Metals for Sensitive Skin

I weigh the man, not his title; 'tis not the king's stamp can make the metal better.
-William Wycherley, ~1700


One might think that silver and gold are the best choices for our precious bauble, but this is not the case when it comes to those with delicate ears.

I have been getting really excited about earrings for a while now, and the ironic thing is that I don't wear them! I love the old vintage clip-ons I have collected over time, but I am thinking that is just not enough anymore. And, since I started making earrings last year, as part of my fancy for jewelry beading, I have become super ready to start wearing them again.

Part of the riddle was this... why would I ever want to wear earrings again when my skin rejected them every time I tried since I was 8 years old? So I set out doing some research on the best metals to wear in earrings, in order to get past the sensitivities and to additionally use the safest quality materials in the earrings I make for others.

Here is what I found-

The culprits:

• Nickel is one of the most allergenic metals to humans in the world. 
• Nickel is found mixed into almost all metals unless they state that they are nickel free. For example, sterling silver (ie 928) is 92.8% silver... and nickel is one of the other things often mixed into the other 7.2%. Same goes for surgical steel, though a fine polish is supposed to seal the surface from risk of nickel exposure.
• Arsenic, obviously bad for creatures of all kinds, is found in some metals. 

How to stay clear:

• Bronze has risk of arsenic in it at times.
• If you don't mind a little risk, just buy nickel-free sliver or gold plated jewelry. Usually this is plated over something like copper. 
• If you are annoyed that the plating wears off, use safer metals. Gold is especially easily scratched and is not allowed, according to US standards, in piercing studs. 
• Generally, if you are the sentitive type, then wear metals that are used for piercing studs because they are proven safe with the tender layers of skin. 
• Copper and brass do not have nickel, but some people have a reaction where their skin turns green. Apparently sweat can cause this reaction.

Best:

• These metals are A-OK: Titanium, gun metals, and Niobium 
• Several non metals are good too if you have large gauge holes: wood, amber, porcelain, bones, gems, glass, and certain non-leaching plastics. These all need to be cleaned more thoroughly though because of the porosity. 

Taa dah!

a pair of sophisticated bohemian earrings created for a a gypsy on a professional day

Some good sources of more information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_piercing_materials
http://brilliancefound.wordpress.com/tag/skin-reaction/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewelry_wire_gauge

Granny's Jewelry

My dad thinks he remembers giving his mom, my granny Lu, this cream porcelain rose bracelet when he was in high school in the 50's, which I will always think of her when I am wearing.  Thank you Aunt Mari for giving this to me.

Here is a picture of a necklace I a recently made in memory of Granny Lulu complete with a small curly haired cherub who has had her fill of icecream and a birds nest for her love of springtime and watching the action outside her window in later years.

A charm I gave my aunt Mari to keep thoughts warm and let her know were all still with Mari in our thoughts as Lulu is with us.

It feels very healing to create and wear jewelry in memory of someone. Thinking of granny Lulu while selecting beads that reminded me of her because of the colors, golds, rosy antiqueness, was like a meditation for creating peace within me.  The little reminders on the charm remind me to "follow my heart", which I feel is a big lesson for valuing life.

I would love to show my close friends a video I created of pictures throughout Lulu's life to one of her favorite composers, Gershwin.  I am glad that the amazing slideshow tools were readily accessible and learn-able for times like this.

Adornments for the Adored

Ideas for creations come easy when inspired by the unique qualities of life that I find in friends. Here are some gifts I crafted to suit some friends, which I gave to them for birthdays and holidays, recently and in past years.   

I am already getting started on some Solstice gifts this year because creativity comes most joyfully when it has a spontaneous or relaxed pace for me.  Having a person to think about when making jewelry makes it come out so much better. 

 

Salvaged feathers strung up like treasures along a variety of earthy colored beads and variety of metals (real silver and copper and gold toned) for Joleen's Bday.  Joleen has inspirational style and an eye for picking out perfect outfits for friends to match and enhance their personalities, so I hope I succeeded as well.  She likes to wear, and got me interested in, asymmetrical things, so this is a earring of one.

 

Here is the first necklace I made for Rachel for her birthday a few years ago.  Rachel helped me to appreciate shiny things. If it weren't for her, I may have never taken to cut crystals. The shine on this necklace comes from silver and cane glass as well.  The blues are her favorite and I threw in some contrasting colors to make it stand out more.  The glass beads also include some antique opaque whites. The clear beads are not only glass and crystal, but also some stone and resin.  Rachel kindly helped pose this picture for me during our break at work when I told her I was starting this Web site and sharing my hopes to share my interest with others :)

 

I made matching necklaces for Alexandra and myself years ago,which remind me of the warmest part of desert springs.  I didn't know she would like pinks but she liked mine so much that I made her a earthier version. I think this was before I became obsessed with silver and clear beads but had finally strayed away from hemp and peyote stitches.

 

A more recent piece for Rachel for the last Solstice.  A little reminiscent of the necklace made her above but added some leaves since she is such a good greenie.  These were some of my first experiments in playing more with wire.

xo!

Flora and Polinators

This post is for all the peeps who like to wear a little something special to liven up or get them through the day.  I see you out there and I know the uplifting feeling of adding a touch of extra you-ness to the day. Enjoy today your way! So, here is a little something I like to craft to brighten my outfits too...

Busy Bee Minding His Beeswax Business

Pic above- I took in Arroyo Seco NM.
Real life inspiration for crafts to wear with you all day.

My June Bug below: Perfect to wear as they come out this summer :)

Accompanied by a button rose I bought at Conspire.
Gotta support artists when I am inspired by their craft ideas.

Dressing up for work makes the day simply more fun in the morning and keeps it going all day long.  Dressing up with flowers helps keep me being my best self. It helps makes life feel splendid and charmed.  And but of course every flower needs its pollinator... it's only natural.

A different June Bug of mine, made of a stripey silk tie and an old muslin curtain and seashell button. Coupled with felt flower mom gave me for Xmas with awesome quilting like stitches gone crazy. I think she got it at an Etsy street fair. People are always commenting that they love it, ma! xo

A bedazzled bumble bee with a crystal from a broken vintage bracelet, polka-dot ribbon and felt.  Peace lily courtesy of SpellMonster Creations (the fantastic Alexandra)... one of my favorite types of flowers in real life and in paintings. I will have to share a pic of the felt broach ones I designed one day. Jenn gave me a great metal wasp pin once which for years I wore for luck some days. I think missing it motivated me to create more :)

Broaches- check! Sundress- check! Boots- check! 

And now I'm ready to go out!

 

And there's more where that came from!  Life is simply sweeter with a silk flower in your hair. You can get half a dozen at the dollar store for a satisfying assortment of choices when getting dressed.  I stitch bobby pins to mine which can also be clipped to clothes.  I wish I also had more of my grandma Hazel's old broaches and costume jewelry. You know what that also reminds me of? Shoe clips... aren't those just wonderful!  I need to make me some.

Supply Source

The Tucson Gem and Mineral Show deserve a mentioning, for it is the main source and major opportunity for beaders around the world - in our own back yard!! It is the biggest show of its kind in the world.  My mom and our friend Nancy come down each year for a few days; plus my aunt Joyce and neighbor from Phoenix, Sherry, come for a day as well.  They are experts at finding the good spots and leading me to them.  A few local friends come along each time as well.  Lots of people I know here head out to the shows several times a week after work during the month - Dedicated!  It is a frenzy here.  Some folk at work even take days off for it.  It is really hard to pay full price for beads or jewelry, most people say, after you have been to one of these shows. I also recommend going to the workshops.  Mom helped pick out a fun felting class this year with an artist who came to town. Last year we learned to work with glass, paper and resin. I hope to get to keep having that kind of fun with my ma every year!

Next year I will have to take a picture that truly shows the ridiculously overwhelming amount of supply, table after table, tent after tent, mile after mile (that was starting to sound like the Gansters' Paradise song there... chuckle).  I started to like the smaller shows that show the smaller, finer artists' hand-casted beads and hand-torched glass, like Best Bead Show and To Bead True Blue.  I frequent these now not only to support them, but because I needed less choices to reduce the shock of knowing where to start! I have finally honed it down to getting a few new things a year to refill or delve into new colors. I think these photos are from 2009 in the big tents that go up each year. Imagine massive tents of gems and minerals sprouting all over the city!

 

We used to buy a few items for Toad Hall (a boutique a friend owns in Oregon) but now that my mom runs her own art business, Bloom! an Artscape, we can can get in to the wholesales for some fantastic deals through her own business license. Some shows don't require that, but it does help you get bulk price tax free deals.

So that is where I get my fancy pants beads. Ta da!!

Mead's Beads

I made this one with the turquoise and red beads back when I lived in Flagstaff almost 10 years ago.  Some of the beads came from a shop on the Oregon coast where you could find stashes of vintage and world traveling beads.  That was over 15 years ago that I bought those.  The peridot is my birthstone and the brown glass center piece once spent time in my dreads. :)


I have no idea where the one on the cactus went.  I gave it to a friend, I know, but who?? It has African glass blue and yellow beads, amber resin beads, white turquoise, pink resin, pink quartz, and square glass for sparkle. I want to eat it.

More Strung Beads

More joyful and unique designs in some yummy and scandalous photos.

Celebrating Color

This was designed for my my ma, in celebration of on of our favorite caring spirit, Santi Claus.  Red and green say say cheer, pagan style! My favorite technique is to jazz it up with silver and crystal and the bead in the middle does both with the dichroic charm.

Garden Show

The necklace with the light blue vintage German beads was for Kathryn for her birthday to match her eyes.  It also has swaravski crystals for bling against the mat white beads for contrast.  Lime green turquoise keeps it happy and bright along with pink and red bamboo coral (not endangered).  All of these beads came from various years at the Tucson Gem and Mineral show.  I mixed in both gold and silver seed beads for spacers and added a lovely clasp that has a modern touch.






 
















The green necklace was for Sara's birthday. She is a Leo like me so she got peridot-extraordinaire.  It also has Bisbee turquoise, two forms of jade, handmade blue glass donut beads from an Oregon artist and silver. Some yellow crystal warms it up here and there. Sara helped me take some of these photos and encouraged me to create the blog.










The scorpion necklace in the bowl is the first choker I have worn or made in a long time.  Created with the classic combination of amber and turquoise which I have grown up with in the Southwest - only different because of the lovable unique whiteness of these round turquoise and also branching away form that classic style with the jade I added to emphasize that soft feel that the white turquoise contributed.  I think of a woman I met while working on a flower press project at a temp job in Seattle, who was an elderly woman from  China, when I see Jade.  She told me it give you strength and has old wisdom in it, is what I remember.

Candy

this necklace hanging from the door knob is a piece designed for Alexandra, inspired by trees. It has ocean agate in green and orange in it for the gal from the northwest

If you would like one in your life:

add art to your life with pre-made  or custom ordered jewelry
using fine silver, crystal, hand-made glass, vintage beads,
and/or natural stones, seeds and woods

joyful, unique and delicious designs inspired by a love of nature

There are 3 options to choose from depending on how customized you enjoy your jewelry to be:

Option 1: Pick out the exact necklace on this site - with the specified beads and length
Option 2: Pick out a design from this site and let me know your length preference.
Option 3: Customize by picking out a design from this site, select a size and emphasize the colors and materials you love most.

Also available - request a set (earrings and/or bracelet to match).


Women's Standard Necklace Sizes:
16" Choker length
17-18" Will reach the collarbone
20" A few inches below collarbone
22" At or above neckline
24" A little Below the neckline
30" Below the chest


LOGISTICS

Pricing:

Depending on the materials, most necklaces are about $35, bracelets or earrings $14. Discounts for matching sets.
Can be paid by credit card through PayPal or contact me at desertlovelies@gmail.com to pay by check directly.


Shipping:

I use USPS Priority 1 Day Shipping for the price of $4.80.
All necklaces come in a decorated bag and are packaged to protect their fragility.

Purchasing:

Jewelry Sets

Necklace $35.00 Necklace & Earrings $42.00 Necklace, Earrings & Bracelet $49.00 Earrings $14.00 Bracelet $14.00 Long Necklace $39.00

Necklace Sizes

16" 18" 20" 22" 24" (Long) 30" (Long)

To pay through paypal you would want to set up an account which is very easy.
Go to paypal.com.

Then you can go to send money and you send money to my email address:
meadmier@hotmail.com and it will deposit the money from your account into mine.
No paper, no nonsense and very easy.