Celtic Bracelet Celtic bracelets and Celtic jewellery

10Feb/100

Things you Need for Bead Jewelry Making

Bead jewelry making is an activity that can be done by anyone, even if they haven’t been particularly trained to do beadwork. In other words, there is no level of skill forced upon you in order to complete an incredible decorative necklace or pair of earrings made out of beads. The number one advantage of creating your own jewelry or ornaments is the fact that they can be 100% original. Your creativity together with the benefits of the online shops which allow you to buy almost anything regarding jewelry making supplies will assist you to create unique pieces. If you are not interested in creating jewelry and simply want to buy wholesale beads, by visiting gemmall.com you will certainly find a wide range of beads from where you can take your desired pick(s).

When you get involved with jewelry making, experience is always a plus. In case you are not inspired, then you should make sure to have close at hand specific patterns to work on and, if possible, a tutorial to help you through the process, particularly if you are a beginner. Concerning the beadwork patterns, make a simple choice if you are a novice. You will also need thread, i.e. beading thread. Don’t use sewing thread or dental floss – they will break easily. Many bead makers favor C-Lon and Nymo types of beading thread. They are fairly resistant, even in high humidity circumstances. In addition, beading needles are a must: you will use them to pass the thread through the beads.

It is preferable to approach jewelry making in a “step by step” manner, but with imaginative enthusiasm. The results won’t be disappointing and you might discover yourself as an artist. As soon as you finish your first ornaments, you will feel more confident and attracted to future beadwork possibilities. In case you consider you’re not very skilled in jewelry making, gemmall.com can supply you with already stringed wholesale beads according to your taste. The amazing crafts will surely catch your attention and you might even find yourself in a difficult position of not knowing what exactly to choose from so many wonderful offers.

The key to successful bead making consists in the beads you’ll use. The choice is yours and the result depends on the material, the texture and color of the beads. By taking a look at the wholesale beads available on the above mentioned website you will be delighted to discover a world of gemstones, glass beads, crystal, plastic, wood or even sterling silver and gold beads. Attractive through color and shape these wholesale beads themselves can be a source of inspiration in creating some particular decorative item.

Because obviously no beadwork can be completed without beads, you should check out the available wholesale beads that interest you above all without leaving aside the other possibilities you have. It’s good if you know exactly what you want to purchase, but a second look at the other options might determine you to change your mind. Temptation is at every turn. And you might even realize the wholesale beads you bought now can be of help and an inspiration later on while jewelry making and while paying attention to the creative process.

Since you are buying wholesale beads, you will most likely be at an advantage: you will get them in cost-effective terms and in amounts that guarantee you can go ahead with your jewelry making without interruption caused by the lack of beads.

Finally, the workspace where you create your ornaments is very important. This means that you will need quality lighting conditions, particularly if you wear eyeglasses or if you feel that at a certain point during your work, your eyes sore - it is a clear sign that either you are tired so it’s time you took a break or lighting conditions are not appropriate. Jewelry making can be a particularly meticulous occupation. Attention to details is a must and you need to be able to notice everything.

Other measures you should approach out of caution concern the amount of beads you have at hand. It is preferable that you don’t get cheap about the amount of beads you purchase. There is nothing more unpleasant than finding that you are left with no beads just when you’ve managed to get a bit accustomed with bead threading or when you are close to the “finish line”.

Also, make sure that you have some spare needles. A single needle might get lost or misplaced. At times, it may even break should it come in rough contact with some other objects. So, in order to prevent a sudden interruption caused by your need to go to the nearest shop and buy another beading needle, it is best to stay on the safe side and secure a “supply” of needles and of wholesale beads prior to any potentially unpleasant event. Finally, you can start your work on the beadwork pattern. Good luck!

No particular skill is required to start bead jewelry making. All you need is to give a close look to your beadwork pattern, to acquire the perfect fashionable wholesale beads from our website, the thread, the needles and the patience that are necessary to create the jewelry or the ornaments you so much desire.

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29Jan/100

Handmade Jewelry-Making Basics – What is a Toggle?

Jewelry-makers should learn terminology of basic jewelry-making components and techniques to work effectively with friends, customers and suppliers.

Jewelry toggles make up one category of many different jewelry closures for handmade artisan jewelry, mass-market costume jewelry and fine jewelry.  While toggle clasps definitely fasten jewelry, they can also enhance jewelry appearance.

What is a jewelry toggle?

A jewelry toggle is a set of two pieces: a jewelry loop and a jewelry stick.  The jewelry loop is attached to one end of your unfinished jewelry; the jewelry stick attaches to the other end.  The jewelry stick gets pushed through the jewelry loop, then turned so it rests longways against the loop, gravity holding the two components in place.  A skin-tight jewelry piece without any slack will not last long -- this style closure is made to have some slack.

Toggle clasps come with a bit more risk than lobster claw clasps.  However, many jewelry fans seem to regard jewelry toggles as more fashionable than lobster claw clasps.  Jewelry closed with toggles may fall off the body if they are made with too much slack; sometimes the toggles may come undone when the tension on the jewelry is relaxed.

Fancy toggles will often be used at the front of a necklace as a visual centerpiece -- especially fancy shaped toggles or toggles with addition decorations.

Jewelry toggles come in many different shapes:  round, oval, square, diamond, heart-shaped, floral, stirrup, etc.

Toggle Mechanics

A toggle is most secure when it cannot easily slip back through the loop accidentally.  The widest opening of the toggle loop must still be smaller than the shortest distance from your anchor point (often a ring soldered on or cast midway a metal toggle stick) to the end of the stick.    The toggle loop must also be big enough to accommodate the smallest beads on the end attached to the toggle stick.  The stick must be pulled through the loop before it can be turned to rest against the toggle loop.  Many jewelry pieces with toggle clasps will have beads graduated in size from the larger beads at the center, where they are most visible, to the smaller beads at both ends.  Toggles that are light with respect to the center beads will shift to the top as a bracelet rotates due to gravity.  A heavy toggle will help a bracelet to hang comfortably, with the toggle loop underneath the wrist.

Fastening Toggles

In pieces made with jewelry chain, you may see chain end caps soldered onto the chain and toggles connected with link locks or soldered jump rings.  Unsoldered chain pieces will often use open jump rings, split rings or link locks.  Jewelry designers will usually fasten toggles to bead wire projects using flattened crimps.  Some designers favor clam shells or bead tips to make the transition to the jewelry closures for bead wire projects and fiber projects such as knotted silk jewelry.  Inexpensive leather or fiber pieces may be knotted directly onto the toggle pieces with overhand knots.

Toggle Materials

Your "stick" may be as simple as a button with a shank used with a loop of seed beads on bead wire.  Your loop may be quite fancy, with "expandable" toggles of several rings attached together.   The rings on both the toggle loop and toggle stick should be firmly attached.  Toggle sticks with spiral patterns seem to be susceptible to bending more than many other designs.

Toggle in the United States will often be made of one of the following materials:

Platinum Palladium Gold Gold-Filled Silver: Thai silver, sterling silver (.925 silver) Titanium Surgical Steel Brass, usually plated with gold, silver, copper, antique copper, antique brass, gunmetal/black nickel and imitation rhodium Wood Stone

Many of these materials are available in different surface textures: shiny, matte, brushed, etc.  Crystals, cubic zirconia and gemstones may decorate toggles of the more expensive metals.

The jewelry designer's unique sense of design and style will define the jewelry aesthetics and the the possible toggles for a jewelry piece.  Fortunately, toggles are available in a wide range of prices, shapes and materials.

Paul Brandon knows toggles and writes for OhioBeads.com, which sells bulk jewelry chain and jewelry findings (in sterling silver, gold-filled, antique brass, antique copper, gunmetal, imitation rhodium, silver-plate, gold-plate).

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31Dec/090

Where To Find Jewelry Making Supplies

If you want to make your own jewelry at home as a hobby, you need to find your own jewelry making supplies online so you can put together the trinkets you want without spending a lot of money. Handmade jewelry is the most beautiful you can own because it's made by a caring person - and it's a piece of art. Luckily, jewelry making supplies are easy to find on the Internet.

Simply do a search for "jewelry making supplies" and you should come across tons of sites that sell exactly what you need for low prices. In fact, if you're into making handmade jewelry, you'll have more choice than you'd expect, and will need to take some time sifting through the different stores and their wares.

It's easy and inexpensive to make handmade jewelry at home, and it can be a lot of fun if you like to get creative. It makes a great gift for yourself or family and friends, and you can even turn your hobby into another form of income by selling your handmade jewelry online or locally.

By getting your hands on the right jewelry making supplies from the beginning, it's possible to put together some items that will last for years, especially if you find amazing, high-quality jewelry-making kits.

If you visit craft supplies sites you can get more than just materials for your creations. You can find kits that help you with patterns and to design ideas. You should also purchase a book on making beaded jewelry to help you along the way. It's easy to find books on the topic because craft supply stores have tons of them for sale on a regular basis.

Learn some of the terminology before you get into making beaded jewelry as well. Learn about where you can find clasps, metal rings, and earring posts. Making silver jewelry is a particular subject you may want to familiarize yourself with if you're going to get into the hobby of making jewelry at home. Silver necklaces and other accoutrements can make amazing gifts and keepsakes for those you love.

Other supplies you may need, in addition to the actual beads for the jewelry, include tools, pliers, glue, clasps, and other items such as containers to hold the various supplies, and bead boards to stay organized.

If you look in both online and local stores you should be able to find exactly what you're looking for, as far as supplies are concerned. Compare prices to find the best deals, and browse as many stores and items as possible.

When you purchase kits, the whole process from start to finish will be much easier. You won't have to worry about forgetting supplies, and most kits are fairly reasonably priced. Also, the kits are available for a wide range of different jewelry-making, so you won't run out of ideas to try. If you're buying online, don't forget to factor the cost of shipping into the price calculations.

To learn more about Making Jewelry at Home, check out the http://www.jewelrymakinghq.com>Jewelry Making HQ Web Site.

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29Dec/090

Jewelry Making for Fun and Profit

There is an old adage that says work isn't really work if you enjoy what you're doing. If one of your hobbies is jewelry making, why not turn this activity into a source of income? You're already having fun anyway, and it wouldn't take a whole lot more to share your jewelry creations with people who would appreciate them and be more than happy to pay for them. With a bit of extra effort, time management and discipline, jewelry making is a great way to have fun and make a bit of extra money on the side.

Whether you're a novice about to enter the jewelry making field for the first time or whether you've been doing this for some time now, there are always several basic factors to consider. First, it's important to have an adequate amount of space where you can work unbothered for a certain length of time each day and where you can store your jewelry making materials and tools. It doesn't have to be a large space, just a corner or room where you can concentrate on bringing your ideas to life and be free from undue distractions.

Second, if you haven't already, decide on the kind of jewelry you are going to make. If you're just getting your feet wet in the jewelry making arena, start out with something simple. Think about what type of jewelry you'd enjoy and feel comfortable wearing and go on from there. Whatever materials you might need are readily available either on the Internet or in a physical retail store. Then, as you become more adept at what you're doing, you can start exploring other, more complex jewelry making techniques. Remember, there is a plethora of information resources to help you make money from your hobby: books, specialty magazines, the Internet, and other jewelry makers.

After you've made a number of jewelry items, there are steps you can take to get other people interested in them. Be a walking advertisement for your jewelry making business. Wear some of your creations whenever you go out: wear them to work, when you go to the supermarket, or when you attend parties. Word of mouth is also a great way to let other people know about your jewelry making endeavor. Show some of your finished pieces to family and friends, and encourage them to spread the word.

The important thing to remember is that you continue to enjoy making jewelry and to take pride in your creations. Your love for jewelry making will be the key factor in maintaining your creativity level and it will help you come up with the designs that appreciative customers will buy. Never forget the 'fun' factor in jewelry making, as this will be reflected in your work, and the 'profit' factor will follow.

Sam Serio is a musician, a writer, and Dad. For more on jewelry and gemstones, visit MORNINGLIGHTJEWELRY to get your FREE copy of "How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off." Get your FREE report at http://www.morninglightjewelry.com.

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25Dec/090

JEWELRY MAKING BY THE LOST WAX PROCESS

Product Description
HARDBACK PUBLISHED IN 1968. 113 PAGES.... More >>

JEWELRY MAKING BY THE LOST WAX PROCESS

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11Dec/090

Art of Granulation, Vol. I: A Fine Silver Rosette Pendant

Product Description
Revere Academy Instructor, Ronda Coryell demonstrates the step-by-step techniques for making a granulated fine silver rosette pendant. Learn the essential skills for fine silver granulation, making granules, making the glue solution, placing granules, firing and finishing, plus repousse and making a bale. Run time one hour.... More >>

Art of Granulation, Vol. I: A Fine Silver Rosette Pendant

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25Nov/094

What Are Good Sites For Jewelry Making?

Do you know of any good sites that have lessons or tutorials on making jewelry? Specifically, polymer clay items? Looking for details on putting elements together, such as jump rings, wire, etc.

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23Nov/092

Can Anyone Recommend Where I Can Get Quality Jewelry Making Tools?

I have just decided to begin jewelry making and need some help in finding a great toolkit...something that is organized with all the tools that I would need to start and advance. Any ideas on where I can purchase one?

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11Nov/090

Art of Granulation, The, Vol. 2 a Fine Silver Domed Pendant

Product Description
Revere Instructor, Ronda Coryell demonstrates the step-by-step techniques for making a granulated fine silver domed pendant. Learn more advanced techniques in this second DVD.... More >>

Art of Granulation, The, Vol. 2 a Fine Silver Domed Pendant

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9Nov/095

Anyone Have Any Suggestions For A Beginner With Making Jewelry With Beads?

I am just purchased a kit for lampwork and I am interested in other beading products and jewelry making tips? Any tips would be appreciated.

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