Monday, September 1, 2008

Hematite bead and chip cluster.

I will be making a hematite bead and chip cluster. For this project you will need 4mm hematite beads, hematite chips, ear wires, 20 gauge wire, pre made jump rings, flush cutters, side cutters, round nosed pliers and flat pliers. You can use any 20 gauge wire you want. I'm using sterling silver.
Start with putting 5 jump rings on both ear wires so they look like this.
Here are are both ear wires after 5 jump rings have been attached to them. These will hold the beads and chips so make sure they are secure.
Now take your 4mm beads and make a curled end just a little smaller than the bead. These will hold them on the chain. You can also use any other way to hold the bead this just give it a nice touch.
On the other side make a eye loop. You will use this to attach the bead to the chain. Make the loop big enough to put 20 gauge wire through.
Make 4 beads that look close to each other. You will need 2 for each earring.

Now take 4 hematite chips and do the same thing. Make sure the chips arent too big or it wont look balanced. These might take awhile because they are small so dont worry.
Now once you have finished all of the beads and chips you can attach them to the chain on the ear wire. leave the first ring empty and start with the scond. I put a bead first.
Then on the next ring put the opposite of whatever you put on the first ring.
Then do the same for the next two rings. Make sure you do the same pattern on the other earring so they match.
Here are the finished earrings.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Anti tarnish wire

If you work with sterling silver you and it is not anti tarnish you might notice that it get a dirty look to it. I have worked with anti tarnish untill the other day I switched to anti tarnish silver and I think its the best wire to work with. It might be a little more expensive but it is worth it. There might be a little difference in hardness but not much to notice and once you get used to it you will really like it. People also do not know the difference because it looks exactly the same as silver.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Wire Wrapped Hematite Earrings

In this post I will be explaining how to make wire wrapped hematite earrings. These earrings are easy to make and they make great gift. You will need 20 gauge sterling or any wire, matching ear wires, two 8mm hematite bead, six hematite chips, side cutters, flat pliers, and round pliers. Everything in this picture is all you need. You can also use any other beads and chips I just used hematite because its my favorite type of stone.


To start you will need the hematite bead and put it on the wire. Then make a small loop at the end and pus the bead to the loop for the next step. I do not measure the wire because it is hard to get the exact length. I just do the whole wrap on the spool or wire.


Now make a loop under the bead and make enough room so you can wrap the wire around the loop. This will help you wrap the bead. The loop also has to be big enough that three wire can freely move in it.



Now start to wrap the Bead tight and it should look like the next photos. This might be a little harder because some wires are harder than others but it looks nicer when the wire is tight against the Bead.

Here is the bead after it has been wrapped and now you can cut the extra off and the bead wrapping is done



Now repeat the steps above to make another bead so that you have another wrapped bead that look like this. You can put these aside now and get your six chips.



Put the six chips on the wire so they are easy to get to for the next steps. It helps keep them close and easy to get to when you get them ready for the earrings.

Make a bend in the wire and squeeze into the other wire so it looks like the picture above. This will hold the chip on the wire.


Push the chip to the bend and make a loop above the stone with a little room between. If the loop is right next to the chip it will not hang well.


Cut the wire at the end of the loop. Here is what it should look like and the loop should be small.

Now make to other lengths so there is a small, medium and large. You will need tow sets of these for the earrings. they both need to be close but not perfect.

Now you can start attaching the chips to the bigger loop on the bead. The long chip goes in the middle of of the other two chips and then you close the loop. Do this to both earrings.


This is one of the finished earrings after the chips where added.


Now you can attach the ear wire to the smaller loop on both beads and your earrings are done.


Here are the finished earrings and they are done with sterling silver wire and sterling ear wire. If you are just starting out with making jewelry I would suggest using craft wire because sterling is too expensive to practice with. I sell lots of these and they are only 12 dollars plus shipping. I hope I will have a website to sell them so you all can enjoy them. Soon I will also have more guide to make different earrings.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Hand made jewelry

This is my new blog and it is going to be about my jewelry. I just started making jewelry a few months ago but I am doing very well. I am already sellign lots of my earrings. I will be showing my new styles that I find and make. Feel free to copy any of my ideas becuase I probably got the idea from someone else but i just made it better. I will also talk about some of the problems with stuff and hopefully you wont make the same mistakes that I did.