Why I Don’t Like Adjustable Band Rings, But Why I’ll Forgive Them.

My aversion for adjustable band rings probably started with trips to the dentist. At the end of the experience, I was always allowed to pick a ring from the treasure chest of odds & ends which are appealing in a way that only small plastic toys can be to children. I already knew what I was going to pick — a thin plastic ring base with a glittering faux gemstone front & center.

Of course, the horrors of the dentist trip were quickly forgotten when the treasure chest came out — and replaced with another horror of a different kind — I could never find my ring size! The smallest of the ring bases were always hopelessly too big for my (probably size 2) fingers, and no amount of pinching & squeezing & adjusting ever ended in a perfect fit. Even at the smallest setting, the ring ends overlapped horribly & the ring sat lopsided on my too-tiny finger. Even at a young age, I knew that didn’t look good.

But I wouldn’t give up — I would carefully select the smallest ring I could find as my “prize” and squeeze it smaller until it eventually broke. I was determined: every dentist trip would mean I was 6 months older & maybe, just maybe, I would have 6 month’s bigger fingers.

Unfortunately for me, by the time I was old enough to properly fit these trinket rings the novelty of painted plastic had worn off & I had already decided I hated adjustable rings, anyway. But I had definitely fallen in love with rings!

Now that I design my own jewelry, I’m faced with the dilemma of adjustable rings once more. I can hold a grudge against dentist rings, but I can’t ignore the versatility & the appeal of an adjustable ring base: simply epoxy on anything  & you’re good to go! They make great novelty rings & are perfect for a little pop of color. They are also a good fit for use with plastic, wood or stone (since you can’t solder those!)

I’ve been on a kick with my adjustable ring bases & a certified boatload of polished agate slices.. which will be coming soon to my shop, sometime this June.

I think the best adjustable rings are the ones where the adjust-ability is incorporated into the design itself. Or, should I say: the truly best adjustable rings are those that you can’t even tell they’re adjustable, like this With Wings floating statement ring in oxidized brass (below). Made in your size, all it takes is a simple squeeze to tighten for the best fit. This is definitely not your standard adjustable ring 😉

This open front style ring is slightly adjustable & totally awesome.

Another style of adjustable ring that I am a fan of is the overlapping wrap design, which allows you to adjust the ring without destroying the look. Overlapping twist designs such as this vintage spoon ring (below), show off the versatility of the design. As you can see with this one, the same ring would look quite different in a size 9 than in a size 5 (shown).

Rings that are not closed can be easily adjusted with a little squeeze.

My best selling rings feature a brass wire band — made entirely by hand & sized exactly to fit your finger. This design, of course, takes a little bit (okay, a lot ;)) more time to create than simply attaching an adjustable ring backing, but I think the effect is worth it.

Solid brass bands are long-lasting, comfortable, & there’s no risk of pinching. Better yet, they’re attached with solder — not adhesive like most adjustable ring bases — so there is no risk of your ring falling apart!

But they do take time to produce & you know how much I hate to keep you waiting.. so I’m working on expanding my READY MADE ring section, which should soon be chock full of rings in all sorts of sizes, ready to ship. Win, win, right?

These are on special (sorta!) all June: one lucky shopper will WIN 5 mystery soldered statement rings in her size, just by purchasing a ring through my shop! I’ve picked a special date/time this month, and whichever ring order is placed closest to the winning time scores a fist full of Brilliance Found jewelry. As if you needed more motivation to buy, right? 😉

Which do you like best: adjustable bands or set size? The six-year-old in me is still full of grudges, apparently 😉

Fun with Oxidized Brass: Oversized Cactus Tree Earrings

One of the wonderful things about metal is how it reacts when treated. Brass & copper in particular are known for their reactions to chemicals & heat, which creates a rainbow of iridescent colors & textures.

Heat-treated brass shows off it's iridescent rainbow properties.

These cactus earrings started out as raw brass; you can still see some of the original golden metal color at the very top. After cleaning the brass to rid it from oil & dirt (a very important step if you want drastic results!)  I painted it with my torch flame, which creates the rainbow pattern shown here. Not quite satisfied with that, I treated these pieces by dipping them several times in a liver of sulfur bath. The result is incredible — a one of a kind finish, which fades from shiny gold at the top to matte charcoal grey at the bottom.

Of course, if you want the color to stay as vibrant as it is here, it’s important to seal the patina, so it doesn’t tarnish further.

Lately I have been in love with all things gold — brass included. It always amazes me how simply you can change the look of a ring with just a little bit of patina. Suddenly it becomes a completely new ring!

All of my patina’d metals are hand-oxidized with liver of sulfur & a lot of hot water. The liver of sulfur reacts with the raw brass & deepens the color the longer it sits in the water bath. Of course, this process is not permanent: oxidized brass can be cleaned & polished back up to a golden sheen with a little bit of work. Gently polishing the oxidized metal creates contrast in the raised areas & really makes the coloring pop!

Left unpolished, the oxidized brass takes on a deep matte gingerbread color, as seen above in my Fern Frond Wrap Ring. Polished brass shines much like gold. Which finish is your favorite?

Behind the scenes with Brilliance Found Jewelry: Working with Crystals & Rainbows.

I have been putting off sharing these pictures for long enough. You can see all the wonderful creations in store, but have you ever wondered where they come from? Let me show you!

Late last month I traveled to Thunder Bay, Ontario, where some of the best Amethyst in Canada is mined. I was able to hand-pick some brilliant small Amethyst crystals for jewelry making, and how could I resist snapping a picture of the full haul!

Me with Ilene & Clark Noyes & the jewels from their No Name Amethyst Mine

All of the rocks you see here are hand-mined by Clark Noyes in Pearl, Ontario. It is so exciting to see the raw crystals, still all covered in soil & dirt.The larger chunks can also be broken down into smaller crystals for use in jewelry. I was lucky enough to get some pre-broken crystal pieces, because I don’t think I could bring myself to taking a hammer to this one!

Look at this huge chunk of Amethyst! Mined from the No Name Amethyst mine in Pearl, Ontario.

Since I am in the process of moving, I had the Amethyst sent back to Vancouver, instead of here in Alberta. I have enough to pack, anyway! I can’t wait to get my shop set up in Vancouver so I can get started working with these gorgeous specimens. Of course, the one I’m holding here isn’t for sale.. it’s for my personal collection!

A huge THANK YOU to Ilene & Clarke Noyes for their generosity in allowing me to “shop” from the No Name Amethyst Mine! Don’t forget to check back later to see what I’ve turned these Amethyst crystals into.

Before & After: Rough Crystal Quartz points are top drilled for bails, and electroplated in silver

Undrilled crystals can be wire wrapped or electroplated to be worn as natural, beautiful jewelry. Judging by my store, you can probably tell I’m a fan of the electroplated quartz 😉 Electroplated crystals are formed by first plating the crystal with a base metal & then adding voltage & your top metal — in this case, sterling silver. The reaction solidifies a coating of silver or gold onto the crystal, while maintaining the original shape of the stone. I carry both gold & silver versions in my shop. They are very unique! Speaking of unique…..

Raw Crystal Quartz showing a flash of rainbow. I haven't quite decided what this one is going to be yet!

Quartz with rainbows are my favorite kind of crystals. Rainbows are actually contained fractures within the quartz crystal, which creates this brilliant layering of color. When light hits it just the right way, the full spectrum of color is visible. Viewed from any other angle, and it appears as a regular quartz crystal.  Most of the quartz I come across does not contain these little surprises, so I am always thrilled to come across one. The one pictured above has been sitting on my work bench for a little over a month yet — it is such an interesting shape, I’m not sure what to do with it.  I’m not sure if I’m ready to part with it yet, anyway!

Sunlight & Shadow: Little collection of finished & unfinished clear quartz crystals

But crystals aren’t all I get to play with, as a jewelry designer. I also get to stock up on all sorts of fun metals, such as 14kt Goldfill, Niobium, Titanium, Brass, Copper, Sterling… You can never have too many coils of wire when you’re a jewelry designer.

More wire & wire-working tool chest. Well, one of many.

Colored Coils: Kitchen table all covered in titanium, niobium, 14kt goldfill, sterling, copper, brass.. am I missing anyone?

Metallic Rainbows: Niobium wire coils in all the colors!

Niobium is naturally a dark grey color, but when hit with just the right voltage of electricity, it transforms into a glittering array of metallic tones. From left to right: Emerald, Sapphire, Blue purple, Purple, Red, Yellow, Dark blue & Slate. Not only is it gorgeous, but it’s also inert, which makes it perfect for those with metal allergies or sensitivities. And it comes in all shapes & designs, too, of course!

All that Glitters is Gold: White, Rose & Yellow in 14kt Goldfill.

And my latest splurge: 14kt Goldfill wire! Goldfill is a process in which pure 14kt gold is essentially welded to a metal base — in this case, brass. Goldfill is approximately 50-100 times thicker than regular goldplate, and does not wear down like goldplate, either. Instead, it has the added benefit of a brass base, which makes it stronger than plain 14kt gold (and less pricey, too!).

All of my wire designs can be made in your choice of sterling silver, niobium, titanium or 14kt goldfill. Aren’t choices grand?

So now you’ve seen the before.. let’s go explore the after, shall we?

Hypoallergenic Earrings in Titanium & Niobium now available!

Brilliance Found now offers non-reactive earrings for super sensitive ears! Be sure to check out the full collection in my Earrings > Hypoallergenic shop section.

Poppy Red Open Hoop Earrings in Titanium.

Do you have extreme metal allergies? Here’s your solution. Now you can dress up your ears without worrying about your metal sensitivities.

Titanium is a great material for sensitive ears. It is an element — you can find it on the periodic table — and it’s perfectly inert, so it won’t react with your skin. It does not contain any nickel. Titanium is often used in the medical industry for creating permanent implants, so you know it’s good for jewelry! It can be anodized to produce a rainbow of colors with a smooth matte finish.

Shown here, White Blossom Threader Earrings in Titanium.

Niobium can also be found on the periodic table & is just as great as titanium for your jewelry. It can also be anodized, so it’s available in the same full range of colors as titanium. The main difference between these metals is strength & finish. Niobium is shiner & softer than titanium.

Stylized Heart Hoop Earrings in Magenta Purple Niobium.

About anodizing: Anodizing is a process in which electricity is used to create a coating on a metal, such as titanium or niobium. Different colors can be created using different voltages. The process is permanent and will not flake or chip off.

Finally, a low maintenance, amazing metal for those with metal sensitivities!

Anodized niobium comes in a rainbow of shiny metallic colors. Here is the selection Brilliance Found offers: All wire jewelry can be created in any of these colors. Mmm, choices.

A) Emerald B) Turquoise blue C) Indigo D) Magenta purple E) Fire F) Olive yellow G) Midnight blue H) Taupe

Small catchless hoops in Niobium & your choice of size!

Sensitivity Free — Guaranteed!

As always, I stand behind my jewelry: All titanium & niobium earrings are covered under my 100% Satisfaction Guarantee! If you purchase a pair & they don’t work for you, I’ll give you your money back. Normally I don’t return earrings, but I am so sure these will work for your sensitive ears I’m willing to make an exception. And once you feel how comfortable they are, you’ll wonder why you didn’t try them sooner!

Check out the current selection on all titanium & niobium earrings here.

COMING SOON: Dangle add-on components for dressing up your hoop earrings!

Cleaning & Caring for your Jewelry

Keep your jewelry looking fresh with these simple jewelry cleaning ideas from Brilliance Found. I believe that you can do all your jewelry cleaning without using unnecessary chemical cleansers, and I’m going to tell you how. Polish up your jewelry with ingredients you can find in your kitchen or bathroom 🙂

CLEANING YOUR METAL JEWELRY

BRASS

1. Before cleaning your brass, check to make sure it’s actually brass. The easiest way is to use a magnet: brass isn’t magnetic, so if the magnet sticks, it’s not pure brass.
2. Wash the piece with warm, soapy water first. This will remove any dirt, oil or buildup on the jewelry & make it easier to clean.
3. Pick your cleaner. You don’t need any professional cleansing tools, you can head to the kitchen and find natural products to use. Vinegar or any tomato-based product works well (tomato sauce, ketchup, etc). The acids in these products eat away at the tarnish, and will return the piece to it’s original bright shine. Cleaning can be done by soaking or gently rubbing.
4. Rinse well with water after use. If you forget this step, the acids will be left on your brass & will continue eating it away! Not good for your jewelry-loves.
5. Dry completely before wearing or storing.
6. To maintain a solid polish, wipe gently with a jewelry cleaning cloth or any soft rag.
7. Unfinished (raw) brass will continue to develop a patina as it’s exposed to air, so it is best to apply a sealer if you’d like to maintain the bright brass finish on a more longterm basis.

COPPER

1. Copper can be easily cleaned through soaking.
2. Simply soak your copper pieces in lemon juice to remove tarnish & restore the original bright raw copper finish!
3. Rinse well after soaking, to ensure that no acid is left on the piece.
4. Lemon juice & salt can be mixed and used as a scrub for heavily-tarnished pieces. Be careful not to get this mixture into any cuts though; it burns! (And always remember to rinse!)
5. Dry the piece completely before wearing or storing.
6. Polished pieces can maintain their shine by wiping with a jewelry polishing cloth, or a soft rag.
7. Please note that copper will continue to tarnish as it is exposed to air; for longer shininess, please store your jewelry pieces in a sealing plastic bag.

STERLING SILVER

1. Sterling silver is a soft material, and can be easily scratched if cleaned with harsh abrasive chemical cleansers.
2. You can clean your sterling silver using readily-available products you have around your house! Try using baking soda. Make a paste with the powder & some water. Coat your jewelry with this mixture and gently polish off, using lots of water.
3. After any cleaning treatment, make sure to rinse completely.
4. Dry fully before storing or wearing.
5. Maintain the fresh sterling glow by using a jewelry polishing cloth, or a soft rag.
6. The copper content in sterling silver is what makes it oxidize so quickly when exposed to the air. To slow down this oxidizing (tarnishing) process, store your jewelry in a sealed plastic bag.

GOLD & GOLD-FILL

1. The quickest way to polish up your gold jewelry is by using a toothpaste scrub.
2. Use a dab of toothpaste, & a soft toothbrush (if cleaning a chain or something with detailed groves) & lots of water.
3. Gently scrub your jewelry with this paste, while continuing to use a large amount of water.
4. Rinse fully & dry completely before wearing or storing.
5. As always, it is best to store your jewelry in a sealed plastic bag in order to slow the tarnishing process.

SURGICAL STEEL, TITANIUM & NIOBIUM

1. Surgical steel jewelry does not tarnish, but it may get dirty after being worn or stored for extended periods of time.
2. The simplest way to clean surgical steel is with warm, soapy water. Dish soap works well.
3. Remember to rinse well after washing & dry fully before storing.

PLATED METALS (Gold-plated, Silver-plated, Antique brass-plated, Antique copper-plated)

1. Plated metals are made by electroplating a thin coating of metal over a base metal (usually copper, brass, iron, zinc or nickel). This process creates a finish that looks great, but isn’t as durable as their pure-metal counterparts. Therefore, it’s important to take care when cleaning these metals to not remove this plated coating.
2. Plated metals are best cleaned with warm soapy water (dish soap is recommended).
3. Do not use any harsh chemical cleansers or abrasive cleansers on your plated jewelry as these cleansers may cause the plating to chip or wear off.
4. Rinse fully after cleaning & dry completely before wearing or storing.
5. Plated metals can retain their shine for longer when kept in a sealed plastic bag when not in use.
6. Never soak your plated jewelry for extended periods of time; doing so may weaken the electroplating finish.

ORGANIC MATERIALS

STONE

1. Like polymer clay, stone is also a porous (hole-filled) substance. In order to preserve the unique look of your stone jewelry, it is important to clean it carefully.
2. I recommend wiping stone jewelry with a damp rag or soft cloth.
3. When using water with your stone, be careful! Wet stone is very slippery, and stone can shatter or chip if dropped.
4. Avoid using harsh chemical cleansers on your stone, as some may cloud the surface of the stone.
5. Avoid using abrasive cleansers on your stone as it may scratch the finish.
6. Make sure to dry completely before storing or wearing your stone jewelry.
7. Avoid getting your jewelry dusty by storing it in a sealed plastic bag.

WOOD & COCONUT

1. Wood is an organic material, and should be cleaned carefully.
2. Avoid submerging your wood jewelry in water, or getting wet. Wood can warp if soaked & dried.
3. The easiest way to restore shine to your wood jewelry is by wiping with a soft rag and/or polishing with a bit of natural wax (try beeswax).
4. When polishing your wood with wax, it’s important not to use any plant-based wax (jojoba, etc) as these waxes have a shelf-life & can cause your wood to become rancid eventually. Gross 😦
5. Wood jewelry can be kept longer by storing in an air-tight plastic bag, or out of dusty areas.

FEATHERS

Feathers can get flattened & compacted through storage & travel. They can easily retain their original fullness by following the below instructions.

1. Always treat feathers gently.
2. Blowdry or dust lightly to remove dust-buildup.
3. Use a soft damp cloth to wipe the feathers if necessary. Always wipe in the direction of feather-growth to maintain the shape of the feather.
4. Use a dry soft toothbrush to comb your feathers to maintain proper shape.
5. Flattened feathers can be fluffed up by steaming over tea kettle or pot of boiling water. Steam briefly until desired level of fluffiness is achieved. Feathers can be gently blowdried in the direction of growth after.
6. Feathers are best packed loosely, & with mothballs (if being stored).
7. Dyed feathers (as evident by their bright colorings) should not get wet, as this may cause their color to run.

GLASS

1. Glass items can easily be cleaned using soapy water, or wiped with a soft damp rag.
2. Pure glass items can be soaked in warm soapy water to remove dirt & debris.
3. Be careful when mixing glass with water, as soapy glass is very slippery & can break or shatter if dropped!
4. Dry fully before storing or wearing.

PLASTICS & INORGANIC MATERIALS

POLYMER CLAY

1. Polymer clay is a porous substance (has microscopic holes when baked), and therefore should never be cleaned with harsh chemicals as these can be stored within the material.
2. The best way to clean polymer clay is by wiping with a damp cloth.
3. For stubborn dirt, use a soapy damp cloth. It is not advisable to soak the clay in water.
4. Make sure the surface is wiped clean from any soapy residues after cleaning.
5. Dry fully before wearing or storing.
6. Polymer clay is best stored covered, but not air-tight (for example, a jewelry box, drawstring bag or gift box).

LUCITE

1. Lucite jewelry is often secured using glue. It’s important to clean these jewelry pieces carefully to ensure your jewelry stays in one piece! Harsh chemicals can eat away at the glue bond & should definitely be avoided.
2. NEVER soak your lucite. Soaking can destroy the glue.
3. Wipe gently with a soft damp cloth. You may use soapy water & a rag to clean extremely dirty plastic pieces.
4. Avoid contact with glued areas & water, soap or any other cleansing material.
5. Dry off your jewelry completely before wearing or storing.
6. Plastic & lucite can be kept clean & dust-free by storing in a sealed plastic bag.

RECYCLED FELT & FABRIC

1. With these items, it’s more important to keep them clean in the first place, because they’re a little more difficult to clean once you do.
2. Store your felt & fabric pieces carefully, in a sealed plastic bag when not in use.
3. Small stained areas can be spot cleaned, using a damp rag & a gentle cleanser.

If you’re wondering about how to care for any other of your Brilliance Found jewelry creations, leave a note in the comments section & I’ll add to this tutorial.

New options for those with metal allergies! Hand-crafted niobium ear wires.

Hand-forged ear wires made of copper colored niobium wire

If you’re allergic or metal-sensitive, you’re going to love this.

Niobium is an inert metal — it’s actually an element. It’s about as pure as you can get, in terms of content. If you’re the type who can’t wear sterling silver or kt gold, this is your answer. It’s available in stock in ten fun colors, and it’s anodized, not plated. That means this color won’t wear away, and won’t chip off.

And the best part? All hook-style earrings in my shop can be upgraded to these niobium ear wires. Now, that’s Brilliant.

Available in 10 colors, you can be sure to find your perfect color match — to match any mood, outfit, or earrings!

Mmm, niobium: The metal-sensitivity solution.

After the Vancouver vacation, I’ll be designing some more earring styles made of niobium. Don’t forget to check back to see what I have in store 🙂

Happy Holidays, World!

Finally finished all my school classes for my degree program! Actual graduation doesn’t come for a while still, but with the school work finished I’m already feeling graduated. Yay! Now, back to the Brilliance!

I say hi.

We have officially past the deadline for ordering Brilliance Found Jewelry for your holiday gifts. Tragic, isn’t it? For those procrastinators out there, I’ll point you in the direction of my Brilliant Gift Certificates, which are of course valid for anything in store. They’re available in $25 increments starting at $25 and going up to $100. Your gift card recipient will receive either an email copy, or a paper copy, depending on your preference.
These cards feature FREE Giftwrap & Giftcard, so when they’re redeemed your recipetient will receive an oh-SO pretty package with even prettier jewelry within it.

Keep checking back, because I’ll be releasing All New jewelry styles & designs towards the end of this month. To keep updated on the latest developments, be sure to join us on facebook.

December’s Up-And-Coming Treats:

• Create-your-own Earring Kits
• Large gauge polymer clay & stainless steel Ear Art
• The Crystal Collection: Amethyst, Citrine & Quartz; oh my! Raw stones mixed with precious metals; what more could you want?

Also, in the new year I will be re-launching my website & opening a blog chock-full of tutorials, reviews & wordiness. Keep in touch!

New for November from B,Found.

The Runway Set: Limited Edition from Brilliance Found

Let’s celebrate November with abstract statement necklaces from Brilliance Found.

Lots more in store. Check it out. It’s really quite exciting.

New Items Just Posted!

Antique Bow Necklace with Silk.

Polymer Clay Art Pendant on Sterling

Felted Flowers

All this, and more, in store at Brilliance Found.