There are plenty of tools and gadgets essential to beading, and there are others that aren’t essential but are very useful. Here are some of the extras you can buy to help make beading easier:
When and how did you start making jewellery? I attended a beaded jewellery making workshop in the autumn last year and that was the start of a great addiction which I love every second of! Where do you go for inspiration? I find everything is inspirational – people’s clothes, flowers you walk past, paintings..beads in a tray Who is your favourite designer? I don’t have one in particular, apart from me! What can’t you live without when making jewellery? Small, silver plated daisy spacers – and beads, of course! What... Read More
If you find buying a new watch tedious, because you can't find a style you like, don't worry: you can make one that it unique and personally designed by you. Sounds expensive, doesn't it? It isn't; all you need to do is get hold of a watch face with two small hoops or hooks, and make a strap out of beads, or wire, or ribbon, or anything else you fancy.
Metal charm bracelets are great presents for friends because the charms will have been individually chosen by you, and so it will be unique. You can really make someone smile with your choice of charms; they can be as personal as you like.
If you are looking to make some jewellery yourself, buying the components online can save you a lot of money and time. Money Whether you are buying beads, cords, chains, key rings, bookmarks or jewellery findings, there is a huge selection of options online. This means that you can search for the exact thing you’d like, which can save you money as you’ll spend less time browsing.
When and how did you start making jewellery? I was a Flight Attendant for about 20 years and stayed in many hotel rooms around the world and needed something to occupy my mind, that was light and small to carry around – and I came across beading . Whilst the rest of the crew were out shopping in the malls, I was ensconced in my room – beading! It was great because many of the crew wanted jewellery to match their newly acquired outfits and I had the pleasure to... Read More
When and how did you start making jewellery? I have always loved making things, and have tried a variety of crafts over the years from glass painting to crochet. However, a few years ago I got interested in beading and started making beaded jewellery, and have just developed from there really. I found out it is possible to do a degree in Jewellery and silversmithing, which I did at UCA in Rochester, Kent, and after that I spent some time working at a local jewellers. I worked on a couple of commissions and... Read More
Jewellery artists and other crafters often use these online marketplaces for listing and selling their work. These are some of the e-commerce websites that offer individual online storefronts or shops for selling your jewellery. Etsy is an online selling center with a large reputation. It is similar to eBay, but does not have auction style listings. Etsy is an online market place that showcases handmade crafts. Opening an account on Etsy is free, and the listing fees are lower compared to listing fees at eBay. EBay is a online marketplace... Read More
Jewellery making is quite easy when you are used to it, and it is certainly handy to have the right equipment on hand. That way, if you have a good stock of beads and the right tools, you can decide spontaneously to make a pair of earrings, a necklace or any other jewellery item.
17/05/2010
These crystals are well known for their clarity, brilliant cut and affordable price tag. You can add a little sparkle to any jewellery piece with a crystal or two, and there’s no reason why you can’t charm yourself to a new life with a Swarovski charm bracelet. Swarovski crystals can look stunning as accent beads, particularly shaped ones like hearts and stars. Some beads actually come already drilled with a hole to hang them as pendants, so they can be the main focus of your necklace. These come in hearts,... Read More
17/05/2010
Sometimes the beading world can seem a little daunting, with so many materials and techniques to choose from. But fear not! Here at The Bead Shop we want your beading journey to be as fun and smooth as possible, so we have created this easy to use guide of the most common jewellery findings you will need so you will never be left wondering again! Bell Closer– These end findings are glue in and are ideal for thicker cords and kumihimo weaved pieces. One end is... Read More
Sometimes, it is nice to browse our options before we buy things, and other times we have a very clear idea of what we want and how many we need.
Many techniques used in jewellery making can be accomplished with relative ease or even by accident. Unfortunately, the double loop is not one of them. To effectively learn the double loop technique, carefully follow the steps below. You will need a pair of round nose pliers and plenty of time for practice. [half] Thread the bead onto the headpin. Using your round nose pliers, create a 90° bend, and then trim the headpin, leaving approx 2cm distance from the bend. [/half] [half_last] [/half_last] [half] Grip the pin at its end... Read More
Box clasps can substantially enhance the aesthetic appeal of an item of jewellery, particularly a necklace or bracelet. Fortunately, as described below, the technique used to attach box clasps is not especially difficult to master. A pair of flat nose pliers will be required for this job.
It is sometimes the case that there are multiple ways in which to accomplish a jewellery-making task. The calotte fastener, for instance, can be achieved using several different techniques. Carefully follow the guide below to make a calotte fastener the easy way.
Box clasps can substantially enhance the aesthetic appeal of an item of jewellery, particularly a necklace or bracelet. Fortunately, as described below, the technique used to attach box clasps is not especially difficult to master. A pair of flat nose pliers will be required for this job. Begin by folding the end, you can double fold to give it a bigger body. Place the fold into the box clap the close each side with the flat nose pliers. Then trim any loose strands which stick out.
A wrapped loop can be used in various different ways by jewellery makers – it can also be achieved using a number of different techniques. Arguably one of the easiest and neatest techniques has been outlined below. One pair of flat nose pliers is required.
One of the most fundamental skills that must be acquired by a jewellery maker is that of crimping. Although there are many different types of crimp, most can be described as either a round crimp or a tube crimp. With a pair of flat nose pliers at the ready, follow the steps below to learn this essential jewellery-making technique.
