The importance of clean!

So today's post is a little bit more of a practical post!

I realised earlier that it had been a week or so since I cleaned my earring studs and piercings. I am always in the water due to my other job as swimming teacher but constant contact with water definitely not substitute cleaning the specific area! How often do you clean your earrings, or any of your jewellery for that matter?

I often put my Silver bangles, rings and necklaces in my ultrasonic cleaner and barrel polisher to revive the shine and this means I clean them after with soap and water but I often forget my earrings.

If you want to have someone else clean your precious metal jewellery you can always take it to a jeweller but make sure that you clean the gunk off those earrings first!

If you want to clean your items yourself, you can buy all sorts of specific Gold and Silver solutions and cloths.  Just be careful and do your research before cleaning items with gem stones as different stones react differently to cleaning methods.  Some are soft stones and will not survive a chemical dunking!  

For example: If your silver earrings have settings with jewels glued to them, do not use the chemical cleaning method. Instead use a small amount of luke warm soap and water, dry the piece immediately and finish with a soft cloth to shine the earrings up.

Pearl jewelry should never be cleaned with harsh chemicals. A solution of mild soap and warm water should be enough to keep them clean. Allow the pearls to air dry before putting them away.

Never wash your earrings over a sink. Using a bowl to clean your earrings will prevent them from getting lost down the drain.

Remember that the metal will corrode if never cleaned!

If you want to clean base metal jewellery - like the stuff you buy on the high street, make sure you aren't too heavy handed with it.  Most of the metals are coated and this coating dissolves easily.  It also rusts easily so try not to submerge it for too long.  Instead, take a soft tooth brush, put the tooth brush in the warm soapy water and scrub away.  When you've finished dry the piece as quickly as possible.

I hope this helps and you will take the time to clean your favorite pieces as this way they will last longer!

One last note to finish on...I didn't just stop with cleaning my jewellery, I also cleaned my make-up brushes...I was horrified to see the amount of make-up and god knows what else came out of them! Remember you use these tools on your face...

Elementary My Dear Watson!

What one man can invent, another can discover said Holmes.

I obviously didn't invent Sherlock Holmes.  Arthur Conan Doyle did.

But like he said, "another can discover" and that's what I intend to keep on doing with my jewellery designs!

So in respect of that one of my latest designs is the man himself.  And while Conan Doyle is a fairly recognisable figure himself, Sherlock Holmes is even more so!  And who doesn't love Sherlock Holmes.  

He has had a bit of a revival in the last few years with Guy Richies films, the BBC mini series, the recent American series (Elementary), the new Sherlock Holmes novel and I'm sure a few others...

I've been toying with the idea of cameos for a while to add a little "vintage" to my collection.  The only thing that was holding me back was inspiration for this cameo.

Cameos have been around since the 3rd century BC...but I won't bore you with a history lesson.  I love them!

So I brought together a figure who I love and an icon of art and design that I admire.  

So here is my ode to the cameo!  It is only my first, and won't be my last. 

It's like Marmite!

Valentine's is officially the Marmite "holiday" of the year.  You either love it! Or you hate it!  Most of the time this depends on your relationship status...
I would like to say I'm a bit blazé about it as I'm in a relationship but who can't say they don't hope for a card and/or a bunch of flowers at the very least.
Of course the traditional Silver Hearts are still available and are always very popular!

But for this years "valentine's" designs I decided to take a slightly different approach.  I took some time to think about what symbols represent these feelings.  What represents that gesture of sharing your life with someone.  For me this symbol was a simple know.  A figure of 8.  This knot serves as a stopper knot.  It stops things coming unraveled.  This knot is also the symbol of infinity.  
The reef knot or square know is an ancient and simple binding knot used to secure a rope or line around an object.  Although the reed knot is often seen used for tying two ropes together.  The more pressure this knot if put under, the stronger it becomes.
And finally, the overhand knot which is one of the most fundamental knots and forms the basis of many others.  The overhand knot is very secure, to the point of jamming.  It should be used if the knot is intended to be permanent. It is often used to prevent the end of a rope from unraveling.

These three knots are three of the most simple knots of the sailing world but are three of the most fundamental.  This is why I chose these knots to form that basis of the "Forget-Me-Knot" designs.

Valentine's Day should no longer be about generic hearts and teddy bears.  Go for something different this year...something a little more fundamental!

I hope you like them!