Make Your Own Headpins

You can save money by making your own headpins. An inexpensive butane torch can be used to ball the ends of fine silver or Argentium silver. The technique to do this is quite simple. You simply cut the wire to the desired length and then hold the wire in the torch's flame using pliers until the wire balls up. Watch the video below by Jennifer Kramer of www.cageycrafters.com to see how it is done:




Another method for creating a unique headpin is to use wire wrapping. A free tutorial is available on www.jewelrylessons.com to show you how to make a simple, but interesting headpin. You can find it at this link: http://jewelrylessons.com/jewel/node/3139

King's Scale Tutorial Now Available

If you are interested in learning how to make this simple but gorgeous chainmaille weave, a tutorial is now available at http://jewelrylessons.com/jewel/node/12485 . This weave works well both as a bracelet or a foundation for a beautiful necklace. This particular weave is known by several different names including the King’s Scale or the Vertebrae weave and is a derivation of the classic European 4 in 1. This bracelent and one like it are available at my etsy shop. http://www.simplydevinedesigns.etsy.com/.

Use Aluminum Foil and Baking Soda To Quickly Clean Your Sterling Silver Jewelry

Most sterling silver contains copper which oxidizes when exposed to the elements. This causes your sterling silver to tarnish. Follow the steps below for an easy way to clean your sterling silver:

1. Gather all of your tarnished pieces together and place them in a plastic or glass dish that you have lined with aluminum foil. Make sure that all of the silver touches the aluminum.
2. Sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda over your jewelry.
3. Pour enough boiling water over the jewelry to immerse it completely. Bubbling should occur. After the bubbling begins you should notice a rotten egg like smell as sulfuric gases are released by the cleaning action.
4. Stir the jewelry with a wooden spoon to make sure all of the silver comes in contact with the aluminum foil. Continue stirring until all of your silver is clean and shiny.
5. Remove the silver and rinse it with tap water. Be sure to close the drain so that you don't lose any small pieces like an earring!
6. Rub your jewelry dry with a soft cloth.

Tips and Warnings:

To prevent or slow future tarnishing store your jewelry in air tight plastic bags. You can get anti-tarnish strips or moisture absorbent packets to place in the bags to further slow down tarnishing.

This method of cleaning may be harmful to certain gemstones, for example, turquoise. I have used it with pearls and had good luck. But if you are in doubt, try using a polishing cloth designed specifically for cleaning sterling silver such as a Sunshine Cloth.

Here is a link for a video demonstrating the technique:

http://www.expertvillage.com/video/160769_clean-sterling-silver-jewelry.htm

www.1000 Markets.com

Today I discovered a new website (at least new to me!) dedicated to selling handmade artisan goods. What makes this site different is that you have a blog attached directly to your shop, allowing your customers to get to know you and get a feel for your personality. This also gives you the opportunity to give your customers some fun facts about how your jewelry is made and what makes it special. Listing items is free on www.1000markets.com . The items are checked out through Amazon. Amazon will then take out take a 5.5% cut plus 50 cents at the time of payment.

I got busy today setting up a shop and am waiting to see if my shop gets it's final approval. (Keeps fingers crossed.) I did find several nice jewelry shops that I thought I would share with you.

Here is a lovely pendant created by Tangerine Treehouse:













http://www.1000markets.com/users/tangerinetreehouse


Here is another lovely necklace from Stone House Studio:













http://www.1000markets.com/users/stonehousestudio

Etsy Shop Now Open!

Chainmaille Cross Earrings available at www.simplydevinedesigns.etsy.com. A tutorial will be available soon for these earrings at www.jewelrylessons.com.

I finally made the plunge and have opened an Etsy shop called Simply Devine Designs. Look for it at http://www.simplydevinedesigns.etsy.com/. I will also be creating tutorials for the new website http://www.jewelrylessons.com/. This great new website was created by Eni Onken and has some fantastic jewelry designs and wonderful how-to's from a group of talented jewelry designers including Delia Stone. I plan on creating tutorials for some of my chainmaille designs including the cross earring design pictured above and a vertebrae chainmaille design that is a variation of the European 4 in 1.