A Few Tips on Buying Handmade Jewelry

Once a month, members of the EtsyMetal team are given a topic or question and then requested to blog about it simultaneously. This month's topic is:

A Few Tips on Buying Handmade Jewelry

Share a few of your personal tips when it comes to the purchase of handmade jewelry.

WOW! I could go into a lot more detail on some of these points...
So I think I will make a quick list now and then elaborate in a series of future blog posts.

• Uniqueness of design. It should speak to you. It is different than anything your peers have and that is a good thing!
• Listen to the artist's story. Most artists have a story to tell---about their inspiration, technique or materials. The story continues when you purchase the piece---you become part of the story!
• Look for quality craftsmanship. Handmade doesn't (and shouldn't) mean poorly made! (This is a pet peeve of mine. I will definitely elaborate on this in a future post!)
• Ask and understand about the materials. For example: There are differences between fine silver, sterling silver, silver-filled, silver plated, bi-metal, nickel silver, etc.
• Know your Budget. You will more than likely pay more for a handmade item than a mass produced item. Are you looking for everyday earrings or a large statement piece that you will only wear a few times a year?
• Care Instructions. Handmade does not mean indestructible. Love your jewelry and ask if there are any special care instructions to help it last for generations.
• Exchange Contact Info. The artist will more than likely want your address and/or email for their customer mail list. (You will receive notices when the artist is in a show in your area, if he/she is having a special sale, etc). And you may want to hold onto their business card in case you want to add to your collection or if you loose an earring and need a replacement made.

You can read more "Buying Handmade Tips" from other EtsyMetal members. Follow the links to their blogs throughout the day:

Rebecca Bogan

Beth Cyr

2Roses

Inbar Bareket

Cynthia Del Giudice

Nodeform

Palladium is HOT!

Last week I made a palladium wedding band and decided to take a few photos while I was soldering so I could share the process with you....

Palladium solder beads are placed in the joints.

Beginning to heat up the joints...

Metal is up to correct temperature and solder flows! Approximately 2300° F

That is HOT metal!

Palladium requires very high temperatures and the metal glows brilliant orange. As a result you must wear rated No. 5 or darker welding lenses for eye protection. (Making jewelry is not as glamorous as wearing it!)

All polished and pretty! Fin.

♥♥♥Congratulations to Jocelyn and Curtis!♥♥♥

These Shadow Boxes are like Magic!

I was recently invited to participate in an art exhibition that was, ironically and unfortunately, not prepared to display jewelry. Normally I would shy (or run) away from organizations not able to properly display/secure jewelry. However, this exhibition pulled on my heart strings. It is the first exhibition for the past scholarship recipients of the Allied Artists of Johnstown---a scholarship I was awarded 20 years ago!

Feeling nostalgic, my mission began...find a way to display my jewelry that is secure and easy to ship. That is when I remembered an article I read in the Jeweler Resource Bureau about mounting jewelry in floating shadow boxes. These shadow boxes are two part frames which open at the center, allowing you to place almost any jewelry item inside. A clear, flexible plastic sheeting accommodates the jewelry and holds it firmly in place---virtually suspending it. A strong magnetic strip holds the two sides of the frame/box securely closed.

"Effervescence Wave Brooch" suspended in shadow box display

My next mission...find a way to secure this shadow box onto a pedestal and prevent it from being opened. That is when I turned to my husband, Ben Gilliam---metal artist, teacher and brilliant gig maker.
He designed and made me this wooden stand to hold the shadow box. It gets screwed to the top of the pedestal then the frame slides into the groove. He inserted a female thread into the bottom of the shadow box frame, and a screw then secures the frame in the wood base. Simple and brilliant, no?! Thanks, Ben!
These shadow boxes are available in bulk from Prestige Pak Inc. or in smaller quantities from Rio Grande.