Care and Storage of Handmade Beaded Jewelry
Published On: 11-25-2011 10:30pm
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Category: Tips & Techniques
Much of the jewelry I'm creating and selling is made with seed beads in a variety of colors, styles, and finishes. Usually this involves bead weaving like the monocle piece shown in the picture, above. Seed beads come in a wonderfully wide array of colors and finishes. Many of the finishes can be rubbed off over time, though, so these pieces need to be stored carefully so they will continue to look their best. It's also a good idea to store them in such a way that the beadwork can not be snagged and pulled off or distorted.
I recommend storing your bead woven items in their own bag or compartment or with only a couple other items. This will also keep your items from getting into a tangled mess. Why yes, I *am* speaking from experience. Funny thing is that it's the jewelry strung on silicone, leather, or silk cords that seems to get tangled the easiest. If your jewelry gets tangled up be patient when sorting it out. We often use a lot more strength than we think when pulling on something. Consider how hard a baby can pull on things when they are very young and much smaller than we are now!
No matter how well you store your items and how careful you are with them accidents can happen and materials can wear out over time - particularly if it's a much loved and worn item. I have one necklace that I have re-strung 3 times because of how constantly I wear it. It's a good idea to take a moment to inspect your jewelry before putting it on. If you can catch it before it breaks, there's less of a chance of losing parts. Those of us who make beaded jewelry know that it's not forever and are often happy to repair or restring items for a small fee or even for free (depending on the circumstances and the person).
The repair I did for a friend I did for free because they bought what was, essentially, a prototype from me and from lessons learned I knew that the beaded band needed to be wider on an item that size to make it really secure. The lens was also quite a bit larger than the one picture above which allowed me to do some more fancy beadwork on it this time around. A picture of it can be found in my gallery. I fully guarantee my work and encourage people to let me know if they have any issues with items they purchased from me. I'm also open to doing repairs/alterations on jewelry bought elsewhere from folks who are local to me.
As a side note, I've had people occasionally tell me that they thought beaded jewelry looked cheap or chintzy. To each their own - I'm not a fan of gold and precious gem jewelry myself. That said, keep in mind that pearl necklaces are beaded jewelry and they are considered quite classy. I'll also point out that beaded jewelry was one of the earliest forms of commerce and have a long history of being worn by Kings, Queens, and Pharaohs. So, you're in very good company as you wear and enjoy your handmade beaded jewelry!
I have created and care sheet that I will be sending out or handing out with my jewelry from now on. I want my customers to enjoy their jewelry and have it looking it's best for as long as possible.
