 |
| ...........................mae jewelry |
| about the jewelry |
| -gemstones All the beads I use are semi-precious gemstones. Because of this, it's better not to immerse them in regular jewelry cleaners, because these might damage the finish of the stone. Which brings us to... -care and cleaning The best way to clean handmade jewelry is by wiping it with a soft cloth after wearing. It can also be washed occasionally in warm soapy water, but make sure you dry it thoroughly and carefully. Metals can also be cleaned using an old toothbrush and toothpaste (the paste kind, not the gel kind). This removes tarnish from sterling silver well, and brightens and cleans copper and brass without destroying the antique patina. Avoid brushing the beads, though, and if possible, avoid getting water inside them. For a more complete list of gemstones and their care, check out rings-things.com. -metal allergies Ah, yes.... the curse of womankind. I too have experienced the joys of scotch-taping the backs of watches and painting inside rings with clear nail polish in vain attempts to make unwearable items tolerable. (That nail polish thing doesn't work- it all flakes off.) Most often, metal allergies are provoked by nickel. Stainless steel contains some nickel, and even items labeled "nickel-free" may still contain a very small amount. The materials I use, however, don't (or aren't supposed to). Copper, being an element, shouldn't contain nickel. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, and sterling silver contains silver and copper. So most people with metal allergies shouldn't have trouble with them. (They might, however, turn your skin green if you wear them for days on end. Don't worry, it washes off... and green beats itchy any day). -handmade glass Handmade glass beads are often sensitive to extreme temperatures. This doesn't mean you can't wear them in the winter, by any means, but it's not a good idea to leave them in the car in -20 degree weather (or 90 degree weather). Just store them at room temperature (between 50 and 90 degrees) and they'll be fine. |
 |
|
 |