This is my 'put anything here that doesn't really fit anywhere else' page............my web site equivalent of that drawer in your kitchen where you put 'stuff'....................
Reading back some things I've written, it occured to me that not everything may make sense to everyone else reading.........non jewellery makers may be confused by the way I describe things. I thought I should maybe explain the more obvious 'terms'...if you have any more questions, just shout!
LAMPWORK: Some glass beads are created by hand using a blowtorch to heat a rod of glass ,then spinning the resulting threads around a metal rod. Many techniques can be then used to create different effects, colours and shapes. I have used this term to refer to any bead used in my jewellery that has been made in this fashion.
FOILED: A transluscent glass bead that has silver (or indeed gold) foil trapped inside it whilst it has been made. The foil gives a lovely sheen to the depths of the bead.
ROUNDS: Beads that are ball shaped.......'rounds' just sounds so much nicer....!
BICONE: Another bead shape....imagine a triangle with another identical triangle upside down underneath....kind of like that......!
TIBETAN SILVER: Traditionally, Tibetan Silver was silver with an even higher content of pure silver than the more usual 'Sterling Silver'. However, it was never hallmarked, so without obtaining a chemical analysis you can never be sure as to the exact silver content. I have passed on the "Tibetan Silver" description on the site, as these items were sold to me this way, but I cannot guarantee the silver content. It should be therefore treated in the same way as silver plated items.
Taking care of Sterling Silver and silver plated jewellery:
Both silver plated items and Sterling Silver items have a nasty habit of oxidising when left in the air over time.........this means they go black. Eeeeek.........Perfectly natural, it all does it no matter how much or little you pay for it, but pretty nasty all the same. Once oxidised, it CAN be cleaned back to its shiny state, but as you can imagine, this can be a total palaver, involving cleaning cloths/solutions high tech gadgets even. The best thing to do is never to let it get like this in the first place. This is actually very easy to do....simply ensure that when you're not wearing it, your jewellery is stored in an airtight space. Not very pretty to look at, I suppose, but miles prettier than black silver!. I always send out jewellery in plastic grip seal bags, and would strongly advise that you keep them like this, to ensure they look their best!
Taking care of jewellery in general......
As it leaves me, I can assure you that my jewellery is crafted to the highest standard. What I can't assure you is, however, that it will all stay that way ! Inappropriate use, and careless handling will undoubtedly damage it. Wearing a delicate chain necklace whilst climbing trees could well not be a good idea.........as is wearing any of my jewellery whilst in the bath or shower.....its not waterproof! I'm sure you're all very sensible people though, and realise all this!
Some of the glass beads I use have undoubtedly been coloured artificially to achieve their look. I cannot guarantee how colourfast these beads are unfortunately, some may fade over time, or fade if left in direct sunlight. Alternatively, they could last years and years without changing one iota. Without tracking down every single manufacturer and quizzing them on their production methods, I can't know. What I would say, is keep them out of direct sunlight when not wearing them as a matter of course, minimising any risk there may be.
Perfume and hairspray could have a detrimental effect on my jewellery ( I use neither, so have never experienced EXACTLY the detrimental effects.......but I'm assured there would be some!) I would recommend that you always put your jewellery on AFTER you've sprayed yourself with whatever you're going to spray yourself with.......................!!