Handmade Jewelry Blog | Photography Blog | Laura S. James

Sensitive Ears? Here's A Fix!
Nov 19, 2022
Written by laura james
Filed under 14k gold allergy, blogger jewelry, charlotte jewelry deisgner, earring allergy, earring allergy solution, earring sensitivity, earrings that irritate, gold allergy, gold allerty, help for irritated ears, hypoallergenic earrings, irritated ears, irritation from earrings, jewelry allergy, jewelry barrier, jewelry blogger handmade, jewelry sensitivity, jewelry sheild, jewelry shield, jewelry tutorial blog, laura james jewelry, laura james jewelry blog, metal allergy fix, nickel allergy, nickel allergy earrings, nickel allergy sufferer, sensitive ears, solution for metal allergy, vintage jewelry blog, what to do for itchy ears, why do my ears get irritated

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

These Are A Few of My Favorite Things

Favorite Jewelry Staples from Laura James Jewelry

Over the years, I have found that one of the main questions I am most asked is..."what is your favorite piece of jewelry that you own?"

For me, this is a hard one to answer! Pretty much each piece of jewelry that I own is special to me for its own reason. It marks certain occasions like birthdays or graduations, or the giver was special to me...or it may have marked a time of success in my life and I purchased it to reward myself.

Whatever the reason, each piece has its own special story.

This photo above shows a few of my current faves...the pieces I pretty much rarely take off these days.

The channel set diamond band was a very special gift from my husband to celebrate the birth of our daughter, Lila Lewellyn three years ago... I love that it keeps her near me all day long and I wear it next to my wedding band.

This delicate, rose gold necklace with the bezel set solitaire stone is something I recently created and added to my jewelry line as an answer to an everyday necklace you could wear from the Yoga studio to the Pool. A piece with a little sparkle that you could layer with your other necklaces...and not have to take it off for any reason. As a result, I rarely am without mine!

And, of course, this framed photo as we exited our wedding reception nearly 12 years ago. Not an actual piece of jewelry, though the frame is so pretty it should be! A wonderful reminder of the excitement we felt, the elation of being with all of our loved ones that came so far to see us wed, and the anticipation of what lay before us in the new life we would be building together.

Like a song, photographs and jewelry are closely tied together for me. They are my memory markers that I can always rely on whenever I want to take that trek down Memory Lane.

What are your jewelry staples and why?

xox-Laura

Vacation State of Mind
Nov 15, 2019
Written by laura james
Filed under artisan jewelry blog, beach blogger, beach inspiration, beach jewelry, beach photography, beach photos, boho jewelry blog, charlotte, charlotte blog, destin, destin beach photography, Destin florida, diy blogger, florida blogger, florida photo, girl blogger, handmade, jewelry blog, jewelry blogger, jewelry blogger for handmade, jewelry blogger handmade, jewelry blogger in charlotte, jewelry blogger north carolina, laura james jewelry, laura james jewelry blog, laura james photography, ocean inspiration, ocean jewelry, ocean photo, ocean photos, photo inspiration, travel minded, vacation blog, Vintage Jewelry, vintage jewelry blog, vintage jewelry blogger

Vacation State of Mind

Photography by Laura James of Laura James Jewelry

photo taken by Laura James

Nothing refreshes me quite like a visit to the Ocean. Specifically, a very clear blue Ocean with sugar white sand! I frequent our family Florida retreat as much as I can, soaking up the relaxation and inspiration so that I can emerge fresh, renewed, and ready to tackle what's next. It's really the only way for me!

I loved pulling out my camera to capture this shot at Sunrise this morning. The mix of colors was just what I was hoping for. I am continually inspired by the Ocean and the Beach! It was also fun to vary from my normal Product photography to Landscape photography. It's always nice to try a new route :)...I am already counting down the minutes till the Harvest Moon tonight to see what I can capture!

Where's your Vacation State of Mind?

"Extra Special" is The Jewelry Trend
Mar 16, 2018
Written by laura james
Filed under art is jewerly, art jewelry trend, art jewerly, artisan jeweler, artisan jewelry, artisan jewerly, charlotte, charlotte blogger, charlotte fashion blogger, charlotte jewelry blog, collectors jewelry, etsy designer, etsy jewelry, etsy jewerly, extra special jewelry, extra special trend, handmade jewelry, james jewelry, jewelry blog, jewelry blogs, jewelry design blog, jewelry designer, Laura James, laura james designer, laura james jewelry blog, local jewelry blog, local jewelry blogger, one of a kind jewelry, statement jewelry trend, vintage jewelry, vintage jewelry blogs

"Extra Special" is The Jewelry Trend

Year after year we swing back and forth from "SILVER is the new Gold!" or "Delicate Jewelry is IN for Spring!" however, this trend is the one I am most excited about. In fact, to me, it's not a trend at all. It's just finally gained more momentum because Art Jewelry is now more available and important than ever before.

Art translates in a very different way from a Trend...it's personal. Like a painting that grabs you the moment you see it, that's is what we're talking about- that "Extra Special" jewelry trend.

It's Attachment. Jewelry that speaks to you when you see it. Moves you. Maybe it's a sentimental piece, maybe it was made by someone that you know...or maybe it's a reason you can't even explain.

Here are a few examples of jewelry that speaks to me:

Carved Gemstone Rings by Jade Jagger

Enamel Earrings

A Vintage French Buckle Ring

Monica Sordo Stone Choker

Gold Gryphon Cuff Bracelet by Sopho Gongliashvili

And there ya have it...a few of the many Extra Special pieces of jewelry out there that inspire me. That I would love to have...That I will keep on my running Wish List!

How about you? What are some pieces of jewelry that move you?

xox-

Laura

Jewelry Trends from the Runway at Fashion Week

"Statement necklaces, arm cuffs, art school earrings and raw stones all made an impact on the runway this Fashion Week." Vogue

*

It's always interesting to me to see how a Jewelry Trend starts on the Runway as a fantasy and emerges later as a staple! Trends may come and go, but they often do find their way down the chain, eventually, and I am going to have fun seeing where these Jewelry trends pop up this year...

MINERAL JEWELRY
Agates, Druzy, Stalagmite Crystals...a Mineral Jewelry moment is my favorite trend! I have been juxtaposing shiny objects with a touch of these rough, organic minerals in my own jewelry collections since the beginning:

Mineral Jewelry Trend on the Laura James Jewelry Blog

ARTY EARRINGS
Do you also love a big, bold statement earring?! This trend gives added leeway, so you can go out on a limb without a worry:
Arty Statement Earring Jewelry Trends on the Laura James Jewelry Blog

DELICATE CHOKERS
Finally, we're downsizing those 3" chokers of yesteryear and trading Goth for Glam with these wispy, delicate options:
Delicate Chokers Jewelry Trend on the Laura James Jewelry Blog

STATEMENT NECKLACES
They're here (did they ever leave?!) and they pack a punch...especially with their Pendants:

Runway Trends and Statement Necklaces on the Laura James Jewelry Blog

Now, I can't leave out the UFO Jewelry trend! That's right, there is such a thing. Think TOTAL FANTASY when you see this extremely Avant-Garde jewelry:

Fantasy Jewelry Trends from Fashion Week on the Laura James Jewelry Blog

That's a wrap for today! Now, quick, go through your own jewelry collection and see what's trending...or pick up a new piece or two. :)

xox-Laura James

photos courtesy of Vogue Magazine