Sharon Zimmerman
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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
…Me: 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.Instagram: Would you like to see the FULL feed of people…
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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…
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Tool Talk – what is the best wax pen for jewelry designers?
Best is always a subjective term to describe jewelry tools. One person’s best tool can be a crap tool for another jeweler. If I leave you with no other information here, let it be that the “right tool” is the tool that’s right for you. Look, treat yourself to the $200 electric wax pen that…
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Top Tips to Support Your Favorite Small Businesses
If your favorite maker/designer has a blog *polite cough*, leave a comment!Subscribe to their newsletterLeave comments on their YouTube videos/subscribe to their YouTube channels. Again, *polite cough*Leave comments and likes on their social media postsReview them on Google (this really helps our small businesses look legitimate in Google searches)Re-post their social media posts (with attribution)Share…
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How To Design Jewelry – with or without planning
What Inspires You?At a show, presenting my jewelry with the best displays I can afford, dressed in sleek black, a smile slapped on my face to show how approachable I am (real talk – I am in fact very approachable). I get the dreaded question – “What inspires you?”
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Tool Talk! What are the best jewelry drill bits?
You thought I wouldn’t geek out over drill bits? Oh, my sweet summer child. Of course, I am going to geek out and geek out hard for my favorite drill bits. I love a small tool that makes a big difference in your quality of life and this drill bit with the wider base makes…
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Tool Talk! Quick Release Hand Piece
If you bought a Foredom Flex Shaft, then it likely came with a regular chuck key-operated handpiece. Screw it open, screw it closed. Each tool change in your flex shaft requires this step. But what if you could just press a lever and pull out one bit and pop the other one in? The quick-change…