How exciting, I finally listed a couple of my lampwork beads on Etsy!  I still don’t have a kiln but my friend Lisa from www.touchofglassdesigns.com was nice enough to anneal these little guys for me!  : D  They are now in my Etsy store at www.thebluedress.etsy.com. 

Everything in my Etsy store is on sale!!  I’ve marked down pieces up to as much as 50%.  I’ve also added some supplies including this gorgeous cab by CR Designs. 

I even marked my favorite piece waaaay down!!  Belle is now $100 off!!!

To see what’s on sale check out my Etsy store.  : )  www.thebluedress.etsy.com

Jen

The Blue Dress has moved to a new host and I am in the process of re-building the site.  It is almost finished now but there is still some final tweaking to do.  If you run into to anything that doesn’t seem to make sense it should be straightened out within the next few days. : )  My poor site really needed an overhaul, it had been pretty well abandoned…this feels much better!!

….also, if you want a sneak preview of my other project check out www.envisionitcreative.com.  It is almost finished and I will be officially opening it up this weekend sometime.  I love building websites and am really excited about this project. 

Busy, busy lots to do….I need to finish both of these sites. : )  I also have a new blog so I will be working on moving some of the posts from my other blog so I can shut it down, I don’t really neeeeed 5 blogs.  Do you have too many blogs?  It’s funny how that happens. 

Jen

Wearing your silver jewelry often is the best way to keep it clean. Your body oils will help keep tarnishing and cleaning to a minimum. Be sure to put your jewelry on after you have finished applying your make-up and hairspray to prevent build up.

Always use a soft cloth, never use a paper towel they can cause tiny scratches that can dull the surface over time. Using a 100% cotton material (old t-shirts for example), soft sponge or soft bristle brush with a little water and dish soap will work well to clean fingerprints, make-up etc. Be sure to dry your jewelry thoroughly with a soft cloth before placing it back into storage.

Tarnishing is a natural occurrence and may actually help to enhance the look of certain pieces, giving it an “antiqued” look. If you like the look there’s no need to worry about removing it. If you don’t however, it can be removed.

Jewelry polishing cloths work very well; however, do not use them on gemstones! Be sure to always use a clean polishing cloth, dirt particles from previous cleanings can cause scratches dulling the surface over time.

Cleaning agents should not be used on pearls. Clean your pearls with a soft cloth, a mild solution of dish soap and water can be used. Anything more abrasive could damage your pearls. Care should be taken when storing pearls so that they don’t rub up against other jewelry items that could cause scratches, always store your pearls in a special area away from your other jewelry.

Commercial dips act very quickly and effectively, never use them on gemstones they will remove the color and polish from most gemstones! Better safe than sorry, do not use commercial dips or cleaning agents on your stones unless you are very sure they can withstand it. If you do use a dip solution, don’t leave your silver in for very long, it just takes a few seconds to work, be sure to rinse thoroughly afterwards. Tarnex is very good option and is widely available at drug stores and grocery stores.

As a design element some jewelry pieces will have an added patina to darken in the recesses using a controlled oxidation process. Never use a commercial dip on pieces that have a patina applied or you will remove the patina and dramatically change the look of your jewelry.

Jennifer

Sterling silver can tarnish quickly when exposed to air, light and humidity, this is a normal process but there are things you can do to keep tarnishing to a minimum. Storing your jewelry in a cool, dry, dark place will help. It is recommended that you store your sterling silver jewelry when you are not wearing it. Don’t be afraid to wear your jewelry often, wearing your silver is a very good way to prevent tarnishing!

The same rules apply for fine silver or PMC jewelry, though fine silver is a bit more resistant to tarnishing.

Zip-lock bags are a very good way to store your sterling silver jewelry; soft cloth pouches with a closure also work well.

I have started including with each purchase, zip-lock style bags that are treated with an anti-tarnishing agent said to keep your jewelry tarnish free for a minimum of two years. Storing your jewelry inside these bags and placing them back in the jewelry boxes they came in will keep them well protected. If you do not have access to anti-tarnishing bags, regular zip-lock bags are still a good option and will keep your jewelry tarnish free for months.

Avoid storing your silver directly on wood surfaces; many types of woods actually contain acids that can dull the surface. Pennies, other metals and rubber can also cause problems for your jewelry by increasing the risk of tarnishing and damage.

You should never wear your sterling silver jewelry while swimming in a chlorinated pool, chlorine can cause serious damage and excessive tarnishing in a hurry. In general it is a good idea to keep your jewelry away from harsh chemicals like bleach; nail polish remover etc., many of these chemicals can destroy silver and gemstones.

Sterling silver is really very easy to care for, with a few precautions and regular cleaning your sterling silver jewelry will last you for many years.

Jennifer