Handmade Jewelry & Handbags Care

Handmade Jewelry Care

Storing and Wearing

  • jewelry_care_bagsHandmade jewelry is very delicate.
  • Handle handcrafted jewelry with care, store items properly in small plastic bags to prevent the metal parts from tarnishing. Also this will prevent it from becoming tangled in other pieces of jewelry, which could possibly cause beads and any exposed threads to weaken or break.
  • Keep the jewels away from water, chemicals, perfume, makeup, shampoo and soap to prevent the metal plating from fading. Do not wear beadwoven jewelry in the shower or when swimming, and avoid getting it wet. This can weaken and damage the thread and the beads. Don’t wear it to bed.
  • Take care to avoid tossing your jewelry or dropping it onto hard surfaces to prevent any gemstones or crystals from chipping.
  • Gemstone or beaded jewelry should not be placed in the direct sun, as some finishes may fade and lose their color.
  • Store semi-precious gemstone jewelry away from other jewelry items (diamonds, for example). If harder stones come into contact with softer stones, they may cause scratched and marks.

Cleaning

  • jewelry_care_wipesEvery piece is usually made of a lot of different beads and cabochons, such us: semi-precious
    stones, faceted glass, freshwater pearls, coral, plastic, metal parts, etc. For that reason, there is
    no “universal cleaner” that can be used safely.
  • Gemstones and soutache jewelry. I recommend using a small dry paintbrush with flexible bristles
    and damp cloth to wipe dust from a face of the piece. Large crystals or glass beads can be
    polished with jewelry polishing cloth or jewelry wipes.
  • To remove tarnishing from all metal parts (gold/silver plating, sterling silver,  gold-filled, etc) I recommend to use the CONNOISSEURS DRY DISPOSABLE JEWELRY WIPES (you can find them in any  department store, i.e. Walmart’s jewelry department). If it is already tarnished, use these wipes or a polishing cloth to bring a shine back.

Things to Remember

  • Sterling silver is at least 92.5% pure silver, with remainder usually composed of copper. While copper gives sterling silver a desired level of hardness, it also imparts the tarnishing characteristic. Tarnishing is the chemical reaction copper has with oxygen that imparts a darkening or discoloration to the silver in sterling silver.
  • Gold Filled / Silver Filled: Solid gold/silver is rolled out into a sheet and then applied to a base metal through heat – applying a thick plate of gold/silver.
  • Gold Plate / Silver Plate: A thin layer of solid gold/silver added to jewelry, usually in 12K – can be rubbed off over the time.

Handmade Handbags Care

Storing and Wearing

  • Handmade bead embroidered handbags and clutches are very delicate.
  • Handmade handbags and clutches are very delicate.
  • Handle handcrafted bag with care, store it properly in breathable fabric duster bag (even clean pillowcases) to protect it from dust and control moisture damage, and to prevent a bead embroidery from damage.
  • Never store your purses in the bottom of a closet. Find a dark, dry, cool area with good air circulation for storing handmade handbags. Avoid attics and basements.
  • To prevent dye transfer, do not store a handbag touching other items.
  • Try to keep the handmade handbag, especially the embroidered part, away from intense sunlight, heat, humidity, chemicals, perfume, makeup, shampoo, and soap. This can weaken and damage the thread and the gemstones/beads. Take care to avoid dropping it onto hard surfaces to prevent any gemstones or crystals from chipping.
  • Bead embroidered gemstones should not be placed in the direct sun, as some finishes may fade and lose their color.

Cleaning

bead embroidered bagLeather

  • Never use grease or Vaseline. It will shine for a while and then start destroying the finish and collecting dust.
  • Small scratches can be removed by rubbing them gently with your finger. The natural oils on your hands will work nicely into the leather.
  • In the event your handbag gets soiled other than with permanent dyes, try gently dabbing the leather with a clean, dry cloth and mild leather cream.

bead embroidered purseFabric

  • To care for your handbag, simply wipe the fabric with a clean soft, damp cloth to remove surface dirt.
  • Please avoid ink marks, grease, permanent dyes from dark denim, and oil stain, as they are not removable and should be left alone.
  • For most handbags, no single cleaner or cleaning technique can be used. If the wrong chemical is used, it creates serious problems if it bleeds between the leather and the fabric of the purse.

bead embroidered handbagGemstones / Bead Embroidery

  • I recommend using a small dry paintbrush with flexible bristles and damp cloth to wipe dust from a face of the piece. Large crystals or glass beads can be polished with jewelry polishing cloth or jewelry wipes.
  • To remove tarnishing from all metal parts (gold/silver plating, sterling silver,  gold-filled, etc) I recommend to use the CONNOISSEURS DRY DISPOSABLE JEWELRY WIPES (you can find them in any  department store, i.e. Walmart’s
    jewelry department). If it is already tarnished, use these wipes or a polishing cloth to bring a shine back.