Daily Blogs : Denise Peck

How to Clean and Polish Chain Jewelry!

Brenton — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:00:00 GMT

7 Great Tips to Maintain your Chain!

When I wrote Chain Style: 50 Contemporary Jewelry Designs, I couldn't wait to share the 50 fabulous necklace and bracelet designs. So many designs using all kinds of chain! Later on, as my favorite brass chain began to tarnish, I thought how great it would be to have a follow-up blog about how to clean your chain jewelry. So, here are a few tips I've learned about cleaning and caring for chain jewelry.

1. Daily Care
When you remove your jewelry, wipe off the chain with a lint-free polishing cloth that has no abrasives. If you have been wearing perfume, rinse the chain with water, pat it dry, then follow with the polishing cloth. This is great for day-to-day maintenance: cleaning off fingerprints, skin oils, scents, and surface dirt.

2. Storage
Yvonne Padilla of Rio Grande recommends that you place your jewelry in an air-tight, ziploc bag along with an anti-tarnish strip. These strips are fantastic–completely safe and non-toxic. They absorb moisture and neutralize tarnish-producing gases in the air. They will last up to 6 months or longer if placed in a sealed environment. They work for silver, brass, copper, nickel, bronze, tin, and gold. Copper is the villain when it comes to tarnishing, so any metal that contains copper will tarnish. Clean your chains thoroughly, then store them with anti-tarnish strips and they'll be ready to wear for months.

3. Weekly Maintenance
Use an ultrasonic cleaner and a cleaning solution that is PH-balanced and ammonia-free. This will eliminate surface dirt, oil, lotion, and perfume. If you are cleaning a rope chain or snake chain where dirt might get into the crevices, use a soft toothbrush to get into those hard to reach areas.

4. Let It Soak
Soak your chains in a PH-balanced, ammonia free jewelry solution for stubborn tarnish. If you have chain with stones, make sure that the cleaning solution you are using is gentle enough to use on the particular gemstones or pearls. Don't use the ultrasonic cleaner as the vibration may harm the stones.

Anti-tarnish strips, polishing pads, polishing cloths, and cleaning solution.		5. Tarnish Be Gone There are some wonderful polishing pads and cloths that are embedded with microabrasives that get rid of tarnish and dirt in a jiffy. Just rub the cloth over the piece and watch it polish to a clean, brilliant shine.

Top: Brass chain cleaned with vinegar and salt solution. Bottom: Tarnished chain.

6. Go Eco
To clean silver, try Jean Campbell’s At-Home Tarnish Busting Remedy. For stubborn spots, use plain toothpaste (no gels or whitening) and a soft toothbrush, then rinse and dry with a soft cloth. I learned this trick from Kate Richbourg of Beaducation: For brass and copper pieces, use hot vinegar mixed with a few tablespoons of salt; let soak, then rinse and dry.

7. When in Doubt
If your jewelry has become really tarnished or you have concerns about any of the gemstones used in your design, take your jewelry to a professional jeweler and ask them to clean your pieces for you. What are your favorite ways to clean chain?

Now that you know how to care for your silver chains, try checking out my new book Chain Style with 50 different stylish and affordable designs. While you’re waiting for your book to arrive, try this fun and fast chain necklace by one of the book’s featured designers, Step by Step Wire Jewelry editor Denise Peck.

NEW FREE PROJECT!
Glass Whimsy
Denise Peck

This vibrant necklace was created using hollow lampworked glass beads, disk beads, silver wire, and a beautiful silver chain. The piece is bold and dynamic, yet simple to make. It's a great project for beginners. Originally published in Creative Jewelry, 2009.

Share your jewelry cleaning tips here or in the Beading Daily forums!

Guide to Color Wire Jump Rings

Leslie — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 05:14:00 GMT

Dream it in color? Make it in color! Many jewelry artists search for the perfect way to use color wire in their work. My solution: colored jump rings! I’ve been working with anodized aluminum jump rings for almost two years now. I love the fact that I can put the burst of color in my chain maille, and even match it to the beads I use. Colored jump rings are becoming very popular, especially because they are a bit more affordable than sterling or gold-filled. But there are so many different kinds of rings out there... which ones should you choose? Here's a quick guide to 5 types of affordable and available color jump rings.

Anodized aluminum: These jump rings are super lightweight to work with, and are colored with an electrical current. Different colors are achieved based on the amount of electricity used. But since the electricity can make the aluminum porous, they also can be dyed and sealed to reinforce the color. And they’re inexpensive, another bonus.

Charlene Anderson made these striking blue earrings with anodized aluminum rings in the Palau Reef Set in the Fall 2009 issue of Step by Step Wire Jewelry. Photo: Jim Lawson

Anodized niobium: These rings are colored in the same way as aluminum, but the extra dyeing isn’t required. The quality of niobium is comparable to that of sterling silver, so they cost a little more than aluminum. Niobium is great to use in combination with sterling.

Shelley Hubbs made her Olivia bracelet with anodized niobium rings in the Fall 2009 issue of Step by Step Wire Jewelry. Photo: Jim Lawson

Anodized titanium: Colored in the same way as the first two, these rings are best known for their strength, and they are the heaviest out of this group. Titanium, like niobium, is hypo-allergenic, so it's great to use if you have allergies to base metals. Titanium rings are the most expensive of the colored jump rings.

Titanium Rings shown in a Byzantine chain maille pattern. Photo courtesy of www.metaldesignz.com.

Enameled copper: A durable plastic enameled coating is added to the copper wire before they’re coiled into rings. The colors are plentiful and the rings are inexpensive. Silvered enameled copper is made by plating the copper wire with a layer of pure silver before adding the enamel to give it a shinier appearance.

Enameled copper rings are mixed with stainless steel. Photo courtesy of www.metaldesignz.com.

Rubber: A fun and inexpensive type of jump ring, rubber rings make your piece more flexible. They’re made of soft, non-latex rubber, often silicone.

Susan C. Thomas creates wonderful pieces like this one using rubber rings. You can purchase this Rainbow Wristband project by Susan in the Interweave Store. Photo: Jim Lawson

TOOL TIP! No matter which kind of ring you choose, a well-used pair of pliers can easily scratch the color off of the ring. Dipping your pliers’ jaws into a coating like Tool Magic™ helps to alleviate the problem, but always use care when opening and closing any jump rings.

In the Fall 2009 Step by Step Wire Jewelry find even more expert tips on using colored jump rings, in a special featurette called “The Rainbow Connection.” Put your new-found knowledge to work making three colored chain maille projects yourself! Don’t be afraid to take that extra leap, and explore your options. Experimenting is half the fun…if you dream in color, do it in color!

You'll want to see every issue of Step by Step Wire Jewelry. We have an expert advice column by renowned wire artist Connie Fox, and reviews of the hottest products: from wire, to beads, to tools, to books and DVDs, and so much more. Best of all, you’ll find several projects on the hottest wire working techniques, from wrapping to chain maille, knitting and crocheting with wire, texturing, and embellishing wire jewelry with beads. There’s something for every skill level. Why not subscribe to Step by Step Wire Jewelry now?

FREE PROJECT for a limited time!
Download Sara's Foxy Roxy necklace and see for yourself how much fun it is to make jewelry with color jump rings!

Join Beading Daily's First Earring Swap

Michelle M. — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:42:00 GMT

Remember when you first got your ears pierced and you had to wear a simple post earring for a few weeks while they healed? Geez those weeks seemed interminable. That curious ritual of putting holes in your earlobes was surely a rite of passage. It was either a trip to the mall where some teenage sales clerk did it “professionally,” or a trip to the bathroom with a friend, an ice cube and a needle! I came late to the party, actually, as my mother forbade me to get my ears pierced. It wasn’t until I was off to college that I had my roommate freeze my earlobes with that melting ice cube and pierce those little holes for me! ...(read more)

How to Use Silver Wire and Findings on Any Budget

Michelle M. — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:26:00 GMT

It wasn’t all that long ago that I used nothing but sterling silver in all my jewelry. My ear wires, clasps, jump rings, chain, even crimps, all of it was sterling. Of course, that was back when gas was a dollar, our houses were worth more than we’d ever dreamed , and our 401Ks were making us feel like we were playing with the Big Boys. It was also when silver was going for about $4/ounce. In the past eight years, silver has climbed in price over 200%, from around $4.00/oz in 2001, to over $14.00/oz today. ...(read more)

How to Sell at Craft Shows During Tough Times

Michelle M. — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 08:30:00 GMT

If you do craft shows, you know show season is upon us and it’s time to dust off the canopy and prepare for the warm months ahead and a busy schedule. There are so many fun things about doing craft shows: getting outdoors, meeting new people, developing relationships with customers and other artists, and making money! Doing craft shows is also very hard work and there’s been lots written on how to assure success at shows. You’ve probably heard a lot of it. Make eye contact, don’t sit all day, encourage people to come into your booth. ...(read more)

The ABCs of Oxidizing Jewelry

Michelle M. — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 12:44:00 GMT

I don’t remember when I first became aware of sterling silver jewelry that was purposely NOT shiny. When I think of the hours I’ve spent over the years trying to shine up my sterling pieces! I bought every chemical, every cloth, every dip I saw that promised my jewelry would come out looking like new....(read more)

Learn a New Jewelry Technique Next Year (or Just Get Organized!)

Michelle M. — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 05:58:00 GMT

Last year I wrote about beading resolutions. One of my main goals was to try to use a bead loom. And I'm a little embarrassed to admit I didn't quite get around to it. (I did manage to do some loom weaving with yarn, go figure!) I'm not too upset--I learned a lot of new stuff that I didn't expect to learn like how to begin creating metal jewelry. ...(read more)

The 7 Best Tools for Working with Wire

Michelle M. — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 10:02:00 GMT

It wasn't too long ago that I knew nothing about making jewelry with wire. I started as a beader, for a long time, then dove headfirst into metalsmithing. But wire . . . that was a step I'd missed along the way....(read more)

Original Jewelry Designs: Is It New or Just New to You?

Michelle M. — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:19:00 GMT

When I was in my teens, platform shoes came into fashion. Remember Elton John on his tall elevator boots? My mother was quick to point out that she’d worn platform shoes all through the '30s and '40s. Of course, I was not in a position to recall the '30s or '40s. But when bell bottoms (or flared, as they’re called today) and hip huggers (or low rise, as they’re called today) came back into style in the '90s, you can bet I had a laugh about how we’d all worn those in the '70s. In fashion, if something is new to you, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s new. ...(read more)

5-Minute Hammered Wire Earrings

Michelle M. — Fri, 30 May 2008 00:16:00 GMT

Each month, one of the magazine editors will share a free project with Beading Daily. Today's guest editor is Denise Peck, editor in chief of Step by Step Wire Jewelry magazine and senior editor of Jewelry Artist. An editor by trade and a lifelong lover of jewelry, she was able to pursue both when she joined Lapidary Journal in 2004. Denise has a bench jeweler's certificate from Studio Jeweler's Ltd. Her first book with Interweave Press, Wire Style, is due out in August 2008. She's currently working on her second book..--Michelle Mach, Beading Daily editor.

5-Minute Jewelry

by Denise Peck, Step by Step Wire Jewelry

So you think you might want to broaden your jewelry-making skills or just switch gears for a bit and tackle a few wire techniques? I talk to lots of beaders at our shows who are intrigued at the thought of using more tools and venturing into the world of metal. The good news is that a lot of you already know some of the basics, like making a wire-wrapped loop on a head pin or finishing off an end cone with a piece of wire.

Here’s a little secret, though, for those of you who may not know this: you can make wire jewelry way faster than beaded jewelry!


	Bead crochet bracelet by Denise Peck

For so many of us who work with tiny little seed beads, we end up doing it for the love of it. Not because there’s a future in selling our handiwork. In fact, rarely does it seem as though we could make money on bead creations, as it takes so many hours of our time.
Not so with wire. You really can whip up a piece of jewelry in a matter of minutes. Additionally, wire is a very forgiving medium. If you make a wrong bend, you can usually just unbend it!


5 Minute Earrings by Denise Peck

It's so much fun to design a pair of earrings or a bracelet that you'll finish within the hour that I decided to challenge myself—how about jewelry in 5 minutes? No kidding. Just imagine how many pieces you could churn out for your next craft show. Now there's a way to support your bead habit!

Project: 5 Minute Earrings by Denise Peck
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Free eBook
Making Wire Jewelry: 6 Free Wire Designs from Beading Daily

Create 6 stunning wire jewelry projects (2 wire necklaces, a wire bracelet, 2 pairs of wire earrings, and a wire ring) with this free eBook that contains step by step wire jewelry instructions for each project. Jewelry designs range in difficulty from beginner to intermediate and use a variety of wire work techniques, including spirals, coiling, wirewrapping, hammering, and twisting wire. Download Making Wire Jewelry: 6 Free Wire Designs from Beading Daily

Free eBook
Making Jewelry with Beading Daily
How to Make Earrings: Five Free Jewelry Projects

This free earrings ebook, Making Jewelry with Beading Daily: How to Make Earrings: Five Free Jewelry Projects, includes five earring patterns that use a range of techniques (simple stringing, wirework, simple metalwork, seed bead netting and fringe) and a variety of materials (silver, copper, seed beads, crystals, pearls, gemstones). Both beginners and more experienced jewelry makers will find at least one beaded earring design that will inspire them to catch the handmade earring craze!

If you have a favorite quick design, I'd love to see them. (Send them to me at dpeck@interweave.com.) And if you have any questions or challenges while you're learning to work with wire, feel free to post your questions on the website.

How to Polish Plated Metal

Editor — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Recently, I received two similar questions from Beading Daily readers. One asked about polishing plated metal, while the other wondered about wire that kept its shine. I asked Denise Peck, editor of Step by Step Wire Jewelry, to answer them here so that we could all learn from her experience.--Michelle Mach, Beading Daily editor

It was pretty when you first bought it. Now what?

Q: I had a question regarding silver and gold plated metal. What is the best thing to use on it when they start to turn? I made a lots of earrings using plated metal when I first started beading. Now the ear wire is tarnished, so I won't wear them. What is safe to use to clean it?

Q: I have discovered that I LOVE wireworking. But I have been using silvertone or goldtone non-tarnish wire and while the color lasts, the shine does not. I am not so efficient yet that I feel I can use sterling wire all the time. Is there an alternative type of wire that won't lose its shine or color?

A: Both of these questions present reasons why I have chosen to work primarily with sterling wire.

It is common to find that base metals lose their shine over time. Some eventually may acquire a fairly pleasing patina, but that's long in coming, and certainly a different look from what you originally purchased.

You can buy copper and brass wire that is lacquered so the shine won't fade. Companies that sell colored craft wire such as Parawire and Artistic Wire have some natural colors such as coppery shades, and pewter and gold, and they're lacquered so they won't lose their shine.

As for polishing plated metals, it's usually impossible to determine how thick the plating is and therefore, it's not recommended that you use any polishing material or cloth with abrasives. Anything abrasive can rub off the layer of plating and ruin your piece.

A quick internet search found a reference to a soft polishing cloth without abrasives called Selvyt that contains no chemicals and no polishing compounds. It is reportedly a favorite in jewelry stores.

Thanks, Denise!

Share Your Original Wire Jewelry Designs

Are you ready to submit your original work for publication? Not sure? One way to test the waters is to submit your designs to magazines that have special pages for work by readers. Because these pages usually feature photos only (no project instructions), the submission process is usually simple.

Step by Step Wire Jewelry is looking for original wire designs by readers to feature in the "Wire Works" section of the magazine. If you have created a unique piece of wire jewelry, please send a high-quality photo of your best work to dpeck@interweave.com. (And please let me know if your design is selected for the magazine. I love hearing your good news!)

Congratulations, Robin Cowart!

Robin's project, the netted Snowflake Ornament was the most downloaded free project on Beading Daily in 2007. There are nearly 200 projects in the free project library, so that is quite an accomplishment! Be sure to check out the other popular projects and see what you may have missed!

Coming Next Week: Readers share stories of their first beading sale, along with helpful tips and suggestions for selling your work.

Free eBook
Making Wire Jewelry: 6 Free Wire Designs from Beading Daily

Michelle Mach is the editor of Beading Daily. She loves playing with wire and metal, just not polishing it!