How should I store my sterling jewelry?

If you want to prevent tarnish when storing your jewelry, there are multiple ways to accomplish that. The method that I use, that is very cheap and easy, is to put the jewelry in a small plastic baggie and insert an anti-tarnish strip (about 1/2" x 1/2" square). The strip will strip away chemicals that tarnish sterling silver!

What happens if you don't use the strip? Well, plastic baggies can actually make your sterling tarnish faster than leaving it out in your jewelry box. Note that it's those warm, humid environments that really tarnish your jewelry quickly! Keep it in the bathroom? I think not...

Where can one buy these strips? Here are two sources:

Fire Mountain Gems (shown above)
Rio Grande

Do the anit-tarnish strips require maintenance? Yes. You will have to replace them about once every 6 to 9 months, depending on the brand. Is it worth it? I think so!

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What is Argentium Silver?

Argentium is a relatively new sterling silver Alloy, patented by a company in the UK.

1. Is Argentium still sterling silver? YES! The ratio of silver is still the legally required 0.925 (or 92.5% silver).

2. So what's different? What makes up that last 7.5% of the metal! Standard sterling silver uses a mix of copper and other metals. Argentium, on the other hand, uses Germanium. This means quite a few things for us, creating and wearing the jewelry:

    - Very TARNISH RESISTANT!
    - Easier to maneuver.
    - Slightly lower melting point for soldering.
    - Other benefits as well! Check here for more info.

3. If it is so great, does it cost more? Well, depends on where you search. I've found a few places that have very similar, if not the same, prices for standard sterling and Argentium. Just poke around.

4. Should I buy Argetium for ALL my wire needs? No. The primary reason is because it does not tarnish! That means ANTIQUING the wire is out of the question. Also, it is difficult to find HALF HARD Argentium (stiffer wire) and to find a variety of sizes (or gauges) of wire.

5. Have you found other benefits? YES! When I hammer, there is less clean-up afterwards. With standard sterling, I had to use a Moonshine cloth after hammering and scrub for a bit. Now, I just take the cloth lightly over the surface, and for most hammering, this is perfect! For more intense hammering, I still need to scrub a bit. In general this reduces my creation time, making me able to CREATE MORE JEWELRY.

All in all, this is a great wire. I'm excited to use it more in my jewelry line! Have you used it? Let me know what YOUR experience was like.

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I can bend metal!

Want to learn how to wrap a neat wire link?  Check out this video that shows you how to make a scroll:

I like to use a nylon jaw pliers instead of the flat-nose pliers because you will leave no marks on the wire.  Also, I like to leave some space between the wire as you bend it for dramatic effect, but that does take a bit of practice.

Now the challenge! Start by figuring out how to make this one:

Then, but only if you're gutsy, try this one:

Can’t figure it out? Send me a message and I’ll help you out! Hehe. We all have to suffer just a little bit for great art! Plus, I felt great when I figured that last one out on my own. :)

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Hammering Wire Smooth

These are perhaps my favorite earrings that I've made so far.  My husband thought they were really cool too, which I considered a great feat!  :)

I've bent the wires with a round-nose pliers then hammered them with my trusty picture-hanging hammer.  This gives the metal a sort of rough look, which I appreciate.  I've since learned how to make the silver bright & sparkly - even after hammering.  This requires a perfectly smooth ball-pein hammer, which I purchased at our local bead shop for $8.50.  One artist suggested:

1.  Hammer with the ball side first.
2.  Flip the hammer over and use the flat side to finish off the job.

I tried it, and I approve.  More discovery ahead...

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