The Beading Gem

It's been 6 years since I  featured the first rapid prototyped jewelry I came across.  In the last few years, more and more 3D printed jewelry have appeared on the market (see links below).  3D printer costs have also declined tremendously with the rise in popularity.  The last price I heard was about $1000.  The OLO3D is the first smartphone driven 3D printer and it costs just $99!  This ingenious invention by an Italian 3D printing and design firm has been wildly popular and successfully funded on Kickstarter.  It will be assembled in the US.

There are a number of friendship bracelet looms available as craft kits for kids.  But recently, one has gone high tech! It makes learning and making friendship bracelets much easier and a lot more fun. Not just for kids but for adults too! If you've ever struggled with macrame, this might be a good solution.

Light up jewelry? Really cool!  They are actually practical lighting solutions rather than adornment but jewelry works too if you want to be different!

First up is the LED Wrist Light (link no longer available). The bangle style bracelet has a snap on lock and works off 4 battery operated LED lights. Saves having to use a flashlight in some situations.

I have no trouble envisioning an $8 million mansion but to spend that much money on something that fits in the palm of your hand and will be outmoded anyway in a couple of years or so? The mind boggles.

Such is the cost of the world's most expensive iPhone4 courtesy of British jewelry, Stuart Hughes who likes embellishing popular gadgets. This one has a bezel filled some 500 flawless diamonds weighing more than 100 carats. Turn the device over, and there are 53 more forming the Apple logo. The navigation button is a platinum set 7.4 carat pink diamond.

Imagine wearing a dress all lit up like a Christmas tree! The Galaxy Dress is gloriously aglow with 24,000 colorful LED lights with 4,000 Swarovski crystals helping with the megasparkle! Watch the video for the full color changing effect.

I came across Tweet Volume and found it an interesting free service whose software uses data from Twitter and Google. It's a way of comparing anything you choose and find out how popular the topic is based on how much it is being twittered. Being very curious, I tried it out.

The first experiment was to compare the relative twitterings or how often the search term comes up for 5 craft/jewelry selling sites - Etsy, Arfire, Dwanda, Ruby Lane and 1000markets.

I checked out the sites on weekend evening as well as on a weekday evening (shown above). The results were the same - Etsy artisans and their fans were by a huge margin the most active. This doesn't necessarily mean Etsy is bigger than the others but that the artisans there are very tech savy indeed or Twitter addicts! You may wish to read this blog's post "How Etsy uses Twitter". As one commenter there said, "Business is all about communication - and Twitter is a great communication tool."

Twitter though, as I pointed out before, has to be used well as most tweets fall into the pointless babble category. About 40% of tweets were found to be of the "I am eating my lunch" category.

Moving on to experiment two, I used Tweet Volume to check out which type of jewelry piece was twittered most amongst necklaces, earrings, bracelet, anklet and brooch (pin was not specific enough and neither is ring). As you can see below, necklaces, earrings and bracelets are twittered most which indicates their relative popularity. Food for thought.



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Cool Technology
Part 1 of 2
I don't own an iPhone but it sure is tempting with all the cool apps you can get for it. You can even make phone calls with it too - imagine that! One app that will soon be available in late summer is the free Live Diamond Try On iPhone app. This is a partnership between Stuller and Gemvision Corp.

The app lets you to choose a diamond from Red Box Diamonds and design an engagement ring you like no matter where you are.

You take a photo of your own hand with the phone's camera and virtually "try on" the ring to see if the design suits! Placing the iPhone on your hand and tilting it will allow you to check the diamond's sparkle.

There will also be a "find a jeweler" function once you are certain of the ring. Users can even email a picture of the ring to their friends and family - what a way to announce an engagement!

Via and Via

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Global Warming
Part 2 of 2
Climatologists have been warning us about the speed in which our world is warming up with potentially disastrous results. Our dependence on fossil fuels has to change not only because burning them contributes to global warming but also because we are running out of oil.


So finding and improving alternative energy sources like solar panels is key. But solar panels as jewelry? Well, Mae Yokoyama has indeed created a technology inspired jewelry item called the Lux Solar Panel Collar out of the latest green innovation.

The necklace is really made out of solar panels which accumulate sunlight during the day. Then, at night, the stored energy lights up the necklace's string of LED bulb "pearls". 

It takes two hours to charge up the collar to give a minimum of 4 hours of illumination.Talk about green fashion jewelry, one which features renewable energy!

Mae Yokoyama is a Master of Jewelry Design student at the Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design in Sweden.

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

I can't tell you how many times I have misplaced my glasses. One time, I couldn't find them anywhere and sent the whole family looking for them. They were eventually found in a waste paper basket! One of our cats must have accidentally swiped them off the table. Perhaps you can relate with other lost items? Your cell phone, keys perhaps? Then you and I will appreciate the Re:Collect High Tech bracelet . This awesome gadget bracelet is the brainchild of a group of MA (Master of Arts) Design Studies students from London's Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design. It uses the latest product tagging RFID (radio frequency ID) technology - the successor to bar codes - so you don't lose your valuable items. Basically what you do is attach the RFID tag on, say your cell phone. If you forget your cell phone at your favorite watering hole, the bracelet lights glow when you are about 3 feet away. At 5 feet, it also beeps. And just in case you are so tipsy you don't notice the glowing and the beeping, it starts to vibrate as well at 10 feet away. (If you don't register even that, one assumes you're being carried out!). But seriously, it is very easy to forgot where we put down keys, cell phones and so on as we are so often in a rush these days. The young inventors made a video to show how it works. Pity the camera doesn't follow the girl and show the bracelet changes. But still the concept is cool. If they can make the tag a lot smaller to attach to the side arms of my glasses without dangling, I'm buying! The team is working hard canvassing support to take this idea to market. I think they have a winner!  

Technology Inspired Jewelry
Part 2 of 2
BLUE TOOTH BLING
Today, many jurisdictions do not allow hand held cell phone use whilst driving. So bluetooth devices hooked onto ears are all the rage because it means you can still communicate on phones without having to hold them. But have you noticed how downright ugly they are? They look like hearing aids on steroids!

Now take a look at this black Swarovski crystal number below. This blue tooth device vaguely resembles a round earring. Going high tech doesn't mean you have to sacrifice style especially if you like bling. Known as the Breeze, this sparkly number is available in either black or white for $260 from the Swarovski online store . Yep, style costs if it is Swarovski!  (update - link no longer works)



CRYSTAL STUDDED USB FLASH DRIVES
Many people using computers today also use USB flash drives for additional storage and as data backups. Indeed, I use these things to backup all my critical photos and jewelry business data. But like blue tooth devices, they are utilitarian in looks. Lately though, manufacturers have woken up to the idea some women may prefer prettier versions.

Back in 2007, I wrote about a heart shaped USB flash drive pendant, a lovely Swarovski crystal number. Now there are tons of such jewelry items at various price points. One example is the pretty crystal rose pendant 8G USB flash drive from Brando.com for just $37. This is a super buy for the price - 8G! I would wear this on a long chain so it can be quickly removed for use.



Wearing a USB flash drive really makes sense if you frequently misplace these devices. For bracelet fans, here is the Jewel USB bracelet also from Brando.com. Available in either gold or silver tones, it costs just $33 for 8G.



If all that glitter is not your style, how about doing beaded covers for them just to make them unique? If you do this, be sure to email me a picture of your creation!

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

Technology Inspired Jewelry
Part 1 of 2

Know a techie? Then you just have to make or get them geeky jewelry. They will get a kick out of them. I've been "collecting" this set of geeky jewelry for ages ready for this post.

One of the finest examples has got to be the Silicon Gallies or Next Generation Glass Tile Pendant by Capitolagirl on Etsy (no longer available). Her silver laptop computer key on top of a glass tile is pure high tech class. You get to choose your own letter or number. BTW she reads this blog too!


The Click necklace ($25) from Supermarket makes a very clever gift for some one you "click" with! Via




These HTML Head sterling silver earrings by Nicholasandfelice on Etsy are cute! Via



These clever Fimo clay blackberry earrings by picnicbybarbfeldman on Etsy are sure to please the hardcore "crackberry" users. Via



The Shift Key earrings by thelovelyteaspoon on Etsy have been adorned with little blue hearts. Via



Power button earrings by meleiaearrings on Etsy feature real Apple Macbook keys. Via



The @ sign charm from Forzieri
Via



The Forward Button Ring by Fred Flare ($20) is a white acrylic ring which perhaps shows you how forward thinking you are? Via


The FTW Necklace by NBsCloset on Etsy ($18) is made from black acrylic. FTW stands for "For The Win" which is a Twitter abbreviation. Via



This tiny mini computer pendant from Shanalogic shows an 80's style computer complete with rhinestones on the screen. (no longer available) Via

Last but not least, we can LOL (Laugh Out Loud) at life's foibles with this LOL necklace by Boomtisca on Etsy.


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Take a close look at these earrings I made. Don't they remind you of steampunk? I work with a lot of scientific instruments. The earrings were made from old washers from an outmoded piece of equipment I was dismantling for disposal. It seemed such a shame to see unwanted material especially metal go to waste and clog our landfills. So instead of tossing the washers which cannot be recycled into any other equipment, I cleaned them, added some jump rings and put them together for this fun and funky pair!



If you've never really poked around a hardware store, I highly recommend it. There are all sorts of potential jewelry findings you could use. Alas, I am not the first to think of it as Nicole Noelle Sherman has already published this book Making Designer Jewelry from Hardware, Gems, and Beads on the subject! The jewelry is on the chunky side but then many people like their jewelry big and unusual. One benefit of hardware jewelry is the metal is often stainless steel or aluminium which is not susceptible to rusting or discoloration.

The book also shows you how effective it is to make recycled circuit board jewelry for high tech adornment. But a word of caution, these boards have lead solder so if you are hacking up boards, work in a ventilated environment.

Beader Design # : 454

Related Post : How to make a Steampunk Ring

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Feature Designer

Dichroic comes from the Greek word dikhroos which simply means two-coloured. One of the modern meanings in optical terms refers to a material that can split visible light into different wavelengths(colours).

Dichroic glass has multiple ultra-thin layers of metal oxides - we're we're talking 3-5 millionth of an inch here - which gives the glass its special optical properties. The high tech versions are used in satellite mirrors and as special filters because these optical coatings can reflect or let through (transmit) certain wavelengths of light.

But the chameleon effect of the glass with its shifting play of colours is also irresistible to jewelry artisans like Nikki who hails from London, England. She uses glass fusing techniques to make her richly hued pendants like this one in rainbow colours. The process is laborious and time consuming. The order and the specific thickness has to be determined by the artisan to get the effect they want.

I asked Nikki recently how she makes her pendants. She says she stacks different colours of dichroic on top of each other, secured with glass glue and places them in the kiln cold. The kiln is heated to 850 degrees C and held for only 10-15 minutes before being turned off. But she has to endure a cooling period of around 12 hours. Only then can she choose which pieces she wants to surround in art clay silver (ACS).

She rolls some ACS into a long snake and pushes it around the chosen piece. It mustn't be too tight around the glass to allow for shrinkage. It is then dried on a hotplate before starting up the kiln process again. She allows the piece to go totally cold so the dichroic glass anneals (strengthens and hardens). This takes around 2 days!! She has learnt to her cost impatience results in cracked glass!

Nikki has developed her technique through trial and error - she says she doesn't know if it's right or not. But hey, if it works, don't knock it! She really wanted to make her dichroic different from the commonly seen square cabochons. And by doing it her way, she doesn't have to cut glass which is not her strong suit. I rather think her "organic" shapes are fun and funky!

She also does a range of jewelry making techniques besides dichroic glass. She recently posted her commission pendant with art clay silver finding decorated with an aquamarine - note that the gemstone was added after the piece was fired otherwise the colour of the aquamarine will be affected. What does she want to continue her craft? More time and a warmer shed!

Picture with kind permission from Nikki. You can find her on metalchasers.com (link no longer available) where you can ogle her gallery.

Learn More about Dichroic Glass Jewelry and Metal Clay

For those interested in learning more about art clay silver, the Art Clay World USA site has a long list of tips and techniques 

This free tutorial on how to fuse a simple dichroic glass pendant without the silver surround looks like it might be easier to start with. Same with Mimi Bolser's Create Quick Dichroic Pendants instructions.
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Lady Roots is a beadweaving artisan whom I've featured before. She writes a delightful blog from her Jamaican home. Since we visited her last, she has gotten over her internet woes. Now she can concentrate on blog updating and housekeeping. So if things look a little odd there for the next while or as they say in Jamaica "tings dem a look chaka-chaka", you'll know why.

Like all artisans, she has a great eye for colour and design possibilities. Pictured here is her bracelet made from her business suit buttons when she gave up the corporate life. The suits are gone but her bracelet reminds her of what she does not miss. She also created a cuff bracelet from a cardboard core hidden under many layers of red, gold and copper lacquer and decorated with aquarium glass. A modern design from as she says, humble beginnings.

She extols the virtues of recycling for by reusing, we will help reduce landfill waste and save resources. I agree with her; our children deserve a better world. Bless up, Lady Roots and thanks for sharing this photo from your blog post.

Inspiring Recycled Jewelry on the Web

Vling makes pins, earrings, pendants and even Christmas ornaments from old vinyl records and not just in black. Some of the designs are perfect for Halloween like the black cats and spiders.

Arteco.com showcases the amazing range of jewelry (mostly ) made from recycled high tech components by a gifted artisan, Stewart Webb who is dyslexic and loves taking things apart.

TechnaCessories is a jewelry line developed by Marion Martinez from discarded circuit boards. Her jewelry is mostly limited to pins and bolo ties. Her circuit board art for walls is exquisite.

Indigo Dreams has a macrame bracelet made with a USB memory stick which works as the clasp!!! And computer keys all linked together as a bracelet.

Eco-artware.com sells a range of gifts made from recycled, reused and natural materials. In their jewelry for women section, there are rings made from typewriter keys, bangles from vinyl records and even watch face bracelets. Their cuff links are also typewriter keys - "Shift Key" and "Back Space"!

Re-Cycled Accessories lives up to its name. The jewelry is made from bike parts and is designed by cyclists!

Recycled Jewelry Contest Winners in Louisiana include an excellent pin design made by Ann Knox from a metal washer, clock parts and chain.

Uncommon Goods.com features Kathleeen Plate's amber glass and sterling silver jewelry.

Christie Fisher makes beautiful jewelry from recycled glass.

Great Green Goods shows simple but colourful bangles made from shopping bags and shampoo bottles combined with silver and gold.

Recycled Jewelry series

The small USB flash drive for backing up computer files or transferring them is a godsend compared to older ways. However, if you have worn one or seen someone wear one, you would agree that whilst useful, it does have that G-E-E-K-Y look about it. I confess I hide mine in the drawer or in my purse rather than wear it.

So, I was intrigued to see the first Active Crystals offerings from the partnership between Philips and Swarovksi. The Heart Wave and the Heart Beat pendant offer high tech style without sacrificing function - the drive itself is cleverly hidden in what looks like a regular necklace at first glance. Notice that the necklace mounting is on the side for practical reasons as the heart locket opens at vertical centre.

They offer 1 GB storage and will cost closing in on US $200. They will soon be on sale in August so check out the high end retailers then.

Sources : Hub Pages and Crunchgear.