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Ask the Experts Business Competition Q&A

Q: A customer of mine told me that a competitor was bad-mouthing my business. We're in a small town, and I know the competitor. What should I do?

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Ask the Experts Memory Wire Q&A

Q: How do you cut memory wire into individual loops for use with strand separators?

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Ask the Experts Cupchain Mesh Q&A

Q: I'm curious about cup chain and cup-chain link mesh. Exactly what is it and how is it used? Thank you

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Ask the Experts Business/Pricing Q&A

Q: I am looking to sell my jewelry online. Do I need to get a business number if I only plan on selling $100 or $200 worth of jewelry each year, if I am lucky?

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Ask the Experts Customers Q&A

Q: I love doing shows! The problem I have is when there are several people standing at the booth. I'm afraid if I focus on one person, the others will leave because I am not paying attention to them. What do you recommend I do?

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Ask the Experts Flat Back Q&A

Q: I am going to add some crystals to wooden letters. What would be better, flat backs or hot fix, and what glue would I use? If hot fix is better, how do you use them? Thank you

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Ask the Experts Lover's Knot Q&A

Q: My great aunt used to tie her beaded necklaces into a lover's knot, but I have lost the instructions. Do you know how?

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Ask the Experts Selling Q&A

Q: I recently started selling jewelry. I've had a repeat customer that has bought my standard sized beaded bracelets. However, she now wants them re-sized to be smaller. Should I charge her a fee to do this? I don't want to lose money on my supplies to do this, but I don't want to lose a repeat customer.

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Ask the Experts Pearl Knotting Q&A

Q: How do you know what size thread to use for a necklace strung with knots in between each bead? I have had experience with the beads slipping over the knots.

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Ask the Experts Jewelry Cleaner Q&A

Q: How do you clean the black off around the holes of the beads ... this is from the wire rubbing with wear? Thanks.

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Ask the Experts Findings/Earrings Q&A

Q: I have a faithful customer who wears clip-on earrings. What can I use to make them less painful for her? Is there something similar to the coating for tools that could be used?

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Ask the Experts Gemstones/Druzy Q&A

Q: What on earth is druzy and what is druzy quartz and blue lace agate druzy? Merriam-Webster on-line does not recognize the word druzy.

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Ask the Experts Designing Q&A

Q: What should I use to clean up any excess Apoxie from my piece? Should the excess be removed before set and dry?

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Ask the Experts Selling Q&A

Q: Hello! I have a question about how to market my fine silver pendants: With the rising cost of precious metals I often find it difficult to sell my pendants for the price I want if I consider the chains that go with them. I really want to sell my pendants "as is" without a chain to keep costs down, but I feel if I do that it hinders sales since people want to wear the pieces right away or they don't have a chain of their own. Should I just charge more and supply a chain? Or should I keep my prices affordable and skip the chain? I was thinking about using a cord or something since it would be cheaper, but I'm afraid it won't mesh well with the more formal look of my pieces. Help?

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Ask the Experts Finishes Q&A

Q: I recently completed a bracelet using various colors and two sizes of seed beads. After wearing the bracelet once, I noticed the finish on the semi-transparent, size 8 purple ones wore off over some of the exposed surfaces. I'm told this problem happens often with purple and red beads. Any suggestions?

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Ask the Experts Labeling Q&A

Q: With the precious metal market so volatile, I've been using some silver plated findings in my designs. On my cards I tell of what each piece is made. Is there a legal explanation required when you have a piece, say, 20% silver plate, 80% sterling or can I just say SP and Sterling or Sterling w SP and leave it at that? I don't want to mislead my customers but I also want to point out that the piece is mostly sterling. My cards are not large so space is limited.

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Ask the Experts Opal Care Q&A

Q: I have some opals stored in glycerine oil. They have been in oil since the 1930s. Must they stay in the oil or can I put them in cage bails?

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Ask the Experts Grading Q&A

Q: Only a few of your pearls indicate a grade in the description. Does that mean that the others are D grade or below? Thanks.

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Ask the Experts Copyrights Q&A

Q: I buy pendants and antique beads at garage sales, flea markets and other sources. I use these pendants as focal points to build my necklaces around and some of them have a name printed on the back. Do I have a copyright problem or is there some other problem I might have if I want to sell my work?

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Ask the Experts Cord Coils Q&A

Q: How do you use spring coils? I often see them in men's jewelry.

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Ask the Experts Antiquing Q&A

Q: I have some copper pieces that I would like to look a bit darker, more antique. What product should I use to do this?

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Ask the Experts Oxidation Q&A

Q: Someone I know purchased a bracelet from an art gallery - it was silver and copper. She told me that the first time she wore the bracelet it got wet and the parts that were copper turned black. Why would this happen?

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Ask the Experts Adding to Off-Loom Stitches Q&A

Q: I'm looking for your video or answer on how to join a new thread onto an existing thread for projects that need you to use a lot of thread, like necklaces, etc. What I mean is: I have started my project (beaded fringe on a bracelet, just like your video) and the string is now too short to do any more beading. How do I join the next piece of thread? Thank you.

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Ask the Experts Dog Collar Q&A

Q: I am attempting to make a jeweled leather dog collar. I would like to affix rhinestones and other colored crystal stones to the smooth leather face of the collar. The stones I am using are framed and backed in silver tone metal without rivets or claws to grip the leather. What is the best way to permanently attach these stones to the leather collar?

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