Jewelry Design

Jewelry design is an enormously broad term. In the modern age, most anything you can wear can be deemed jewelry. When you are just starting out, just sitting down for the first time seriously thinking about making your own jewelry you should take a good look around.

Look around at what is already out there. What style things you do you like, and not like? What sort of materials do you find yourself drawn too? What sort of budget do you have to work in, and how much time to devote to this new endeavor? Just the few things I have listed here don’t narrow the field down much. Millions of ideas can still be created even when you answer the above questions.

If this is your first time considering a hobby or career in jewelry design, then you may be feeling overwhelmed by the endless possibilities. I would recommend learning from others. Go online and find some beginners patterns. Get yourself comfortable with some of the different mediums out there and the tools you will be using. Even if using a pattern, you can chose different color and sizes of beads you make the piece your own.

Once you are comfortable with some of the different techniques out there and are ready to strike out with a jewelry design of your own you may not know where to start. I suggest in your closet.

Chose one of your favorite outfits. Of course color is going to jump out at you first. Make note of not just the most prominent color, but the softer, less used colors as well. Often highlighting those less used colors can make all the difference. What kind of outfit is it? Sassy and playful, regal and dignified, calm and casual? The materials you use can accent that aspect of the outfit as well. Make note of the neck line. Is it high, maybe needing a very long necklace to be accented by long dangling earrings? Maybe it has a plunging neckline that beckons for a necklace with a centerpiece to hang down in the V. Or just a casual rounded neck, calling for a shorter style necklace. Just one outfit can speak volumes to you.

Later, as you master yet more skills of jewelry design, you may start to notice you gravitate too many of the same things. Be that materials or colors. There is nothing wrong with that. Most of the great artists out there have a style. You can look at their jewelry or paintings and know that they did them before you see the name. It becomes your signature of sorts.

Maybe you live at the beach, like me, and you have the biggest market of shells you could ever want. Not only do you get free materials, but now you have a hook for your pieces. “Local artist making jewelry from local items. A true piece of the beach to take home with you.”

And don’t forget I mentioned colors too. The colors of the beach tend to be in pastels, reflecting the colors of the shells themselves. Blues and greens playing prominently in almost every aspect. And, being on the east coast myself, you can’t forget the stunning sunrises over the ocean; all those rich pinks and purples with a fiery orange.

So when you sit down and think jewelry design, don’t think you have to look far. Stick with what you know. There are endless possibilities all around you. From the places you go, to the people you meet, to the flowers in your garden. If you have kids, get them involved. Children see the world in a completely unique way, one we have forgotten as adults. They can open your eyes to things you had never considered before. They love color, so let them look through your stuff, arrange some things, and build off their ideas. Now, not only have you “gone to work” but you have spent quality time with your kids as well.

There is nothing in the realm of jewelry design you cannot do. So jump in and get started. There are no mistakes, for you learn something from everything you do. How many other fields can say as much?

Have you ever tried to make Beaded Ornaments?

Beaded ornaments can be made by stringing beads on wires, fishing line, pipe cleaners or pins. They can be made by cutting out patterns for Christmas ornaments from cardboard or box board and sticking the beads to the pattern. You can cut out a pattern of a snowflake, Santa Claus, Christmas tree, star, reindeer, etc…..anything related to the Christmas season, but be sure to glue beads to both sides of the cut out if it is a hanging ornament. You can incorporate beads in a wreath to give it that extra sparkle.

Beaded ornaments are not only for the Christmas season. You can make beaded covers for Easter eggs or beaded ornaments for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day, and any other holiday or birthday. They make a great personalized gift for any occasion. When there isn’t a special occasion to make an ornament for you can make beaded sun catchers or dream catchers to hang in your window or around your house. On a sunny day when the sun shines on these they produce beautiful and colourful reflections in your home. You can also make beaded pins for any occasion.

As a fun get together you can arrange a beading party and invite family and friends to attend. This would be a great way to introduce them to the world of beading. If you had beaded ornaments already made up before hand you could display them at the party. It could be a great opportunity to sell some of your creations at the party, if you are looking to make some extra money, and also to spread the word about your creations. I’m sure when they see how beautiful the ornaments can be they will be hooked on beading.

If you are giving a beaded ornament as a gift for a special occasion or selling them, you have to make sure they have a finished polished look as many people will not appreciate any homemade gift or purchase them if they look like they have not had any real thought gone into them and has been just thrown together.

There are many free resources for finding ideas to make these ornaments. The internet is one of my favourites (what did we ever do without the internet LOL). My local library is another. Magazines, beading classes, creative friend’s ideas and browsing department stores are a few more (sometimes not free though). Make sure you pay attention to any copyrights of any ideas you come across.

You can find beaded craft kits, with all the supplies you need to make a beaded ornament, for sale on the internet or at your local craft store. You can also find simple Christmas beaded ornament patterns to involve your young children. A lot of the time these are free with instructions. Most of the materials used for these crafts are safe for a child to use such as pipe cleaners and glue as opposed to needles, wire or pins, but still should always be supervised by an adult as they would still be using small beads.

Have fun and Happy Beading!

Arlene is a lover of beaded ornaments. She is anxious to learn as much as she can about beads and beading and to pass on her knowledge to anyone that is interested. You can share her knowledge by visiting the links below.

http://www.beadedornaments.net/
http://www.beadedornaments.net/beaded-ornaments/beaded-ornaments-elegant-and-beautiful

Author: Arlene Ahmad
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Electric Pressure Cooker

Using a chain to hold your glasses will reduce your chances of losing them. There are other, more modern-looking alternatives to a chain, though. To learn about making a beaded eyeglass chain that everyone will admire follow these instructions.

You’ll need the following materials:
- Quantity of beads of your choice
- Fishing wire or beading thread
- Eyeglass holders, two
- Crimping beads
- Pair of scissors
- Needle nose pliers
- Crazy glue

Create your bead pattern. A pattern should be chosen before beginning to make the eyeglass chain. To keep from losing beads they should be kept on a soft surface such as a towel. If you have one, a bead tray it is optimal to use for this. Make sure you have a variety of beads before starting the next step.

Begin your beaded glasses chain. After you do this, you are ready to attach the chain to your glasses. The first thing you should do is cut a length of beading thread that is between 26″ and 36″ in length. Always check your beading thread by tugging it gently. Pass the thread into one eyeglass holder and a crimp bead. Then work it back through the bead of crimp and crimp the bead tightly over the thread. Hide the loose end under the beads that you first strung. Then you can start threading your beads one by one. Ensure you do not need corrections in the pattern of the beads often. This should be repeated until the chain is the necessary length and the beads are all used.

The eyeglass chain should be clamped off. The end of the chain needs to be closed to prevent the beads from being lost. To do that, put a second crimp bead onto the end of the string of bead where you just finished stringing on your beads. Put the second eyeglass holder on the end of the necklace and put the thread through both. Last hide the thread by running it through the last few beads. To clamp the bead in place you will need to use your needle-nose pliers. Visible thread should be cut off (don’t do this until you are positive that the crimp bead is tight, or you may lose the lot!).

Make sure everything is secure in the place you want it. As an added safety measure you may want to dab a little crazy glue at each end.

If you are able to glue the top and bottom of the crimp bead where the beading thread enters and exits, your chain will become stronger and should not loosen. When the glue is dry you will be able to wear your new glasses chain.

Tiffany Provost writes about beaded chain glasses and other fashion and personal care tips for HowToDoThings.com.

Author: Tiffany Provost
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
PCB stencil online quote

Have you always wanted to create your own beaded ornaments but have little experience with bead work? Provided in this article are some simple tips that will help you create stunning and beautiful hand made beaded Christmas ornaments that will make your home more festive this holiday season.

If you have never made bead Christmas ornaments, you will first need to select either a pattern or a kit. There are many kits available that typically include the beads, needle, thread, glue and any other materials required to begin making bead Christmas ornaments. The next step is to assemble the proper tools.

Tools Needed for Your Hand Made Christmas Ornaments

Pliers are the most important tool for getting started in making your hand made bead Christmas ornaments. Important pliers that are used with bead making include Flat Nose Pliers, Round Nose Pliers, Chain Nose Pliers, Crimp Nose Pliers, and Split Ring Pliers.

Another tool you will need is a good pair of wire cutters. If you are making wire bead Christmas ornaments, then wire cutters are absolutely essential. When selecting wire cutters it is important to select the appropriate strength wire cutter for the wire that you will be using. Wire cutters come in both lightweight and heavy-duty strengths. Light weigh cutters will suit your basic needs for the beading wire you will be using.

Lastly, when making hand made Christmas Bead ornaments purchase bead needles. These needles come in a variety of sizes. Choose needles applicable to the project you are making.

Different Types of Hand Made Christmas Bead Ornaments

A simple bead ornament recommended for a young child to make may consist of little more than stringing “pony beads” or other suitable bead onto pipe cleaners. Children can simply place the beads on the pipe cleaners then twist them into various shapes such as bells, stars, candy canes, and Christmas trees.

Here is another way that you can create sparkling and beautiful hand made Christmas bead ornaments no experience required. First gather your supplies. These will include fabric paints (or other dimensional paint), small glass beads (or seed beads) satin finished ornaments, a small tray, and a small cup. First, sketch a simple shape on the ornament with the fabric paint. Ideas for shapes typically include simple snowflakes, trees, and stars, but ultimately the choice is up to you. Create your pattern as simple or as elaborate as you like. After you have drawn your design on the satin ornament with the fabric paint, hold the ornament over a small tray, and sprinkle the tiny beads over the ornament using a small cup. This is similar to projects where you apply glue and then sprinkle glitter over the glue. After your ornament finishes drying, you can hang it with a beautiful cord or complimentary satin ribbon.

It’s as easy at that! So go ahead and gather your supplies and get started making your own personalized hand made Christmas ornaments for the holidays!

Rob Buenaventura invites you to Christmas Ornaments 4 U, a website focused on your Christmas Ornament needs. Find out how thousands of people have made their house more festive this holiday season with the perfect Christmas Ornament! For additional tips and ideas for homemade ornaments ideas, go to http://www.christmas-ornaments-4-u.com/homemade-christmas-ornaments.html

Author: Rob Buenaventura
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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A topic not much discussed in articles concerning beadwork is what I like to all “optional equipment.” Understandably, most beadwork articles focus on the beads themselves and various discussions revolving around patterning, color selection and so forth, but at least some attention should be given to the optional items of equipment, because they can make your life easier and enhance your enjoyment of bead craft in general.

The items I have in mind are:

Fishing Line
Magnifying Glasses
Cord Knotter
Bead Tray

I’ll outline what each of these can do for you as it relates to beadwork below.

Fishing Line – If you’re all out of silk thread and needing to crank out a beadwork project, simple fishing line can be subbed in for the good stuff. Or, if you’re only making a temporary piece and want to save your silk thread for permanent creations, again, fishing line to the rescue! No bead craft toolkit should be without it!

Magnifying Glasses – This handy item will save you both time in all your bead craft projects, and prevent eyestrain by bringing those tiny little pieces-parts into better focus. What’s not to like about that! If you only get one piece of optional bead craft equipment, get these!

Cord Knotter – At around ten bucks, this handy little item is the most expensive of the “optional equipment,” but well worth the money, especially if you do any work at all with pearls. It assists with knot tying, and helps you get the knots right up against the beads, where you want them to be (this can be a frustrating process when trying to get it right by hand). It might take a bit to get the hang of using it, but once you do, you’ll wonder how you and your bead craft projects got along without it!

Bead Tray – Funny how something as simple as a tray can make such a big difference to your bead craft projects, but it really can! The main advantage of a bead tray is that it comes with grooves for holding beads and the grooves are of standard shapes and sizes! So, when you’re making a necklace, simply play with your pattern on the bead tray, get it just how you want it, and then all your beads are already laid out in the exact pattern. Simply pick ‘em up and string!

Again, while none of the items mentioned here are absolutely essential, you’ll probably find that you enjoy bead craft a good deal more with these time saving devices, and you can pick up the whole set for around $25. A small investment indeed for what they can do to improve your bead craft experience!

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To get more beading ideas, visit us on our website at beadcraftideas.com

Author: Chris Hartpence
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Programmable Multi-cooker

It is a disappointment for most designers and any creative person when they run out of ideas for their projects. I’m sure all of us are acquainted with the term’writer’s block’, implying that a writer will find it hard to think about something new to pen or to end off something that they are already writing.

Well for beaders out there we have what we call ‘beader’s block’ too. This occurs when for some reason you simply can’t think about a new idea or design for your beadwork or you have no clue as to how to finish a pattern that you have already started. Let’s try to look at some things we can do to help get over this. A handy place to start is working out where you currently are. What are the things and materials that you already have at your disposal? What types and colors of beads are in your drawers and containers? Occasionally the easy act of having a look at these beads is sufficient to get your creative juices flowing.

Psychologists say that mind block is common when you’re in an environment of disarray and confusion so naturally the first way to try and combat this is to keep yourself organized. The brain is a dynamic organ and extraordinarily capable of multi-tasking so you may not even notice it coming up with new ideas while you are in the act of organizing.

All this fixing and shelving of your materials will get you beat at the end of it so it’s good to find some time off for yourself. When your brain is tired you will not get to do much and it will feel just like you are overworking it. Resting is also a good time to allow your brain to process the ideas that it developed in the organizing exercise. How does one sometimes spend your relaxation time? Do you read, visit a mate, or walk around? Give your consciousness some time off from the entire beading activity and let it ramble on to other subjects. When you get back to pondering beads your brain will be very refreshed and freed from old, tired ideas.

When you believe you are rested enough, look through some old material about beading. Do you have mags and books lying around? Or perhaps you can look through some websites on the internet. The rest period you had before this will permit you to take a look at these with a new eye and perspective no matter how old the mag or book is. Still try and keep that atmosphere of relaxation by cozying up on a chair or drinking your favorite relaxing drink.

Don’t try and scrutinize every design you see. Just let your brain call out to you when it sees something that ignites your interest. Appreciate the designs instead of trying to analyze them. Ultimately, visit some craft stores and other stores where art abounds. Art isn’t constricted to a single sort of form so even those that are not related to beading might give you that idea you need. When you’re prepared to start thinking about ideas again, sit down and write down all of the new ideas that are certain to be flowing in your head by now. Don’t be afraid to try anything at this time.

If you need help with your jewelry business then our beaded jewellery software is guaranteed to get your business organized. We also have free jewelry business tools and a free jewelry book all designed to help you get the most out of your jewelry business.

Author: Gary A Capps
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Make PCB Assembly

If you’re looking for fun Christmas beading ideas to add to the festive look to your home this December 25, then keep reading and we’ll outline five Christmas projects you can try!

1 – Candy Canes – Simple and attractive, you don’t need much in the way of supplies to make these, and the designs are kid-friendly to boot! They make great decorations for your Christmas tree!

2 – Christmas Trees – Little miniature trees can be made quickly and easily, with or without “decorations” (you could use multi-colored glass beads sewn around the tree design in different locations for a beautiful effect!). Another kid-friendly design!

3 – Wreaths – Similar to the tree design, above, but a bit more complex. Buy several shades of green seed beads to create shadow and texture in your pieces, and highlight with red bits of holly.

4 – Angels – A moderately more difficult piece, the easiest patterns to work with display angels in profile. Buy different shades of white, silver, and gray to create a dimensional effect in your pieces. These look great on the tree!

5 – Snowflakes – Of all the beading ideas mentioned here, the snowflake pattern is the hardest one to get right. This is definitely not a pattern that small children could help with, as these can get quite complex. They make among the most beautiful and striking decorations on the tree, however, and if you’ve got the skill level and patience for it, you will be well rewarded for your efforts!

As you can see from just the five ideas above, there are all kinds of fun holiday beading ideas you can sink your teeth into, and this list just barely scratches the surface!

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To get more beading ideas, visit us on our website at beadcraftideas.com

Author: Chris Hartpence
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
PCB Prototype & Manufacturing

If you’re looking for fun Halloween beading ideas to “spookify” things on October 31, then keep reading and we’ll outline five Halloween projects you can try!

1 – Jack o’Lanterns – The classic, beadwork style! You can use seed beads of several shades of oranges and yellows (on a black background if you’re looking to make something larger), to hang on the mantle or as a dressing to the porch railing. Involve the kids by having them plan out the faces!

2 – Black Cats – A simple cat silhouette can be the basis for a pattern (all black seed beads, or black mixed with a smattering of silver for dramatic effect), with the option of using larger beads for the eyes. These can be kept relatively simple or can become dramatically more complex, but even the simplest designs can make quite a dramatic statement!

3 – Witches – You could do a simple bust pattern or a full figure representation of a witch on a broomstick, depending on your overall skill level. These are fun to make, and make excellent decorations, but tend to be more involved than either of the projects above.

4 – Dangling Skeletons – Undoubtedly the most complex of the projects mentioned here, these can be made of any size you wish, but obviously smaller is better from a “time to complete” perspective. If you don’t want to worry over creating an actual skeletal design, you can weave a skeletal pattern onto a black background, say, the size of a square drink coaster and still have an attractive piece to decorate with!

5 – Candy Corns – These aren’t spooky, but certainly go with the season, and are most fun when crafted as 3-dimensional shapes. I would not recommend going much beyond two inches high, or they’ll take far too long to complete, but because of their relatively simple design, this is another project that’s great to involve the kids in!

As you can see based on the five ideas above, there are all sorts of fun holiday beading ideas you can sink your teeth into, and this list just barely scratches the surface!

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To get more beading ideas, visit us on our website at beadcraftideas.com

Author: Chris Hartpence
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Low-volume PCB Assembly

One of the most difficult aspects of bead craft is patterning. The human eye seeks out patterns, and our brains parse data in smallish chunks. Thus, the reason phone numbers, social security numbers, and the like are broken into smallish chunks: 555-1212 vs. 5551212. This is an important point to keep in mind when considering various bead ideas where patterning is concerned.

Oftentimes, a novice to the world of beadwork will be tempted to simply use whatever is on hand, and the results will be haphazard randomness. Now, it is true that this approach can sometimes yield attractive results. There is, however, a growing body of evidence indicating that symmetry and identifiable patterns are one of the keys to defining what we see and understand as “beauty.” A student of bead craft would do well to take these lessons to heart, which brings us back ’round to the importance of patterning.

Beadwork patterns can be as simple or as complex as you’d care to make them, though I’d recommend simpler designs for the novice, with increasing complexity as a natural extension of experience. And do not think that a simple pattern will produce unattractive results! The simplest pattern of all is 1-1-1, best embodied by the classic strand of pearls. Simple. Elegant. Timeless.

Still, many people get into this hobby as a form of self expression, and one of the ways that expression manifests itself in the hobby is through the magic of the pattern.

Some people spend hours upon hours experimenting with various bead ideas and arrangements until they hit upon something that is truly compelling. More common though, especially to those new to beadwork, is a sense of intimidation. This is unfortunate, but the overwhelming majority of hobbyists will outgrow that fear as they gain more bead craft experience.

Still, if you have recently taken up the hobby and find yourself struggling with the difficulty of developing your own patterns, you can find a number of sites on the web offering bead craft pattern ideas and examples. Make use of these in your designs, and before very long, you’ll probably find yourself thinking, “I like this pattern, but wouldn’t it be neat if…” and almost before you know it, you’ll be on your way to creating your own, wholly unique bead craft design.

Anyone can, in a matter of minutes, learn the basic mechanics of bead craft, but the real artistry, and the part that takes longer to master, is learning the art of patterning. My advice to beginners would be simply this: Try developing bead craft patterns on your own, but don’t force it. If it’s something you’re struggling with, seek out bead craft resource sites on the web for pattern ideas and practice with those. Sooner or later, something will “click” inside your head, and you’ll find yourself branching out in your own direction.

Patience and practice. These are the real keys to mastering bead craft, and truly making even borrowed bead ideas and patterns, your own.

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To get more beading ideas, visit us on our website at beadcraftideas.com

Author: Chris Hartpence
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Free Beading Projects – Spoon Pendants!

Hello again, and welcome!

This is a bit of a new addition to the site, and I wanted to get it up here just as quickly as I could!

Christina and her mother were talking not long ago about some antique spoons they had, and wouldn’t it be great if we could do something artistic with them.

Well…one thing led to another, and Christina took the lot home and started to experiment, and wound up creating a spoon “pendant,” which, when coupled with her beading hobby, wound up creating a new free beading project for us to put up on the site!

Below, you’ll find comprehensive instructions and photos to help guide you if you want to try the project out for yourself! All you need to do to get started is grab a supply of beads and some antique spoons (check your local antique shops for those), and you’re set!

Ready? Let’s get to it! (Note: Click on any thumbnail for a larger version of the image so you can get a better feel for what’s going on)

Based on the pattern in the spoon’s handle, how much you want showing in the finished work, how long a pendant you want, and how much loop around you want, you cut off the unwanted portion of the spoon. The loop around may be small for stringing or a chain, or you may want it larger to go on a slide (see Figure 1).

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Take a small torch and heat up the end of the spoon to soften the metal. Once hot, you’re going to hammer the “loop end” flatter so that it isn’t so bulky against your neck and for a basic finish (see Figure 2).
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Hammer away! The smoother your hammer and the smoother the surface you are hammering on, the less scratches you’ll wind up with. This translates into less work for you in total, as the less scratches you create now, the less buffing them out later. (Notice, I am hammering on a brick and with an old beat up hammer). See Figure 3
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Once you’ve done all the damage you can do with the hammer, your next step will be to do like me, grab a file and start filing out some of the deep scratches you just made. Art is messy. I love it! (see Figure 4).
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I tend to put things on the buffer as I go. This just helps me to see where the really deep scratches are, so I know where to focus.

And the hammering made rough weird shapes on the end. You want to smooth all that out, and reshape the end to a nice round, or something fancier if you want. For this example, I stuck with a simple round end (see figures 5 & 6).
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The piece has cooled off, so we are going to re-heat it to get it soft again so we can fold the end over to make our loop for our chain to run through (figure 7)
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I lack a lot of equipment. You are going to want to start your turn by hammering your piece around something. I put a screwdriver in a vice and started hammering around that. Once the turn is started, you and flip the piece and start forcing it back around. I am using a mallet here, to try and cut down on scratches and dents. You will also notice I am holding the piece with a kitchen towel, as to not burn my fingers (figure #8)
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My one nice piece of equipment is a pickle pot. It is basically a crock pot. (In college we used crock pots.) You put a special chemical (sodium bisulphate) in the water, mix it up, and let it get hot. This eats away at the oxidizing that happened while you were heating the metal. The directions tell you amounts and times and things (figure 9 shows the piece sitting in the Pickle Pot).
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The scratches look light, so I am going to start on the buffer, see what there is to see.

I am using an item to help polish, you can put it straight on the buffer wheel while it is turning. The soft pads won’t hurt your fingers, though it will get your piece hot after a time – friction (see figs 10 & 11).
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So, I have been buffing a while and there are two places too deep for the buffer to go. So, I have to do a little hand work.

It can get a little dicey here. You need the file to get to this deep scratch, but you don’t want to make more deep scratches. And you don’t want to hit the intricate pattern in the spoon. Be light handed, and careful (figures 12 & 13).

After I have done all I dare with the file, I move to sand paper. To get something smooth, you have to gradually get scratches out. That means to something of smaller grit each time. Again, you are having to be careful with this tiny piece of sandpaper (figure 14).
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Once I think I am buffer ready I start over with the same polishing substance as before. Check the piece, looks good, so I then use an even finer polishing substance. This one I found easier to put it on the piece directly, rather than on the buffer. The amount of time you spend buffing stuff out is up to you. How shiny do you want it, in the end? But don’t be fooled. Something like 80% of jewelry work is sanding and buffing scratches. Not glamorous, but that’s the truth of it!

And here we are, finished pendant made from a spoon. Done in under an hour (figure 16).
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Take it in the house and string up some beads in a pattern that will compliment it, and we are done!
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