Many jewelry makers use charms and buttons in their designs.  Without a doubt, the final pieces make or break on the quality of these vital components.  So it really is worth our while to try and use top notch charms and pendants.  Those from TierraCast certainly fit the bill.

I received samples of their latest designs - It's a Small World and Bird in a Tree lead free pewter charms and buttons collection.  They did not disappoint.  These came as holed charms or had intergrated loops. All but the smallest charms and shank buttons were even double sided!  They certainly thought of everything  right down to varied sizing so you could make jewelry sets.


There was just a minor observation.  While it is easy to spot the bird in the tree in a blown up photograph like this one below, in real life, most people would not see it unless the birds are pointed out to them. Still, that is a small quibble and I am in awe of the designer who managed to come up with such striking designs which work on small components.  



I particularly loved their shank buttons.  They were the right size for all in one shank button earrings. The buttons are so lovely on their own, I was reluctant to add more detail to them. I have done similar earrings tutorials before with headpins and rondelles and with two hole buttons. The tutorial for this will be out tomorrow. 



I also made this pair to match the necklace design below :

One quick tip is to use jump rings and a pinch bail to connect dangles to ear wires.

I teamed up the larger bird in a tree charm with a hammered and patinated brass blank. A wire woven bail, an open wire coil focal with internal strung crystals and some chain completed the design.



Photography
All images were taken with my iPhone 5and the camera+ app in natural light and with the Modahaus TS300 tabletop studio (except the second pinch bail earrings photo which was captured in my workshop with artificial lights).  The Modahaus Steady Stand was used to capture the pinch bail earrings overhead photographs. Click here to find out more about my How to Photograph Jewelry Webinars.

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