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Shades of Pearl ~ wire jewelry creations by Darla
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Welcome to my website. I am thrilled that you have decided to visit. I have handcrafted each piece with the finest Czech and Swarovski crystals and glass beads, semi-precious tumbled stones, and copper wire. I do not use soldering or welding of any kind in my jewelry. Please, feel free to visit my photo album.
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A bit of History on copper...Reddish gold in color, this wonderfully versatile metal was the first metal used by man for tools, implements, weapons and artwork. Copper use predates recorded history, and though it was later replaced by bronze and iron for weapons and tools, its popularity and usefulness has not waned in thousands of years. Copper is malleable and easily worked by chasing, hammering, engraving and even cold-rolling. (ROLLING: In metallurgy, this is the most-used method of taking metal from a cast ingot to a sheet or bar, with sheet metal being the most common product. Rolling is done by using either the hot or cold method. The metal produced by the cold-rolled process will have a much smoother surface and be stronger.) Copper is very malleable, but not suited for casting in its pure form, although alloys containing a high percentage of copper may be. Besides it's beautiful glowing appearance, copper is said to have healing properties for rheumatic or arthritic conditions.
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For those of you concerned with the "green ring" effect that you have heard about copper, let me explain why this happens to some people. Copper is a natural metal that our body uses. We have copper in our bodies and it breaks down the copper and absorbs it. Hence, if you are wearing a copper ring and your body chemistry breaks down the copper faster than your body absorbs it, you will get a green hue under the ring. This does not devalue the copper. Even 14 Karat gold will leave a "green ring" on some who do not absorb metals as fast as most. I wear my copper jewelry all the time, day and night, and never get this reaction. Therefore, I must absorb as fast as I chemically break down the metal. This does not mean you will break down the metals so much as to disolve the copper jewelry completely. Only a minute amount will actually be broken down over years and years. We get most of the copper we need from the foods we eat and vitamins we take.
Wire jewelry was very popular when our grandmothers were young ladies. The art of handcrafted wire jewelry has been reborn in this generation and is in demand. You will get years of enjoyment from my pieces, and if taken care of properly, like any other fine piece of jewelry, could become a family heirloom.
To care for your copper jewelry, I suggest removing it whenever you are doing house or yard work or using any harsh cleaners. To clean your copper jewelry, put 2 tablespoons of vinegar and 1/2 cup of warm water in a small container. Stir in about 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Soak your pieces in this for about 30 minutes. You may use a SOFT bristle tooth brush to get in between where wires are wrapped. Then rinse with warm water. I find it to be helpful to use a blow dryer on warm temperature setting to help blow the excess water from within the beads and wire. Use a soft towel to dry. Let air dry the rest of the way for about a half an hour before storing away. Keep your pieces stored in a cotton lined box or drawer away from moisture and light. This will help to keep your jewelry looking beautiful.
Please feel free to visit my Photo Gallery. I hope you enjoy your visit. Any questions can be addressed to my email at shades_of_pearl@yahoo.com
All of my pieces are one-of-a-kind and handcrafted from inspirations and spur of the moment ideas. I am capable of making similar pieces, but all will have their own characteristics.
ORDERING INFO: I accept money orders and cashier checks only and payment must be received prior to shipping the items. You need to make sure to include your full name and address for shipping. Your items will be shipped within a day of receiving payment, unless it is not in stock and has to be made. In which case shipping should take no longer than 2 weeks. Just let me know what you are interested in. There are no sales tax added to your price. There is a shipping fee of $3.00 on the first item ordered. Any additional items on the same order will not have shipping fees. Email me at shades_of_pearl@yahoo.com to discuss your interest.
Thanks and God Bless!
Links
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Yahoo Wire Wrap Jewelry Group
Home Jewelry Business Success Tips
Brandywine Jewelry Supply
Pearl's Wire Wrappers Lounge
Semi-precious.com/physical and chemical properties of stones
Send E-Mail to: shades_of_pearl@yahoo.com
Copyright © 2008 Darla Sears. All Rights Reserved