Sharon Zimmerman
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Why is my skin turning black under my rings?
A few years ago, I thought I was developing an allergy to silver and gold. Almost overnight, my skin was turning black underneath my rings and I couldn’t explain it. The answer? Science!
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Why I stopped using lab-grown diamonds and gemstones in my jewelry
At the time, lab-grown seemed like the best answer to a lot of my problems with gemstones and diamonds. When I wanted to make more bridal jewelry and incorporate more gems, the options were few – I could find a handful of traceable gem dealers with some options (none of those options were diamonds), or…
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Tool Talk! 3M Bristle discs – the magic polishing tools
Making a round shape and keeping it round in jewelry is sometimes harder than it looks. When I started out in jewelry-making, I loved making rounded, sinuous, and organic shapes (still do, tbh).The problem? Traditional methods of cleaning, finishing, and polishing involved files and sandpaper, all of which tended to make more work for me…
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Tool Talk! Why I Love My Deadblow Mallet
Deadblow Mallet – Why do I love it so?The deadblow mallet has tiny ball bearings in it that give this mallet heft and weight, meaning you need fewer blows to achieve the same result. And herein lies the reason I love it so much – fewer blows means faster work, faster work means more time…
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How Do You Decide Which Jewelry Sources are Ethical?
What is sustainability in jewelry?This is going to be one of those good news/bad news answers. The good news is that there are much better options these days when sourcing jewelry materials. I can get small amounts of gold mined without the use of mercury. I can get Fairmined metals that address issues of community…
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Why I’m Taking a Break From Instagram and Why This is Good For Business
Hey Instagram could you show me a feed of the 500+ people and accounts that I already follow? Just let me see all of their posts and I can decide what I like. I’ll hit like and I’ll comment on anything I feel like.
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The Exciting World of Jewelry Cleaning
Originally published July 12, 2017. Now updated with video instructions for the best tarnish removal process!What’s the Best Way to Clean Jewelry?
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Jewelry Book Report – Metalcraft and Jewelry by Emil Kronquist
Reading old jewelry manuals makes me so grateful that I make jewelry in an era where I have regular access to electricity. Like, how did metalsmiths 100 years ago work in their studio in a manic artsy phase until after midnight without electric light? How many candles did it take to spend all night in…
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The dos and don’ts of putting in a new nose ring
Do: Gently twist your hoop closed. You can use your fingers, but thicker gauges might require a pair of needle-nose pliers, or it might require going to a professional piercer for a jewelry change. Call ahead to a reputable local piercer and find out if they offer jewelry changes. Some places charge a nominal fee…