How do I care for my jewelry?

My designs are sturdy and durable. With the proper care they will last for YEARS of enjoyment and you should feel confident in passing down these heirlooms of beauty. Sterling silver will tarnish. To keep it shiney and bright, carefully polish it with a jewelers cloth. When you are not wearing your jewelry, keep it in an airtight ziplock baggie. That will delay the tarnishing. You should keep copper and brass polished as well. Avoid harsh detergents and chlorine while wearing your jewels, as well as activities which cause excessive perspiration which will cause your silver to tarnish even faster. Even the heaviest, annealed lampwork beads can break if dropped on a hard surface. Be careful!

You keep mentioning "hand-blown lampwork", What are Lampwork Beads?

Lampwork Beads are handmade glass beads. These special beads are crafted using a centuries-old process called lampworking. Rods of colorful glass are melted in a special torch and the molten glass is then wound around a steel rod, forming a basic bead. The hot bead can then be embellished using a variety of techniques and materials, creating unique and one-of-a-kind beads. The term "lampwork" refers to the source used to heat the glass. In the old days oil lamps were used as the heat source, thus the term "Lampwork". *ANNEALED: To prevent stress and cracks, beads are cooled in a kiln, where temperatures can be closely regulated. The beadmaker "soaks" the beads at a high temperature to make sure that all glass within them is evenly heated, then takes several hours to slowly reduce the heat to bring beads to room temperature. The process is called kiln annealing. Annealing makes the beads strong and durable.

What do you use to string your jewelry?

I use 49-strand, nylon coated medium to heavy beading wire. The number of strands refers to the number of stainless steal wires twisted together to form one beading wire. 49-strand is the strongest available.

Your Jewelry Is So Shiney, What is "Tumbling"?

Tumbling is a process where the jewelry is placed in a rubber barrel, along with stainless steal shot (tiny, geometric shaped stainless steel beads (yes, like your kitchen sink is made of) and deburring solution. The barrel is turned for many hours. This process cleans, polishes, removes any burrs and hardens the metal. The process leaves you with a gorgeous piece which will last for years of enjoyment.