The Beading Gem

I was pleasantly surprised with the turnout for last week's giveaway class.  I was unsure if many would be interested in doing metal clay. It turns out quite a number of you do and actually confessed to buying metal clay but leaving untouched at home! One reader,  Linnyt said, "I have a packet of silver clay, but I'm afraid of wasting it because I've never tried it. I don't have a kiln, but was interested in trying the torch method with small, charm sized pieces that include set stones. I've put off trying it just because I don't know what to expect." 

Wire work is my favorite technique. So I have a lot of wire.  I use all kinds including the silver plated variety.  They are cost effective especially when wire wrapping as that uses up a lot of wire.  Silver plated wire is best for earring dangles and necklaces where the wear is far less than rings. I also like using good silver plated wire besides copper in prototype wire designs.  If they work out, the pieces are also saleable!

I sometimes cannot resist a bargain at gem shows.  Some years ago I bought some lovely polished irregular gemstone nuggets because they were a steal.  So how did I manage wire wrapping these into pendants back then?  They have to be secure, mind so the nuggets don't fall out. I used the beginner friendly hippy twist!   The hippy twist is a simple and informal wire wrapping technique which involves some wire twisting!  Here is a basic tutorial by Lisa Yang.

Like the minimalist style? Maybe with a bit of warm wood thrown in?  Then check out this easy peasy wood monogram wire bangle tutorial by Kim over on Made in a Day. This Mod Podge decoupage tutorial not only suits those who don't like elaborate designs but it also offers all sorts of potential depending on what you use to decorate the discs.  You can buy wooden blanks in different shapes if you aren't up to sawing your own. But you do need to know how to drill. Consider a manual spiral ratchet drill like this one if you can't use an electric one.

Using techniques from other crafts is a sure fire way of coming up with innovative designs.  Lisa Claxton of Beaducation demonstrates this with her stunning and clever basket weave wire design video tutorial.  She applies a number of the loom weaving techniques to her design.

Making your own findings from wire and metal really does up the ante on handmade.  By doing so, the jewelry designs will truly be unique and one of a kind. Sure it takes extra time but the effort is worth it in the long run.  The most common findings people make are ear wires and clasps. But there is so much more you can do.


I recently received this new book Handcrafted Metal Findings from Interweave (also available on their website)  for review.  Denise Peck and Jane Dickerson were the main designers behind this book.  This is the follow up to their first book, Handcrafted Wire Findings.


There are 30 projects in the book which cover both cold (wire or riveting) and hot connection (easy soldering) techniques.  Both the projects and the methods used are not that difficult and can easily be tackled by a determined late beginner or intermediate jewelry maker.  Cutting metal, for example, is accomplished with metal shears not saws;  simple hand held butane torch for the basic soldering.

Most of the tools used in the book are common ones  like pliers, hole puncher, hammers and dapping blocks. But there are tools which may yet be on wish lists - disc cutter, Crafted Findings Riveting System (see my past post), tube ringer (for corrugated metal effects).  This book, while not intended as such, also serves as a handy reference for the kind of tools and techniques one needs to advance in jewelry making.



The techniques are covered at the back of the book.  The templates used for some of the projects are also there. Here too is a helpful list of metal supplies - some of which are more unusual like the patterned wire.

Shown here are some of my favorite projects from the book.  The Poppy Bead Caps by Kiersten Giles is a simple metal work project requiring punching holes into a metal disc and using metal shears to shape the bead cap.  Hammering and patination really enhances the pieces.


I was indeed Easily Charmed  by this design by Jane Dickerson. The snap rivet is a clever adornment.


Other standouts from the book are the toggle clasps like this one, the Fizzy Flower toggle by Cassie Donlen. The copper enameled flower is riveted while the central lamp work bead is glued on.


The Bubble Wand Head Pins by Denise Peck shows how versatile bead wire can be. The bead wire is soldered into a circle and another wire is soldered on.


The all in one textured ear wires (Speak to Me) by Denise Peck also caught my eye.  18G wire was used which may not be okay for those with smaller ear holes.  However, there were two other projects in the book where short textured pieces of a narrow metal strip are soldered onto thinner ear wires.


The Starlight studs by Denise Peck required the soldering of shortened head pins behind the small metal rectangles. The unusual texture was formed using dimpling pliers, one of the less common tools in the book.


The Buttercup Bead Caps by Jane Dickerson demonstrates how a tube wringer can be used to add texture to metal discs.


The instructional pages had large and clear closeup images in this beautifully presented book. Each project also had a resource section for suppliers.  There was just one thing I wished this book had - an indication at the beginning of each project whether the techniques used were hot or cold ones. Not everyone is ready to use the torch. So it would have been useful to be able to quickly pick out the relevant project given a particular skill set.

If going totally handmade is your thing, then this book might just rev up your creativity.

Giveaway

If you'd like to win a copy of Handcrafted Metal Findings
please make a comment below. Make sure you leave contact info below if you do not have an online shop or blog.

Email subscribers need to scroll down the post they receive, click on Share Comment and enter your comment. Pick Name/URL. If you don't have a store or blog, leave the URL blank.

This giveaway is international.
If the winner has a non-post box US address, the prize will be a physical book.  Otherwise it will be an eBook.

Extra entries if you become or are a blog subscriber or follower etc. If you also do shout outs about this giveaway, those will count as additional entries too! Please say so in the comments.

It ends in a week's time at 6 pm EST Thursday, September 3, 2015 . I will pick the winner randomly and announce the results as soon as possible after. So be sure to leave a contact email if you don't have an online link or make sure you come back and check! Otherwise I will redraw in a week. Good luck!

Disclosure
I receive books and products for review.  I do receive a small fee for any products purchased through affiliate links.   The opinions expressed are solely my own.  They would be the same whether or not I receive any compensation.

Before You Go:

• Free Micro Torch Basics Online Class
• Book Review - Unexpected Findings
• Simple Riveted Flat Wire Bangle Tutorial

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

Creating wire animals is a lot of fun. Not only that, there are many ways to go about doing so. Adding beads certainly adds color.  Here are some fun wire wrapped owl jewelry tutorials to try!  The first one is delightlful and is by Poe Pearls.  It is not really much of a tutorial as there is only 1 photo which shows the major parts to do.  The frame is clearly constructed first, then the bead and wire eyes.

Japanese shibori (tie dyed) ribbon is simply lovely.  The most common application in jewelry design is to use it to hang pendants from. But truly innovative designers will do something totally different. Italian designer, Simona Svezia, besides others like Sherry Serafini, uses it to create gorgeous shibori ribbon beaded jewelry for her Etsy store, Perline e Bijoux.

Thanks to the readers who pointed out that the alternative name for the dia beads featured in last week's The Best Beads Shop giveaway is silky beads. No matter what they are called, these diagonally drilled two hole beads as with so many Czech bead types are simply gorgeous.  There are a wonderful range of shapes and colors.

Don't get me wrong.  Metal smith techniques - especially the basic ones are very useful skills to have. But metal clay is a fantastic alternative to get more complex metal jewelry designs without having to deal with cutting and forming metal sheets.  Patrik Kusek's Silver Metal Clay: Adding Stones and Dimension online Craftsy Workshop, which I received for review, demonstrates why precious metal clay has so many advantages.

Bugles are fantastic for beadwork. Pity they aren't used more. Here are some lovely bugle bead jewelry beading tutorials to try.  You won't be disappointed!  The first one is a pretty butterfly inspired necklace was posted by Elena Tvetkova over on biser.if.ua.  It is a pictorial so there is no need to translate.

Silver has always been popular but lately, gold is making a come back! But there is no need to break the bank given how expensive gold is.  I love Denise Mathew's easy peasy faux gold dipped pendant video tutorial because it adds a little elegance to plain wrapped pendants.   I like how she kept the gilding only at the top of the wrapped pendants.  She said she was inspired by this tutorial.

Czech beads are not just for beaders!  If you love working with wire, consider using them for a wire wrapped project.  Here I take advantage of the two diagonal holes just as I did with the beaded earrings tutorial earlier this week.  Four of these are grouped into a square and placed in a diamond orientation.

I've been wanting to get an activity tracker for ages ever since I got a chance to try out 5 different types on the market. I need more exercise and I knew a tracker will give me the incentive,  I held out for Apple watch but when it launched I found it was too pricey and disappointing in style.  Most smartwatches just don't cut it for people with smaller wrists.  So I did ask for the Fitbit Charge as a birthday gift.

Czech beads are so much fun.  They come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and in recent years with more than one hole.  The extra hole makes a big difference as they allow the beads to be connected in far more ways than if they had just the one.  Here is a simple beaded earrings tutorial using Dia beads.

Russian artist, Anastasiya Ivanova of Nastiva Jewelry is one of those rare talented jewelry designers who can turn wire and metal into wonderful one of a kind designs. A prolific artisan, I had a hard time trying to select from her many stunning copper wire wrapped and metal work jewelry designs. Each and every one of her designs is a work of art.

Thank goodness for the internet.  Not all of us can get to a local jewelry making class. Let alone something really specific and advanced.  So it was no wonder Victoria Lansford's Granulation Techniques Demystified Craftsy class struck a chord with some readers when I wrote about it in last week's giveaway.

Czech beads are one of my favorites to "play" with. That's because the manufacturers there have a long tradition of making different shapes of beads with the most luscious finishes and colors all for our beading pleasure!  The Best Beads Shop is based in Prague in the Czech Republic and supplies a whole range of genuine Czech beads made by different companies out there.  They are back with another wonderful giveaway!

Torch work is like the final frontier.  Sort of like space exploration - the last place most people can or want to go.  But the technique is worth learning. So this FREE  Micro Torch Basics mini class from Craftsy is ideal to take the fear out of this useful hot connection method.  The excellent instructor, Kate Richbourg goes over the exact things all beginners need to know to get started.

This simple long seed beads hair clip idea is definitely retro!  Hands up how many of you remember the trend? Well, it is still a great idea and an easy one at that.  The tutorial from LoveMaegan shows how well it looks with long hair.  And depending on what is used, maybe match outfits too.  The younger set would enjoy wearing a clip or several of them.  Perhaps adorned with a feather or two?

Not everyone is into hearts but surely those of you who bead will love this beautiful beaded heart earrings design tutorial!  It is by Moscow based Galina Dietrich over on Accessories for Life.  She used Swarovski drop crystals but cleverly forms the heart shape with seed beads. She finished up the deisgn especially at the top for a very elegant look.

It's clear why last week's giveaway for Marilyn Gardiner's Modern Chain Mail Jewelry book garnered a great deal of interest! The beautiful designs certainly inspired people to either start chain mail or drew them back to the technique.

Copper oxidizes very easily.  That is why sterling silver, which contains 7.5% copper, tarnishes so easily.  I generally prefer to use Gun Blue to patinate copper - it turns dark in seconds. No smell either. Household ammonia is much slower and very pungent.  But as you will see with this tutorial on how to use ammonia for blue patination of copper, the humble cleaning solution is great for color formation.  The tutorial is by Creatinglinus over on Instructables.

Paul Keppel is a UK wedding photographer who recently shared how he takes beautiful  jewelry photographs using just an inexpensive LED light. He calls it the Keppelling Wedding Ring Method. Getting good lighting is difficult especially as he has to shoot on location.

According to Maegan over on LoveMaegan, this boho braided leather choker style was popular back in the 90's, at least in the Hollywood area where she sold them.  As retro is trendy these days, she brought it back.  As you can see, it can be worn on the back or front.

Polymer clay lends itself so well to not just color but texture. Those are the reasons why so many artists are drawn to this medium. One outstanding example is French artist, Sonya whose glorious work can be found on her Sonya's Polymer Creations Flickr site.

Well, I'll be.  The creative force is strong in many of you too!  Last week's giveaway for the Beam n Read Personal light was very popular. Poor light, insufficient light, aging eyes and awkward or inadequate alternatives were cited as reasons for wanting a better crafting light.

Victoria Lansford is a remarkable metal smith whose work I featured before - see this past post about her gorgeous Ancient World Inspired Jewelry Designs.  She is a master of a number of the ancient techniques such as Eastern repousse and granulation where tiny metal balls are fused onto metal. For example, the Ancient Egyptians and especially the Ancient Etruscans were skilled in this. For centuries people were puzzled how they managed this without using solder. It wasn't until the 20th century that people finally realised a paste made from copper carbonate, water and fish glue was used.

Beaded earrings are quick to make and the results are elegant.  So even if you aren't a beading expert, these easy pretty beaded earrings are worth trying.  They aren't full of tiny seed beads, honest!  These are all from Crafty Inspiration by Linda. Linda Genaw, as you can see from her tutorials and add-ons, has great taste!  One of my favorites is her Peyote Fan Earrings tutorial below.   She has some beautiful examples using different colors.

We should always try to make our findings work twice as hard! Jump rings are great for connections but they can also be used as decorative elements. I've been collecting some great ideas along this line (see links below). This latest one is by Kat Silva for Beadaholique. She shows us in this video tutorial how to embellish a half hitch spiral macrame bracelet with jump rings.

Mala bracelets and necklaces are typically used by Hindus and Buddhists to keep count of their chants and mantras (repeated sounds to aid meditation). They are made from different types of materials depending on the purpose of the mantras. Wood is one of the materials used as prayer beads.

Chain mail jewelry is often unisex.  But there are ways in which chain mail jewelry can be made to look distinctly feminine - the right weaves in the right combination for example. Adding color is another tactic.  This new book puts together these two approaches for modern chain mail jewelry both modern and appropriate for the professional woman.

I've featured many woven chain jewelry tutorials before (see below) but this one is worth a mention because at a glance, it is a faux chain mail design!  But like the others, it is fashioned by weaving together chain lengths.  This tutorial and design is by Devin Kimura over on Art Beads.

Guzialia Reed is an astonishing designer whose stunning beaded jewelry have won her numerous prizes in both the US and in Japan where she is now living with her family.  Her designs are striking in both color and form and are nearly all one of a kind.

Last week's giveaway for $40 worth of gemstones from Nelson Beads really appealed to those who love these natural gemstones. Tamera confessed, "A rockhound wannabe is my middle name! I love using them in my creations! They inspire me still, like no other medium I have worked with."Some of you were just as impressed as I was with the lapis lazuli (shown below). Pamela who has bought from Joanne before added,"I can attest that the lapis nuggets are indeed as advertised. And undyed lapis is so hard to find."

As long as I can remember, I have always crafted.  The force to be creative is very strong in this one! So every spare moment I have is spent making jewelry or doing crochet. That includes while watching a movie/tv at home or on long journeys as a car passenger.  I've tried all sorts of personal lights in the past so as not to annoy others with bright overhead lights.  None were ideal - flashlight (awkward),  clip-on lights like book lights (too dim) and Ott-lite lamps (not convenient if the table is too far or if one is in a car; floor models are also expensive).