Quality jewelry both new and old requires proper maintenance to keep it looking beautiful.

To look its best, antique and contemporary jewelry requires periodic maintenance.  Have pearl necklaces and bracelets checked by a jeweler to determine whether they need restringing. Precious stones on brooches, earrings, necklaces bracelets and rings should be checked periodically to be sure settings are tight.  This is especially true for vintage or heirloom pieces.   All pieces should be cleaned periodically with appropriate tools and cleaning agents.  For items that require brushing or scrubbing, a child's soft toothbrush works well.  Never use paper towels for drying, especially on softer metals or stones.  For some kinds of jewelry, like turquoise and silver, the best way to keep it looking its best is to wear it frequently.  Others such as pearls need to be wiped after each wearing. Here are some tips for keeping your baubles brilliant.

Diamonds . . .

Are forever, and deserve to sparkle.  The hardest known stone, diamonds should be stored so that they can't scratch each other.  Keep this in mind when you throw them in your traveling jewelry pouch.  To clean, soak your diamonds in a solution of two parts warm water and one part ammonia for 3 or 4 minutes.  Rinse with warm clear water, and pat dry with a soft cloth.

Sapphires, Peridots, Rubies, Amythysts

Immerse in a mixture of warm waster and mild dishwashing liquid (soap should be free of softeners-check the label) Scrub gently with a soft brush or soft cloth.  Rinse with clear water and pat dry.

Emeralds

Dip in clear water at room temperature and brush gently.  Air dry.  DO NOT use warm water or any type of soap.  Have your emerald periodically checked by a jeweler.

Opals

Handle gently, as opals are prone to chipping!  Use a soft, soapy (mild dishwashing) cloth, then rinse and air dry. 

Turquoise, Lapis and Coral

Wipe frequently with a soft, dry cloth.  Turquoise is porous, so never use any kind of soap or solution for cleaning.  Your best bet is to wear and clean your turquoise frequently, especially if it is set in silver.  Silver polish can damage turquoise, but frequent wearing and handling keeps silver from tarnishing.

Pearls

Both real and cultured pearls are delicate and lose their luster easily. Be sure to apply lotions and perfumes before putting them on.  Wipe them with a clean, soft, moist cloth after every wearing, and lay them flat to air dry, being careful not to stretch the string.  Clean them periodically with a brush dipped in warm water with mild soap, and work the brush around the pearls.  Wipe with a wet cloth, and dry as above.

Gold, White Gold, Platinum

Dip in warm, sudsy water, rinse and pat dry.  For more thorough cleaning, use a soft brush.

Silver

Use non-abrasive commercial silver polish and/or a impregnated cloth designed for silver.  Be sure to polish and polish residue out of crevices. Buff gently, and  NEVER  use paper towels or tissues, as they will scratch the soft metal.  T-shirt rags or old, soft linen tea towels work well.

Many designers don't spend their lives saying, "I am going to design xyz."  For the most part, they are creative from an early age, experiment in lots of materials and techniques, and end up discovering their calling along the way.

 
This is certainly true of Courtney Husak, owner of Husak Design, a line of Fine Jewelry with a focus on Bridal Jewels.  Courtney studied Studio Art at the University of Texas at Austin.  She embarked on a jewelry line when her sister needed stylish and affordable pieces for her wedding.  After apprenticing with an Austin based Jewelry Company, Courtney founded Husak Design.

My personal twist - there is always one, you know! - I went to school with Courtney and her sister, and found out about her Jewelry line from a friend.  I have since had the pleasure of doing a few shows with Courtney - and we are teaming up for another fabulous Holiday Shopping event in late November!

Courtney is my featured artist today in the lead up to Stitch - the awesome Indie Design Shopping event and Fashion Show in Austin, Texas on November 10th.  There is no way anyone will be able to miss Courntey's booth - her display is always AMAZING, and her smile is so infectious that it will radiate across the entire Convention Center.

One of my favorite pieces of jewelry is this necklace.  It has this fabulous hammered metal pendant, and gorgeous white beads very elegantly graded by size.  I get lots of compliments when I wear it, and it actually started my obsession with white clothing.  I figured that I can wear white now that I am all grown up and don't spill on myself anymore (yeah right, that's what stain remover is for!)

Courtney has ALL KINDS of jewelry - I know her website already looks amazing, but I also know she will have a ton of new stuff at Stitch.

 




These GiGi earrings are so elegant and bold in this color combination.  The stones are Amethyst and Cape Amethyst in a chandelier setting.

Be sure to check out the Husak Design website, and come see us at Stitch on November 10th in Austin, Texas!  Check out more of my jewelry collections on iTaggit!

 blog by Anne Marie Beard

Today's search of ETSY led me down a winding road of ethnically inspired jewelry.  I am always curious about what inspires someone to create a certain piece of work.  We all have experiences inside of us that influence our style - and often, we don't always know how all the pieces come together.

For artists and crafters alike, it's a constant struggle to define your own sense of style.  A search for "hammered metal jewelry" led me to discover four fabulously talented and original jewelers.  Their work shares a sense of ambiguous ethnicity, adventure and exquisite detail.  My own jewelry collection is massive - and I am always looking to add more pieces. (look for more additions to my iTaggit collection soon!)

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These "Black Peas in a Pod" earrings by EclecticTides were created with hammered Silver and Black Onyx beads.  I love the contrast of the round beads and swirl with the elongated rectangle of the silver frame.  They remind me of ancient Egyptian or Greek jewelry

This "Posey Pendant" by RubyGirl features a 3-dimensional soldered metal disk with glass flower beads.  Red and turquoise is a great color combination - and they really stand out against the black patina of the silver. The vibe has a kind of urban-hippie feel to it that I really love - a way for someone who isn't so girly to wear a very feminine piece of jewelry.

These "Petite Fleur" earrings by KimBDesigns are little drops of luxury.  The warmth of the brass filigree medallion is nicely set with two other colors of metal.  I can imagine wearing them on a balcony in the French Quarter with a beautiful white dress...

Finally, these "Leaves of the Amazon" earrings by Wired are elegantly detailed.  Gorgeous Amazonite is set off by a hand stamped and hammered metal frame, wire wrapping, and Bali Silver.  The artist did an excellent job of combining so many different elements.

What do you think inspired these artists?  Looking at their work has inspired me to wear some more adventurous jewelry.  I hope you will take a moment to comment and look around at other people's collections here on iTaggit.  Post your jewelry collection so we can all see! 

To see more of my Blogs about Crafts, Jewelry, Art and more, click here! 

If you’ve ever gone shopping with a teenage girl you know that teenagers can be a very picky bunch!  Their physical and mental growth has them experimenting with all kinds of fashion items to improve their image and their look. Teenage girls have a fashion statement to make too - and estate jewelry is ready for teen fashions!

A teen's fashion statement which includes both clothing and jewelry plays a role in their identity, how they fit, how they feel, how they blend. It has a big role on their self esteem during those developmental years. And moms and dads they don’t want your input! This is a time of discovery and you can be guaranteed if you like it they’ll toss the idea out the door in ten seconds or less. But that doesn’t mean you can’t subtly steer them. Estate jewelry and fashion jewelry are affordable choices that can work well for teens. So just gently lead them in the right direction and let them make their own discoveries.

Teen girls are busy picking up clues and tips from their favorite celebrities. The celebrities that teenagers watch in their favorite music videos, movies or television show greatly influence what a teen girl will see as fashion and trendy jewelry. And these days more and more of the celebrities are choosing estate jewelry because it is unique and does make a statement of individuality. So don’t be surprised if you teen finds estate jewelry attractive.

These days we hear allot about hip hop jewelry trends and we see plenty of bling bling replicas on the market. Manufacturers have replaced the real diamonds and gems worn by the celebrities with cheaper stones and metals so that teen girls can have jewelry that looks much like their favorite stars but at a much more affordable price.

Pierced and non pierced body jewelry has also grown in popularity. Teen girls are using it to make their fashion statement. The good news is that there’s a great selection available at an affordable price so mom and dad won’t go broke.

Friendship bracelets hit the streets about 10 years ago and they continue to grow in popularity being one of the hottest jewelry fads for teens. Friends exchange these friendship bracelets and wear them all the time. There style can be of the most basic twist or more elaborate with beads and sparkling faux gems.

Beaded jewelry is also very popular. Teens love the big and bold look of large beads and love to mix them up adding color and flare to their wardrobe. Estate jewelry is perfect for picking up a terrific mix of beaded jewelry for a very low price. And the girls love it because it is different and unique unlike the modern stuff found on the shelves. And because their favorite Celebs are choosing it, it becomes an option for them as well.

Another teen fad between friends is a necklace that’s similar worn by all members of the group. This identifies them as their own little clique. Their necklaces may have pendants or rings attached or just be plain.

Fashion rings are also very big with teens. Good news is you can buy estate jewelry rings and fashion rings for as little as $5.00. Your teenager will love them, wear them, break them, and forget about them and you’ll know they got their moneys worth.

The teen years are a time of growth and becoming independent so let your teen girls wings open and let her experiment with her fashion style. Remember you did it too many years ago. And remember to let your teenager know there are many options when it comes to jewelry. Estate jewelry is one of the most sought after jewelry by celebrities and if your teen is like most teens what the stars wear they want to wear.