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Timeless Tidbits

Preparing for Your First Holiday Season After Losing a Love One

11/10/2022

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They say that "holidays are the most wonderful time of the year", but if you have recently lost a loved one, it can be really difficult getting through your first holidays without them.  Grief doesn't end just because the calendar shows a specific date.  That’s why it may be helpful to prepare yourself for a holiday season that will be different.

My hope is that the following ideas help bring you some comfort as you begin preparing to face your first holiday season without your loved one.
 
BE KIND TO YOURSELF
First and foremost, you need to be kind to yourself during this difficult time.  Prioritize your mental health by slowing down and giving yourself the space to feel your emotions.  Know that your grief may appear unexpectedly as you are reminded of your loved one and that it is okay to pause any festivities for as long as you need to process what you’re feeling.

FIND COMFORT IN FAMILY TRADITIONS
Many of us find comfort by partaking in family traditions.  Performing the same rituals your loved one enjoyed, like decorating the tree or yard, baking their favorite Christmas cookies, or watching their favorite Christmas movie, can help you continue to feel close to their spirit.  You can also help their legacy live on by teaching these traditions to a new generation of family members.

START A NEW TRADITION
Along with the familiar traditions from years past, new ones can help you honor and stay connected to a Loved One who is no longer with you.  Consider starting a new tradition of visiting their grave before attending a holiday church service with your family or inviting a new friend to join in at a meal at your home in their place.

KEEP A PHYSICAL REMINDER OF THEIR PRESENCE
When we lose a Loved One, sometimes the only thing we want to do is hold them close again.  Memorial Keepsakes by A Timeless Impression can help create that tangible connection.  We offer items engraved with fingerprints, handwriting, pet keepsakes and more and the high quality deep engraving allows you to "feel" the details as you hold onto them.  







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ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR LOVED ONE

One way to help with the healing process is to acknowledge your loved one during your special holiday events.   Take a few moments to make a toast to your late Loved One or share your favorite holiday memories together with your guests.  

GIVE A GIFT IN THEIR NAME
One way to help your loved one’s legacy live on and spread some goodwill during the holiday season is to do something positive in their honor. You can make a donation in their name to their favorite charity or even give other grieving family members the gift of a Fingerprint Keepsake engraved with the detailed lines and grooves of your Loved One’s actual fingerprint so that they can feel comforted by their memory.

ALLOW YOURSELF TO FEEL JOY
Even in your grief, you can still find joy. Instead of feeling guilty for enjoying yourself, know that your Loved One would want that for you.  Allow yourself to appreciate the special moments and memories you are creating during this wonderful time of year.

SEEK SUPPORT IF YOU NEED IT
​There are people available for you to talk to and who will support you—even during the holidays.  Consider joining a grief support group in your area, meeting with a therapist, or simply grabbing a cup of coffee with an understanding family member or friend.  Always remember that you are not alone.

AND FINALLY, IT'S OKAY TO NOT CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS
Even though they are meant to symbolize comfort and joy, the holidays can be extremely hard after you have lost someone close to you.  It's ok to take a step back from the festivities this year if you need to.  You can choose to attend fewer gatherings, scale down your family celebration, or forgo all activities and focus on other projects or hobbies that help ease your heart and mind.

I understand that the holidays can be difficult, especially after a loved one has died. If you are grieving, please know that you have my most sincere sympathy and I hope that you can continue to feel comforted by your loved one’s presence during this season and moving forward.

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The Ugly Truth About Tarnish

11/4/2018

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​There's nothing worse the going to your jewelry box to pick out your favorite piece of silver jewelry and finding this...the dreaded TARNISH!

You are not alone, it happens to everyone...  Yep, tarnish is an equal opportunity offender!

The Truth About Tarnish:
Tarnish effects precious metals such as sterling silver and gold.  In time, all sterling silver and real gold will tarnish, regardless of where you bought it from or how much you spent on it. Tarnish is inevitable, tarnish is natural, and tarnish doesn't mean there is anything wrong with your jewelry.  It is just a natural process. We have to get our hair cut or it will start to look straggly.  Same goes for your jewelry – you need to care for it and clean it so that is stays looking at its best!
 
Tarnish causes a dark and dull discoloration of your jewelry. It is a natural chemical reaction that occurs when some metals are exposed to the air.  Another factor is hydrogen sulfide – and this can be found in the paper and boxes that you may use to store your jewelry in to keep it safe. Also, as summer is quickly approaching, the humidity will cause your silver to tarnish even faster! Anti-tarnish bags and polishing cloths can help minimalize the tarnish to your sterling silver jewelry. But, when the inevitable occurs and you notice your jewelry has darkened or become dull, there is GOOD NEWS! Tarnish is not permanent…AND it is easily removed!


Here’s a list of things that Silver has a bad reaction with:  Wool, Rubber Bands, Latex Gloves, Oils from your Hands and Fingers, Ammonia, Chlorinated Water, Carpet Padding, Air Pollution, Perfumes, Hair Sprays, and believe it or not, some foods can even make Silver tarnish. Foods like: Onions, Mayonnaise, Salad Dressing, Eggs and Salty Foods. (Put down those Chips!)
In fact, just the humidity alone can cause Silver to corrode!

Tips To Help Your Jewelry Stay Looking Brighter Longer:
 - Avoid wearing your jewelry in the shower, at the beach, in a swimming pool or in the hot tub
- Always be sure to store your jewelry in a dry place.  I recommend storing it in a sealed plastic bag with an anti-tarnish strip or chalk.  You can also use the little silica gel packs that you find in vitamin bottles.  Keeping your jewelry in Tupperware or Rubbermaid bins also work great, especially those that seal air tight.  This will not keep your jewelry from tarnishing, but it will delay the process.  
- Avoid contact with hairspray, perfume, body lotions and put your jewelry on AFTER you have applied these things.  
- After taking your jewelry off, clean it with warm water, then dry it with a soft cloth or a polishing cloth before putting it away.  This will help to remove any residues that may be on your jewelry.  

What Do I Do When It Does Tarnish?

There are numerous ways to remove the tarnish from your jewelry.
  • When you order from A Timeless Impression, you are provided with a Pro Polish Pad.  These pads work beautifully to remove the tarnish.  If your charm is flat with little texture, place your pad on flat surface, then move it in circular motions.  You can purchase additional Pro Polish Pads here (shown in the first video) and you can purchase the blue Polishing Cloths here (shown in the 2nd photo.)  I like to use the Pro Polish Pad first, then follow up with the Polishing Cloth.  
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  • If you no longer have your cleaning pads and do not want to order any, another safe and effective way to clean your silver jewelry is to place a piece of aluminum foil in the bottom of a glass pan.  Heat some water to almost boiling.  Lay your jewelry on top of the aluminum foil.  Sprinkle equal amounts of baking soda and salt on top of your jewelry to cover it.  Pour the water into the pan until your jewelry is completely submerged.  Let sit for 5 - 15 minutes, depending on how tarnished the silver is.  Once the water has cooled enough not to burn you, remove your jewelry and rinse in cool tap water.  If your pieces still appear tarnished, repeat the process with a new piece of aluminum foil.  Dry and polish with a soft cloth.
  • There are many commercial silver cleaning products on the market.  While these products will remove the tarnish, they may also remove any blackening that was applied.  If this does happen, you can return your piece to me to reapply the blacking.  I do not charge for this service.  All I ask is that you cover your return shipping costs.
  • Lastly, you may send the items you have purchased from me and I will clean them free of charge.  Again, all I ask is that you cover your return shipping fees.  (I do not accept items not made by A Timeless Impression due to liability reasons.  Thank you for understanding.)  

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions or need help cleaning your beautiful keepsake.  

And don't forget to SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MAILING LIST so we can periodically send you these helpful tips.
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What Is Metal Clay?

10/7/2018

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Metal clay is the medium in which I work with to make your treasured keepsake jewelry.  Fine silver metal clay was introduced in Japan in the early 1990's by Mitsubishi Materials Corporation and finally made it's way to America around 1995.  Since then, there are many other companies offering metal clay, and it is now also available in gold, bronze, copper and steel.  

Metal Clay is made from powdered metal combined with an organic binder and water. It can be modeled, molded, or sculpted then when heated to a high temperature in a kiln, the binder burns away, and the metal particles sinter (or fuse) into solid metal.  I work with numerous forms of metal clay and they contain the following properties:
  • Fine Silver is .999 fine silver after firing.  It is a bright silver and tarnishes less quickly than sterling silver.
  • Sterling Silver is .960 silver after firing.  Standard sterling is .925, but I use a higher percentage of fine silver to help hinder tarnishing as quickly.  Sterling silver is a bit harder than fine silver and is recommend for bracelets, keychains, rings, or anything else that will get bumped around more.
  • Gold metal clay is equivalent to 18k gold in terms of strength.  It is very expensive so it is not widely used by metal clay artists.  Some silver items are plated with gold, which is usually 22k or 24k gold. 
  • Bronze is solid bronze after firing.  It is not as bright as gold, but is gold toned.  While I protect all base metals with a sealant, bronze may patina over time.
  • Brilliant Bronze is solid bronze after firing.  This bronze is as close to gold color as you can get with base metal.  While I protect all base metals with a sealant, bronze may patina over time.
  • Rose Bronze is solid bronze after firing.  This bronze has a pink tint to it...not as bright as copper, but somewhere between bronze and copper.  While I protect all base metals with a sealant, bronze may patina over time.
  • Copper is solid copper after firing.  I typically leave the copper in its natural state, but it can be antiqued for a more rustic look.  While I protect all base metals with a sealant, bronze may patina over time.
  • Steel is solid steel after firing.  This metal is very lightweight and very strong and durable.  The color can vary from light gray to almost black, depending on the process.  It has a silver tone to it, but is not as bright as silver.  Steel is protected with a sealant to prevent rust and is not recommend to be worn in water at all.  
  • White Satin is a unique combination of iron, copper and tin.  This metal is also very lightweight and very strong and durable.  The color can vary from dark silver to light gray to dark gray.  When polished to a high polish it has a silver tone, but is not as bright as silver.  White Satin is protected with a sealant to prevent rust and is not recommend to be worn in water at all.  

I sincerely thank you for visiting A Timeless Impression and invite you to subscribe to my mailing list, where you will be notified of new products, special promotions and new events.  ​
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