Fall Craft Shows
Don't miss out on sharing your thoughts and learning from others. During the month, we will draw the name of a lucky jewelry maker who visits our blog and adds their comments to one of our blog entries or answers one of our questions each week. The prize will be one of our featured earring kits. Your name will be entries once for each blog entry you reply to. You have multiple opportunities to win.
One of the great benefits of commenting is that we can all learn from each other. So share your knowledge on tools you like to use, how you get your inspiration, and how you overcome challenges when you make jewelry, and much more. Be sure to share this message with others so that we learn from each other. In addition to the questions below, there are several other blog entries waiting for your input. We look forward to hearing from you.
Please feel free to share this message with your friends so that we can all learn from each other.
Question: Are you participating in any craft fairs this holiday season? If you do, how do you decide what and how much to take? Have you come up with any creative ways to display your items that get lots of attention?
Secrets to Creating Professional Looking Jewelry - Part 2
In my last blog "Secrets to Creating Professional Looking Jewelry - Part 1" we talked about how easy it is to create professional looking jewelry. I hope that some of you have had the opportunity to use the Guardian Wires that I talked about in part 1.
Now on to the next step, crimps. Crimps are a great way to keep your beads in place and to secure your project to earwires, toggles, or to chain. Though crimps are very practical, they're not always the prettiest way to finish your project. But, don't dispair - there are some new crimps on the market that are both a crimp and a cover in one. They work best when using types of stringing material.
I have started using crimp covers and they are wonderful. I have experimented with different sizes, but find that the 3mm or 4mm work best when I use a 1mm crimp bead. If you are using a larger crimp, I suggest that you experiment to find the size that works best in your projects. A few minutes spent experimenting up-front will save you lots of time during the finishing process and will keep you from having to redo you project when you find you need to adjust the bead size.
The best part of using a crimp cover is that when you are finished it looks like you added a silver or gold bead rather than a crimp, and it only took seconds to add and is very affordable. You can also find fancier crimp covers that have an added texture if you want something dressier.
Hint: When designing my projects, I substitute a round bead for the crimp cover. That way I can see what my finished project will look like once I add the crimp cover.
Secrets to Creating Professional Looking Jewelry - Part 1
Last week I picked up some new jewelry making magazines at the store. I was really surprised when I started talking a close look at the finished earrings they featured. I love looking at the different designs, colors and ideas, but recently I am taking a different approach. I have started to look more closely at the details. I was very surprised to see that they did not take advantage of a few simple materials and techniques that could have created a more professional looking earring.
These earrings were made with beading thread. How do I know? I could see the thread wrapped around the earring wire to secure the earring to the finding. I use to do the same thing before I started looking for alternatives. First, I used French Wire. While this is certainly an alternative, it is hard to cut two identical pieces since it stretches and is very fragile - one tug and it loses its shape. While I did get very good at using it after a lot of practice, I kept looking for alternatives.
My Mom introduced me to Guardian wires a few years ago and they're wonderful, although they can be hard to find since most people haven't heard of them (btw: you can find them on the findings page of my site. They're very affordable, don't lose their shape, protect your beading thread or nylon, and make your jewelry look really professional. Best of all, they are super easy to use -- no practice required! In fact, once you try them you'll wonder why you waited so long.
Today's Question: What do you look for in professionally finished jewelry? What do you do to create a professional look in your handcrafted jewelry?
Jewelry Making and the Value of Staying Organized
I spent the last couple of days reorganizing my jewelry making supplies. I love making jewelry but not putting things away. I keep pulling out beads and findings but they don't seem to find there way back to where they belong. Over the years, I have gotten better about staying organizing but every once in while I need to stop and regroup. It's very rewarding when I step by and look at the results of all of my hard work.
The fun part of getting organized is that I not only find the things I was looking for, I also usually find a project of two that are almost finished. Even more exciting, I almost always get some great new ideas while going through my beads.
One of my biggest organization challenges is how to store beads and findings in a way that makes sense and that makes it easy to find things when I need them. For example, do you store things by color, size, or finish?
Idea: For me, I store my stone beads by size and my glass beads by type. For jewelry findings, I store them by type with one exception; sterling sliver findings.
I normally use a high quality surgical steel because it is much less expensive than sterling and it's fine for most projects. But every now and then a project calls for something special, and I use sterling silver.
Idea: I store all of my sterling silver together so that I know right where it is and so it doesn't get mixed up with the steel findings. They are almost impossible to tell apart without close inspection, and since sterling silver is so much more expensive, I don't want to get them mixed up.
Today's Question: How do you organize your jewelry making supplies? What is your biggest organization challenge? What suggestions to you have to share with others on how to spend more time making jewelry rather than looking for supplies?
Weekly drawing for a free jewelry kit – Share your experience or ask a jewelry making question
Don't miss out on sharing your thoughts and learning from others. Be sure to read the blog entries each week – either respond to the questions asked or ask your own question.
Each week we will select the name of a jewelry maker who adds their comments to one of our blog entries, answers one of our questions, or asks their own jewelry-making question. The prize is one of our new earring kits. They’re great for yourself or as a gift! We enter your name each time you respond.
One of the great benefits of commenting is so that we can all learn from each other. Share your knowledge of tools you like, how you get your inspiration, how you overcome challenges when you make jewelry, or anything you find interesting about jewelry making. Be sure to share this message with others so that we learn from each other. In addition to the questions below, there are several other blog entries waiting for your input. We look forward to hearing from you.
Today’s Question: What type of jewelry do you make? How do you find your online resources for supplies and ideas?
Jewelry Making Term of the Day - Lever Back Earring
Lever backs are a popular type of earring for pierced ears. They consist of a curved wire that goes through the ear, and an additional wire or fitting that is hinged so it can be opened and closed. They provide a secure hold without the need for additional findings.
Jewelry making word of the day - adjustable clasp
These are a type of hook and eye clasp, but with a short length of chain attached to the side with the eye. The chain allows the wearer to vary the necklace length for different occasions, styles or pendants.
I have had great fun making my own adjustable clasps. I use lobster claws on both ends of my necklaces and then add an 8"- 9" piece of chain which gives me incredible flexibility. It also let's me work the chain in my finished designs - the bead part of the necklace is 13-15" and the chain makes up the rest of the length to create the perfect finish.
Have you every used an adjustable clasp when making necklaces? Did you make your own or did you buy it pre-made? If you made your own, what type of clasps did you use?
Want to learn more about jewelry making? Check out http://www.jewelrymaking123.com.
Beading Contest – Are you up to the challenge?
Are you up to a beading challenge? StringingMagazine.com has a challenge that might interest you. It is called “Around the World” and the submission deadline is September 7, 2009.
You can also cast your vote for the Magical Forest Summer Challenge that you think is the best entry until July 17th. If you haven’t checked out the competition, go to the gallery and pick your winner. It will not be an easy choice!
Once you look at all of the entries for the summer challenge, you still have time to create your Fall Challenge entry! The theme is “Around the World”, so think about exotic places, glamorous ambiance, or mysterious elements – my favorite place is the Mediterranean, and I love all of the colors and the old world look. Or maybe your necklace could represent the diversity of global cultures. There are unlimited possibilities and there are no limits!
Once you check out the beading challenge, I would also suggest that you sign up for the “beading daily” newsletter if you don’t already get it. It is filled with great ideas and will give you lots of inspiration to get start beading.
Color and Jewelry Making - Part 1
Color is very personal. We all have our favorites - the ones that make us feel good and draw us in. Then there are colors that we will go out of our way to avoid. There have been lots of studies about color, and there are certainly many rules on when to wear color, what colors work well together and which colors should never be mixed together. Over the next few posts, I am going to share some of the successful ways I have used color. Some follow the rules and others don't because when I use color I let the colors lead me, not the rules. My goal is expand the way you think about color. Today we will start with some of the basics:
- Primary colors - Red, Yellow, Blue - these are the colors that are used to make all of the other colors.
Another source for jewelry making information is: www.jewelrymaking123.com
In Part 2 of our color discussion we will look at how to coordinate different colors to make jewelry that really pops!
Jewelry Question of the week - Visit for a chance to earn a free jewelry kit
Starting later this month, we will draw the name of one lucky beader each week who visits our blog and adds their comments to one of our blog entries or answers one of our questions each week. The weekly prize will be one of our featured earring kits. Your name will be entries once for each blog entry you reply to. You have multiple opportunities each week to respond.
