Care of your silver jewellery

Silver jewellery, and particularly silver rings which are worn often are unfortunately are prone to tarnish.

Sterling silver is a mixed metal, combining pure silver (92.5%)  and copper (7.5%) and it is the copper in the silver that reacts with moisture, and sulphur in the air to create the tarnish. As such the tarnish is produced more quickly in areas with high humidity - like swimming pools.

The tarnish will also happen with different speeds on different people, due to the differing body chemistry and the environments they live in.

I did a blog post a while ago on the basics of how to keep your silver shiny.. and have since found lots of other useful info on the internet about it.

I thought this post was particularly informative on how to clean and care for sterling silver jewellery and covers everything you could possibly wish to know.

There are a lot of other websites which suggest using aluminium foil, and bicarbinate of soda - but I must admit I've not tried it yet. I'm also lucky as I got myself a super dooper ultrasonic cleaner for my workshop, which keeps all my silver nice and shiny, (and you're always welcome to get in touch about sending your jewellery for a go in it!) but I'd love to hear any of your other tips and tricks if you've got any.

To stop the tarnish building up in the first place there are lots of suggestions like not wearing your rings in the shower, or pool, or when you're cleaning etc..

Pah - I don't know about you, but I can't be doing with taking my jewellery on and off all the time.

Apart from anything else I'd forget to put it back on again.

I personally reckon the easiest solution is to keep the tarnish at bay by getting a silver polishing cloth, and giving them a quick rub every day just before you put them on. By keeping the tarnish down in that way, it should never build up to a problem level.

Zulta-what?

Just browsing through Pinterest as you do, for a couple of minutes (hours) and I came across Zultanite and nearly fell off my chair.

I have never even heard of it before, and it is STUNNING.

I mean..... well, just look at it. There are lots of other lush examples on the jewellery editor website. And believe me, I don't use the word "Lush" lightly. In fact, I can't remember ever using it before unless referring to that rather overpoweringly smelly soap shop.


Zulcanite is apparently, an incredibly rare, and recently discovered, colour changing gemstone; changing from canary yellow to raspberry pink, depending on the light source.

I haven't seen it "in person" yet, but am feeling the need to go and seek some out. Is it just me?

Hello 2014!

Happy New Year

 

2013 was an incredible year for my business, and I thank you all so, so much for your support. It means the world to me, and enables me to work from home, doing a job I love, and be around for my kids whilst they're small (ish). Who could ask for more?

I know it's a little late but I never feel the New Year starts properly until the kids go back to school (which is tomorrow!).

Apart from anything else, in January I try (really hard... honest) to give up the booze Sunday to Thursday. And there's no way I'm prepared to do that until the kids are back at school! So all my other resolutions have to wait too.

Christmas was a little soggy around here.... luckily our house didn't flood, but our village was all over the news, and lots of friends had a Christmas which didn't go exactly to plan. Some are going to be out of their homes for the foreseeable future and our hearts go out to them.

This was bridge at the bottom of my road on Christmas Eve morning....

By Christmas Day, the water had subsided and the roads were passable again.

And an aerial view, courtesy of Sky News.

I hope you lovely lot got away unscathed?

But that's all behind us now (fingers and toes firmly crossed as the rain continues to pelt down against the window). And I'm excited to find out what 2014 is going to bring.

My resolutions for the New Year are...

1. To practice on the piano for at least 15 minutes a day.
   I started lessons with the kids in September, having never played before, and always wanting to give it a go. I'm absolutely loving it, and it's got to be doing my brain some good from the way it hurts after each lesson.
2. The booze thing (see above!) 

Business wise my plans are to..

1. Finally crack my birthstone range....which I've slowly been adding to, but just need to bloomin' well get sorted. Especially the stacking rings, which will be lovely for a mum to have in the birthstone of her children.
2. Get around to putting my sterling silver initial jewellery in the shop. Can't wait to show you this!!!
3. Find some other suitable stockists to get my wares out and about a bit more. If you know of any lovely shops which like to stock handmade goodies, please let me know. 

I'd love to hear about your plans, or resolutions for the year ahead. 

In the meantime I'll leave you with one of my best sellers from last year, these oxidised opal studs....(just because I gave a pair to myself as a Christmas treat!)

Gift Guide - Fab Friends

Perfect gifts for your favourite people. Those who you see once in a blue moon, but with whom you still click like you last saw each other yesterday. Or, those who you see or speak to everyday without fail. Either way, these are the people who you know will be there for you!

So, how to thank them...? Here's a few ideas.

A simple gemstone pendant...perfect for everyday wear.

These leaf pendants can be made with many different stones - birthstones are a favourite, and thoughtful gift.

These silver pearls are an ideal gift - they will go with everything!

And so do these bangles - in Russian wedding ring style. A real classic.

Here's to fab friends!

What's new for October?

My lovely dapped chain finally arrived..........and I love it.

Can't wait to get making some lovely new necklaces with it, but in the meantime, I have a plain dapped chain on right now. Who needs gems when you have this gorgeous dapped silver?

I also just bought this beautiful druzy window cushion cabochon. Oh. My.

I think it's going to be a ring, but it's a one of a kind, so I need to think about this one........

And I also just got these stunning green tourmaline stones, 6mm, made into dinky studs. I love 'em. Not on the shop yet but they should be tomorrow.... the stone is that little bit special, and I'm not sure I'll be getting any more of them. But we'll see - I'd love to know what you think of them!

Yummy green amethyst....

I got some stunning green amethyst recently for a custom order, and was so pleased with them. I used them with a moss aquamarine stone to make one of my trademark silver leaf pendants. A gorgeous combination of green stones.

The amethyst was clear, and mouthwateringly beautiful, so I am thrilled to have a few extra stones to play with.

I've just teamed it with some gold wire to make these beauties... and I'm just making an oxidised sterling version. I'll load them up on the websites later. Would love to hear what you think of them.

Spring is in the air!

Ok, so it's still a little chilly, but hey - the sun is shining, the birds are singing and my girls are waking up even earlier because it's getting light (grrrr). 

 

(Love this fellsiders pic from Flickr)

I had been getting so fed up with all the rain in February, but since March started it's been blue sky all the way, and it's my birthday month!

So here's are a few spring picks from my etsy shop....

Spring promise - necklace and earrings - with lovely Fluorite stones and sterling silver.

 

Flow necklace - think spring stream shining in the sunshine..

Loving spring - looking forward to summer! Please please no more snow!

Playing with fire - again - Reef Knot Bangle WIP

After my first attempt at soldering a couple of weeks ago, I was itching to try again. Last week when littlest was at pre-school I grabbed my chance, the plan was to attempt a reef knot bangle I'd seen in my library book.

You have to use hard solder in this design at first, and I just could NOT get the solder to flow. I tried everything! Gave up and watched the brilliant lesson in soldering on YouTube by Andrew Berry (part 1,2,3 and 4) which is really worth a look if you're interested. Cleaned my joins scrupulously  as suggested, tried again.... nothing. 

At the weekend, got a chance to try again.

This time I tried using easy solder..... nothing. Grrrr.

Noticed in the process that the flame was possibly a little smaller than it had been the first time around - so refilled the torch and..... it worked. Damnit I had been low on fuel all along but a bit too stupid to notice. I think I need a lot more practice at this soldering lark. 

Anyway, I had a practice using copper wire:

 

First step is to solder together two loops of heavy gauge wire.

 

Knot them together and solder the knot in place so it doesn't come loose.

Then it's just a case of cleaning it all up. (ha "just" - look at that all that mess) and shaping, forming, and polishing - which I'll get on to soon.

I know it's not perfect, but it's a work in progress.....and you get the general idea.

Anyway, here's the sterling silver one I've started on.

One tip I got from the youtube lessons is to buy an old silver chain, and spend an afternoon or two going through and linking it all bit by bit. Yes, it would take an age, but at least by the time I get to the end of it I'd probably notice when my torch was running on empty.

Heart swap

I've been taking part in the handmade heart swap - brilliantly organised by Noodlebubble (thanks!!).

Well I tried a few bits and bobs, but just couldn't get anything to work properly, so in the end I went with a sterling silver heart. My first go with my saw and a sheet of silver.

I cut out a little heart, and after days of filing and polishing (crikey that takes longer than I thought - must be doing something wrong?!?) I attached a little freshwater pearl, and hung it from a silver chain. And lo...

I had to rush to post it, so sorry for the poor quality picture. Luckily, Sam aka Incy Wincy Stitches takes better pics than me....(click on the pic to see her blog post about the swap).

 

 And what did I get? 

Well, Jackie from Jacksknits sent me a lovely package in the post, which arrived today....

 Look at this little fella - how cute is he?

 

 

I tried knitting when my girls were born, I really wanted to knit them a little outfit, a jacket, or at least some bootees, but I'm rubbish at knitting. I could never get the tension right.

So Jackie, thanks so much - he's a beauty and will brighten up my work space!

Playing with fire

My soldering kit arrived last week, and so on Monday, when littlest girl was at pre-school I decided to go for it.

Must admit I was just a little scared of this thing...

And it's only a little one. People use bigger ones on creme brulee. Why did it scare me so much? A few goes of turning it on and off, and I felt lots happier.

And who'd have thought you need so much stuff? I unpacked and unwrapped all my bits and bobs, read the instructions on the pickle, and made some up. Checked out the flux, filled the torch, and then it was......time!!

Oops - with all my excitment I'd (ahem)  forgotten to put any thought into what I would actually be soldering. Silly me!

A few little wire rings formed and filed later, and I was ready to go. I know the join is supposed to be super clean and fitted.

Wow - such fun. I'm addicted. Watching the solder flow was great.

 

Anyway, hammered and textured the rings and linked them all together and hey presto...

I'm keeping this one for me, but no doubt will be making something similar for the shop soon.

Can't wait to learn more, and get practising. Onwards and upwards.