Post from: Jewelry and Beading

Pictured is an example of what I’m talking about, my Painted Paper Clay Pendant project. This is what I came up with after playing around with rubber stamps and using one to press an impression into the clay (see my Asian Paper Clay Stamp Charm Pendant project).

Granted it looks better in person, but there is still a very “hand-made” quality to the piece, and not necessarily in a good way. If you look at the paper charm closely, the paint job isn’t that good (probably should have used another coat or two) and the actual shape of the charm is a little uneven.

I’ve also been playing around with making paper clay beads, and that (so far) seems a little more doable. Pictured is a whopper 30mm bead I made after kneading paint into the clay and then just using my hands to form it. I’m thinking of making a bunch of smaller beads now so I could use this one as the focal bead and string up a necklace, though I wasn’t real keen on the paint into the clay thing – what a mess!

Post from: Jewelry and Beading

This is another tip related to Tip #1 about designing a jewelry gift.

Consider treatments and how the piece will be worn early on in the design process. For example, since this pendant or charm is brass, I know it will eventually start to get a patina on it. Personally, I don’t mind this when it happens because I like how it looks, but if I were to give this to someone, they may feel differently seeing it shiny one day and dark a few months later. So, I decided to patina it up front.

I used a product called Silver Black and oxidized it. Actually, it is a little darker than I’d like, so I may use a polishing cloth to lighten it up some, but this is the sort of thing you need to think about early on while designing. It is much easier to treat the pendant now rather than after I make the necklace. Plus, this might dictate some of the other components I add to the finished piece.

Post from: Jewelry and Beading

Here’s my first tip for designing a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry for a special person on your gift list: start wit a component. This could a charm, pendant, bead, piece of chain, whatever, but look for something that represents that person to you somehow.

For example, the brass pendant pictured is from Guyot Brothers, and I don’t know how clear it is on your monitor, but it says “August” on it. One of my sisters was born in August, so I immediately thought of her when I saw this. I plan to use it in a jewelry piece for her that I will hopefully get done by the holidays, and nope, she doesn’t read this blog, so I can share with you how I continue to develop the design. But, right now, this is where I start.

Post from: Jewelry and Beading

I recently happened to come across an on-line article about this, and while unfortunately, they give no pictures of the finished product, the author does give some step by step procuedures, so it might be worth a read: Turn old jewelry into one-of-a-kind treasures.

Post from: Jewelry and Beading

I ordered these metal keys from John M. on his etsy site. I’m not 100% sure what I plan to do with them, maybe wrap some wire on the ends and use them as pendants on a necklace, a chain perhaps?

But, I just had to have them. I love finding unusual jewelry components like these.

Post from: Jewelry and Beading

Remember that butterfly pendant I posted about awhile ago? Here it is, and you can find instructions for making this first version here. But wait, there’s more coming.

Post from: Jewelry and Beading

• What is your best-ever bargain? Where did you find it, how much was it and why is it your favourite?

Here’s one of my favorite bargains, not surprisingly to some of you…..pearl beads! I found these square pearls beads as well as some coin-shaped pearls for $8 a strand at one of the G&LW shows I went.

Shaped pearls like this are great because you can use one bead and make a pendant or two and make a pair of earrings. One bead goes a long way. And, hey, they are pearls….love me some pearls!

Post from: Jewelry and Beading

I’m working on a new project right now incorporating this beautiful sterling butterfly pendant from the Soft Flex Company. The item number is BBB-10391 and it retails for $11.76 each.

If you look on the back, you’ll see what I really think is extra cool about this pendant – there are three loops – one in the middle and two on either side of the wings. This way, you have more jewelry design options.

The necklace I’m working on right now includes this as the focal piece and then 4mm AB red crystal beads and 4mm white pearl beads.

Post from: Jewelry and Beading