How To - make a bead link

The technique used for the necklace above is really simple.  I simply created bead links and attached them to the antique bronze chain.  Below is the video tutorial I made on making a bead link.  I filmed it over four times, and it's still not perfect.  Just goes to show how human we all are.  I wish I had paid more attention to rounder loops and snipped and tucked in edges.  Oh well :)

As always, please don't hesitate if you have a question!  I love feedback.

Can I give you an idea?

Make a simple braided bracelet.

This tutorial is so simple there are no photos of the process involved.

Simply take a full color of embroidery floss and fold it in half.  Now that you have a long double strand of embroidery floss, divide it into thirds.  

Tie a small knot on one end.

Braid.

Tie another knot.

Wear.

The Cleaning Silver Jewelry with Toothpaste lesson

As I make and sell jewelry I have come to know personally how well sterling silver can tarnish.  Obviously this just won't do.  I'd like to show you the method I use for cleaning jewelry.

Both of the earrings in the photo above were tarnishing quite badly.  I have already cleaned the earring on the bottom.  Can you see the difference between them?

Here's how it works.

You need some toothpaste.  Toothpaste has a very fine grain, just abrasive enough to clean the tarnish off, but not enough to harm your jewelry if you are careful.  A tooth gel will not work like this.

Place a small amount of paste on your hand.  I actually ended up using a bit more than this.

Now rub the tarnished jewelry with the paste.  Just scrub it up with your finger.  Please be careful, some designs might be harder to clean than others.

Once the tarnish has been worn away you then rinse off the paste.  Be watchful that you do not drop your jewelry down the sink.  It might be helpful to rinse it out in a small bowl. 

Make sure you get all the paste out of the small grooves.

Pat dry, and enjoy you beautiful jewelry!

And your fresh smelling hands :)

How To - loop wire and headpins

Hey yo friends!

It's time for another beginner's jewelry making tutorial!  In this video I show how to make a simple loop with a wire or headpin.  These can then be connected to jump rings, chain, findings, or whatever your heart desires.

  I kept it short and simple.

I'd like to note that I use the wrong term for chain nose pliers in the video.  I often call them flat nose pliers in my head simply because of their flat clamp, but please don't let this confuse you while you are watching.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions!

The Jewelry Pliers Lesson

I had a tough time naming this post.  It's not really a 'tutorial' or 'How To' post, it really is more like a lesson on jewelry making pliers.  I figure before I post more jewelry making tutorials and videos I should start with the essentials.  

Here are the four types of pliers I use in my jewelry making.  There are more, I agree, but these are the only ones I've found I've needed so far.  They would be the perfect set for a beginner jeweler.

I'll keep this simple:

1.  Chain Nose Pliers - You'll find me calling these flat nose pliers because they seem flat to me.  They are a tapered round plier with a flat clamp.  A good set should grip your wire nicely and refrain from scuffing the surface.  I use these for everything.  Bending, holding, clamping.  I love them.  I basically think of them as an extension of my hand.

2.  Round Nose Pliers - These have two tapered round prongs.  They are used for creating loops and eyeholes.  Clamp them onto the wire and wrap the wire around them to create a perfect and beautiful circle.

3.  Snipping Pliers - These can be called a few things, like cutters or flush cutting pliers.  They are used to cut your wire.  I like mine to be sturdy and come to a point.  The pliers in picture #3 are new and are wonderful.  They are precise and cut through wire like butter.

4.  Crimping Pliers - These pliers are used to close crimp beads.  They look like a confused alligator with funny teeth.  There are two crimping molds between the prongs.  One is to squeeze the crimping bead into a crescent shape, the other is to fold the crescent in half so that it forms a small crimped ball. 

As with all tools, I recommend investing in pliers that are nice and sturdy and smooth.  You don't want the metal surface to scratch up your wire.  And if they aren't sturdy enough they might not hold when you are bending and twisting hard wire.

I truly hope that helps.  Please let me know if you have any questions!

Sincerely Yours,

Becca

How To - open and close a jump ring

Hello friends!

I'm posting my first jewelry-making tutorial today.  Simply how to open and close a jump ring.  Sometimes when beginning a new hobby we have to start from the ground up.  The same goes for jewelry making.
A jump ring is a little circle of wire that is used to connect segments of your jewelry together.  There are open and closed jump rings.  An open jump ring has a slit in the wire so that you can bend the circle open and shut. A closed jump ring is solid all the way around and other segments of jewelry must be added to it.

 In this video I show you how to open and close a jump ring (or any loop really) without distorting it's circular shape.



If you have any questions please let me know!