Safety Rules or Suggestions

Safety in the studio, office or even our homes should always be a priority. We often take it for granted and don’t really think about that flying piece of wire or glass, that torch just used for flame work, the squeaky half broken chair, not using the magnifying glasses when needed, and most of all just being aware of our surroundings and keeping track what we are doing and where we are going.

With this in mind I’ve compiled a few ‘rules’ for safety in the studio, office or even in our homes. I’ve heard/learned them in classes and books and put them down as ‘Rules of Safety’.

·Wear Safety Glasses – It is less expensive to replace a pair of safety glasses than it is your own eyes. Safety glasses will protect your eyes from flying objects and wondering wires. Safety glasses come in a variety of styles, colors and prices. Check your local hardwood store for a pair.

·Wear a Mask – If you are working with chemicals or paints of any type, make sure to wear a protective mask. Also, work in a well ventilated area and take breaks to get out of the smell and into fresh air. Check your local hardware store for different kinds.

·Prevent Eye Strain – For those artists working with wire, thread, and small objects, wear or work under a magnifying device to prevent eyestrain. Remember to look away often and rest your eyes, take a break every half hour or so.

·Good Posture – To avoid an aching neck and/or back, use good posture at your workspace. Sit straight, hands resting in an “L” or 90 degrees and feet flat on the floor. This should help with strain to your neck, shoulder and wrists. Also, remember to get up and walk around about every hour to relieve any back and neck tension.

·Stretch – Take time to stretch your hands, fingers, wrists, neck, shoulders, legs, and back every chance you get. Do this every couple of hours to keep circulation flowing and to help from getting cramps or numbness.

·Use Common Sense - Safety is common sense in your workspace. Keep track of what you are doing and don’t work with sharp objects when you are distracted or overly tired.

There are a lot more, but these should get you started on the road to thinking of your own list of 'Safety Rules/Suggestions' in your studio, classroom, office or home!

Product Review: Jewelry Designer Manager Software

Disclaimer: This is an independent product review based on our own research and experiences. We are in no way affiliated with the company or its agents

Some of the most common questions that are asked of me; ‘How do you keep track of all your inventory and materials?’ ‘How do you figure sales and labor prices?’ There is only one answer that I give to these types of questions, “I use the Bejeweled Jewelry Designer Manager Software.”

I have been using this software for about 2 years now and find that it is the most comprehensive on the market today. Recently, I needed technical support and receive quick and friendly service from their support department.

This software comes in several levels; Standard, Pro, and Deluxe versions. I use the Pro version as it suites my needs; however my in-laws use the Deluxe version in their jewelry business because of the extended features. For anyone who is just looking for a way to track all their inventory and raw materials, this is the software for them. It is easy to use, just load and register the software on your computer, then start using it. There is a simple easy to read and follow user manual; which goes over every aspect of the software package; which I highly recommend reading before using the software, it gives helpful hints.

The Standard version offers a user the ability to easily enter and track materials and inventory, create jewelry pieces and create and maintain customer and vendor information lists.

With the Pro version that I use, I can easily add/edit any of my jewelry parts (materials) and pieces; determine pricing by wholes, direct, or retail options, add in labor and other ‘overhead’ costs to my pricing, keep track of customer and vendor information and sales; write up invoices and Bills of Materials, and any reports that are pre-programmed into the software such as Customer Directory, Inventory Control, Purchases, and Reorder Lists. There is also a Maintenance section where you can setup any Program Defaults and Backup the Database.

The Deluxe version offers the same features but also include areas in consignment and print memos, links to QuickBooks Pro 2004-2008, print PDF options, print your logo and pictures on reports and more.

Want to know more, visit their website and take a tour to learn more about their products and services and to purchase this great software package.

Disclaimer: This is an independent product review based on our own research and experiences. We are in no way affiliated with the company or its agents.

Chrysocolla – What is it?

Chrysocolla is another one of Copper's crystal offspring. This hydrated Copper crystal has two distinct personalities. In its purest form, Chrysocolla is brittle, soft and unsuitable for jewelry and such, without undergoing enhancements. However, if silica is available to "agatize" a Chrysocolla specimen, the resulting crystal is an enchanting stone, hard enough to cut into jewelry, spheres and unique carvings. These Chrysocolla silicates are also known as gem silica.

Colors in Chrysocolla range from greenish blues, like Turquoise, to a Robin's egg blue in clear gem silica specimens. Like Azurite, Chrysocolla often occurs mixed with Malachite, Turquoise and the above, resulting in unusually beautiful gemstones.

Where is it found?
The stone forms after Copper deposits are diluted by hydrothermal solutions, often rich in silicates (Quartz) and other minerals. This material deposits in surface stones, where it is weathered away by rains and winds. Ultimately it leaches back into Mother finally crystallizing into Chrysocolla, as well as Turquoise, Malachite, Wulfenite, Azurite and dozens of other sedimentary gems.

Some of the finest specimens of Chrysocolla Gem Silica are found in the Arizona mines. The deposits in the Keystone mine were first discovered in 1905. Though Native Americans had mined similar material from nearby locations hundreds of years earlier.

It is believed that the Copper deposits that created this vast array of mineral and crystal specimens originated in the Arizona area between the middle of the Mesozoic era and the beginning of the Cenozoic. If you remember the history of Petrified Wood, at one time Arizona was a vast shallow sea that became buried. Eventually colliding land masses heaved plains into mountains, pushing the area's primal past back to the surface and creating ideal conditions for Copper to weather and recrystallize.

Similar occurrences of these Copper crystals are found in New Mexico and Sonora Mexico. Outside the US, Chrysocolla is also mined in Israel, Zaire, England, Russia, Namibia, Australia, Chile, Greece and China.

How it got it’s name?
The Greek roots of this gemstone's name seem to have little to do with the crystal itself. Chrysos is Greek for ‘old’ and ‘kolla’ means glue. Originally the term was applied to a substance used for soldering Gold. Not a single reference indicated how this name became stuck to the stone we call Chrysocolla.

Healing & Spiritual Properties
The healing properties of Chrysocolla are said to be used for easing heartache and stamina in health. For the inner self it provides wisdom, peace, love, communication, vitality and inner strength. It is an excellent gemstone used for meditations; holding a piece in your hand one could visualize peace and health emanating form the stone. It is also highly recommended for the treatment of arthritis and believed to have detoxifying properties as well as aid in digestion.

Reprint from Ore’s Featured Gemstones.

New Year Growing Pains

As Timeless Designs experiences growing pains, everything goes through development, expansion and upgrades. Our website and blog are no different and as a significant part of our business, we’ve spent some time working to create a website and blog that reflects Timeless Designs. We did research looking at all different kinds of websites, read numerous articles, books and gathered website developers-programmers-usability analysts insight and finally……we are ready to release our re-designed website!

Ushering in the New Year, we have done some significant re-design to both the blog and website. First, we launched the re-designed blog last week with a few miner changes. But today, we (nervously) begin the 1st week of January with the release of our newly re-designed website.

Some re-design highlights:
Softer background and easy to read text
Added a gallery on the front page – no more staple single pictures
Simpler navigation – we’ve combined, added and deleted a few buttons
Made it easy to find information such as policies and links
Links now have a few details added about each site
Revamped the tags and descriptions for better results in search engines
And more……….

Just like our jewelry, our website is an evolving entity and will continue to grow as does Timeless Designs.
So what are you waiting for, come on over and check things out --- we hope you like it, we sure do!