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Tuesday, June 23, 2009
How to turn your grey silver back into pure white
Ever since I started making jewelry I've been fascinated with metals in general and silver in particular, a friend of mine that checked my Chinese astrological map told me its no wonder, this is exactly the material I lack....
But back to our topic, of all metals I LOVE silver the most, I LOVE hammering silver and love crocheting pure silver, but I've always been a little concerned about the fact that it tarnishes.
I didn't like to see my pretty white designs turn grey and hated to think it would happened to my clients too, and maybe they wont like it either, I know some people like it but some don't, tarnishes do give silver some depth and ages it but takes away the brightness and pureness.
Working with 14k gold filled gave me some relief, I tested it for months and learned that it is very reliable and doesn't tarnish at all.
The only slight little problem was it wasn't white...... and for white lovers yellow just wont do.
Occasionally I tried experimenting with baking soda, salt, warm water, cold watter, boiling water, n o t h i n g, tarnishes are tarnishes are tarnishes.
Yesterday while checking my inventory and going through some of my items that turned grey, I though I may tackle the problem from a new angle, start a new line of my designs in oxidized silver.
To this purpose and since I don't have formal metal smithing education, I started searching the net for information.
Rather quickly I found a forum where this topic was discussed along side with my well familiar opposite question, how to take away the greyness and make my silver designs back white....
I read all sort of suggestions and decided its time to experiment again, went to have lunch with the kids at home and in between preparations I DID IT !!!! and it worked !!!!
and this is what I did:
- I took a flat plastic dish
- lined it with aluminum foil
- poured in regular salt and some backing soda (never measure, don't know quantities)
- located the earring I wanted to clean on the bottom (touching the aluminum)
- poured boiling water
- let it lay there for a minute or so
- took it out and rinsed it under cold water.
- dried it.
I experimented with only one earring so I will be able to check the differences, but there was no need, it was so shiny white when I took it out that there was NO DOUBT.
I was so thrilled that I immediately tried it on other silver items that I had.
It worked faster on the knitted parts then on silver surfaces (solid rings for example), and the solid surfaces also needed some gentle wiping, but really gentle not scrubbing.
So this is it for now, I'm sorry I was so quick and did not take before and after photos, you will just have to believe me.
My other experiment, the silver oxidizing is still not finished but when it is and if it is successful as this one I promise to share it too.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Tween pod hoops, Too crazy ?
Labels:
yoola pod hoops blue green
Monday, June 8, 2009
No title
I'm not in a writing mood today, so just enjoy the photos of a bracelet I made for a good friend of mine for her birthday.
Labels:
photos
Monday, June 1, 2009
1st etsy anniversary celebrations
As you can understand I'm celebrating my 1st and incredible etsy anniversary, to this occasion special offers are published on my shop and even more special offers were sent to returning customers that joined my clients list....
SO come and celebrate with me :)
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Black is Black
A treasury I curated made it to etsy Front page his morning, great timing for Us west coast clients, heard it even brought some of the shops great business...
1.Summer Rasta by lilyja
2.Blue Steel Dog Hat by Beantown
3.Blessesd to be a Women apron by ellaklara
4.Piano Keys in Charcoal by TimelessPaper
5.Black magma pebble belt by dafnadagan
6.delicate but strong by knitalatte
7.PLEATED TUBE DRESS in jersey knit by Lirola
8.Ceramic Astronauts on Nose Cone Salt and Pepper Shakers by modernfx
9.Dancing in a White Bell Skirt by Terminy
10.Black Onyx earrings by Anakim
11.Flying High by teaforbini
12.Innamorati by gufobardo
Labels:
ETSY fp BALCK
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
YooLa's first art fair
Here are some photos for everyone that couldn't make it,
A big thank you to those of you that did make it, it was great meeting you.
It was a very successful event and very good experience for me both as a person and as a designer, I could really feel the reactions to my designs, I was blushing the whole day long.
I was really surprised how many "non sellers" knew my shop from etsy and how many people read our forum on TAPUZ.
The preparation as well as the day itself were really exhausting but I can say now it was worth it.
Monday, May 18, 2009
NEW pattern shop on Ravelry
Hooray !!!!
My new patterns shop on Ravelry is now open, there are some cool things about this shop :
A. the buyer downloads him/herself the pattern
B. It can be downloaded more then once
C. I can add "buy this" buttons on my blog (not sure how to do this yet, so be patient with me).
C. Here we come to the best part, whenever I update the pattern or write a variation for example I can let all my buyers of this specific pattern know about it and they can download it if they want to.
Isn't that fab?
All I have to do now is see how to draw some traffic there ..... :)
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