How It Started
My Job As I See It
About Me
Caring For Your Sterling
Some Of My Personal Collection
Theme Bracelet Suggestions
Kathy's Law's of Jewelry
Favorite Links

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How It Started

The short answer to this is that I'm your basic jewelry addict. I'd rather buy sterling jewelry than eat - although my bathroom scale might argue with me there! LOL!

I'm an avid charm collector - it gives me great joy to find a charm I've been searching for, or better, discover one I never knew existed and that makes my heart sing. eBay is THE BEST place to do this. I honestly started selling because of the wonderful people I have met right here. Selling charms and other sterling jewelry is my way of sharing my passion with people who feel the same way.

My Job As I See It

• Personal honesty - This is of primary importance to me. An item is described for what it is, flaws are noted, errors are corrected. I don't claim to be perfect, but I do stand by my word.
• Communication - Questions are answered promptly. I send updated invoices after each purchase, notify you when your payment is received, and again when the package goes out. If you are in the U.S., this final notification comes via PayPal.
• Resonable shipping - I mail for one flat fee, with NO ADDITIONAL CHARGES to your order for items paid for in one lump sum. There are just a few exceptions to this combined shipping policy, and these are clearly noted on the item page.
• Fast shipping - I feel an obligation to send you your package as soon as possible - usually within 24 hours of cleared payment (excluding Sundays and holidays, of course, and barring acts of God - around here, that means hurricanes). And, yes, I ship on Saturdays, too, whenever possible.
• We're green - Packing materials are made with recycled materials and/or are re-used whenever possible. I mail directly from our own mailbox, where packages are picked up by the USPS on their usual run. We don't waste gas with unnecessary driving.
• Safe packing - I basically imagine a large and careless gorilla handling your package, and pack accordingly.

About Me

I live in southeastern North Carolina, just outside of Wilmington, with my beloved husband, Steve, the two best golden retrievers in the universe, and the Devil Cat from Hell. Yeah, I love him, too, but I don't know why. ;)

When I'm not online and on eBay, my husband and I spend our time on our boat, True Blue. You can see a photo of our boat, as well as some of the nautical jewelry I make myself. Go to MY STORE and click on the link for Nautical-Boat-Surf-Jewelry.

Caring For Your Sterling

Unless it is coated in some sort of anti-tarnish substance or is rhodium plated - both of which can eventually wear off - sterling silver tarnishes. Period. There are a few ways to deal with this.

• You can leave your sterling to darken - it will eventually go almost black - and I do know people who love this look and leave it as such. I don't.
• You can purchase a polishing cloth - start by looking in Walmart or your local jewelry store - or you can find one on eBay if you want to spare yourself the drive and pay postage instead. This is a two step process: You first use the polishing part of the cloth to remove the tarnish, then the buffing part to bring the silver to a bright shine.
• You can use silver polish - generally a messy business, but it does work. Use a soft cloth and be sure to RINSE WELL under clean, running water afterwards. Any residue polish will speed future tarnishng. Be sure to read the directions first and DO NOT use it on any kind of porous stone, like pearls.
• I recommend you purchase a product called Precious Spray N Sparkle Jewelry Cleaner. It's only available on QVC, but it's the BEST stuff! You spray it on your dry sterling and, I swear, the tarnish just disappears like a magic trick. It creates a smell like rotten eggs, however, that's caused by the oxidation on the sterling. But if you can stand the smell, it's a miracle and takes just a few minutes. It's GREAT for chains, too, where you can't possibly polish between the tiny links (think snake chains). Again, read the directions, and never use on porous stones. This recommendation is given without compensation from QVC. I just love the stuff.

For storage, remember that oxygen is your enemy.

• Keep your sterling inside little zip lock bags. You can purchase anti-tarnish paper on eBay and cut it to size - just a small piece is necessary for remarkably large areas.
• You can buy jewelry storage units and the like, also on QVC, sold under the brand name of PreZerve. It won't clean your silver, but if it's new or newly polished, simply keep it in the closed PreZerve unit and you won't have to clean it again for something like 50 years. Oh, yeah, and it helps if you put it away again right after you take it off! ;)

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NOW THE FUN STUFF!!!!

Some Of My Personal Collection

I've been wanting to show off some of my collection for some time, so here goes! And where are these bracelets stored? Usually in a PreZerve organizer in our safety deposit box. I rotate the ones I plan to wear every couple of months, according to season.

My original, personal charm necklace: This necklace was never a bracelet. I was a professional graphic designer prior to moving on to my true love, jewelry, and could never wear a bracelet because it would just drag across everything on my drafting board (pre-computer days, of course). These charms represent the remarkable things in my life and those memories that are nearest and dearest to me. There are things I've had since childhood, old pendants I stopped wearing, charms that belonged to my mom, things I love, travels I went on, high school and college memories and, oh, so much more. The one everyone asks about is the sewing machine thread spool. It's not silver, and you can buy one just like it for pennies in any sewing store in the country. But this one is special - I took it out of my mother's sewing box after she died.
The Virgo Bracelet: Obviously, I'm a Virgo. I started this bracelet because, frankly, wearing a naked woman on a charm bracelet can be difficult to explain! LOL! I solved the problem in a very virgo-like way, by intending to collect every virgo charm I could find. That not being enough for me - with charms, there's never ehough! - I started adding September charms, and charms showing blue, sapphire colored stones. Yes, it's heavy. Yes, I do wear it!	The Golden Retriever Bracelet: Keeping with the rule that if a little is good, more is better, I present my golden retriever bracelet. Both dogs are represented, including discs engraved with their names and birthdays, soccer balls because they love them, charms showing their favorite foods, and little dog house frames that will eventually hold their photos, when I stop collecting charms long enough to get them in there.
The State Maps Bracelet: Yes, Virginia, there is a state map bracelet with every single gosh darned state on it in sterling and enamel. And here it is! Yes, it took me forever. And, yes, I'm very proud of it. The little red globe in the center is a visual accent, and Puerto Rico is in there, too. It makes jaws drop.	The Puffy Heart Bracelet: This is a bracelet I wanted to keep delicate - but we'll see in a couple of years where that leads me! I used a vintage bar and circle bracelet to keep the lovely hearts separeated. There are just a few places still open for hearts, and I'm waiting for just the right ones. The center heart is a locket. The sentiment on the back reads,"I'll love you always. -Ed." Sooooo romantical!
The Perfect Husband Necklace: Okay, I admit it. If you're sensitive to sugar, you might want to get the insulin out right now. This necklace celebrates my wonderful husband and well, frankly, our love for each other. The center heart reads "Kathy Loves Steve" on one side, and "The Perfect Husband" on the other. The necklace started as a bracelet, but became so jam packed I got it stuck inside a coat sleeve one evening and decided to graduate it to a necklace. It's filled with wonderful, "punny" love charms, as well as charms that remind me of my husband, his accomplishments, and the things he loves. Maybe it's out of style, or not PC enough these days when women are concerned with their own careers, but I don't care. It makes us both happy.
The Builder's Wife Necklace: Yeah, yeah, so I'm really crazy about the guy! My user ID is "maritimehomes" simply because the first purchase I made on eBay was for my husband's building company, Maritime Homes & Development, Inc. He builds custom homes. I stumbled across some wonderful building charms, and thought a bracelet of them would be a terrific thing to have. I mean, really, how many could there be? Hahahahahahaha. I have many classics, as well as some new great ones. I included tool charms, just for variety, and little items like a door mat and keys. I love this necklace, but it's so heavy I can only wear it in the winter! In the summer, it becomes a chore. There are just a few empty spaces for new charms, so I'm waiting on some great ones to finish it off. I like to wear it the first time I meet new customers - it shows them I'm quite serious about what I do! LOL!
The State Shield Bracelet: This bracelet, I think, is proof that I'm seriously crazy when it comes to charms. That's right, a state map bracelet wasn't enough for me. These travel shields are just so great, I had to do it. Every state is represented, and is attached on the bracelet in the order it entered the Union. The hardest to find? Kansas. Accents include a U.S.A. shield flag and an enamel U.S. flag.	The Travel Shield Bracelet: Double proof I'm nuts. This bracelet contains shield charms collected from places I've been to or lived. I grew up in Germany and spent a couple of my early years in England, so there were plenty of places to choose from! Accents include a world map charm and an old, English coin in the center.
The Patriotic Bracelet: This bracelet was started after 9/11. It really shines a couple of times a year - July 4th and Election Day. But being able to show how I feel about this country means a lot to me. It celebrates the great U.S.A., and also remembers the heros of that horrible day - the firefighters are here, as well as the police. Our military is well represented, too. 'Nuff said.	The Nautical Boat Bracelet: I swear, there's a charm for everything! Our love for our boat, True Blue, kicked this one off. The prize charms here? The complete set of boat lamps - port, starboard, mast light, and double bow lamp - all made by the His Lordship Products company, the same company that makes the Medal of Honor.