaves, and many different types of flowers. Not only do Thai silver creations enhance jewelry, they are frequently the focal point of a piece of jewelry.

Thai silver has a completely different look than Sterling Silver and adds a different character to a piece of jewelry. It can be more expensive than Sterling Silver as it is imported. Thai silver is very easy to care for. No chemical cleaners are necessary. Just dip a soft cloth into some Lime juice and buff gently to bring back the warm patina of this silver.

Here is another close up of a Thai Silver pendant which can be found at

Dizzygirl ~ Unique Artisan Jewelry.

Find gemstone Bracelets, Earrings and Necklaces at Dizzygirl ~ Unique Artisan Jewelry.

Find books, toys, clothing, jewelry, beads, pottery and collectibles at the Circle of Stores.

The Beauty of Thai Silver

Hill tribe silver jewelry from northern Thailand, though hundreds of years old in its distinct design, works well accessorizing even the most up-to-date fashion trend. Approximately twenty distinct tribes of semi-nomadic peoples, collectively called hill tribes, live in the mountains along the Burmese and Laotian borders of northern Thailand. The largest and most prominent hill tribes are the H’mong, Akha, Lisu, Lahu, Meo, and Karen. Culturally the tribes are of interest because their relative isolation has enabled them to retain almost unchanged customs and traditions that go back centuries.

A rich part of their cultural tradition is the making and wearing of silver jewelry. What once was a artistic skill honed in the tiny tribal villages in the mountains of northern Thailand now can be found produced in the factories of Thailand’s second largest city, Chang Mai. On Wualai Street in Chang Mai all manners of silver jewelry and silver objects are crafted. Intricate patterns of hill tribe-inspired designs—bracelets, earrings, necklaces and rings—are hammered out by Thai silversmiths.

Here's a close-up of one of the pendants I've used in my jewelry at Dizzygirl ~ Unique Artisan Jewelry.

Find gemstone Bracelets, Earrings and Necklaces at Dizzygirl ~ Unique Artisan Jewelry.

Find books, toys, clothing, jewelry, beads, pottery and collectibles at the Circle of Stores.

The Trading Post of Texas - Fun Texas Stuff

We at Texas Trading specialize in Texas items...it’s what we know and what we love best. We’re constantly listing new things, so be sure to check back often…our items aren’t necessarily inexpensive…they are of high quality and definitely something you will be proud to display in your home, your office, or to give as a gift.

Just some fun stuff about Texas: When you’re from Texas, people that you meet ask questions like, “do you have cows?” They all want to know if you’ve been to South Fork Ranch (they’ve watched the TV show, “Dallas”). Draw a map of our state in the dirt, anywhere in the world, and people will immediately recognize it as Texas.

Texas is a place where towns and cities shut down to watch the local high school football game on Friday nights. Texas is ocean beaches, deserts, lakes and rivers, hills and prairies. Small towns that still live the quiet country lifestyle and huge, metropolitan cities.

Each spring when the bluebonnets come out in their full glory, we drive miles and miles reveling in their beauty, while non-Texans zip down the road, not appreciating the fields of waving blue flowers, mixed in with bright red Indian Paintbrushes.

We’re known for our hospitality and our friendliness. People think we exaggerate about everything…we probably do…it’s a genetic thing... but we do it in fun and have fun with it.

If you were born in Texas, you’ll always be a Texan…even if you don’t want to be, there’s a little piece of Texas that lives on inside of you. If you’re a proud mis-placed Texan, you never hesitate to tell people, “I’m from Texas!”

For people who have visited our state, they’ve taken a little bit of Texas home with them…even if it’s nothing more than the memory of driving three days to get from one end of the state to the other.

Our state capitol is in Austin; our state flower is the Texas Bluebonnet. Our state tree is the pecan and our state bird is the Mockingbird. Our state motto is “friendship,” our state shrine is The Alamo and the State Mascot is…the armadillo (for real).

We are proud Associate Members of “Go Texan.” sponsored by the Texas Department of Agriculture. We are dedicated to providing as many Texas made products on our store as we can.

We are born ‘n raised Texans (6th generation)…and we’re proud of it. Thanks for visiting our Wagglepop store and for spending a “little time in Texas” with us.

Find books, toys, clothing, jewelry, beads, pottery and collectibles at the Circle of Stores.

Safe Internet Shopping Tips

Buying on the Internet can be fun. It's convenient, often less expensive and there are no crowds to fight. You don’t have to go out in nasty weather or bring the kids along. You can get anything on the Internet that you can get in a store and it gets delivered to your home. So if you're going to shop online, how can you stay safe? Why, shop at the Circle of Stores of course! We’re all members in good standing with Wagglepop. In all seriousness though, there are several ways a smart shopper can safely shop online.

1. READ, READ, and READ again. And no, I don’t have the hiccups. If you’re on an auction site then read how the auction site works before signing up. Once you’ve signed up then make sure you read the Seller’s Terms of Sale (TOS). You are looking for things like shipping costs, methods of shipping, where the Seller will ship to, return policy, payment methods accepted, etc. Read the description of what you’re buying or bidding on before you make the bid. Make sure it’s really what you want. If you base your decision just based on a picture you could end up disappointed.

2. When you are signing up for a site or paying for your items, make sure that the address of the site starts with https:// before you give out personal information. This means you’re on a secure site. Just to double check look for the padlock at the bottom of the site.

3. Always print out a copy of your order and a copy of the acknowledgement that you should receive. I’ve accidentally deleted email confirmations so the paper back ups have come in handy.

4. Always check your bank statements carefully if you purchase something on the Internet. Make sure it matches the copy of the order you printed out.

5. If something sounds too good to be true then it probably is. If someone is offering a Plasma TV for $50.00 you can pretty much bet that it’s stolen.

6. Make your purchases with a credit card whenever possible. If you follow the above guidelines then you’re just as safe as if you went into a Retail Store. You will also have Chargeback rights with your Issuing Bank on the off chance that something does go wrong. You can also use safe online payment services such as PayPal.

7. READ, READ, and READ again. Ooooh! Déjà vu! No, really. Buyers end up with problems because they make assumptions and they don’t read. Ask questions if you’re unsure. If you don’t get a satisfactory answer then don’t buy.

Above all, have fun! There’s nothing better than being the winner of an auction for a great price. The thrill of victory and all that!

Find books, toys, clothing, jewelry, beads, pottery and collectibles at the Circle of Stores.

Anchor Hocking Early American Prescut

Hi, my name is Sarah and I own Prairie Post Emporium. My store is part of the Circle of Stores, which is a group of sellers on Wagglepop.com. I sell a little bit of everything, but I have a love of glassware, china and pottery.

So today, let's talk about Early American Prescut (EAPC) Glass. EAPC was produced by Anchor-Hocking from 1960 until the late 1970's. The pattern is often referred to as "Star of David." The pattern features large starbursts interspersed with smaller Star of David designs.

The EAPC pattern is often confused with it's sister pattern, Precut Oatmeal, which is very similar. The Oatmeal pattern lacks the Star of David, which is present on EAPC.

Many EAPC pieces have small variations among similar pieces. Often a particular piece was produced with a smooth edge and another almost identical piece will have a scalloped edge. EAPC can be found in a wide variety of pieces, from cream pitchers and relish dishes to punch bowls and juice glasses. Prices range from a under five dollars to upwards of fifty dollars, depending on the rarity of the piece, the condition and for items like punchbowl sets, whether or not they are complete.

I carry some EAPC pieces in my store, along with many other pieces of collectible glassware, pottery and china. Come on over and check out all of the fantastic Circle of Stores sellers and the wide variety of items they offer!

Find books, toys, clothing, jewelry, beads, pottery and collectibles at the Circle of Stores.

Kathryn's Ceramic Bisque

My store is Kathryn's Ceramic Bisque. I am a member of the Circle of Stores. We are a group of sellers with stores on wagglepop.com. We are dedicated to provide buyers with the highest online shopping experience. I sell ready to paint ceramic bisque which is made from clay that has been formed in a mold and fired to cone 04 which is about 2,000 degrees. After firing the bisque is ready to paint or glaze.

You can paint decorative items with an acrylic paint and spray it with a clear gloss or matte finish. Acrylic paint is available in any store that has a craft department. Items to be used for food need to painted with a food safe glaze that needs to be refired in a kiln. I have about 4000 molds with a large selection from the classics to new made molds for every occasion. I have been working with clay for many years and selling on line for 5 1/2 years. I will be adding new inventory to my wagglepop store on a regular basis. Please Click on circleofstores.com to see many more stores with a large variety of products.



Find books, toys, clothing, jewelry, beads, pottery and collectibles at the Circle of Stores.

Wagglepop

Wagglepop

The Circle of stores is very pleased to say that we are involved with a wonderful online eCommerce site called Wagglepop. The site is new and refreshing as it’s based on Community Trust and they live up to their word. The site is easy to use for both sellers and buyers alike. Buyers can shop in a safe environment without having to leave the house. No more crowded stores to deal with. No more crazy traffic. Get what you need in one place. Experience excellent Customer Service from both the site itself and from the sellers you deal with.

There are lots of special features on the site that also make it exciting for sellers and buyers. Most of the sellers offer The Red Carpet Customer program where you can receive discounts and many sellers also offer extra savings with DynamicDiscounts when you purchase multiple items from the same seller.

Join the Revolution! Learn more about exactly what makes Wagglepop different, and better, for buying and selling in the 21st century.



Find books, toys, clothing, jewelry, beads, pottery and collectibles at the Circle of Stores.

The Circle of Stores

The Circle of Stores is a group of dedicated Sellers that have come together to promote a safe
but exciting online shopping experience. We offer you a wide range of good quality items in a safe
shopping environment.

Our pledge to you is as follows:

Communication: We welcome any and all questions and we will respond to you within 24-48 hours.
We will acknowledge your payments and will notify you when your purchases have been shipped.

Descriptions: We will display representative photos of the item you are purchasing and we will provide
accurate descriptions on all of our items.

Shipping: All purchases will be shipped within 3 days of the payment clearing. Individual Sellers will
provide you with Shipping costs in relation to the items you have purchased.

Return Policy: Individual Sellers will have a clear Return Policy stated on their site.

Find books, toys, clothing, jewelry, beads, pottery and collectibles at the Circle of Stores.