My mother was a Handarbeits Leherin (handicrafts teacher) in Germany and a learned seamstress. She would have been 100 years old this past January. She learned crafts from her mother and she taught me when I was young. I never reached her expertise in sewing but she taught me crocheting and knitting and she always commented on my “nimble fingers” which later, in my teens, set me on my career path in music.
I have a room filled with all kinds of crafts material: yarn for knitting, crocheting and looming (I have a rigid heddle loom); paper strips for making stars and quilling; fabric for sewing (I have 3 sewing machines); paper sheets for card making and Origami (I have a Sizzix dye cutter, a Cricut Joy and a big one my son-in-law gifted me); and of course beads, beads, glorious beads!!! All this stuff and more, collected over decades. I will never be bored, ever. As long as my hands and my mind will hold out, I’ll be busy crafting after, and before I retire.
And that brings me to the gist of the matter of my little write-up. I was in a bad spot in my life, oh, about 20 years ago, and I took up making necklaces and bracelets. I have four daughters, and my hopes were that I could share this new passion with them. Nope, no interest. But what I experienced was that diversion was just what I needed to put my mind at ease. It was cheaper than paying for therapy. It lowered my stress level and relaxed my mind. Plug in a good audio or music and get lost in the design, layout and assembly of a chosen pattern or piece.
That was 20 years ago. Now that I’ve grown that much older I value my activities even more. A senior piano player once told me to keep playing, even when the fingers don’t want to work so well anymore. Even when arthritis makes your hands ache. Frankie played into his 80s and he was still amazing. My friend Karen has RA and she beads through the pain because it brings her joy and engages her mind. And that’s the other thing. The mind, your brain, the process of creating, following a pattern, making something original or simply making and enjoying it.
There are many articles published that speak of the benefits of crafting. You can research all you want. I’m just voicing my 2 cents worth from my experiences. Weather you work in solitude or in a group setting, it is fun, relaxing and enjoyable. I always have fun at our beading classes or sessions.
Feel free to comment below, or share your insights and add your 2 cents worth.
Over the years we have done our fair share of jewelry repairs, and we’ve learned a lot through that experience. I want to pass on some of that knowledge in order to help you prevent issues and keep your jewelry nice for a long time. Mind you, I restrict my advice to mostly beaded and strung jewelry since we are a bead shop. And if we can’t fix it, or it can’t be fixed, we’ll tell you. We’ve had some challenges in the past, but Judi likes a challenge. She’s good at improvising.
Silver/gold Smiths are the experts in fine jewelry. They repair items that require a steady hand and soldering.
Now let me tell you what you can do to avoid wrecking your jewelry that you love so much.
#1: do NOT wear it 24/7! Nothing will hold up to that kind of abuse. No matter how well it is crafted. For example, there are always weak spots that can’t be reinforced enough and be aesthetically pleasing to the eye, and/or proportionate to the piece.
#2: Don’t wear your necklace to bed. It’ll get tangled in your hair, in your pillow or blanket and can pull apart when you are restless.
#3: Don’t wear it in the shower. All that shampoo and conditioner and lotion will dull your beads and clog the holes, disintegrate the thread/wire and turn your treasure into junk.
#4: If you must wear jewelry in the pool make sure it is made from stainless steel. Pool chemicals will wear down the finishes on beads over time as well as elastic, thread and beading wire. Wearing a piece once in a while won’t do much harm but don’t make it a frequent habit. Just give it a rinse afterward and let it dry. One thing you may want to keep in mind: your pool person would not be very happy if it breaks in the pool and you can’t retrieve it before it gets sucked into the cleaning system.
Ok, those were the ‘don’t-s. Now for the ‘do-s’
#1: Do store your jewelry in a jewelry box or drawer when you’re not wearing it. Especially the silver ones. A good jewelry box is lined with cloth that is permeated with anti-tarnish agents that will help prevent oxidation. What also helps is placing your silver piece in a Ziploc baggie and perhaps add an anti-tarnish strip, or a piece of white chalk. Remember moisture will accelerate tarnishing, especially in damp climates. Another preventative measure are those little desiccant pouches that you find when you buy a new handbag or clothing etc. Keep these in your jewelry box. They wick away moisture as well.
#2: Do hang your necklaces from a stand or a hook if you don’t have a jewelry box. This keeps them from tangling. You can also put them in small boxes, compartments in a drawer, and again, in pouches or bags. That also helps with keeping your jewelry sets together. I once knew a woman who kept her jewelry sets in a bag suspended from the hanger of the matching outfits. How clever!
#3: Do inspect your stretchy bracelets (and other jewelry) periodically. Elastic will wear out and also dry out. Especially in hot and dry climates. Once they become loose or show signs of fraying have them re-strung or do it yourself.
#4: Do give your jewelry an gentle bath on occasion. Yes, I said not to wear it in the shower but this is different. Take a soft toothbrush and a drop of dish soap or jewelry cleaner and, holding your jewelry in the palm of you hand, add a little water and brush gently between the beads and on the surfaces. This loosens up dirt and other icky things that get in holes of the beads and in between. Rinse clean and pat dry with a soft cloth. You might want to keep it all in a bowl so you don’t loose it down the drain. Or at least put the drain plug in.
Side Note: If I want to put a quick clean and shine on my gold wedding ring I use a soft toothbrush and white toothpaste and give it a good scrub under running water. Works for me, might work for you. Same for sterling silver. Both can withstand a good scrubbing.
We have serviced a lot of broken jewelry over the years and you’d be amazed what people sometimes bring us. I don’t relish having to pick/cut out hair and other organic Schmutz before I can get stared with the work. Sometimes we get dirty, grimy, slimy, smelly and even food splattered items that I will refuse to take until they come back clean.
Important tip: Real pearls are a whole separate matter and you will get the best advice from an expert. The one thing I tell my customers is “your pearls are the last thing you put on before you leave the house, and the first thing you remove when you return”. That being said, keep in mind that makeup, perfume, lotion and sweat are pearl killers. So keep your pearls clean by giving them a water only bath sometimes or have them professionally cleaned. Do NOT use ionic jewelry cleaners or any liquid jewelry cleaners. The finish of these gorgeous gems will be destroyed. The same goes for turquoise, coral, opals, amber, jet (most organic gemstones) and any other so called “soft” gems.
Alright, I’m done! These are my two cents on this subject. If you want to throw in your two cents you can leave them in the comments below.
Gem & Bead Mall Mesa 