I am often asked how to care for my handcrafted jewelry and if it requires different care from other jewelry types. I recommend that you handle and care for your handcrafted beaded jewelry items like you would good costume jewelry and/or fine jewelry items.
Most of my beaded jewelry will need only an occasional wipe or polish with a dry soft cloth to remove finger prints, smudges and body oils. I recommend that you buy a polishing cloth made specifically for jewelry cleaning. This type of polishing cloth usually has two different color cloths joined together as one. One color is recommended for general polishing and the other (usually white or gray) is recommended for removing tarnish and polishing silver jewelry.
If the dry polishing cloth doesn’t clean your jewelry easily, I recommend that you dip the jewelry in clean warm water and then add a couple of drops of gentle liquid hand soap to your fingers and slide the jewelry through the soap letting your fingers gently rub the jewelry where it needs cleaning. Dip the jewelry in the warm water again rinsing the soap off and lay the jewelry on a soft towel or cloth to drain the water and blot dry. Finish drying the jewelry with the jewelry polishing cloth gently rubbing the beads and metal components to return the luster and shine.
HINT: Store your sterling silver jewelry in a closed plastic zip-lock bag to prevent or slow down tarnish. Your precious metal silver jewelry will tarnish over time when exposed to air. You can also buy non-tarnish strips or squares you place in your jewelry box or inside plastic bags with your jewelry to prevent and retard tarnish growth.
For heavily tarnished jewelry items I recommend that you purchase disposable silver polishing cloths. You can buy these in jewelry departments and/or where cleaning/polishing materials for fine silver and silverware are found. These cloths come packaged as dry cloths or premoistened wipes for single use or until dirty. Be sure to read the directions to decide if the cloth or the jewelry should be moistened before use. The ones I use require that you dip the jewelry in water first and then polish with the disposable cloth and then dip again to rinse and dry with a soft cloth. The benefit of using this type of polishing cloth is it leaves a non-tarnish coating on the jewelry that lasts a long time.
You can use the same cleaning and polishing methods recommended above for your gold or copper handcrafted jewelry. If you use the disposable cloths be sure to read any specific precautions listed for gold, copper or plated jewelry to see if it is safe to use on your jewelry item. Be careful when using disposable cloths on “plated” finish metal jewelry. If you rub too hard, you might remove the “plated” finish to the base metal below.
I do not recommend using any of the commercially ready liquid jewelry cleaners to clean your handcrafted jewelry unless you know exactly what type of beads and metals are used in your handmade jewelry items. Some of the liquid jewelry cleaners are too harsh for use on pearls, gemstones, and some metal components. The liquid cleaners could harm or remove surface finishes like AB coatings, antique markings and dyes.
HINT: Do not spray perfume or cologne directly on your jewelry. Most manufacturers recommend putting your jewelry on last to avoid contact with hairspray, makeup and perfumes that can harm your jewelry.
Preview: Large turquoise teardrop hand wrapped with natural copper wire strung on black cotton cord.
At the end of each year I have to take inventory of what beads, findings and miscellaneous I have left over so I know what I have available to start my new designs for the upcoming seasons. I start my research on trends, styles and colors for the coming seasons and figure out what I have that will compliment, match or maybe work before I order new stock.
When I go back through my design ideas for the year, I usually have a few pieces that give me a chuckle or two. Where did that color combination come from? Did I actually think someone would buy that? What was I thinking when I made that? Oh, my gosh. . .really? I think all artists, no matter what medium they create in have a few ”what was I thinking” ideas in their closets.
As I continue my search through numerous containers and boxes of “bead stuff” I find my “I forgot I started this” box with its half-finished or nearly finished jewelry designs. As I sort through this box’s contents I try to remember why I never finished a particular design. Why didn’t I take it apart and recycle the beads? Apparently, the design didn’t work for me at the time and I couldn’t “see” another design for the beads then.
I usually “see” in my mind an idea or design using the color or shape of beads when I buy them. This vision is where my design ideas come from and sometimes its just that. . .a design idea. . .an idea that didn’t work as a finished design. I move on to new beads and “see” the next design idea.
As a jewelry artist, I try to learn new techniques and styles all the time. I strive to have my work show that I am growing in my experience and my workmanship improves with practice.
After all, there’s an endless supply of beads out there to feel and hold. Beads make me happy!
Sapphire Wire Wrap Pendant
Sapphire Wire Wrap Pendant is one of my new designs in my Wire Art Jewelry line. The 4mm sapphire fire-polish faceted beads are handwrappped on to a silver ring and the larger beads are dangling from the bail.
Ruby Red Wire Wrapped Pendant
Ruby Red Wire Wrapped Pendant is another version of the design with the addition of the beads added into the chain holding the pendant.
Finding inspiration for designing jewelry can come from many places. It may come from seeing the jewelry and accessories pictured in magazines or catalogs. A visit to a local department store may inspire you to design with the clothing styles and colors shown for the current season. You may find a pattern or color combination in fabric that inspires you to create a certain design. There are a number of popular “bead” and craft magazines that may give you inspiration to create your own version of one of their projects.
Inspiration can come from anywhere you are. I find that my surroundings often influence my designs. The area where you live may dictate a larger, bolder design in color and size or the “splash” of color may be all that your design requires in your locale. Seasonal changes often influence what I design with spring and summer being one of my favorite times to design jewelry. I love the pastels and softer colors usually associated with spring and summer as well as the materials like shells, freshwater pearls, acrylics, and wood and seed beads.
I enjoy reading articles by other designers and where they say their influences come from. Different jewelry mediums seem to have a favorite style and inspiration. I recently read about some metal artists who take their inspiration from nature and natural surroundings. The rustic theme stands out in their metal work and designs.
Sometimes when I look at beads I immediately see designs or theme ideas inspired by the beads themselves. Other times I find beads that I really like for their color or texture so I buy them and have to wait for the inspiration to design something with them. What usually happens to me is I put the beads away and then forget about them for a while. When I “find” them again its a happy surprise and I’m finally ready to create something new with my “new” beads. Happy designing!
Peridot Crystals and Copper Chains
One of my new pieces, Peridot crystals, copper pearls and copper chains.
Visit Cheryl’s Jewelry Expressions (http://www.cherylsbeadjewelry.com)
or KC Bead Designs (http://www.kcbeaddesigns.com).
Hello World is right for me again! This is the first post for Cheryl’s Jewelry Blog, my newest jewelry business adventure. That’s what I have decided my theme will be for this year. . . jewelry business adventures.
My first jewelry adventure for 2010 is making a formal announcement for my newest web shop online, Cheryl’s Jewelry Expressions, http://www.cherylsbeadjewelry.com. I have a new shop to feature my unique handcrafted beaded jewelry, accessories, gifts and wire art jewelry and a new domain too.
My first web shop, KC Bead Designs – Beaded Jewelry by Cheryl Skeens, http://www.kcbeaddesigns.com is open and doing well also. Both web shops carry their own inventory and the designs are unique in color and style for each shop. So when you are shopping in one of my shops and you would like to see more colors and styles, be sure to visit the other shop to see what is featured there. Remember, two shops, twice the fun browsing!
