How To Care For Your Gold Jewelry

Gold is lasting and durable, but it can get scratched or dented if treated roughly.

Gold's worst enemy is chlorine. Repeated exposure can weaken gold's structure, eventually leading to breakage. Keep your jewelry away from chlorinated cleaning products and out of the swimming pool and jacuzzi.

Protect your gold jewelry by storing it safely or keeping it wrapped in a soft cloth when not being worn.

Clean your gold jewelry with a cleaning solution of sudsy lukewarm water, or take it to a jeweler and have it professionally cleaned.

Dry and polish jewelry with a chamois or soft cloth after cleaning and rinsing.

Keep gold jewelry free from dust, moisture, perspiration and makeup.

Always inspect your gold jewelry for weakness or damage. If any is found, take it to a jeweler for immediate repair. (I will be glad to restore it for you.)

I made this sweet little bracelet Saturday evening after closing. It was made for a sweet little baby girl that has not made her appearance on planet earth just yet. Just a few more weeks and we will get to see her.

This is the first in a new line of children's jewelry I will be making for the shoppe. 

I wanted to add a chain to insure from accidental loss off of her wrist.

I also stamped her name on the front side of the bracelet.  Though the imperfections glare at me,
I am reminded what Mr. Waters told us time and time again in class," Imperfections are the guarantee mark of a hand crafted piece of jewelry."  So instead of trying to perfect it, I left it alone and am at peace with it, as she will always have the first piece of baby jewelry I made. Maybe one day it will be worth more than we could ever imagine now.

I wanted to make a keepsake for her, one that would grow with her. Looking at the bracelet, you would wonder how in the world will a bracelet that fits a baby grow with her. I will tell you, when you know a metalsmith, it is possible. When she out grows this size, I will just add additional metal to each end and rework the shape. I will at that time put her birth information on the inside of the bracelet. I hope her mother likes it. It was made with love and care. 

I have another piece of baby jewelry that I need to make. I will get it posted soon...well as soon as I get it made. Surely that won't take too long...right!?!?!?

The ABCs of Life

ACCEPT DIFFERENCES
BE KIND
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
DREAM
EXPRESS THANKS
FORGIVE
GIVE FREELY
HARM NO ONE
IMAGINE MORE
JETTISON ANGER
KEEP CONFIDENCES
LOVE TRULY
MASTER SOMETHING
NURTURE HOPE
OPEN YOUR MIND
PACK LIGHTLY
QUELL RUMORS
RECIPROCATE
SEEK WISDOM
TOUCH HEARTS
UNDERSTAND
VALUE TRUTH
WIN GRACIOUSLY
XEROSCAPE
YEARN FOR PEACE
ZEALOUSLY SUPPORT A WORTHY CAUSE

What am I working on now??

These are the two rings that I am currently restoring.

When I received the phone call asking me if I can
repair a ring that had been cut off of a finger, my
answer was, "yes". Somewhere in my mind I was thinking of a ring that was cut off with a ring cutter,
a tool used by jewelers. Ummmm I was WRONG!
The lady that owns this ring had her uncle cut it off. I am not sure what he used, but I am sure that it was not a jewelers ring cutter! Once I got over the initial shock, my heart jumped with joy! I knew I was going to restore this ring beautifully. I have known the owner since she was 5 years old. I have to make it right for her. I want her to enjoy it the rest of
her life! If you know me very well at all, you have heard me say, "Every diamond I own, I have earned!" This sweet mamma has 3 wonderful darlings, and somehow I feel like she has earned     every single diamond in this ring! I want it right for her!

When the owner of this ring brought it in, he thought that maybe the diamonds could be pulled and the metal melted down to make a new ring. I would have gladly done that for him, but I had to offer to restore it. All I could think of at the time was the hard work that the man had done for his family wearing this ring. It was honest, diligent hard work. You can see it on the ring. He wore the ring until it could not be worn any longer. That told me he loved the ring. I really hoped he would agree to let me restore it. I knew it could be done. I just hoped he would agree.......and he did! My heart soared with delight knowing that I would get to put a few good doses of TLC on this ring. He and his precious wife came into the shoppe this weekend to check on the status of the ring. They were very delighted with how it is looking!
 
I hope to complete both of these very very soon. When I do, I will post the restoration pictures.