Jewelry Savvy » Jewelry Making

How to Etch Lampwork Beads

Jennifer — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:46:19 +0000

Lampwork Earrings

There are a lot of people who love the matte look of handmade lampwork beads. Sometimes people don’t ask to have them etched, but realize when the beads arrive, that they’d like the aged, worn out matte look on them. Some vendors give customers the options of sending the beads back and having them etched for free, but most people do it themselves. If you want to etch your own beads, here are some useful tips.

First, a small jar of etch solution will be required, you can get these at your local craft shop. Ask the store workers for glass etching solutions, they’ll usually know what you mean.

Safety first. Once you have the solution, put on some disposable rubber gloves, open up your windows if you’re in a confined space (just make sure that you have ventilation – imagine that it’s chemical cleaning – and you’re all set to go. IMPORTANT – keep in mind that the etch solution is acid, though it’s easily neutralized by baking soda, so make sure to have that close by just in case you spill the acid on anything.

The best thing to use would be a plastic bowl, after placing the beads inside it, pour the solution over them so that they are fully covered. Or if you have the option, strap the beads on something (wire would do), and just put them inside the confinement. Read the instructions on the bottle you purchased, written there should be a time that it takes to etch materials. Usually it’s around 5-10 minutes, but just double-check in case it’s something new and highly toxic. After that, use a plastic spoon to scoop up the lampwork beads out and take them out. Have a glass of soda nearby to put the beads in there to neutralize the acid – and do never take the beads with your bear hands prior to neutralization.

And voila – you’re done! The lampwork beads might have some white dust on them, but don’t worry, it’s easily removable with a toothbrush. Just don’t brush your teeth with it afterwards.

Don’t throw away the etching solution – there are 2 reasons for that. First, you don’t want to have acid in your garbage, and second – economy. You can reuse the acid over and over for years and it would work just as fine. Though make sure to keep it outside children’s reach.

Main things to remember here is to never let the etch solution touch glass or metal. Nor should you let it come in contact with cloth or skin, wash immediately with baking soda.

Want to know more about Lampwork Beads?
Check us out at: http://www.lampwork-beads.org!

Finding Handcrafted Designer Jewelry

Author — Wed, 07 May 2008 12:00:58 +0000

Handcrafted designer jewelry used to be rather difficult to locate. First, you would have to know someone who was a designer, then you’d have to work with them to determine if the materials you were interested in were available, and the whole process could take months.

Today, thanks in part to the internet, consumers can simply go on-line and find designers that work with materials that they like and have designs that are interesting and unique. Finding handcrafted designer jewelry is no longer something that could only be done in a big city; everyone has access to quality jewelry.

Working With A Designer

Many designers will display their handcrafted designer jewelry at local craft fairs or shows. This can be a great way to find a designer that appeals to you. Designers will often bring a large selection of choices, and also some samples of work that they have done.

A consumer can evaluate each piece to determine the quality of workmanship and what types of materials are being used in the handcrafted designer jewelry. Since everyone has different tastes, designers will often allow customers to pick out what type of crystals will be used or even the length of a necklace can be customized. This allows for the design to be truly special and designed exclusively for a customer.

The price on handcrafted designer jewelry varies according to what type of stones or crystals are used and the materials needed to make the piece. Again, since some artisans will design for an individual, they can customize the order for any budget. Designers that sell on-line however, have pieces ready for purchase at a set price.

Handcrafted designer jewelry can come in many different styles of design. Many designers have specific materials that they use that have a more modern or contemporary flair while others use more delicate materials to make for a more antique style jewelry.
Again, personal taste dictates which type of jewelry you select and it is important to view a designer’s collection to determine if they are more inclined to design a specific style of jewelry.

Jewelry making has come a long way in the past years. More and more people are feeling moved to create their own signature style jewelry and finding that this type of jewelry has a broader appeal. Many designers display their pieces on-line so there is a large selection of fine handcrafted designer jewelry to choose from.

Fine Jewelry For Everyone

Author — Fri, 02 May 2008 11:48:51 +0000

Having one piece of fine jewelry can be a way to enhance any wardrobe. There are manufactures of fine jewelry that have a large selection to choose from. The crown jewel of a collection can be anything from a broach to earrings; and once a woman has this central piece, she can then go on to match other pieces to expand her collection.

Finding fine jewelry is fairly easy these days, thanks to the internet. Companies that are renowned for their fine jewelry have on-line sites that let the consumer browse through different styles and designs and then order. There are also unique designers that are able to showcase their own line of fine jewelry.

Companies To Check Out

Turn on any show that features celebrities and the names of classic jewelry designers will spill out. Many of these companies have been in business for years and have established themselves as dependable and reputable for making fine jewelry.

Harry Winston is a well known American jeweler that began his journey when he acquired a collection of jewelry owned by Arabella Huntington, the wife of a railroad magnet. Harry Winston took the jewels and redesigned the settings, and launched his career as a designer. Harry Winston is very well known for his fine jewelry designs that are worn by movie stars and the wealthy from around the world.

Catier is another well known and respected name in fine jewelry design. Cartier was founded by Louis-Francois Cartier in 1847, in 1874 one of his sons took over the business and the family continued to expand the jewelry business. The company is known for its jewelry and even makes watches and leather goods.

Both of these companies have web-sites so that even if you don’t happen to live close to one of their exclusive stores, a consumer can still purchase their fine jewelry. Isn’t the Internet truly magical?

Fine jewelry can also be found at nearby stores too. There are many jewelers that produce fine jewelry in local areas. These designers may not have the world famous appeal of a Harry Winston, but they do make beautiful and original pieces that can be a jumping off point to starting a collection.

In fact, a personal relationship can develop and designs can be tailored made for customers by fine jewelers, locating a local jeweler can be a great way to establish this type of relationship that is beneficial to both parties.

Designer Jewelry Has Special Qualities

Author — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:32:43 +0000

Jewelry stores are filled with many wonderful pieces, but there are collections of designer jewelry with very special qualities. Diamonds, emeralds, gold and silver are some of the ingredients that make up all kinds of beautiful jewelry designs. Designer jewelry uses the same ingredients, but the people who produce the designer jewelry use these ingredients in unique ways. Jewelry includes necklaces, bracelets, earrings and other types, and the designer jewelry is made up of the same pieces made with distinction. Designer jewelry is usually made by people who become famous in their field because they have taken the normal ingredients to make into the normal pieces with extraordinary style.

Designer jewelry often uses beautiful gemstones including both precious and semiprecious stones. The designers usually use these valuable stones in spectacular ways. They often find gemstones that are unusual shapes and sizes, and if they cannot find these, they have the skill and creativity to cut or shape them into gorgeous designs. Many designers start with a unique stone and build their design to enhance that stone with original style. Designer jewelry usually has a look that is characteristic of a talented person. People learn to look for the pieces produced by their favorite designers.

Designer Jewelry Uses Art And Craft

The people who produce designer jewelry are artists with a flair to create a beautiful piece, but these people are talented in their craft as well. These people can often work with precious metals to shape, mold or cut for a magnificent piece of jewelry. They know the combinations of metals and stones that will make a perfect piece. Those people who produce designer jewelry make pieces that are outstanding when placed next to the ordinary jewelry in many of the shops.

Special jewelry by designers is available to the public in different ways. Some designers have their own shops and websites where people can examine their latest offerings. Some of the designers actually work in their own shops where people can come and view them as they create their special pieces. Some of the designers offer their jewelry on their website where they include personal information and detailed information on their work. Some designers will make custom jewelry for their clients. These pieces are sure to be one of a kind and very special. Some websites and stores have large collections of current designers and those from many years ago. Designer jewelry is also available in some sections of large department stores.

Ancient Egyptian Jewelry: The Art Of Wearing Jewelry In Ancient Times

Author — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:59:01 +0000

Long before multi-million dollar jewelry companies like Tiffany emerged in the market, ancient Egyptians were already sporting different kinds of jewelry. Ancient Egyptian jewelry is generally known for its rich and intricate designs. However, the first generation of ancient Egyptian jewelry was not really so elaborate. In fact, you might see these pieces of jewelry as crude.

That’s Crude

During the Badari and the Naqada era in ancient Egypt, Egyptians were known to wear jewelry make up of simply natural materials such as shells, bones, beads plant branches and the like. These simple natural materials were arranged or strung using cow hair or threads of flax. Since the Egyptians were just starting to learn the art of jewelry making at that time, the designs of these first generation ancient Egyptian jewelry were not really that good.

That’s Better

During the First Dynasty, Egyptians started to master the art of making jewelry. At this time, Egyptians learned to paint stones with glass substances to bring out the natural beauty of the stones. Later on, they learned to make pieces of jewelry from solid semiprecious stones and metals like gold and silver. Some brilliant jewelry makers in Egypt also came up with some of the ancient world’s most intricate jewelry designs.

According to historians, the art of jewelry making peaked during the Middle Kingdom era in ancient Egypt. At this time, the Egyptians were able to master the techniques in melting precious metals and turning them into lovely jewelry pieces. To get all the necessary materials for jewelry making, the Egyptians were know to sent regular missions to Nubia and the Eastern Desert to extract precious stones and metals.

The Royal Family

The rulers of ancient Egypt were known for their love for ancient Egyptian jewelry. According to experts, the Egyptians consider jewelry as a kind of talisman that protects them from evil. Jewelry also defines the lineage or the economic status of the person in the ancient times. It was not uncommon for royalty to deck their bodies with several pieces of jewelries. The women and men of noble birth usually adorn themselves with several pieces of precious stones and metals.

Ancient Egyptians believe that jewelries can help the dead navigate to the next world that is why most tombs of ancient Egyptian royalty are filled with treasures. In most cases, several pieces of ancient Egyptian jewelry are placed on the body of the deceased to help him or her transcend to the next world.

Making your Own Jewelry: An Overview of Different Techniques and Materials

Jennifer — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 15:18:30 +0000

Making your own jewelry can be a fun and creative way to make some extra money or it can just be an enjoyable endeavour to share with loved ones and friends. Whatever your reasons, take the time to explore the many options that are available to you in terms of jewelry making. There are many different kinds of jewelry which vary in their degree of difficulty to make so it is best fro a beginner to learn about a variety of methods and styles but to start out doing the simplest kinds to help prevent frustration and as you become more experienced and self confident at jewelry making, try out more complicated ways of making beautiful pieces of jewelry. Some of the most common types of jewelry making include beaded jewelry, macramÃ©, wire wrapping, fabricating, metal smithing and casting.

It is wisest for a novice to start out small and that means with the most basic kind of jewelry, which is beaded jewelry. Basic bead stringing is a simple process that is easy for anyone to learn and make use of. All that is needed for this kind of jewelry is a few simple hand tools and a few other supplies and then you are well on your way to making beautiful beaded bracelets, necklaces and earrings. Some suggestions for simple to make beaded jewelry projects are basic beaded earrings, mini collar earrings, mini collar necklaces, a memory wire bracelet, an illusion necklace. Search books and over the Internet for stringing instructions and also for a variety of simple projects for you to get started. Beaded jewelry will get you off to an excellent start in the world of making jewelry!

At once very popular, macramÃ© tends to go in and out of style and right now it is definitely â€œinâ€ again. MacramÃ© was especially popular back in the seventies when everything from jewelry to hair bands to plant holders were constructed from this material. Today macramÃ© is better than ever and it has expanded to include colored hemp as well. MacramÃ© is relatively simple to learn. All you need is some knowledge of knotting and a few basic pieces of equipment. Rings made of macramÃ© are especially popular right now.

Wire wrapped jewelry can be a fun form of jewelry making and for those who enjoy working with wire this might be your jewelry of choice! All you need to make wire wrapped jewelry is your own hands, some know-how, some wire and a couple of tools. A breads and wire chain is particularly attractive as a piece of jewelry and so is a beaded bangle.

A number of attractive designs for jewelry come about by way of using fabrication methods such as bending, filing and sawing. It is also very simple to take a sheet of metal (for example you could use copper or silver) and then cut out the shape you need and then turn it into whatever jewelry piece you wish. More and more jewellers are taking the time to learn basic fabrication techniques. Many people are partial to the fabrication toe ring for the summer months when feet are on display.

From fabricating metal you can take your jewelry making one step further and begin soldering by way of metalsmithing in order to link one piece of your work to another. Patience and lots of practice is needed to get metalsmithing right as it can be a tricky process to learn, but it will be well worth the effort when you witness the end result.

Casting is a method of jewelry making that can give rise to charms, rings and many other pieces of jewelry. Casting can be done in a variety of ways but one of the most preferred is by way of lost wax casting. The steps are easy to negotiate your way through however the equipment for casting can be expensive. In particular it is the vacuum machine and special oven that will run you into money. Water casting is another form of casting that is utilized quite a bit by jewelry makers.