Hot summer days are the perfect time to show off your jewels: who doesn't love accessorizing a great sundress with a colorful statement necklace or highlighting a sun-kissed glow with layers of silver or gold chains? Unfortunately, summertime can also be a hazard to your jewellery. Read on for some tips on what to watch out for, and how to keep your favorite pieces sparkling this summer:
1. Sunscreen, sweat and bug spray, oh my! All of these elements can be hard on your jewellery, causing metals to discolor and tarnish over time, and can dull and erode gemstones. Be sure to put your jewellery on post-sunscreen application and if it's going to be an especially sticky day in the sun, keep accessories to a minimum / at home, or opt for earrings, which reside away from slick skin.
2. Bathing beauty. Be sure to take off your jewels before hitting the ocean or pool. Chlorine and saltwater are big no-no's for your jewellery, so strip down (though leave your suit on, 'kay?) before taking a dip.
3. Summertime is travel time. When you're hitting the road on a holiday, keep these considerations in mind when packing your jewellery for a trip. Plus, check out my guide on what jewellery items to bring for a well-rounded accessories line-up for your vacation.
4. Maintenance is key. Post-wear, gently wipe clean your jewellery with a soft, damp cloth, before putting it away. This will help remove any build up or residue on your pieces, keeping them sparkling.
5. Cheap and chic. While I'm a big believer in investing in timeless and high quality jewellery designs, sometimes a girl needs accessories that can withstand a bit of wear and tear and that won't break your heart if they end up lost or ruined. Colorful woven friendship bracelets are a fun way to add a bright pop to your look, without the risk you run wearing fine jewellery.
Pinky swear you'll be good to your jewels this summer??
Happy Friday, Friends! As a follow-up to last week's post, I wanted to share a few more travel related jewellery tips with you, as well as a round-up of some great jewellery travel cases.
Keeping your suitcase sorted while traveling can be a bit of a challenge, so you'll want to make sure your jewellery is kept in an easy to access, well-organized place. These cases will also help protect your favorite pieces from any leaks or spills in your bag, from getting tangled, or worse - ending up lost.
1. Leather monogrammed jewellery roll; $60 at redenvelope.com
2. Quilted jewellery roll; $25 at potterybarn.com
3. Patterned jewellery roll; $25 at bedbathandbeyond.com
4. Jewellery organizer clutch; $32 (on sale) by Vic & Albie - available at etsy.com
5. Rigid jewellery case; $50 at nordstrom.com
6. Jewellery travel box; $23
(on sale)- by Wolf Design -
available at wayfair.com
Of course, if you're only bringing a few pieces on your trip with you, you can always resort to storing your items in small ziploc bags and tucking them into their own pouch in your make-up bag. As unglamorous as it may sound, small clear bags are a great way to keep your items untangled and tarnish-free, while allowing you to easily see what's what. Check out my full post here, for more on this!
Finally, bear in mind where you're traveling to, and activities you'll be doing when planning what jewellery to bring. While I'm all for packing a few fun items of jewellery for a city holiday or European getaway, it might not be a smart move to bring your bling if you're going to be hiking in the Rockies, or traveling in a country where your items aren't going to be safe.
As always, thanks for reading, and have yourselves a lovely weekend!
Hey there friends!
Today I want to share my secrets on how to tackle one of the most common jewellery grievances - tangled, knotted jewellery. While a mess of earrings and necklaces in your jewellery box is one thing, trying to un-knot a delicate chain is another headache all together! Despite my own efforts to be careful with my designs, I still find myself faced with an "impossible knot" more often than I'd care to share.
Recently, I thought it would be a good idea to put not two, but four delicate necklaces that I had made, into the same bag -- just for the short-term. Of course, when I went to find them their own homes, they had somehow migrated into one giant, tangled mess - those suckers really have lives of their own, I tell ya! That problem solved itself after about 30 minutes and two sets of hands - both mine and the boyfriend's - in what devolved into a very special form of couple's therapy. Truly - if you want to test your relationship's patience, try doing something really pain-staking and tedious together. But anyways, I digress, and luckily, my guy is far more even-keeled than I am.
While there isn't a magic bullet that will solve all of your jewellery knot woes, here are a few of my own secrets, to ensure both your sanity - and of course, jewellery - remains unscathed, the next time your jewellery ends up in knots:
1.) Don't start when you're rushed. I know, I know - you reaaaallly wanted to wear that necklace to the dinner party you're due at in five minutes, but trust me - unless it's a simple job - you will work much more efficiently when you're not pressed for time.
2.) Easy does it. Despite the temptation to just tear the sucker apart, you are much less likely to damage your jewellery if you're careful not to pull or tug at the knot.
3.) Mind over matter. Yes, this will make me sound like a mother telling her kids that loading the dishwasher is a game, but think of untangling chain like solving a puzzle. There is a solution, as impossible as it may seem - it's sometimes just a matter of patience, and thinking through the problem a bit before just aimlessly going to town.
4.) The Pin Trick. This is my favorite of the bunch! If you have a super tricky knot that you can't un-work with your fingers alone, take a safety pin, or stick pin, and gently push it through the center of the knot. Be careful not to accidentally put the pin into a link in the chain, but rather, the knot itself. Then, gently wiggle the pin until you can create a big enough gap in the knot to pull it apart.
5.) Take a breather. If all else fails, walk away, my friend. There's really no need to curse and stomp your feet over this one. Ask someone else to take a go at the knot, or go back to it when you're feeling fresh.
Finally, to hopefully reduce the number of horrible-tangled-knotted-messes in future, here are a few preventative tips:
1.) Store items separately from one another, either in different jewellery box compartments, or tiny plastic bags (psst! check out my post here on another reason why plastic bags are great for jewellery!)
2.) Never throw items haphazardly in your purse or bag. If you remove items at the gym or on the go, assign them their own pocket, or safe space.
3.) If you must leave your jewels out on a dresser or nightstand, lay them out nicely rather than dropping them in a pile. That way when you go to put them back on, you can be sure they won't be tangled up.
Do you have any tricks for untangling jewellery or keeping your jewellery stored safely? Leave a comment below and tell me your tips - I'd love to hear them!
Hello lovely readers!
Today I thought I would take a moment and say a few words about caring for your favorite jewels. I was inspired to write this post after getting a call from one of my customers who was very sad to report that one of her bracelets from my collection had broken. I told her I would be happy to repair the piece for her and was thrilled to hear how much she loved this particular piece. Very much, she answered, "though I guess I probably shouldn't wear it to bed." Oh dear...
Can I just say, ladies, please don't wear your favorite jewellery to bed! Okay, your wedding rings I can make exception for, but really, if you want your pieces to live a long and happy life - and not strangle yourself with your necklace while sleeping - it's really not the best idea. I have one girlfriend who told me she loves one of her Keltie Leanne Designs necklaces so much, she wears it in the shower (just, no...don't do that). So, a few words on this topic:
1.) Gemstones are delicate! - some of them are quite soft, and if faced with certain stressors they can discolor, or fracture or dull. I'm not saying to keep your jewellery under lock and key, but unnecessary elements like soap, excessive sunlight, water (especially chlorinated pool or saltwater) are just, well, unnecessary. Same goes for metals, like gold fill and sterling silver. Check out my post here, on a simple jewellery storage trick to keep your pieces in tip top shape.
2.) If you wear your jewellery while playing sports, sleeping or otherwise engaging in er, frisky behavior, they are liable to get damaged. So take a minute and leave that pretty gemstone pendant in your locker when sweating it out at the gym.
3.) Handmade and high quality materials does not mean invincible. Yes, we take every step necessary to ensure that Keltie Leanne creations are resilient and will last under normal wear and tear. But this does not mean that that long, delicate chain necklace you love so much, can withstand the same sort of abuse that a more sturdy accessory, like a metal cuff, might handle. Remove scarves with care (I've heard a couple of sad scarf vs. necklace stories lately, and let's just say that scarf won), and un-do the clasps on your bracelets rather than rolling them over your hand to remove them - even if it fits.
4.) The backings that come with your earrings are not just "part of the packaging" (as one customer mistakenly thought). All of our earrings come with a pair of backings that we suggest wearing, to help prevent losing them. You can also pick up a package for a few dollars at your local bead or craft store - Country Beads on West 4th in Vancouver carries them.
So how are your own jewellery care habits measuring up? Do you treat your favorite pieces with love, or do you have your own jewellery neglect stories you'd care to share?
PS - One time I lost one of my all-time favorite sterling silver bracelets...only to find it one year later in the washing machine door sealant. Surprisingly, it was not as clean as you might imagine.
