Remember my announcement about being accepted as one of Prima Bead's (Cousin subsidiary) blogging partners? Well, here is the first month's design challenge using their new stainless steel findings!
The stainless steel findings were part of the welcome package we all received. It was like Christmas in July as I certainly wasn't expecting this!
I was really keen to try out Prima Bead's stainless steel findings. I had previously purchased jewelry grade stainless steel wire which is softer to work with than the kind you get in the hardware store. But I had not come across good enough stainless steel components....until now.
Why do I like stainless steel? There are several reasons :
I was really impressed with the quality of the stainless steel chain I used for this Reflections mirror bead wire wrapped pendant design. I managed to include 2 of the irregular cut light blue and grey beads I didn't use the last time in addition to other mirror beads I had on hand.
The mirror beads were neutral in color. So I did some very light funky wire wrapping with the sapphire blue coated copper wire to infuse the design with a little more color but still allowed the stainless steel wire to show through.
Naturally the earrings to match! The stainless steel stud earrings were a nice change from the ball style.
The welcome box also contained these Crystazzi bicones so I used the red ones for the next pendant design.
I used a stainless steel headpin to form a bail and to connect together the aluminum flower, red rondelle crystal and the go-go hematite focal with the help of some wire wrapping with 28G red coated copper wire. I had no qualms about doing this because stainless steel is very strong. This headpin also did extra duty as a place to hang the 3 other bead laden headpins at the back!
As for the earrings I made to test out the stainless steel, check the tutorial!
We haven't all posted yet but I would like to introduce my fellow Prima Blogging Team members now:
Disclosure
Before You Go:
Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Jewelry Business Tips
I was really keen to try out Prima Bead's stainless steel findings. I had previously purchased jewelry grade stainless steel wire which is softer to work with than the kind you get in the hardware store. But I had not come across good enough stainless steel components....until now.
Why do I like stainless steel? There are several reasons :
- doesn't tarnish
- really strong and durable
- resistance to tool marks
- shiny metallic color
- hypo-allergenic
- not magnetic (you don't want it attach to other findings!)
I was really impressed with the quality of the stainless steel chain I used for this Reflections mirror bead wire wrapped pendant design. I managed to include 2 of the irregular cut light blue and grey beads I didn't use the last time in addition to other mirror beads I had on hand.
The mirror beads were neutral in color. So I did some very light funky wire wrapping with the sapphire blue coated copper wire to infuse the design with a little more color but still allowed the stainless steel wire to show through.
The welcome box also contained these Crystazzi bicones so I used the red ones for the next pendant design.
As for the earrings I made to test out the stainless steel, check the tutorial!
We haven't all posted yet but I would like to introduce my fellow Prima Blogging Team members now:
Cheryl Boglioli cherylswindow.com
Jennifer Priest hydrangeahippo.com
Kerrie Slade kerrieslade.blogspot.com
Krafty Max Originals kraftymax.blogspot.com
Kristi Taylor gotsparkles.wordpress.com
Lisa Fulmer lisalizalou.blogspot.com
Molly Alexander beautifullybrokenme.blogspot.com
Rachel Nielson www.adventuresofadiymom.com
Stefanie Girard recycledcrafts.craftgossip.com
Disclosure
Before You Go:
- Wire Wrapped Pendant Tutorials Featuring Focal Beads
- Wire Wrapped Sunburst Pendant Tutorials
- How to Make Triangle or Triangular Jewelry Tutorials
Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Jewelry Business Tips
Beautiful designs Pearl! Do you know the lead and other heavy meal content of these components?
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful opportunity! Congratulations!!! Can't wait to see the designs at the next GRBS meeting.
ReplyDeleteHi, Pearl,
ReplyDeleteHow do we get hold of Prima Bead when all the links go to Error 404 messages when I go to a search engine? How do we buy this product? I have had people asking me for stainless steel jewellery for a while and I'm interested.
Will you be going to the Gem Expo at the Hyatt in Toronto this weekend? I'll be selling turquoise -- hope to see you and fellow subscribers there!
Barbara
All stainless steel alloys must contain at least 10.5% chromium to get its stainless and rust proof properties. As far as I know, lead is not typically used in these alloys.
ReplyDeleteI tested these stainless steel components with a magnet and found they were not very magnetic at all. This suggests that the other lesser components might be manganese, nitrogen and carbon according to this article here :
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=why-dont-magnets-work-on
If there were any nickel, it was below the amount needed to irritate my skin!
To be sure, we'd have to ask Prima.
Hi, Pearl, if this is a repeat comment, delete -- I'm having problems leaving a comment -- it seems to ask me to leave one twice. Maybe this time it'll work!
ReplyDeleteHow do we get to Prima Bead's website? All I get is an error message when I try to go to their site through a search engine.
I've had lots of requests from my customers about getting truly stainless steel components, not just "stainless steel coloured", so this is great news.
Will you be going to the Gem Expo this weekend at the Hyatt? I'll be there selling my turquoise. Hope to see you there.
Barbara
The findings look really great but I would like to know their relative pricing with regard to brass findings and how people take to them as steel jewlery is usually frowned upon
ReplyDeleteBarbara,
ReplyDeletePlease try again. The links work. If necessary, clear your browser cache and try again.
Not sure if I have the time to go to the Gem Expo but if I do, I will check you out!
ReplyDeleteDivya, I think the stainless steel prices are pretty good but maybe more than ordinary brass. Over here, many people like stainless steel jewelry (eg chain maille) because of the strength and durability. Stainless steel jewelry is often used for masculine jewelry.
ReplyDeleteSome readers are telling me that they have been so looking forward to more stainless steel components.
But having said that, there are market differences. So stainless steel may not be appropriate for the Indian market.
Please note that ordinary steel which is not stainless is not that popular.
I really LOVE what you've done with the components Pearl! Looking forward to seeing the earrings too!
ReplyDeleteKerrie :-)
Thanks everyone for the kind comments!
ReplyDeleteYour designs are very elegant, Pearl... good luck with your new opportunity!
ReplyDeletePearl what a lovely box of treasures Prima Beads sent you and I love how you used their components and findings. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteNice to know that their stainless steel is not noticeably magnetic. I once purchased some stainless steel chain and then realized I could not use a magnetic clasp with it because it was attracted to the magnet. It was not a pretty sight, sort of like wearing a skirt with a lot of static cling. :D
That is hilarious! But a good point of why these stainless steel components are not magnetic.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the Prima Beads ambassadorship. love the red & hematite necklace. Hope you'll do a tute on it. Have fun with all your goodies!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Maybe, maybe not. So much to do and so little time!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on these great designs and thank you for the informative post - good to know there is stainless steel that is hypo-allergenic and that it's quite forgiving when handled with tools.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work, Pearl! I am in love with that pendant! :) Molly
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Pearl , the designs you have created are really great , and inspiring . When my husband came back from Canada last month , he brought some components from there , but frankly I was disappointed as he did not bring the seed beads that I had asked him to . BUT , after I read this post and saw the lovely things you have created with these and I am thrilled ! Coz the components that he has picked up for me are also similar and from Cousin Corporation and Prima beads too ! Once again , thank you for the lovely info and inspiration
ReplyDeleteThanks again! It's great to know Cousin and Prima beads and components are widely available and your husband is not in the doghouse anymore! LOL!
ReplyDeleteHi Ms. Pearl, Thanks for posting about the Stainless steel, saw them in the store weeks ago but I am always leery of trying.
ReplyDeleteMy mom "burns thru metal" so I am very careful about the brands I choose.
Anzia aka Zia Parks
Hi Zia,
ReplyDeleteThese aren't expensive. I myself usually stick to sterling silver because I know it only contains silver and copper and no nickel. But these stainless steel findings were fine for me too.
But I have come across some women who cannot even wear sterling silver. So those few, I suggest niobium which is used for pacemakers.
Wow such a lovely designs. it’s completely superb. I like it very much. Now-a-days stainless steel wire accessories are very popular. These are very much used in design sector. I will definitely suggest to everyone to follow your blog.
ReplyDelete