Cape Cod Wampum & Sand Jewelry Wampanoag/Lenape Made
I love the majestic sunrises and sunsets on the beaches of Cape Cod. My family and I have been blessed to enjoy Cape Cod as our home for many generations. My inspirations come from what Mother Earth offer's up and the people I encounter. My family & I want to share Cape Cod's beauty and I hope you find a treasure that speaks to you from many Cape Cod beaches.
Check back frequently to see new inspirations.
I collect all the sand I work with, if you don't see the beach on the current earth elements list, ask I'll probably be walking it soon.
Wampumpeg beads: If I don't make the raw beads myself, I support other local Natives with purchasing their beads. Helps the community and my nerve from fatigue. See wampum video below about working of Wampumpeg.)
Thank you for supporting my small business and homeschooled family.
Love a design but have sand special to you or its Sold Out? I customize and if I have the elements in stock, will recreate piece, send me a message.
Wampum Beads History & Crafting, What does it represent?
(https://wanderingbull.com/wampum-beads-history/)
Native Americans began to string the wampum beads on belts in symbolic patterns. The meaning of the symbols found on the belts was passed from tribe to tribe as they were traded further west and south. The natives who lived near the coast learned that the inland peoples found these beads to be most desirable and would ultimately trade them for fur pelts and other clothing items. The color of the beads had meaning, also. For the Algonquians, white beads represented purity, light and brightness, and would be used as gifts to mark events that invoked those characteristics, such as the birth of a child. Purple beads represented solemn things like war, grieving and death. The combination of white and purple represented the duality of the world; light and dark, sun and moon, women and man, life and death.
https://www.insider.com/native-american-artisan-keeps-4500-year-old-practice-wampum-2021-12
How to Care for Resin, Wampum & 925 Sterling Silver Jewelry
Resin is a material that is technically classified as a plastic.
What to Avoid
UV Rays
Avoid storing any piece in direct sunlight. Wear your treasures but do not let it sit for prolonged periods of time in direct light.
Extreme Heat
Resin is technically a plastic, high heat is the best way to damage it quickly. High heat can cause the setting to detach from the metal.
Sharp or Abrasive Objects
Resin is a soft material, sharp and abrasive items can cause scratches to the surface. This includes any metal that comes into contact with, all my pieces get quality coats but I put a thicker coat on keychains for durability. I recommend removing any jewelry before doing cleaning, house or garden work as well, as contact with stones, sand, metal sponges, or brushes.
Harsh Chemicals/Fragrances
Lotions and perfumes can be worn while wearing resin jewelry, but I do recommend using these items before putting your jewelry on and not after. Be mostly concerned with aggressive chemicals such as cigarette smoke, cleaning agents, and alcohol-based products such as acetone (nail polish remover), hand sanitizer or perfume
The most common culprits of yellowing or discoloration are fragranced items. It is recommended to avoid contact of fragrance with the metal of your piece as well. Avoiding such items will minimize both the discoloration of the resin and tarnish to sterling silver jewelry.
Care, Cleaning, and Storage
Cleaning
If you need to clean the resin or give it a light polish, a damp microfiber or chamois cloth can clean the setting without damaging it. You can also clean it with water and mild soap such as dish soap. A little goes a very long way with soap, so please do limit its use and make sure that the piece is thoroughly rinsed before wearing it again.
Removing Tarnish
Metals such as sterling silver will tarnish over time with regular use due to one's personal skin chemistry, water and oxygen exposure. You can use a polishing pad or cloth to remove tarnish. If you use a tarnish remover product, be careful to avoid the setting as the chemicals in this product can cause damage to the resin. I have found that the more I wear my pieces, the less they tarnish as your skin does act as a natural polishing agent to the metal to keep it shiny and clean-looking. Ear wires are 925 sterling silver while my other products are 925 sterling silver plated.
Storage
When you want to store your jewelry, it is best to make sure it is in an airtight container whether it is a small bag, jewelry box, or both. Store the container in a cool, dark and dry area. Humidity can be a breeding ground for tarnish, and if your jewelry is submerged in liquid and left wet for too long, the chemicals present in the liquid can cause discoloration. I take all of my pieces off when I shower, sleep, swim, and clean to avoid all of the above and store them.
Wampumpeg (Wampum)
If your Wampum is losing its lustre, it is likely becoming coated with dirt or oils from your skin, the air, and the environment. To bring your piece back to its true shine, you can either wash it gently with a mild dish soap or hand soap, or better yet, use a sterling silver polishing cloth (on beads only and raw wampum studs). Rinse, wipe dry with lint- free cloth. Be delicate, it is shell.
925 Silver-Plated Jewelry
Silver plated items are made from a thin coating of pure silver over other metals. When the coating of silver flakes or scrapes off, the base metal underneath is revealed.
All silver-plated jewelry will tarnish at some point, as the chemicals from daily wear and the exposed layer of silver react with air to change the color of a piece. Silver-plated jewelry has a thin layer of silver that covers a base metal, often brass. Because the coating is thin on the base, cleaning needs to be careful but complete to keep up an item's shine.
A great way to clean tarnish off silver is with dish soap. Form a lather with your hands and rub the tarnish off your silver. Rinse the jewelry and wipe it dry with a lint-free cloth.
Show Off & Enjoy your Treasure!
