Inexpensive Jewelry Photography Tips
Posted on | May 9, 2011 | Comments Off
The Via U! Photography blog has just posted an excellent jewelry photography tutorial that can help you (and me!) achieve outstanding photography results by taking advantage of natural light and a few very inexpensive supplies. In fact, they call it the $6 solution to jewelry photography, and I think they’ve definitely rounded up to reach the $6 cost. Just look at the results.
The site has many other wonderful photography tutorials for those selling handmade items online, including one showing how to make a white background for photographing small items.
Copper and Wool Bangle
Posted on | April 13, 2011 | Comments Off
I’ve previously posted a tutorial showing a fun way to use up the little bits of especially luscious yarn you may have left over from your fiber projects by incorporating them into fiber jewelry links. Here’s another way to use your precious leftovers. Just 10 feet of special worsted weight yarn is enough for this project. You’ll need a few other things, too:
- Round nose pliers
- Flat nose pliers
- Flush cutters
- chasing hammer or ball pein hammer
- anvil or bench block
- sharp, pointy scissors
- bracelet mandrel
- 10 feet worsted weight yarn
- 20 inches + 8 inches 18 gauge copper wire
- 2 feet + 3 inches 24 gauge copper wire
- 1 10mm round bead
- 1 10mm disc bead
- 1 6mm round bead
Note: The hole of one of the 10mm beads must be large enough to accommodate a double thickness of the yarn plus a double thickness of 24 gauge wire. The hole of the smaller bead must be large enough to accommodate 18 gauge wire.
To begin, use your round nosed pliers to bend the 20-inch piece of 18 gauge wire in half, pinching the two tails together about 3/4 inch from the curve formed by the pliers. This will create a needle-shaped piece of wire, with two long tails held together and a teardrop-shaped “eye” on the folded end. Hammer this piece flat until it is quite sturdy, flipping over several times to hammer from both sides.
Tags: bangle > copper > fiber > free tutorial > how to make > jewelry making > pictures > tutorial > wire wrapped jewelry > wool > yarn
Droplet Pendant Variation Options
Posted on | March 12, 2011 | Comments Off
Here’s another version of the droplet pendant showing the use of a larger briolette, a lower rise for the side wires, and 1 1/2 wraps for the coils at top.
Droplet Pendant Tutorial
Droplet Pendant – Free Wire Wrapped Jewelry Making Tutorial
Posted on | March 11, 2011 | Comments Off
The Droplet Pendant
To make this pendant you’ll need:
- 1 10mm round bead (hole must be large enough to accommodate two pieces of the thicker wire)
- 1 briolette bead approximately 8mm tall x 6mm wide
- 14 inches 18 or 20 gauge dead soft or half hard wire
- 40 inches 24 gauge dead soft wire
- an 8mm mandrel, such as a crayola crayon
- a sharpie marker
- a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol
- round nose pliers
- flat nose pliers
- flush cutter
- chasing or ball pein hammer
- anvil or bench block
To begin, coil the 18 gauge wire around the mandrel twice near the center of the wire.
Yet another under-appreciated jewelry making tool
Tags: free > how to > jewelry > jewelry making > pendant > photos > pictures > tutorial > wire wrapped jewelry
Figure Eight Links
Posted on | March 10, 2011 | Comments Off
From left to right: 18 gauge wire on an 8mm mandrel, 20 gauge wire on an 8mm mandrel, 20 gauge wire on a 3.5mm mandrel
These whimsical links are wonderful for spacing out beads on a hand made jewelry chain. To make the larger size shown above, you will need:
- About 4 inches dead soft 18-gauge or 20-gauge wire (I prefer 20-gauge for these links)
- An 8mm mandrel, such as a Bic pen or a US size 11 knitting needle
- Round nose pliers
- Flat nose pliers (optional for large links, necessary for the smaller-sized links)
- Flush cutters
- A chasing hammer or ball pein hammer
- An anvil or bench block
For the smaller sized link you will need about 3 inches of 20-gauge wire, and a 3.5mm mandrel such as a US size 4 knitting needle.
To begin, wrap the wire around the mandrel about 1 3/4 times.
Tags: figure eight links > free > handmade jewelry > how to > jewelry making > link > links > photos > pictures > tutorial > tutorials > wire wrapped jewelry
Wiggle Earrings – Free Wire Wrapped Jewelry Making Tutorial
Posted on | March 7, 2011 | Comments Off
For these playful earrings, you’ll need:
- Two matching wiggle links (learn how to make them here)
- Two ear wires (buy them or make your own)
- Two small briolette beads.
- Two five-inch lengths of 24-gauge dead soft wire
- Round nosed pliers
- Flat nosed pliers
- Flush cutters
Thread one of the wires through one of the beads.
Wiggle Links
Posted on | March 7, 2011 | Comments Off
Wire wrapped jewelry wiggle links
These fun links can be used in many ways, and are a great component for a wire wrapped jewelry artist to have in her arsenal. Try experimenting with different proportions to make an endless variety of links. These can be joined with other types of links, such as wrapped loop links, to make simple chains. Or, add a dangle and an ear wire to make a pair of simple earrings.
Tags: beginner > easy > free > how to > instructions > jewelry links > jewelry making > links > tutorial > tutorials > wire wrapped jewelry
Fancy Headpins in Six Styles – Free Tutorial by Athena Gowton
Posted on | December 21, 2009 | 1 Comment
Five varieties of headpins as taught in Athena Gowton's free tutorial.
Making your own headpins is a great way to save money on supplies, and it allows you to control another design element in your work. Athena Gowton has posted a wonderful free tutorial on jewelrylessons.com that teaches how to make five varieties of headpins without a torch. She has a number of other tutorials for sale as well, including several ring tutorials.
Tags: athena gowton > head pins > headpins > how to make > jewelry making > tutorial > wire wrapped jewelry > wire wrapping
How to Make Cone Coil Beads / Bead Caps
Posted on | December 19, 2009 | 4 Comments
A coiled cone bead, or elongated bead cap.
Dangles made with cone coil beads in three gauges. From left to right: 24 gauge, 20 gauge, and 18 gauge. All were strung onto hammered head pins with "heads" of various length, made from 20 gauge wire. These dangles would work alone or in clusters as earrings or necklace accents.
Making your own beads is a fun way to make your wire wrapped jewelry even more personal. Plus, making metal beads yourself can be more economical than purchasing ready made beads. Here is a quick and easy bead that can be made in less than a minute. The only material you will need is a little dead soft wire between 24 gauge and 18 gauge. You will also need a pair of round nose pliers and a pair of flush cutters. The amount of wire you will need will vary based on the gauge of wire you are using and the exact shape of the nose of your round nose pliers.
To begin, grip the end of the wire at the very base of your round nose pliers’ nose.
Grip the end of the wire at the base of the round nose pliers' nose.
Tags: cone coil beads > how to > instructions > jewelry making > make beads > photos > step by step > tutorial > wire beads > wire wrapped beads > wire wrapped jewelry
Connie Fox’s Swan Clasp
Posted on | December 18, 2009 | Comments Off
All you need to turn a chain into a necklace or bracelet is a clasp, and one of the best wire wrapped clasps is Connie Fox’s swan clasp (beginning on step 9). The swan clasp is as decorative as it is easy to make, and it has become a staple for wire wrapped jewelry makers.
I like to strengthen the wrapped loop on one end of the chain by curling it into two loops rather than one. This doubled loop is the loop by which I attach the clasp to the necklace/bracelet. On the other end, I make a larger double loop. I sometimes form this larger loop by wrapping the wire around a household object such as a crayon or marker rather than the round nose pliers. However, in the piece below I simply formed the loop on the largest part of the round nose pliers. This is the loop into which the wearer will insert the clasp to close the necklace/bracelet.
The clasp below is similar to the swan clasp, but go learn the swan clasp, it is better than this one!
The clasp is attached to a doubled wrapped loop. The opposite end of the bracelet has an extra large doubled loop into which the clasp can be inserted to close.
Tags: clasp > connie fox > free tutorial > how to > jewelry making > swan clasp > wire wrapped jewelry
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Free Jewelry Making Tutorial: Antiquing Sterling Silver and Copper Jewelry with Liver of Sulfur
