The Craft Between

Cleaning Silver Jewelry

2010-09-23T09:02:00.000-06:00

(Note: I originally wrote this post for the Haute Mamas blog on gjsentinel.com in 7/08).
When I make jewelry for others, I tell them to store it carefully in a plastic bag to avoid tarnish that naturally occurs with sterling silver. I, on the other hand, throw most of my jewelry in a heap either next to the shower (okay, on the toilet lid) or on my dresser. Such a hypocrite, I know :) About once a month or when I notice my once bright sterling has become brown and gross, I decide it's time to clean.

For jewelry that's not too intricate, I use my silver polishing cloth to wipe the tarnish off--these things work great and you can find them at Kmart and Walmart. For more detailed pieces, especially my crochet wirework that I can't get a cloth into, I use plain old baking soda, hot water and aluminum foil. There's a bunch of science behind how the tarnish attaches to the foil, etc., but I won't bore you with all that. It just works. Of course I have to add that this method is at your own risk--if you're worried about damaging your great-great-grandmother's antique ring, maybe just to be safe you should go to a jeweler. I've heard you should be careful with pearls or fragile gemstones with this method, but I've used this technique for a long time and so far, so good. I haven't used it on pearls, but I have used it with soft gemstones, like fluorite. Another thing--if your jewelry has been antiqued/oxidized, this method will remove that, so just use a cloth in that case.

Here's how:
1. Put about 2 cups of water on to boil.
2. Find a pan, dish or bowl that's big enough to lay whatever you want cleaned flat on the bottom, and can hold up to boiling water. I don't clean more than a few items at a time.
3. Line the pan with aluminum foil making sure to cover all the sides. You want to create a foil liner.
4. Place your jewelry in the pan making sure it's completely flat and touching the foil.
5. Cover the jewelry with an adequate layer of baking soda. Make sure your pan isn't too shallow because when you add water to baking soda, it foams up quite a bit.
6. Slowly pour the boiling water over your jewelry. Swish your jewelry around a bit with some sort of utensil, then add some more hot water and keep foaming it until you either have no more room for water, or the foaming stops.
7. Carefully take your jewelry out of the hot water and rinse with water until no residue remains.
8. Gently towel dry your jewelry and enjoy!

Hopefully that works as well for you as it does for me. This technique is GREAT for sterling chains, though you might need to repeat it for really bad tarnish. This is a pretty common technique, so if you find yourself needing pictures or more info, just search for 'cleaning jewelry with baking soda' in Google--you'll get lots of results.

Did someone say beer?

2010-08-03T06:47:00.000-06:00

Eek, it's August! Why can't the winter months go by this fast? I've been having a wonderful summer--being crafty, reading lots of good suspense novels and enjoying my new day job. Oh, and drinking beer on the patio, of course. All kinds of patio going on. And although I did finally figure out how to open a bottle with a lighter this summer (long time coming, I tell you), I know at least 10 friends (including me, hint hint) who would love this...bottle opener ring! Such clever folks on Etsy :)

Photo courtesy of beerring on Etsy

I Heart Trailers

2010-06-10T09:31:00.000-06:00

I have a major fascination with trailers. Airstreams especially. I've never lived in one or owned one, but every time I see one, I want to make it mine. I dream of someday having my own little Airstream art studio parked out back. It might take me a few years (dang those things are expensive!) but I will make it happen. Apparently I'm not the only one infatuated with them--found some great trailer-themed art on Etsy. The first print has graced my wall for over a year now and is one of my dearest possessions...very talented guy:

Image courtesy of adamambro on Etsy

Image courtesy of futorowoman on Etsy

Image courtesy of CharmStar on Etsy

Image courtesy of silentgoddess on Etsy

Image courtesy of rpfeikgraphics on Etsy

Too much cuteness.

Present for Self

2010-05-18T17:31:00.002-06:00

So I figured it was time I spoiled myself a little and did some of my own Etsy shopping...look what's on its way from Liesl Made...yahoo!

It's actually kind of funny that I would choose an apron seeing as how I don't even cook now that I'm single, but it was just so awesome I couldn't pass it up. I'll be a cute housewifey person for myself, dammit.

Photo courtesy of Liesl Made on Etsy

Beginnings and Ending

2010-05-11T06:54:00.000-06:00

Wow, 2 months...really? In that time, I've turned 33, ended a relationship (but stayed friends), quit smoking, started smoking again (currently trying to quit again), up for a promotion at the day job, and moved. So yeah, 2 months...really.

The dust has settled a bit. I have my own garden beginning to grow (consequently from the same tomato babies the ex started in previous pics).

I don't have his green thumb, so we'll have to see how that goes :) Luckily I have a hard time killing flowers, so the cosmos and moss rose have rooted and they're here to stay.

Thank you, Spring, for finally arriving. Thank you, friends and family, for your wonderful support...there has been much sadness lately, but things are growing. Time for the fun of beginnings.

Spring is coming (eventually)

2010-03-10T18:53:00.002-07:00

Tomato babies are ready for the earth...last year this variety gave us lots of fruit and fantastic flavor. It's a good thing you can't turn red from eating too many tomatoes, cause I would. So glad the man-boy has a green thumb; these never would have thrived under my care :)

Passion and Purpose

2010-02-24T19:42:00.011-07:00

Photo credit Gregory Bastien

Last Friday I attended a day-long "Conference for Women" workshop that mainly dealt with assertiveness and self-esteem training for women, but there was one topic that really held my attention: the one about passion and purpose. I've struggled with this concept all my life; last year when I was asked by (then) Scoutie Girl blogger/creator Jan to write a post about passion, it was really the first time I was able to put it into words. Here's what I said then:

"Passion is the biggest gift of my life. I spent years trying to find that ‘IT’ thing–the thing that people around me seemed to have that made them get-up the morning, lose themselves in, and could talk about for hours. I tried crochet, woodworking, graphic design, ceramics–nothing stuck. I had this artist stuck inside of me without an outlet to create. Very frustrating.

And just as I was about to give up and resign myself to a boring 8-5 life with no pizzazz–passion found me. As soon as I stopped looking for it, there it was, disguised as a pair of cheap pliers and a roll of 20 gauge craft wire I picked up on a whim. In those first few weeks experimenting with my new hobby, the fog just suddenly lifted. I had so many jewelry design ideas, I couldn’t sketch them out fast enough. I knew in that moment that what I was feeling was passion.

That elusive, enviable, abstract thing, was finally within me. It sounds very dramatic, but passion hit me on the head and brought me to life and continues to be such a surprising force.

Passion gives me purpose and unbelievable energy. Passion has brought me a sense of self-reliance I didn’t have before, a sense of ownership and confidence that I can take anywhere I go. It gives me the strength to work a full-time day job on top of building a business, and gets me through any bad day.

Handcrafted and passion are inseparable. The spirit of independence and creation is alive in every product an artist makes, every detail.

Whether it’s bags, clothing, jewelry, drawings, photographs, textiles–that essence of passion is ingrained within and comes straight from the artist to you. That’s such a big part of it; feeling the passion is one thing, but creating something and sharing it with the world and the people who appreciate it completes the circle."

Is all that still true? Big Yes. The only difference is my 'day job' is much more satisfying now that I've changed departments--which only serves to help me be more creative off hours. Bottom line: life is too short to not be living your passion. Go find it....ASAP.

Dear Sun: I miss you

2010-02-07T10:07:00.000-07:00

The sun hasn't been coming around too much lately. Might have to go to the tanning salon for some UV's. Yeah--no. My boyfriend, however, is using the downtime to make some gorgeous succulent and cacti arrangements. He can't garden outside yet, so he's turned our house into a desert oasis...which is quite lovely. His latest:

Be Your Own Valentine Sale!

2010-01-31T09:29:00.004-07:00

Hoping to get some handcrafted silver jewelry this 'love' season? I say take measures into your own hands and 'Be your Own Valentine!' I'm offering a 20% discount on your ENTIRE order from my shop full of eco-friendly, modern goodies through February 7th...hello Cupid!

Here's how:

Visit my Etsy shop and find something you can't live without. (Sign up for an Etsy account if you don't alrealdy have one.)
Send me a convo on Etsy or an email to: carianntaylor [at] gmail.com letting me know the name of the item(s) you want, and the word 'spring'.
I will then create a custom listing just for you with the adjusted price so you can finalize your purchase.
Sit back and revel in the satisfaction that comes with taking responsibility for your own happiness.

That's it! This sale expires at midnight, February 7th, so get goin'...and thank you for supporting handcrafted! (note--international $3 shipping charge not included in discount).

Day In the Life

2010-01-28T20:58:00.002-07:00

Inspired by the Library Day In the Life project I saw posted on Twitter the other day, I decided to share my own version of daily library work. I had already documented a partial day a few months ago after reading Reference Librarianship—Notes from the trenches (by Charles R. Anderson, MLS and Peter Sprenkle, MLS, New York: Haworth Information Press, 2006), curious about what my day would look like on paper if I wrote down every single thing that happened. Plus, I wanted to prove to my boyfriend why I was so exhausted when I got home.

Instead of an entire day, I just wrote down what happened during a standard 2-hour shift at the Information Desk (capitalized due to its God-like importance).

Photo courtesy of ShipLibrary

Scene: 9am to 11am, Info Desk at a library somewhere in western Colorado...

-Send file of Mac tips to patron I've been helping with individual computer sessions.

-Clean up Delicious bookmarks for upcoming staff training project.

-Power of Attorney form for man whose wife has Alzheimer’s.

-Craft books? Let me show you.

-Book about dirt bikes for my son? Sure, over here.

-Copy of The Shack? 2 listed on shelf—both missing till I found one in Large Print where it shouldn’t have been.

-'For sale by owner' legal form? Printed off and showed him how to access form database from home. Also wanted some learn Spanish cd's and showed him our free online language resources.

-'Sale of house checklist' legal form?

-Bathroom? Right behind you.
-Looked up a few web design tutorials for myself.

-3 books on hold for patron.

-Weird guy calling me by my name and telling me my hair looks good down--wish I didn't have to wear a name tag. Thankful we have a security guard.

-1 book on hold for patron.
-Answer a few work emails.

-Call from the 'speller' guy (calls at least 4 times a week): "how do you spell 'thorough'?"

-Good place in town to eat close by, deli? I recommended 6^th and Main.

-Does a mechanic’s lien expire? After some frustration, found it in the form instruction at Gale forms.

-3 new library cards.

-"Can't find Walden". I avoid a Waldo joke and then crap! I have a complete and total brain freeze and can't remember how to spell Thoreau and have to 'ask Google'...feel like an ass, but I found it.

-“Do you have the book of the true story of the Blair Witch?” Um….I hate to tell you this…graphic novel, however, in Telluride...ordered.

-Copier? Yes.

-Fax? No. Copy Copy at 4^th and North.

-"Why do you guys have to keep moving everything in here?" Just to piss you off, lady.

-Staff question—will this mp3 audio book play on my computer at home? Pretty sure.

-Staff question—how do I remove the extra spaces between paragraphs in Word? Like this...

-3 books on hold for patron.

-Patron complaint about not having paper towels to open door of bathroom with—he had to use his shirt. “the Branch Manager in Kansas city always implemented my requests”. Pff.

-2 Interlibrary Loan requests.

-Nicholas Sparks? Yep.

-Consumer Reports? Yep.

-book about music notation? Yes…um...no. Missing.

-Audio CD’s? No, but here’s how to search for them from another library…’cool’!

-“Can’t find book.” Found it in sorting area waiting to be shelved.

I'm not being sarcastic when I say I love my job; I never get bored, and that's worth a bunch to me. Have you ever documented your own 'day in the life'?

Onward and Upward

2010-01-25T21:08:00.014-07:00

My creativity tends to come in bursts, which can be a bit frustrating at times. Back when I wrote a lot of poetry, I would go for months without a new idea, and then - boom - 4 poems would come rambling out like I was some kind of possessed entity. Freakish, really. And they weren't even bad. The ones I tried to force were awful, though. And as soon as the explosion of inspiration came...poof. Gone again.

When I was in college having to write a chapbook of poems for my thesis this was beyond difficult. Being creative on demand has never been either productive or satisfying for me. It's no surprise that my jewelry would be the same way; I start to get discouraged for not having any new designs for a month or two, and then, whaddya know, something flashes and out come a bunch. I really should know that this is the way I am by now.

This last weekend I came up with the first new designs in quite some time--too long, really--I listed them today. Sometimes the most fun is in the naming :) Introducing: "Luxe", "Shift",and "Single Skinny"...

Take It Easy

2010-01-22T06:50:00.000-07:00

My kitten Friday is an expert at the art of relaxing...try to get some this weekend. Cheers.

I'm a Winner

2010-01-21T09:38:00.000-07:00

The other day on a whim I entered a contest to win a year's worth of marketing advice over at Noisette Marketing. When I got the email that I won, I was pretty shocked; I've been entering contests and playing scratch tickets a lot more lately after reading a particularly positive January horoscope. Seems Jupiter is finally ready to stop kicking my ass. Perhaps there really is something to this astrology hoo-ha.

Or maybe I'm just lucky. Either way, I'm stoked to get started and hope that it helps the biz. I haven't had too much motivation lately--could be the cold weather, could be that I've been really busy at the library 'day job'. I'm in a bit of funk creatively and I need a good swift kick.

She's already asking me some pretty tough questions like: "What are your goals for your business?" Um. Uh. Der...why is that such a hard question? When I first started making jewelry, I had no idea I would love it so much. I knew I had discovered a talent I didn't know I had; I knew that it was something I could see myself doing the rest of my life...but beyond that, I guess I just never thought about the 'goal' side of things. I have a feeling 2010 is going to be fantastic.

New Year, New Goals, New Blog!

2010-01-15T06:27:00.000-07:00

Okay, it's only the 15th, so I figure I'm not dreadfully far behind..still time to catch up and stick to my resolution of blogging this year.

Have a day off from the ol' library day job today and it's FINALLY in the 30's outside. Been dealing with ridiculous amounts of snow and cold around here.

Granted, it's been over a month since THAT happened, so now it's just a ton of ice and crap all over the roads that refused to melt since our highs have been in the 20's. Ugh. Dreaming of the garden we had last year and the one we'll have again this year.

Ahh. Much better. Been hearing lots more birds than usual so maybe we'll have an early spring. Until then, it's hunker down and try to get some new jewelry designs and other biz matters under control. At least my taxes are done--whew!