Soap Mold from : www.kelseiscreations.com Slab mold soap swirling, 15 color swirl, Rock Star Cold Process Soap. By Christy Rose KBShimmer KBShimmer.Etsy.com
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Saturday, December 10, 2011
The Lingerie Guide to the Universe
Lingerie does for a woman's body what seasoning does for food. Just as the spices and herbs enhances the flavor of food, corsets, bustier, gowns, sexy bras and thongs enhances the visual effects of a woman's body. I don't know what primitive man first discovered adding herbs and spices to food, but, God bless him. Don't get me wrong... I believe food can be quite tasty without spices; however, it is even better with them. Same for lingerie.
Lingerie accentuates the shape of a woman. Women are beautiful on their own, but lingerie can give that extra kick that makes them bubble with flavors never before imagined.
As I thought about that, I realized I had just made a connection between lingerie and food. How odd, what a strange connection when you think about it. Is there any real connection between lingerie and food? What about everything else in the universe? I think lingerie is linked with the entire universe, and I am out to prove it. Let's take a look at food first.
From Lingerie to Food:
1) Lingerie
loose T-shirt made of cotton, polyester, nylon or diaphanous chiffon that can be worn like a Babydoll.
Polyester
[Synthesis / Alcoholic transesterification] ethylene glycol (doubly alcohol-terminated). Multifunctional monomers (i.e., glycerol) result in cross-linking
Glycerin
Glycerin is used in glycerin soap, in cosmetics and creams, in foods, in chemistry, and in glycerin mist.
Hence we come to food
2) Lingerie
French language, for women's undergarments. These garments are eroticised in Western culture.
Eroticism
Paraphilia
Paraphilia
[Other paraphilias] sitophilia: sexual arousal from food.
And here we are at food again.
3) Lingerie
Merry widow
Merry widow -backed hook-and-eye flange, and the whole garment was lined with nylon voile. Nine long spiral wires were cased in black
Nylon
[Historical uses] conspiracy theorists surmise that cannabis sativa was made illegal because the fibres from the hemp plant, used for fabrics
Hemp
hemp (Cannabis sativa'') as a source of oil, food, fibre, etc. Yep, back to food again.
There you go, at least three ways lingerie is linked to food. What about other things?
Well, why not start with some of the obvious ones like sex:
Lingerie to Sex:
1) Lingerie
derived from the French language, for women's undergarments. These garments are heavily eroticised in Western culture.
Undergarment
[History / Present day] at least in advertising. Sex became the main selling point, bringing to fruition a trend that had been building since at least the flapper era
Sex- see, I told you this one was obvious. Want a more obscure one?
2) Lingerie
French maid
French maid
They are a form of ladies' Fantasywear that depending on design, details can be classified as lingerie
Fantasywear
clothing, usually including lingerie, that people wear in the boudoir for living out Sexual Fantasies.
Sex- Not so obvious that time.
3) Lingerie
Robe
Robe
Worn after bathing or other activities where the wearer is nude to keep warm and/or preserve modesty in times of no immediate need to fully dress.
Modesty
friend or family of the same sex
Sex
Ok, another easy one, love.
Lingerie to love:
1) Lingerie
French language, for women's undergarments. These garments are heavily eroticised in Western culture.
Eroticism
is an aesthetic focused on sexual desire, especially the feelings of anticipation of sexual activity.
Lust
[See also] Virtues: Love, Romantic love, List of ethics topics
Love - See how easy that was?
2) Lingerie
French language, for women's undergarments. These garments are heavily eroticised in Western culture.
Eroticism
Human sexuality
Human sexuality
[Topics in human sexuality] love
Love- Still too easy, lets see if we can make this link a little more challenging.
3) Lingerie
Robe
Robe
a garment made of towel like material and is typically worn at home after a bath or other activities where the wearer is wanting to cover up.
Towel
[Pop culture trivia / Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy] the towel can even be used in melée combat. You can use it to hide from the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal
Races from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy ( this also links lingerie back to the title of this article and Hitchikers guide to the galaxy for which the title was modeled after.)
[Fuolornis Fire Dragon] They often accidentally adored things to bits and hurt the ones they loved because of their rocket-booster breath and park-fence teeth. (That reminds me. I wonder what my ex is up to these days.)
Love
We did love, why not passion.
From Lingerie to Passion:
1)Lingerie
Robe
Robe
A gown worn as part of the religious dress of a cleric, chorister, monk, batizand, etc.
Choir
[Historical overview of choral music / Baroque music] passions and other music. He is also famous for his vast output in chorales, essentially stylistically harmonised
Chorale
passions and other works. These harmonisations are so well known that Bach's name is virtually synonymous with the chorale in
Passion.
2) Lingerie
Corset by bone
Corset
[See also] Body modification
Body modification
teeth, and/or tongues, including amputation, burning, flagellation, piercing, skinning, and wheeling.
Flagellation
[Association with religion / Slavery] Flagellation of Christ, an episode in Jesus' physical degradation leading to the Crucifixion. (See Passion) ( I'll probably get letters on that reference)
Passion
3) Lingerie
Babydoll
Babydoll
it is a common garment for those who indulge in sexualized play-acting around ideas of infantilism.
Infantilism
[The psychology of infantilism / Psychological perspectives on infantilism] infantilism is usually regarded as a type of sexual roleplaying and is often viewed as a variation of BDSM.
BDSM
[Various practices / Switching] BDSM may encompass practices such as erotic spanking, flagellation, such as flogging, paddling or whipping
Flagellation
[Association with religion / Slavery] Flagellation of Christ, an episode in Jesus' physical degradation leading to the Crucifixion. (See Passion)( Just to make sure I get those letters, and possibly death threats, rolling in.)
Passion.
Since I mentioned Jesus Christ in the last reference lets see how lingerie and the church are linked.
From Lingerie to Church:
1) Lingerie
Chemise
Chemise
[Compare] after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, a revolt by the guerilla Protestant "Camisards"
Edict of Nantes
(1598) and ordered the destruction of Huguenotchurches, as well as the closing of Protestant schools
Church- That's kind of a negative relationship, lets see if we can find a positive one.
2) Lingerie
Robe
Robe
A gown worn as part of the religious dress of a cleric, chorister, monk, batizand, etc., in various
Choir
Terminology: A vocal ensemble which sings in a church, or sings exclusively sacred music, is called a
Church - Yes that's much better.
3) Lingerie
Garter
Garter (clothing)
Order of the Garter, which traces its history to the Middle English poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
Middle English
[Literary and Linguistic Cultures] Middle English was one of the three languages current in England. Though never the language of the church, which was always Latin
Church
I have no intention of picking on religion, shall we move on? Let's try something people do in church, like getting married.
Lingerie to Marriage:
1) Lingerie
Garter
Garter (clothing)
and colorful garters were an object of display. In Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, "cross braced" garters are an object of some derision.
Twelfth Night (play)
Olivia asks him to marry her. The play ends in a declaration of marriage between the Duke and Viola, and Olivia and Sebastian
Marriage - Bet you didn't see that one coming.
2) Lingerie
Garter
Garter (clothing)
Groom's privilege to remove the garter and toss it to the male guests. The symbolism to deflowering is unambiguous.
Virgin
especially in regards to religious views of retaining one's virginity before marriage. The term maiden
Marriage
3) Lingerie
Knickers
Knickers
1846 the New York Knickerbockers played the first game of "base ball" organized under those rules, in Hoboken, New Jersey, and were trounced 23 - 1
Hoboken, New Jersey
[Demographics / Post World War II] There are 19,418 households out of which 11.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 23.8% are married couples living together
Marriage
Too easy so far? Well, I own a lingerie and biker clothing store. Many have wondered what the relationship is, so, shall we try that?
From Lingerie to Motorcycle:
1) Lingerie
Corset by bone
Corset
Corsets are typically constructed of a flexible material (like cloth or leather) stiffened with boning
Leather
[Forms of leather / Leather from other animals] Leather is used to make items which need to be strong but flexible, such as motorcycle gloves.
Motorcycle
2) Lingerie
Chemise
Chemise
is a simple garment worn next to the skin to protect clothing from sweat and body oils. Chemise is the French term. Italians called it a "camicia".
French language
[History / Modern issues] There is some debate in today's France about the preservation of the French language and the influence of English (see franglais)
Franglais
old motorcyclist that I loved (play on "mieux vaut tard que jamais" -- better late than never)
Motorcycle
3) Lingerie
Chemise
Chemise
is a simple garment worn next to the skin to protect clothing from sweat and body oils. Chemise is the French term. Italians called it a "camicia".
French language
[Geographic distribution / Modern issues] Also, there are some French speakers in Lebanon, Cambodia, Egypt, India (Pondicherry), Italy (Aosta Valley)
Cambodia
[Transportation / Civil war and genocide] The locals normally use automobiles, motorbikes and buses. Velotaxis are an additional option often used by visitors.
Motorcycle
4) Lingerie
Bedjacket
Bedjacket
bedjacket is a light jacket, usually a peignoir, worn to bed while sleeping.
Jacket
jacket is a light coat.
Coat
The coat as an article of clothing for humans
Coat (clothing)
[Types of coats / Modern coats and jackets] Motorcycle jacket, a leather jacket, usually black, worn by motorcycle riders
Motorcycle
5) Lingerie
Unitard
Unitard
In erotic or costume use, they are usually referred to as catsuits
Catsuit
Unlike a unitard, its use rarely involves sports, and it may be made of leather, rubber, PVC, or velour
Leather
[Forms of leather / Leather from other animals] Kangaroo leather is used to make items which need to be strong but flexible, such as motorcycle gloves, jackets, mask, and skull caps.
Motorcycle
Sorry about the two additional references, they are my passions. My shop is located in Augusta Ga. What is the link?
Lingerie to Augusta Georgia:
1) Lingerie
Chemise
Chemise
[The history of the chemise] women's shifts did not fall out of fashion until the early 20th century, when they were generally replaced by brassieres, panties, girdles, and
Undergarment
[Underwearing / Present day] The animated cartoon character Homer Simpson is often depicted sitting on his couch in his briefs drinking.
Homer Simpson
[Overview] Dooooh" from the films of Laurel and Hardy.
Laurel and Hardy
[Oliver Hardy] (January 18, 1892 - August 7, 1957) was born Norvell Hardy in Harlem, Georgia near Augusta, Georgia, in the United States of America.
Augusta, Georgia
(bit of a stretch on that one, lets try it in reverse)
1) Augusta, Georgia
[Famous Augustans] Laurence Fishburne, actor
Laurence Fishburne
as well as a recurring role as "Cowboy Curtis" alongside Pee Wee Herman (Paul Reubens) in the CBS children's television show.
Paul Reubens
[Arrest II] as he stated that he was a collector of "erotic artwork" and he had a sizable collection of vintage erotica.
Erotica
[See also] lingerie (erotic underwear)
Lingerie
That one was a little more difficult. Shall we try something really ambiguous. Say, a Mountain?
From Lingerie to Mountain:
1) Lingerie
Chemise
Chemise
is a simple garment worn next to the skin to protect clothing from sweat and body oils. Chemise is the French term. Italians called it a "camicia".
French language
[Geographic distribution / Modern issues] Vanuatu
Vanuatu
[Geography] - are also claimed by the French overseas department of New Caledonia. Most of the islands are mountainous and of volcanic origin.
Mountain
2) Lingerie
French maid
French maid
They are a form of ladies' Fantasywear that depending on design details can be classified as lingerie
Fantasywear
or French Maid or Fraulein outfits ensembles, or by the use of materials such as PVC, Satin or Rubber
Satin
and plain weaves are the 3 basic types of weaving by which the majority of woven products are formed.
Plain
Plains may be more suitable for farming than plateaus or mountains.
Mountain
3) Lingerie
Corsage by elastic
Corsage
bouquet as a fashion accessory attached (usually) to dress
Bouquet
A group of television channels owned by the same company, e.g. British Sky Broadcasting or Turner Broadcasting
Television station
Because some regions have had difficulty picking up over-the-air signals (particularly in mountainous areas), direct-to-home cable or satellite stations provided service.
Mountain
Mountain not big enough? How would we link lingerie to the world?
From Lingerie to World:
1) Lingerie
Camisole
Camisole
camisole is a woman's undergarment which covers the top part of the body. It is sleeveless and tight fitting in contrast to a loose-fitting
Undergarment
[Related topics / Present day] BVD
BVD
BVD arguably was, and remains, the best known initial trademark in the world
World
2) Lingerie
Stockings
Stocking
but now of knitted wool, silk, cotton or nylon (see Hosiery). The word stock used to refer to the bottom "
Cotton
native to the tropical and subtropical regions of both the Old World and the New World.
New World
The continents were new to the Europeans, who thought of the world as consisting only of Europe, Asia
World
3) Lingerie
Chemise
Chemise
[The history of the chemise] women's shifts did not fall out of fashion until the early 20th century, when they were generally replaced by brassieres, panties, girdles, and
Undergarment
Undergarments can also have religious significance, as in the special temple garment worn by followers of the
Religion
[Compare with / Related philosophical stances] - essentially an extremely cautious means of building a supportable, evidenced understanding of our world
World
Let's not stop with this little planet, how about the solar system?
From Lingerie to Solar system:
1) Lingerie
Camisole
Camisole
A Camisole can be worn over a brassiere or without one. Some camisoles come with a built-in underwire bra which eliminates the need for a bra
Brassiere
[Push Up Bras] Some more innovative push-up bras use silicone inserts or water sacks to imitate the fullness of a natural breasts
Silicone
[Chemical terminology] like a ketone group with Si in place of C (the same terminology is used for compounds such as silane, which is an analogue of methane)
Methane
[Methane not on Earth] Methane has been detected or is believed to exist in several locations of the solar system. It is believed to have been created by abiotic processes
Solar system
2) Lingerie
loose T-shirt made of cotton, polyester, nylon or diaphanous chiffon that can be worn like a Babydoll.
Polyester
[Applications] Holograms
Holography
Holograms are common in science-fiction, most notably Star Trek, Star Wars, and Red Dwarf
Red Dwarf
[Invented words / Nova 5] Red Dwarf left the Solar System was apparently the "dollarpound", divided into one hundred "pennycents".
Solar system
3) Lingerie
Corset by bone
Corset
garment worn to mold and shape the torso into a desired shape for aesthetic or orthopaedic purposes
Aesthetics
[Aesthetics in the visual arts] perceived mass, subliminal structure, linear dynamics, tension and repose, pattern, contrast, perspective
Pattern
The planets of our solar system are caught in an incredibly ancient pattern by the gravity of the
Sun
Solar system
Keep Going? Galaxy would be next.
From Lingerie to Galaxy:
1) Lingerie
Corset by bone
Corset
a woman's corset was usually worn over a garment called a chemise or shift, a sleeveless low-necked gown made of washable material
Shift
derived meanings of change, such as red shift, Great vowel shift, paradigm shift
Redshift
[Introduction] The term redshift is also used for the observation that light emitted by distant galaxies is shifted to longer wavelengths
Galaxy
2) Lingerie
French language, for women's undergarments. These garments are heavily eroticised in Western culture.
Eroticism
Sexual fantasy
Sexual fantasy
of Christian martyrs, many of whom resort to self-mutilation to preserve their virginity or chastity
Virgin
in many Neopagan traditions. The constellation Virgo represents a wide selection of sacred virgins.
Virgo
[Notable deep sky objects] to 10° west of Vindemiatrix (e Vir), this constellation is especially rich in galaxies.
Galaxy
3) Lingerie
Unitard
Unitard
unitard is a skin-tight one-piece garment with long legs and sometimes long sleeves. It differs from a
One-piece garment
sari
Sari
[The traditional philosophy / Styles] (the body as the world) unites with the 'sharira-mandala' ( the whole universe).
Universe
[Expansion and age, and the Big Bang theory] A fundamental aspect of the Big Bang can be seen today in the observation that the farther away from us galaxies are.
Galaxy
Finally, that gets us to the Universe.
From Lingerie to Universe:
1)Lingerie
Petticoat
Petticoat
skirt, dress or sari. The petticoat is a separate garment hanging from the waist.
Sari
[The traditional philosophy / Styles] (the body as the world) unites with the 'sharira-mandala' ( the whole universe).
Universe
2) Lingerie
Chemise
Chemise
[The history of the chemise] women's shifts did not fall out of fashion until the early 20th century, when they were generally replaced by brassieres, panties, girdles, and
Undergarment
Undergarments can also have religious significance, as in the special temple garment worn by followers of the
Religion
[The nature and content of religion / Questions that religions address] Creation beliefs, which seek to explain the origin of the universe, the Earth, life, and humanity
Universe
3) Lingerie
French maid
French maid
They are a form of ladies' Fantasywear that depending on design details can be classified as lingerie
Fantasywear
or French Maid or Fraulein outfits ensembles, or by the use of materials such as PVC, Satin, etc.
Satin
technique that forms a minimum number of interlacings in a fabric. If fabric is formed with a satin weave using filament fibers such as silk....
Filament
In astronomy, it is used to refer to any thread-like structure in the astronomical universe
Universe
There you go, lingerie is weaved into the very fabric of the universe. I knew it all along. Those that have used lingerie probably know it, too. I wonder if lingerie is the very meaning of life....?
Note: Here are a few more links that deserve mentioning.
Lingerie to Couple:
Lingerie
Babydoll
Babydoll
it is a common garment for those who indulge in sexualized play-acting around ideas of infantilism.
Infantilism
[The psychology of infantilism / Psychological perspectives on infantilism] infantilism is usually regarded as a type of sexual roleplaying and is often viewed as a variation of BDSM. In this variation
BDSM
[See also / Switching] Swinging
Swinging
[History] It has consistently found that swingers have better pair-bonds than monogamous couples. The most recent and most thorough study
Couple
Lingerie to Fidelity:
Lingerie
derived from the French language, for women's undergarments. These garments are heavily eroticised in Western culture.
Undergarment
[History / Middle Ages and Renaissance] urban legend that Crusaders worried about the fidelity of their wives forced them to wear chastity belts.
Fidelity
From Lingerie to Monogamy:
Lingerie
Garter
Garter (clothing)
which traces its history to the Middle English poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
[Plot synopsis / The Meeting with the Green Knight] Arthur refuses to blame Gawain and decrees that all his knights should henceforth wear a green sash in recognition of Gawain's courage and honour
Honour
[Honour, sex, and violence] virginity, or at least to preservation of exclusive monogamy.
Monogamy
Surplus Jerry Cans Sale Off Gas Powered Tree Trimmer Discounted Aveeno Cleansing Pads Sale
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Melt & Pour Soap Making: Valentine Cupcake Soaps
Looking for some last minute Valentine soap ideas? These cupcake soaps were made in no time flat using the base of the Mold Market Cupcake Mold. We added our own twist for the toppers. Purchase all the supplies for this project at www.GoPlanetEarth.com.
Pedicure Stations Sale Off Empire Bcbs Cheap Presto Griddle Decide Now
Friday, December 2, 2011
Jewelry Care and Cleaning Guide: How To Care and Protect Your Jewelry
Celebrating a Special Occasion with Jewelry!
Jewelry Care means being careful, how you store and and clean it!
How to care and protect Jewelry?
If your jewelry has value to you, it is valuable enough for you to want to take care of it. Jewelry Care means being careful you do no lose it as well as being careful how you store and clean it.
When you buy jewelry, any jewelry, from the most expensive fine jewelry to inexpensive costume jewelry, you buy it because it is beautiful. The gleam of the metal and the shine or luster and fire of the gems appeal to your aesthetic sense of beauty, based on what you can afford. The better the jewelry, the longer you want to wear it, perhaps even for rest of your life, and the longer you want it to have that like new glow, although some metals and finishes attain a warm patina with wear. What you don't want, however, is scratched or gouged settings and dull gems. Accidents can happen, but all too often the jewelry is damaged by carelessness or not taking the few moments necessary to tend to the jewelry.
In most cases, being careful is the only care jewelry needs. Some types of jewelry, nevertheless, need special care because the gems may be soft, absorbent, or fragile.
Keep in mind that the harder the gem and the higher it is on the Mohs scale of hardness, the more durable it generally is. At time, a hard gem with high or distinct cleavage is apt to be fragile and may break or cleave if it is struck at the right angle. Hardness therefore is not synonymous with toughness. A tough gem may be soft enough to be more easily scratched but it is less apt to break or shatter. These characteristics have pertinence in wearing, cleaning, and storing jewelry, and in remodeling.
Metals have similar characteristic. The purer the silver and gold, the more easily it can be damaged. Also, you must consider the combination of metal in settings with gem or gems. What may be perfectly good to clean a metal, such as sterling silver, may not be the best for the gems. You have to consider the jewelry as a whole, not as simply metal or gems.
These point are tied in with the third point: the care you take with your jewelry to protect it from loss, both when you are wearing it and when you put it away for safekeeping. All the care in cleaning and storing will not matter if you lose the jewelry. The care you should take in this sense involves the precautions you would take to make sure you do not lose something you like and enjoy. That common sense, and it is common sense whether or not the jewelry is insured, and whether or not it is valuable. The precautions you should take with any jewelry that you like and that means anything to you, in fact, are simple common sense.
- Protection of jewelry
First of all, think about what you do when wearing jewelry. Rings are good example of how common sense can prevent loss.
More Rings are probably lost through carelessness than any other type of jewelry, because they are more apt to be taken off when being worn than pins or necklaces, bracelets or even earrings. So, Precaution Number One, if you wear rings, is to wear them at all times, or be careful with them as you are with your money and credit cards.
Men and women, incidentally, tend to regard rings differently.
- Storing and cleaning jewelry
When you take jewelry off, all jewelry and not only rings, what do you do with it? First, you should have a good and safe place for it. Second, that place should keep the jewelry safe not only from loss but also from damage.
The worst place you can put it is in a jewelry box already filled with other jewelry all jumbled together, where it can become scratched or more seriously hurt. The best place you can put jewelry is in individual leather or cloth cases or bags that will protect each piece from being damaged by other pieces of jewelry. If you do not have separate boxes from the jeweler for each piece of jewelry, at least put each piece in an individual case of some kind and do not drop it casually into a jewelry box.
In most cases, a plastic bag is a good substitute for leather or cloth. Plastic, however, should never be used with pearls, opals, and ivory, which need air to retain their beauty. Plastic, nevertheless, does have an advantage for other jewelry in that you can easily see the piece of jewelry that is in the bag. This method, incidentally, is also good for costume jewelry, which can be scratched as easily, if not more so, than precious jewelry.
Cleaning is also important in retaining and restoring the beauty and luster of jewelry with and without gems. Even gold can discolor from soaps and perspiration. Silver can be especially prone to tarnish, although almost all American sterling silver jewelry is coated with rhodium, an element of platinum, to prevent tarnishing. Any other silver that is worn all the time rarely needs polishing either, since wear retards tarnish. It still may need cleaning, though.
In fact, any metal may need cleaning now and then to remove dirt, soil, or soap film, as may gems. There are, in general, four methods of cleaning jewelry. Although all are safe for cleaning precious metal and diamonds, all are not interchangeable and safe for all kinds of jewelry. These are the methods most commonly suggested and used, but be sure to read further for the exceptions and for the precautions you should take with specific metals and gems.
-Detergents Bath. Mix a mild detergent and warm water in a small bowl or cup. Immerse the jewelry, brushing the pieces with an eyebrow brush. Rinse the jewelry under warm running water, being sure to put the jewelry into a tea strainer or cheesecloth for safety's sake. Pat dry with lintels cloth. Do not use for soft gems or foe any jewelry that is strung, such as ivory or pearls.
- Cold water soak. In a cup or bowl, combine half cold water and half household ammonia. Put the jewelry in and soak for 30 minutes. Do not leave it overnight or for a long period of time. After 30 minutes, remove the jewelry and gently clean the front and back of the setting, if necessary, with an eyebrow brush before swishing the jewelry in the solution again and draining it dry on tissue. Do not use soft gems or any jewelry that is strung, such as ivory or pearls.
- Quick dip. Commercial jewelry cleaners generally employ the quick dip method. Since cleaners vary, you should read instructions carefully and follow them to the letter. Do not use cleaners on nay jewelry not specifically mentioned unless you check with a jeweler first.
- Ultrasonic cleaners. You will find several of these small machines on the market. In general, the principle is that of using high frequency turbulence to clean jewelry soaking in a metal cup of water and detergent. Again, be sure to read and follow the directions with the utmost care and do not use the machine on any jewelry not specifically mentioned. Not all jeweler, feel these machine are safe even for diamonds. Before buying one, therefore, be sure to check with your jeweler and get his advice.
These then are the common methods in general. Specific metals, and gems, require specific care. The methods described below are safe for the specific metals and won't harm most gems. Keep in mind, though, that some gems need special care. Whenever you have any doubt about cleaning jewelry, be sure to consult your jeweler.
1) Copper
Copper will tarnish like silver in presence of moisture and sulfur. In most cases, however, a lacquer is baked on to prevent the jewelry from tarnishing. To clean copper, use any commercial cleaner that specifies it safe for copper. Do not use ammonia, which can erode copper.
2) Gold
The lower the number of karats, the more gold will discolor due to the higher percentage of base metals in the alloy. Mild soap, water and ammonia will remove the discoloration with ease.
One theory goes that you can prevent gold from leaving black mark on the skin by spraying the gold with hair spray. All you actually doing is adding a substance that can add to the tarnish. Keeping gold clean is the best way to avoid skin discoloration. In any case do not use hair spray on any gold with gems.
Gold-filled. Remember, the character of gold filled jewelry is the same as the karat gold that makes up 1/20 of the total weight, except that the jewelry will not last as long as the same jewelry in solid karat gold. Gold-filled jewelry can be cleaned the same way as karat gold, with mild soap, and a drop of ammonia.
Rolled gold plate. Rolled gold plate may contain less gold than rolled gold, but it should be cleaned the same way as gold-filled and karat gold jewelry.
Gold electroplate. Although the layer of gold deposited by electroplating may be 7 to 100 millionths of an inch thick, good gold electroplate can wear as well as rolled gold. It should be wiped clean regularly with a damp, soft cloth, and a mild soap and water solution may be used to remove any makeup. Do not use a treated cloth to clean gold electroplate.
Gold-washed or gold-flashed. Jewelry finished in this manner contains very little gold. The surface layer, in fact, is so thin that it may be negligible and wear off after a few times of being worn. Any cleaning, and particularly any rubbing, any remove the finish entirely.
3) Silver
Any commercial silver cleaner or silver cloth will touch up and clean silver jewelry. Soap, water, and a drop of ammonia will also clean silver that is very lightly tarnished or may just need cleaning to remove makeup and perspiration.
Silver-filled. Clean silver-filled jewelry in the same way as sterling. The older the jewelry, however, the more permanent the patina will be. Such a patina cannot be removed.
Silver plate (or silver electroplate). Silver plate, unlike gold, can last for years and can be cleaned in the same way as sterling silver. It can be re-plated, if necessary, although re-plating is more common in silver tableware than in jewelry.
4) Combination metals
Metals, including precious metals, are sometimes combined with other metals and with enamel. Be very careful in cleaning the metal that you don't clean off the inlay or enamel. The same caution holds true for vermeil, which is sterling silver with karat gold electroplate. If you must rub, rub very gently with soft cloth.
5) Gems
Some gems need special care. That care includes both cleaning and storing gems. Be particularly careful with:
Amber. Amber is the softest of all gems and will be scratched by all other gems. Be careful in wearing it and always store it by itself. It darkens gradually with age and exposures to light and should be kept in a cloth or leather bag case.
Never use a rough clothe or clothe that may have dirt, dust, or grit on it to clean amber because of its softness. Never use acid to clean amber or wear amber when working with acids since acid will decompose amber. Alcohol and other solvents do not normally affect amber, however, unless it is exposed to them for a long period of time. For this reason, be careful not to leave amber in any cleaning solution, except very briefly. Hair spray and perfume can also affect amber.
Coral. Coral is relatively tough. Be careful with twig coral in both storing and wearing, since the thinner the twigs the more easily the coral can break. Remember, coral is not a mineral and its luster may be spoiled by preparations used to clean other jewelry.
Diamonds. Diamonds should be kept apart from other gems to avoid scratching the other gems. This rule holds true for both storage and cleaning. One expert suggests boiling diamonds for 10 minutes in soap, water, and ammonia to clean them.
Ivory. Wash ivory carefully in soapy water, drying it with a damp cloth. Never soak ivory in soap and water, however, since soaking can cause it to crack or break. If you are cleaning ivory beads, do not get the string wet because the string will stay wet and can affect the beads. Do not use commercial jewelry cleaner or acid.
Ivory darken with age. It can be bleached by sunlight or peroxide. If peroxide is used, do not soak the ivory in it, and avoid wetting any string with which ivory beads are strung with the peroxide.
Keep in mind that ivory is permeable and relatively soft, factors tending to make it contract or shrink in cold and expand in heat. The combination of temperatures, along with soaking and drying out, can lead to the cracking of the ivory. Wiping it carefully with a soft, damp cloth, therefore, is probably the best method of cleaning ivory.
Jet. Jet, although tough, is soft and should never be kept with other jewelry that can scratch it. Scratching diminishes its polish and lessens its value to collectors.
Lapis Lazulli. Despite its softness, Lapis Lazulli wears well and is popular for men's jewelry and especially men's rings. Even though it may scratch, the scratches are not difficult for a good jeweler to polish out.
Malachite. Malachite is soft and is not tough like jet. It breaks easily and should be worn with care. It also scratches easily, losing its polish. Be careful wearing it next to your skin, which can turn malachite dark or black.
Moonstone. Moonstone's softness means that it needs care. Moonstones should be kept by themselves and cleaned carefully with only a very soft cloth and soap and water.
Opals. All kinds of opals are fragile and require care, the most care of any other gem. The polished stones are usually thin and may crack or craze. One cause may be extremely cold weather, indirect sunlight, in hot dishwater, or when handling frozen foods. Cold weather may also cause opals to shrink, which means they can fall out of the setting. Because of their softness, they are easily scratched and may absorb dirt or grit, another reason for avoiding dishwater and being careful in cleaning them.
Opals contain water, sometimes as much as 10%. Thus, they may dry out. For this reason, some experts suggest leaving them in water, in a mixture of water and glycerin, or in mineral oil to keep them from drying out and losing their fire, whenever they are not being worn. Use only a mild soap solution and a soft cloth to clean them. Never put opals in plastic bags, commercial jewelry cleaner, or acid.
Pearls. Both Oriental and cultured pearls are genuine pearls and need a certain amount of special care. Cosmetics (including hair spray), dust, dirt, and particularly perspiration can affects pearls. They should be wiped carefully only with a soft clothe after wearing and kept in satin-lined box, never in a plastic bag. Because their softness, cars should be taken not to scratch them. Pearls need to be worn and allowed to breathe. Do not use commercial jewelry cleaner or acid to clean them.
Peridot. Peridot scratches easily and tends to lose its polish. It should be stored and worn carefully but no special cleaning is necessary.
Topaz. Topaz should be kept in dark, literally. The gems tend to fade or pale in light, and some yellow-brown topazes on display in museums have turned clear after several years. Remember, too, it cleaves easily. It does not require special cleaning methods.
Turquoise. Since turquoise is very porous, it will absorb all sorts of impurities, especially if it is exposed to dirt and grease, such as in working in the yard or in washing dishes.
Turquoise tends to change color with age. It may lighten, darken, or streak. According to an old wives' tale, burying turquoise in dirt restore the color, but the advice does not say for how long or what amount of dirt might be absorbed. You are probably better off learning to appreciate the change in color.
Never expose turquoise to ammonia, which will spoil the surface by pitting or spotting. Jewelry cleaner and acid will also injure or destroy turquoise.
To sum up, one of best methods of cleaning jewelry is simply to use mild soap, water and a drop of ammonia, even though ammonia should not be used with certain gems. Commercial jewelry cleaners are also available at fine jewelers, and these are safe, too, for most, but not all, jewelry. Be surer to read the directions on any commercial cleaner carefully and to follow them.
When in doubt about cleaning any jewelry, ask your jeweler what he would suggest. Remember, a watchmaker is not a jeweler. For expert advice and help, you need a jeweler who knows metal and gems, because in some cases you may be better off bringing the jewelry into the jeweler's for cleaning.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |