Anti Tarnish Jewelry Storage PouchesMy SonMy Jewelry

Stamping Out Something New

Written by Marie Dyson | 12 March 2009

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One of my goals this year for my business was to try new things to encourage my jewelry to become more unique. This month I purchased some fun new stamps for metal and a few new tools and started creating stamped earrings and charms for my bracelets. My favorite is my bird and heart stamp!

I start with a blank piece of metal, usually a circle disk in copper (although my sterling silver pieces just arrived so expect to see those soon!), place my metal on my nifty stamping pad and hammer away my little designs! I follow this with a hole punch at the top center.

In order to make a stamped design stick out from the metal you need to oxidize the metal. I do this with liver of sulfur, a nice smelly solution that works wonders! This process takes a few minutes and turns my copper almost completely black! This is when I spend time polishing my copper with some steel wool and then toss in my tumble for some cleaning!

A fairly lengthy process, but worth the results in the end! I am still thinking up other ways to use my new stamps! I also have an alphabet stamp set that I can use for personalized jewelry! One thing with jewelry is there is always a new technique you can learn!

Where to purchase: Click here to purchase these earrings in my store!

Anti-Tarnish Jewelry Pouches

Written by Marie Dyson | 08 March 2009

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I am often asked what is an anti-tarnish jewelry pouch? How does it work? Do you actually make them? So to answer all of those questions, first YES I hand make each one.  Some time ago I was browsing the fabric section of the local craft store and collecting bolts of fabric, of which I didn't know what I was going to do with it, but needed it because it was 'pretty', when I ran across some fabric called 'silver cloth'. Inside of the bolt of silver cloth was a piece of paper explaining that the fabric was to protect silver items from tarnish.

I make a great deal of my jewelry with sterling silver findings and thought wow I am sure I can do something with this neat fabric! But what? At first I tried pull string pouches, those were OK but always left room for jewelry to fall out of the top. Then I thought a zippered pouch would be perfect. But how do I make one? My sewing skills are novice at best, I can barely sew a button on something let alone a zipper!

Do not wash these in the washing machine, or get them very damp.

I found several tutorials on the internet on how to make zippered pouches, after trying several and coming up with my own method I had a finished pouch that was strong and secure! I have now made over 75 pouches!

The inside of each pouch is lined with the anti-tarnish silver fabric (either in brown or green, whichever matches best or what I have in stock.). I make the pouches in two sizes 4" x 4" and 7" x 5". I found it was easier to just stick to two sizes that work the best instead of trying to offer more.

What to use a pouch for:

  • Storing Jewelry in your jewelry box.
  • Store a small pouch in your gym bag to protect your jewelry at the gym
  • Give them away as gifts with or without jewelry, almost everyone owns something silver!

How is silver cloth made? I don't know the details but from what I have read from the manufacture this particular brand of fabric is chemically treated to create the correct properties needed to make it anti-tarnish.

How long does it last? Your anti-tarnish pouch should work for years, while it can not prevent tarnish 100% it will slow it down considerably. In addition it does help keep gold jewelry cleaner and copper jewelry from tarnish as well. However, with copper the effects are not as great as with silver.

Keep your pouched zipped closed when not in use, this will help it last longer.

Do not wash the pouches, this will destroy the anti-tarnish properties. If the outside fabric is dirty use a lightly damp cloth to wipe clean.

I love finding beautiful fabric, I am glad I now have a great use for it that compliments my jewelry making!

Where to purchase: Click here to purchase these pouches in my store!

A Beautiful Day

Written by Marie Dyson | 05 March 2009

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Today was one of those days you wish you could be outside all day! Here in Arizona we cherish 68 degree weather, especially when the last few days have been pretty toasty! Several walks around the block, a few stops to smell the blossoms on the orange trees and lastly a long stop to play in the back yard of course!

My husband and dad finished building a huge swing set in our backyard last weekend and now my son is ready to be pushed in the swing 24/7 when allowed! Of course the slide and club house are great as well, but nothing beats the swings!

A few photos from the backyard today...

Homegrown Gems gets a re-design...

Written by Marie Dyson | 04 March 2009

touchupsSome of you may be wondering what happen to the website! I am using the Computer G33k in me to redesign the entire website and add a much needed shopping cart! The major design work is complete, however adding all of my 400+ pieces of jewelry will take some time!

In the mean time you can still buy all of my jewelry from my Etsy shop located here: http://BroadwayBeads.etsy.com