16 Hands

Why Handmade?

Amazing things happen when you buy handmade.

The effects are felt more because there are fewer layers - It's often only the people who make things, and people who bring them to market. Within those two groups, there's not a lot of room for focus groups, marketing analysis, and complex distribution systems. What results is a completely different shopping experience and a completely different kind of gift.

First, when you shop handmade you're are treated like someone who appreciates the things you're looking at. Just by walking into 16 Hands we assume you have an interest in handmade things - the stuff people make who love their craft and are happy to express that creative spirit. With that in mind, the 16 Hands staff are always happy to talk with you about the stories behind the work you see, an unusual technique or surprising use of material that went into the item you've choosen. If you decide to purchase that item, we will always try to include that artist information with your purchase. It's important because it tells the story of the gift you're giving. For the recipient it tells them a lot about the care you took to find something special, and spreads the word about functional craft. And if the item is for you, it acts as a reminder of who made it and what made you fall in love with it in the first place.

The artists and craftspeople we represent feel the impact of your purchase as well. Contacting an artist to tell them that their work has all sold and we need MORE is pure joy! There are so few layers in this kind of business model, that we sometimes hear the craftsperson's voice on the other end of that phone call. Handmade also changes the design process that's behind making the object. Whereas a mass-produced item may need to appeal to the widest audience possible, the artist or craftsperson is often following their own creative instinct. This is why things you'll find at 16 Hands have a look and feel of something you'd find at an art fair, many of the artists and craftspeople we represent are art fair exhibitors themselves. Through a combination of creative spirit and business savvy the community of designers, makers and artists we show are the heart of what we do.

We can make things easy by offering free gift wrapping on your purchase. If you're in a rush - buy online and choose the local pick-up option instead of shipping. We will meet you with curb-side service at Kerrytown. If your gift will be traveling without you, we can pack and ship for you. Our shipping rates are reasonable and we are experts at safely packing your items so that they reach their destination looking as wonderful as they did in the store.

We do what we do here at 16 Hands for the same reasons the people we represent make what they make - for the love of it. The next time you have a gift to buy, we hope you will consider our slogan - Handcrafted & Heartfelt.

Anniversary Gifts

Anniversary Gifts By Year

Below we've gathered both traditional and modern anniversary gift ideas, as well as the metal or gemstone associated with each. The links (in RED) with each will take you to suggestions when we show items online that might work for that year's gift. For more ideas, including items not shown on our web site, please contact 16 Hands. We are always happy to find more gift suggestions and always offer FREE gift wrapping on gifts.

Anniversary	Traditional	Modern	Metal/Gemstone
1st Year	Paper	Clock	Gold, Peridot or Pearl
2nd Year	Cotton	China	Garnet or Rose Quartz
3rd Year	Leather	Crystal/Glass	Pearl, Moonstone or Jade
4th Year	Linen or Silk	Appliances	Blue Topaz or Amethyst
5th Year	Wood	Silverware	Sapphire or Turquoise
6th Year	Iron	Wood	Amethyst, Garnet or Turquoise
7th Year	Copper	Brass	Onyx, Yellow Sapphire,
8th Year	Bronze/Pottery	Linen/Lace	Tourmaline, Bronze or Aventurine
9th Year	Willow/Pottery	Leather	Lapis Lazuli or Tigers Eye
10th Year	Aluminum	Diamond Jewelry	Diamond or Green Tourmaline
11th Year	Steel	Accessories	Turquoise or Hematite
12th Year	Home Decor	Pearl	Jade, Agate or Pearl
13th Year	Lace	Textile	Citrine or Moonstone
14th Year	Elephant (theme)	Gold Jewelry	Opal or Moss Agate
15th Year	Crystal	Watch	Ruby or Blue Sapphire
20th Year	China	Platinum	Emerald
25th Year	Silver	Musical Instrument	Silver Jewelry
30th Year	Pearl	Diamond	Pearl
35th Year	Coral or Jade	Jade	Emerald
40th Year	Ruby	Ruby	Ruby
45th Year	Sapphire	Sapphire	Sapphire or Alexandrite
50th Year	Gold	Gold	Gold
55th Year	Emerald	Emerald	Emerald or Alexandrite
60th Year	Diamond	Diamond	Diamond

Air Plant Care

Vertical Rusty Metal Planter

Walnut Geo Planter

House Planter in Oak

If you've been in 16 Hands, you know we LOVE air plants. Not only because they look great themselves, but since they don't require dirt to grow and thrive, almost anything can be an air plant holder! Even though we don't sell the plants here online, we have several great holder options available. See some great ideas here!

We've learned that some see air plants as "Indestructible". The ARE easy to care for, but do take some care to keep healthy. Tillandsia, commonly known as air plants, are considered an easy to care for, low-maintenance house plant. There are roughly 650 different species, but all have one thing in common – they draw water from the air and use their leaves to absorb nutrients. Air plants grow naturally in humid and subtropical environments, such as the southern United States, Central America, and South America. These plants do not require soil to grow, and can commonly be found living on other plant life, unobtrusively, such as large trees.

But air plants only need air to survive, right? Wrong! Unless you live in a humid environment, you will need to provide moisture for your plant regularly. While these plants do not require soil and can hang out just about anywhere inside your home, they do need a few things to keep them healthy. The most important is water.Since not all of us live in a humid climate, you will need to supply your air plant with water every week. Let them soak, root side up and out of the water, once a week for an hour. When finished, gently shake off excess water, and let them remain upside down on a towel until they are fully dried. Water pooling in the leaves is the #1 killer of Tillandsia, as this will lead to rotting and subsequently dying. Additionally, you can add a bromeliad fertilizer once a month to the water to give them an extra boost. Secondly, air plants prefer bright, indirect light. The more sunlight and heat, the more water required. Using a misting bottle in addition to soaking is recommended for very bright light, or a particularly dry space. On the other hand, in the cooler, wet months, air plants don’t need as much water, so misting probably is not necessary. Good air circulation is also important, so avoid placing your plants in a closed terrarium.

Overall, these funky little plants are excellent companions for those of us with less-than-green thumbs, and are a unique addition to any plant collection. These guys can hang out in just about anything, so get creative!

Jewelry Care & Cleaning

Over the years we've seen a lot of jewelry here at 16 Hands.
We've met a lot of jewelry artists, and handled many different kinds of materials.
We've collected here some of the advice, wisdom and best practices
for your favorite pieces of jewelry to keep them looking their
best and lasting as long as possible.

Some things to keep in mind when buying jewelry at 16 Hands:
+ We offer a year warranty against breakage on jewelry.
+ We include rubber earwire backings, even if not provided by the artist.
+ You have 14 days for refund and 30 days for exchange of jewelry.
+ Special Orders for items not available in-store can often be done at no additional cost.
+ We work with many artists who do custom work.
+ Weather in-store or online, we are always happy to offer free gift wrapping - Just ask.

What do I need to know before cleaning my jewelry? What is tarnish? How can I prevent tarnish? *Does it matter when* I put on jewelry? How should the following be cleaned? polished silver & gold matt or textured silver & gold bronze mixed metals pearls pewter precious & semi-precious stones other materials**
What do I need to know before cleaning my jewelry? Always be sure you know which metals, stones and other materials are in your jewelry before cleaning. Although other tips are listed here, the safest cleaning method is to use a soft dry cloth. Please consult an expert before attempting to clean antique or damaged jewelry.
What is tarnish? Tarnish is the discoloration of metal due to oxidation. Most metals change with exposure to air. For jewelry, silver is the metal that tarnishes most quickly. This is due to the presence of some nickel and copper in most silver. Fine silver, which contains fewer other metals, will show less tarnish over time. Sterling silver contains 92.5% or more pure silver.
How can I prevent tarnish? Jewelry boxes are a great way to keep your jewelry organized and dust-free, but they don't protect against tarnish. To slow the appearance of tarnish, silver jewelry can be kept in sealed plastic bags. Keeping the air out will slow the process of oxidation. Try laying the plastic bag containing the jewelry piece on a flat surface. Press excess air from the bag before sealing. Anti-tarnish paper strips can be helpful when placed where jewelry is stored to inhibit oxidation. also see: what is tarnish?
Does it matter when I put on jewelry? Many jewelry surfaces are affected by common skin and hair care products. Putting jewelry on last, after hair spray, fragrances, soaps, lotions and oils will help retain their original appearance. Soaps and detergents are especially damaging to the elastic used in "stretchy" bracelets and rings. Take these off before washing to extend the life of the elastic.
Polished gold & silver A jewelry polishing cloth, like the Sunshine Cloth can be used to clean and shine jewelry quickly and easily. These cloths contain a fine polishing compound that removes tarnish and grime, but can also smooth out matte or textured finishes. Be aware when using a polishing cloth that those brushed or textured surfaces can be come bright and shiny, even if that's not the original look of your jewelry. Be careful: Most liquid tarnish removers contain strong chemicals to remove tarnish. They should not be used on jewelry with artificially oxidized metals, special finishes, pearls or porous stones. See product label for warnings and directions. Liquid tarnish removers can be used by either dipping pieces, or by using small amount on a cotton swab. Be sure to rinse jewelry thoroughly, as any residual chemicals can continue to eat away at the metal.
Matte or textured surface gold & silver The safest method is to use a soft, dry cloth or small brush, like an old toothbrush, with soapy water. Very fine steel wool can be rubbed to remove tarnish from matte finish silver. If you are unsure about the finish, test on a hidden part of the jewelry. You can also consult the artist or store where the piece was purchased for advice. Be careful: Most liquid tarnish removers contain strong chemicals to remove tarnish. They should not be used on jewelry with artificially oxidized metals, special finishes, pearls or porous stones. See product label for warnings and directions. See our selection of brushed silver jewelry by Philippa Roberts online.
Bronze Bronze patina is often considered desirable, becoming warmer and darker as the piece ages. To return the finish to polished bronze, use a polishing cloth, liquid tarnish remover, or soap & water with a soft brush.
Mixed metals If your jewelry piece is comprised of many different metals and surfaces, you may be limited to using only the safest methods available. Dipping a piece that has burnished, oxidized or textured surfaces may change the appearance of the metal, and the piece overall. A mild soap used with a soft cloth or brush, like an old toothbrush, is a much safer way to clean your mixed metal jewelry than with polishes or dips. also see: matte or textured surface gold & silver
Pearls Softer and more porous than you might think, pearls can be damaged by liquid tarnish removers, abrasives and heat from soldering irons and torches used in jewelry repair. A soft cloth is all that's needed to polish up your pearl jewelry. If cleaning other parts of the jewelry piece is needed (such as settings or ring bands), use care to only apply treatment to these surfaces, avoiding the pearl itself. See our selection of Pearl Jewelry online.
Pewter Although it will darken, pewter will not tarnish the way silver does. A soft cloth and mild soap will brighten up this soft metal. See our selection of plated pewter jewelry by Patricia Locke online.
Precious & semi-precious stones The safest way to clean any stone is to rub it gently with a soft cloth. Be careful: Cleaning agents can damage some stones. Porous and brittle stones can dissolve in strong solutions, such as liquid tarnish remover. Some examples of soft, porous or brittle stones are coral, lapis, opal, turquoise and pearl.
Other materials Enamels (both glass and resin) can be cleaned with a soft, dry cloth. The surfaces of these materials, as well as the adhesives that sometimes hold them in place, can be damaged by polishing cloths and liquid tarnish remover. As designers come up with more inventive materials and techniques, the need for proper care information becomes more important. If you are unsure of how to care for your jewelry, consult the artist or store where the piece was purchased. A soft cloth is also the safest way to clean jewelry made with materials, such as: lucite, rubber, wood, fabric, polymer clay and bakelite.