Care and Cleaning of your Classic Keepsakse Jewelry

All Classic Keepsakes fashion jewelry is hand crafted and delicate. The metals used are sterling silver.  14kgold filled.  Sterling Silver plated.  Antique Brass.  Gun Metal.  and Copper.  Each crystal is individually set . As a result, special care is required.

- Store your jewelry in the original packaging or a soft pouch to avoid scratches.
- Polish your jewelry frequently with a soft cloth to maintain its original, lustrous finish.
- Remove jewelry before washing hands, swimming, and/or applying products (e.g., perfume, hairspray, soap, or lotion), as this could harm the metal and reduce the life of the plating, as well as cause discoloration and loss of crystal brilliance.
- Put on jewelry last when dressing and take off first when undressing.
- Avoid contact with water as can loosen settings.

- Avoid hard contact (i.e., knocking against objects) that can scratch or chip the crystal.

- Avoid contact with chemicals.

 

Should your piece need cleaning, I recommend using luke warm water and a mild dish washing soap.  Pat the piece dry with a lint free cloth, and set aside to fully air dry before storing.  There are some nice sterling silver cleaners.  Due to the delicate nature of gemstones, pearls, and crystals, I do not recommend using sterling cleaners.  If  you have no choice, I would suggest sending the piece to me for cleaning.  I do not charge to clean your piece.  All you pay is shipping to and from my studio.

If you have any questions, please contact me at classickeepsakes@live.com.

Have a great weekend!  and Sparkle on!!!

 

Twitter Tips

What is the most important thing you can learn about Twitter??

When you Tweet, who sees it? 

Sounds simple, but you would be surprised how many tweeters don't know! Knowing who will see your tweet will help make sure your tweets get the most impact. My oldest and I have little contests to see how many clicks we can get on an item with our tweets. Pinterest works around the same concepts.

If you sent a tweet without any tagging, only your followers will see it.

If you send a tweet from Etsy's Button - your followers, and anyone watching @etsy will see it. (so usually other etsy sellers)

As soon as you add a #hashtag to something you can increase the amount of people that will see your tweet. #hashtags are the most important thing to add to your tweets. Even with no followers, if you add popular #hashtags, millions of people will see your tweet.

Every shop will have different #hashtags that will attract the most potential buyers. You can play around with this yourself, or if you would like some help coming up with some trendy #hashtags, let me know. 

Here are a few generic Etsy Shop #hastags that seem to do well.

#handmade #art #vintage #etsy 

Adding a theme helps too like #steampunk #shabbychic #frenchcountry #style #trendy #gifts #mothersday

I hope you find this helpful!!   

                       

Tru Blood Love

Maybe it's just that time of year, but for some reason, my inner Vampire is crying out.  I can completely understand the Twilight clan living in Washington.  It is the perfect home for the shadow lovers.  I have to admit, while I lived in South Carolina, much closer to the home of the Tru Blood Coven.  I was indeed burnt by the constant SUN (I was melting).  Being a lover of all things Gothic and Vampire related I thought I would share with you my top 10 most magnificent Vampires.

 

Here is my top 10 list.

Deadliest Vampire-  Vlad the Impaler

 

Creepiest - Count Orlok (Nosferatu)

Sexiest Vampire - Eric Northman

Tween Heart Throb - Edward Cullen

Bewitching Beautiful - Sonja

Most Human - Stephan Salvatore

Most Romantic - Bill Compton

Lady Killer - Aiden Turner

Loneliest -Louis de Pointe du Lac

Cutest - Count von Count

 

   There you have it.  I am sure there are LOTS more worthy and aspiring Vampires out there.  Perhaps my list shall grow, until then, be-careful who you invite into your home. *Wink*

 

 

How to be a Happy Business and deal with Slow Vendors

Trust me – this is a battle I fight daily.  No sooner do I find a reliable fast shipping vendor, and BOOMMMM  - I get hit with a molasses slow shipment.

As an artist, there is nothing worse then having your product listed, and not being able to get your hands on the raw materials.  I am seconds away from creating my own supply shop!!!  One you can count on delivery….  If you need it priority – It’s as good as in the mail.  Here I sit today.  I can’t tell you how many orders are waiting for sterling silver chain…..  My usual supplier is “out of stock” so I priority mail chain for 3 other suppliers.  None of which I have in hand….  The “holiday” has slowed them down….  Seriously????  Cause the holiday didn’t slow my buyers down!!!!  

Maybe the better question is, how much back stock is good for a small business.  Believe me when I say, I wrestle with this EVERYDAY!!!!!!  I have huge back stocks on items that seemed to be popular…then, a few days later, that all changed….  Now, no one wants those, they want something else!!!!  

Lesson learned…. Keep gazillion feet of sterling chain and wire….  Crystals you can find anywhere… you can get them faster from China then a warehouse 40 min from your home.  I try to always have at least one of everything I sell online in stock at all times.  But it seems that things sell in groups.  I will sell 5 necklaces of the same type in a week, then not one single one after.  I am not sure how to explain it, but trust me when I say, if I find out – you will ALL KNOW!!!  There is nothing worse than paying extra shipping costs to get things fast because your supplier is SLOW.

Ok, off soapbox and looking for a nice glass of wine and a pretty picture to look at…… Off into the sunset I walk....in a field of amazing flowers... vendor issues are all drifting off into a blur of unrecognizable business life....  Sweet scents of my favorite soaps and lotions call me into a dreamland I visit each night.  I bid you good night, and happy shopping (and shipping) in the morrow.  Luv ya!!!!