Handmade Jewelry Blog | Photography Blog | Laura S. James

Jewelry Sensitivity is no joke...and zero fun. Why does it occur?

After being in the Jewelry business for the past 15 years, I have come across more customers with Earring Allergies than I can count! I feel your pain... I also have a significant earring sensitivity.

The bottom line is this:

Metals often are mixed with a base metal. Even metals like 14 Karat Gold are only truly 58.5% gold... which means that there is a lot of "base metal" mixed in. With Nickel being a common base AND irritant for people, it is often the culprit.

What about those 14k Gold Earrings that didn't bother you for 10 years... but suddenly you have developed an allergy to? Well...metals do break down over time and use. So, after years of wear and tear from sweat, chlorine, etc, that 14k Gold is wearing down to the base metal...the culprit that causes the allergy.

So...What to Do?!
Well, aside from having to have your posts or ear wires switched out to (rarely available) Niobium, Titanium or Stainless Steel options...here is an option I found out about that has gotten rave reviews called Jewelry Shield.

How it works: basically, the silicone coating goes on like nail polish. They say you just coat the metal, wait 6-12 hours for it to dry, then voila!.

Earring Allergy option with Jewelry Shield on the Laura James Jewelry blog

It has over 614 amazon reviews...I am game for trying it out! You?

Before you have to forego all of those fabulous earrings you wish you could wear...maybe Jewelry Shield is the answer we've all been looking for!

Amazon has it right here for those of you who can't wait to see if it works for you. :)

It's supposed to works on rings, bracelets and necklaces too. Let me know if you give it a shot...and whether it works for you or not -I know I am ordering a bottle today! Here's to easily wearing Earrings in 2022 :).

xox, Laura

*post contains amazon affiliate links

The Creative Brain

There is nothing more fun to me than being in the "Zone".

The feeling of creative flow for me is just like no other! When I am in this space, I can and only want to create all day long. Inevitably, I do have to stop at some point to take care of the people in my life...but, at times I really think I could just keep going for days! Especially because this state of mind isn't always readily available.

Creatives can be lauded for their talents, but what so many people don't know is that it can take days or weeks (or longer!) for a single creative idea to come through. These are the times when I get out rather than try to push through. I look for inspiration in other mediums like visiting the local art gallery or simply just getting outside. Nature and Architecture are both are huge sources of inspiration for me, and luckily are all around.

When I recently returned from a nice long sabbatical to the Beach, it was completely necessary that I took that break. I didn't even try to think about creating. I was just soaking up the sun, the sand, the salt, my daughter and my family. It was amazing. But, it was eventually time to return to my craft.

Now, here I am, finally caught up at last with my life that was on hold while I was away... and I had maybe my most creative idea in a very long time. I am really just so excited with the direction my mind went this week when I looked at a tray of semiprecious Watermelon Tourmaline and Aquamarine stones. I have had these stones for...ages. I have not known what I was going to do to really showcase their beauty, until this week.

There is nothing more fun to me than being in the "Zone".

Introducing...my latest Semiprecious Bar Collection!

What do you think? Just plain yummy, right?!

I am so glad I took that break so that my brain could come up with these fresh new designs. Available very soon...just in time for the Holidays :).

Stay tuned, and thanks for reading!

xo-Laura