The Beading Gem

Chain maille jewelry designs can get rather boring to do after a while so a good chain maille artist strives to bring in different elements to make their jewelry distinctive. One artisan whom I stumbled upon in metalchasers.com now called jewelrygeeks.com has great inspirational examples of how to step up chain maille designs.

MakintheBestOfIt or MBOI for short, is a wire wrap and chain maille enthuasist. She is multi-talented with not just one but TWO Etsy stores - one of jewelry designs and one for her lovely hand painted glass. I don't know how she does it all for she is a second time round full time student with two small boys. She has a deeply ingrained creative streak so much so her husband says she has a really bad case of crafters ADD!

Her chain maille designs show her versatility and talent for linking jump rings together. She combines coloured rings to highlight metals - her copper and sterling Byzantine ladder bracelet (above) combines silver with copper which is one of my favourite combinations. Yet I still see the occasional question on jewelry making forums - "Can I mix metals"? Of course you can! The jewelry will look gorgeous.


Another design element is using alternative structures rather than just a straight chain. One of her most stunning designs is her sterling silver chain maille encased Salvation pendant. This unique design has 7 Swarovski crystal bicones in rainbow colours all in a row and framed with inverted round maille. Another example is her bronze Persian Cross which features a full Persian cross pendant on a half Persian 3 in 1 chain.



But I've saved the best to last for this piece was a labour of love for one of her music obsessed sons. The chain maille guitar strap was truly an inspired choice as a gift for some one (often male) who isn't into jewelry or is too young to use key rings! Jewelry is usually just decorative but here MBOI has made chain maille into a functional piece of art!

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Electronic Devices as Jewelry
Part 2 of 2

People who are deaf or hard of hearing can see what is ahead but they cannot sense what might be behind them or out of sight. For a deaf person, the sound of a blaring car horn from behind is no help at all.

Not all deaf people are lucky enough to have a hearing dog so a device that could sense sound for them would not only be useful but potentially life-saving. A device that also fulfills a decorative function means it is more likely to be worn.

The Vibering consists of a watch and two sound sensing rings. The rings are worn on opposite hands so they function much like ears. They pick up the sounds and transmit it to the watch which then vibrates and alerts the wearer not just to what sort of sound but also the distance and position of the source. The digital display on the watch will be able translate the sound waves and tell the wearer if the sound might also be a human voice. Some common phrases like "Excuse me" would be included.


The device was designed by Kwang-seok Jeong, Min-hee Kim and Hyun-joong Kim. It won them the iF 2008 concept design award. They deserved it as this is truly an innovative design.




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Carol has been coming to our workshops for a couple of years now. She was the only one from the original group of 11 girlfriends who came to keep coming back. She enjoys making earrings. But a few months ago, I introduced Carol to chain maille. It was an instant attraction. Those of you who are passionate about wire work, polymer clay or any of the many branches of the jewelry making craft can understand her epiphany. Now Carol says it's all my fault!

Chain maille isn't for everyone. It requires artisans to have good spatial abilities. I've noticed that people who are comfortable with mathematics are often into chain maille. Carol is one of this group. Her earring design here was made from bright aluminium rings using short byzantine links.

She was trying to use two side by side links like one of my own earring designs. I had placed mine horizontally but Carol placed hers vertically instead. Either way works. The double links become a sort of earring finding.

The lower rings turned out to be the perfect place to hang the naturally coloured pear drop shaped mother of pearl shell beads. As the rings needed some polishing and Carol has yet to get a tumbler, I suggested she used some toothpaste and an old toothbrush which she did when she got home.

Beader Design #: 392

Past Posts
Chain maille : Ancient and Modern Uses
Making Jump Rings by Hand or Why Artisan Jewelry Costs More
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We go for contrast when we design jewelry right? Big with small beads. Shiny and matte. Glass with metal. We also go for contrast when we photograph our jewelry. Nobody would put a blue design on a blue background!

So what do professional photographers do? They also go for contrast. Horacio Salinas' extreme contrast is his series of costume jewelry from top designers entitled "Glitter in the Grit" which was recently featured in NYmag.com. The photographs show jewelry amidst trash. Yes, garbage! The dark backgrounds just sets off the glamorous and expensive designer pieces.

The Paris-Londres Collection metal necklace ($10,850) from Chanel is pictured next to a discarded coffee cup on a rough pavement. Salinas has brilliantly used the necklace's design to simulate a liquid spill. He is clearly not just a master of contrast but of placement.


The Nicolas Ghesquière strass necklace will set you back $9,875 at Barneys New York. It is seen here neatly coiled on the front wheel of a bike which has clearly seen better days. This edgy photo shoot is a sharp example of introducing a "shocking" contrast - one which viewers least expect for great effect. Something to think about.


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Past Post : 13 things I learnt about Jewelry Photography
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I just love it when people bring in their previous creations. Yvonne attended a beading session and showed this bracelet off which she made before. Isn't it just sumptuous? Her choice of pastel colours in clear, frosted and opaque hues coupled with her deft use of shapes was just perfect for this triple stranded bracelet.

The colours were subtle but they weren't shrinking violets either. The salmon pinks did go with the pale green and light blue beads. I also noticed that the round rondelle beads were the palest of buttery yellow. But really, it's not about the individual beads but about how she put it all together.

Beader Design #:391
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$1,000,000 for a strand of pearls? I nearly choked! But that's what this rare mega strand of South Sea cultured AAA quality pearls costs from Mikimoto, the original cultured pearl company. This limited edition piece is available from their New York branch.



South Sea cultured pearls are actually produced in Broome in north-western Australia and are prized for their lovely satiny lustre. Silver white for the Asian market is the most sought after. Another reason why they are so expensive is their size - these are 15.06 x 17.24 mm in diameter. The reason why these seawater cultured pearls grow so large in this part of the world is due to a combination of warm sea temperatures and nutrient-rich tidal flows which the oysters thrive on. Julie, an Aussie expartriate from Broome (she attended today's workshop) said one particular pearl she remembered when she worked for a pearl company there was 22 mm extra lovely South Sea pearl. It fetched $175,000!

The pearls in this strand are remarkably uniform. Just think how many oysters they had to go through to get a matching set! They also took much longer to cultivate than regular pearls - 10 years. The art deco oval clasp is adorned with 11.92 carats of diamonds. All these factors go towards its luxury price tag.

"South Seas" is a misnomer for Australian's northern coastline is technically not in the South Seas. But the founder of the Mikimoto company, Kokichi Mikimoto, one of the first people who thought Broome might be a great location for pearl farming, considered anything south of Japan, the South Seas. So the name stuck.

He also said, "I would like to adorn the necks of all the women of the world with pearls" and he certainly did for a great many of us because his company made pearls much more affordable than natural ones. However, if he were alive today, he wasn't referring to this strand!

Alas, I don't have a million dollars spare so it'll have to be freshwater pearls for this artisan!

Via

NB This post has been submitted for ProBlogger's Killer Post Title competition.

Past Posts
In the Footsteps of a Pearl Dealer
Update on Cold Damage to Chinese Freshwater Pearls
Did Cleopatra swallow the pearl whole?
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Anne is a jewelry lover who owns not one but two jewelry cabinets. Although she has clear opinions on what she likes, she has never been interested in making any jewelry for herself. So I tell her that I am her very own personal jewelry maker!

Anne and I often collaborate together to create unique jewelry pieces for her. This is her favorite necklace - a simple sterling silver chained affair with black bicones and silver beads. She preferred a delicate chain design with a long, slimming style. Her earrings were identical to the pendant.

I'd say Anne is both a loyal customer and a magpie. I wonder if you can categorize your customers into the following types?

Customer Types

1. Loyal customers are those who love what you make and keep coming back for more. They are the best kind - although you may only have a few of this type, sales from loyal customers can be a significant sum. It's definitely worth your while to do what it takes to keep this group happy.

2. Magpies are the customers who can spot bling from 200 paces. For them, there is no such thing as too much jewelry. They just adore jewelry and are sure to buy at least one thing. Jewelry artisans can also be magpies - it's probably the reason why they gravitated to making jewelry. Many artisans will buy something they admire or can't make themselves to add to their hoards. These are super customers to have as they need no convincing how pretty handmade jewelry is.

3. Bargain Hunters are those who will only buy when something is on sale. For them, the price tag determines what they will purchase not how good the jewelry piece is. A savvy artisan at a craft show will either have some marked down items or some simple but less expensive fare for this group. A sale is a sale.

4.Focused customers are after a specific item and will not deviate from their quest. Often they are after a certain coloured jewelry piece to go with a special occasion outfit or particular gift for someone. They will ignore everything else which doesn't fit their criteria. So find out what they are looking for and with luck, you might have something close to what they want.

5. Impulse customers are the opposite of focused customers. They don't have a specific jewelry item in mind but if they see something they like, you've made a sale. It therefore pays to have a wide selection of styles, colours and jewelry pieces for this group to choose from because people's tastes vary a lot.

6. Wanderers are those who just like nosing around and checking things out. They are there to enjoy the hustle and bustle of a craft show. When people start to crowd round a jewelry stall, you can be sure wanderers will come to see what the fuss is all about. They may not have a need or desire for jewelry but they may well buy something. An attractive stall with great jewelry designs is an instant magnet for all sorts of customers including the wanderers.

7. Desperate men who want to please their wives/girlfriends/mothers but have absolutely no clue what to get. I remember one man standing in front of my earring boards once, almost paralysed because he didn't really know what his wife preferred. I wonder if male artisans have a slight edge on a man-to-man basis?

Female artisans must feel just like lingerie shop assistants! You've really got to help them out. Plumb (deeply) into his memory as to what sort of jewelry or colors his intended recipient normally wears. But really, he can't go wrong going home with jewelry, can he?

NB. The comment field for this post is not working for some reason. You could send me an email instead - beadinggem@yahoo.ca
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Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Jewelry Business Tips 

These dyed pink mother of pearl shell beads could be considered awkward. In cross-section, they were roughly triangular. Yet, their very eclectic feature can be made into jewelry highlighting their uniqueness. Gerry did exactly that for her bare wire necklace and her earrings. She used these beads with only some smaller clear square cube beads sporting inside pink colour as spacers. Her earrings were framed beautifully with the oval findings from Widget's Beads' Collection.



Beader Design # : 390
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Feature Designer

I am frequently amazed at the creativity of artisans who find unusual combinations. Thanks to If it's hip it's here, we can now be introduced to the work of Gia Bahm, the New York-based artisan behind Unearthen. She makes unisex pendants from gemstones and bullet casings which are hung on precious metal chains. The bullet calibre determines the sizing of the pendants from small to large.

Even her unusually designed website highlights her mystical leanings complete with a new age soundtrack. On her website, she describes herself as "a collector, an aestheticist, a creator, and a destructor… much like all of us who are constantly perplexed by the forces of nature and humankind."



Throughout the centuries right up to present time, many people have and still believe in the healing and mystical powers of certain minerals. There is no scientific evidence for crystal healing with these charmstones but even if it can only be explained by the placebo effect or positive thinking, then why not go for it? The Unearthen website allows you to click on each crystal which brings up their perceived properties and powers.

If you adore one-of-a kind new age style jewelry like this, Unearthen's website has links to the international stores which carry this line. Each piece is packaged in a glass vial within a wooden box. It comes with a pamphlet explaining the crystal's properties and care instructions. Cleansing salt is included although this website on Crystal Healing warns against using salt because it could damage some minerals..



Reference
Crystal Power

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Beader Design # 389
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Sea glass, those beautifully sea and sand tumbled bits of glass from old bottles and pottery are now getting harder and harder to find according to an article in this month's issue of the National Geographic magazine. Why? We have now shifted to plastic bottles and glass is also increasingly recycled. Mary Beth Beuke, the president of the North American Sea Glass Association, says "We're now at the end of the sea glass window. Much of the glass consigned to the waves decades ago is tumbled so tiny it's almost not worth picking up."



If you're lucky enough to live near the sea and wish to collect sea glass, her tips include searching at low tide (now that is a no-brainer!) and after a storm where the heavy wave action may have dislodged more material. Rocky shores will also yield more sea glass than sandy beaches.

I have to disagree with her about small glass pieces. They could be still be used in jewelry making perhaps in resin jewelry or attached to metal clay silver designs. If you've made any jewelry made up of tiny, unwrappable sea glass be sure to send me an email!

Wire Wrapped Sea Glass Pendants by daniboi1977 on Flickr.

Past Posts
Sea Glass Jewelry : History in the Sand
Uncommon Sea Glass from the Beach
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Cheryl rose to a design challenge. She loved the double holed half-spherically cut howlite gemstone beads usually used for bracelets. But as there are no real rules in designing jewelry, she still incorporated them anyway into her necklace. She contrasted the stark white of the howlite with grey desert sun beads. The latter's "cracks" revealed a silvery colour underneath so Cheyl added lots of metal daisies to complete her unique design.

Howlite is a gemstone with a Nova Scotia link. It is named after its discover Henry How, a local geologist. Its natural state is white with grey or black streaks which reminds one of marble. Howlite is often used to imitate other gemstones, particularly turquoise, because it can absorb dyes fairly easily.

Beader Design # : 388
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Soft Cuff Bracelets
Part 3 of 3

Have you been watching any of the Olympics on tv? I have - my favourite spectator sports are the synchronized diving and the gymnastics. So I couldn't pass up on this nod to sports.

But even if you're not into sports, you likely know someone who is. So these baseball cuffs available from Elsewares.com (no longer available)  make great gifts for the sports fan in your life.

They are handmade using genuine leather baseballs and have been velvet lined for comfort. How the cuff maintains its curvature and fit is an invisible, bendable brass frame. Each bears the autograph of the designer but there is plenty of space left for collecting autographs from baseball stars.

The sizing is from small to medium so it will fit children, youths and women. The nice thing about the baseball cuffs is not just because it is soft and great for people who have metal allergies but that they are unisex.




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Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Jewelry Business Tips 

Soft Cuff Bracelets
Part 2 of 3

Black leather cuff bracelets are hot, hot, hot! How hot? Well haute couture versions have been spotted strutting down several runways this season. These wide leather affairs were perhaps inspired by fetish wear - you know, bondage wrist shackles.

For me though, these wrist bracelets look like they are modern versions of hardened leather arm guards called vambraces and bracers once worn by medieval warriors and archers. But they are no longer secret wear or confined to medieval reenactments and movies - they are definitely moving mainstream. The fall collections of top designers usually dictate what will soon be fashionable. So put on your creativity hat and see if you can make some like Etsians Diana Norman and Greenbelts did below. I've added some free tutorial links at the end.

Old clothes and old jewelry - what do you do with them? Throwing them away is one option. But if you are loathe to contribute even more to our landfills then take a look at Stef's wonderful recycling idea over at Craftside. Stef was originally inspired by a necklace made entirely of t-shirts in Lorine Mason's book, Fashion T-Shirts: Easy-Sew Projects for Fun Fashion .



If you have scarf sliders still lying around or large clip-on earrings you don't wear anymore, then reuse them with strips or sleeve tubes from old t-shirts like Stef did here. The scarf sliders or clip on earrings are used to grip the middle of the figure 8 tubes as shown below. Thanks Stef for this great tip! If you're not into eco jewelry, then stay tuned for tomorrow's installment.




Disclosure
I do receive a small fee for any products purchased through affiliate links. This goes towards the support of this blog and to provide resource information to readers. The opinions expressed are solely my own. They would be the same whether or not I receive any compensation.

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Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Jewelry Business Tips