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Greetings from Sausalito! As my husband and I drive through northern California for some teaching and a "working vacation," I give a lot of thought to the metalsmithing class I'm teaching. I suppose the most asked question is, "How do you come up with your ideas for jewelry?"...
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Chasing and repoussé are tied with gem cutting at the top of my techniques-to-learn wish list. I can't think of any other jewelry-making or metalsmithing technique that can create so many unique designs on metal or one that creates such an impressive effect--all made using techniques that...
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I often forget that hammers can do so much more than flatten metal and wire; I forget that they can move metal the other way, to literally create height, depth, curves and recesses where there were none. When used in a particular way, hammers can create three-dimensional metal shapes that look like they're...
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Whether it's jewelry making, beading, quilting, knitting, or some other hobby--or even housekeeping--one good tip is enough to make your day and change your world. Friday is Jewelry Making Daily's third birthday (whee!), and here are the 11 most memorable and helpful wire jewelry-making tips...
Posted to
Jewelry Making Daily
by
TammyJones
on
1 May 2013
Filed under:
Filed under: chain maille, jewelry design, silver jewelry making, metalsmithing, jewelry making, gemstones, lampwork, jewelry tools, Wire Jewelry Making, Earring Making, Jewelry Making Techniques, Jewelry Supplies
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I like how JMD member PrettyWearJewelry repeated the wire coil from the ear wire as a design element on her Swarovski Wild Heart Dangle Earrings . Even being an old-fashioned girl, I sometimes forget about the basics that make the world go 'round. So any chance I get to remind and reacquaint myself...
Posted to
Jewelry Making Daily
by
TammyJones
on
17 Apr 2013
Filed under:
Filed under: chain maille, jewelry design, alternative metals, metalsmithing, jewelry making, stone cutting, jewelry tools, jewelry artist, Wire Jewelry Making, Earring Making, Jewelry Supplies
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How Do I Wub Thee? Let Me Count the Ways I am the first to admit when I'm wrong about something, and God knows I'm not perfect or always right. So, about three or four years ago at Bead Fest, while showing a student how to make a bail for a pendant, I said, "Let me borrow your pliers."...
Posted to
Jewelry Making Daily
by
Lexi Erickson
on
15 Apr 2013
Filed under:
Filed under: resin, jewelry design, stone setting, metalsmithing, soldering, jewelry making, jewelry tools, lapidary, Jewelry Making Techniques, Jewelry Supplies, Etching, Metal Stamping
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Anytime I get a chance to share a stone-cutting or jewelry-making project by Roger Halas, I take it! He's a man of many talents and frequently shares them in Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist magazine. This stone-cutting project is great for the lucky folks who know (or are learning) how to cut gems...
Posted to
Jewelry Making Daily
by
TammyJones
on
12 Apr 2013
Filed under:
Filed under: resin, jewelry design, stone setting, metalsmithing, jewelry making, stone cutting, jewelry tools, jewelry artist, lapidary, Jewelry Supplies, Etching, Stone Polishing
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Sterling silver has always been my favorite metal to wear, collect, and work with, and like many of you, my fingers are crossed for the day it becomes affordable again (if that ever happens). Meanwhile, I get my little joys from finding a $10 sterling silver fork or cup in an antique store that has been...
Posted to
Jewelry Making Daily
by
TammyJones
on
5 Apr 2013
Filed under:
Filed under: jewelry design, alternative metals, stone setting, silver jewelry making, metalsmithing, soldering, jewelry making, gemstones, stone cutting, jewelry tools, jewelry artist, lapidary, Jewelry Making Techniques, Jewelry Supplies
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The ideals behind the Arts & Crafts movement have appealed to me for some time, being that I use little or no electricity in my work. I like the feel of the metal and the file in my hands as I file excess metal and the high polish that the burnisher leaves along the edges of a piece. People tell...
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After you've etched the copper, you can turn your designs into anything you like, such as etched copper cuffs. It's not a deep dark secret that copper is my favorite metal to work with. It's fun to hammer, and it takes a gorgeous patina. The earthiness of it mixes well with my archaeologically...
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Before you master any jewelry-making technique, I've learned that it's important to get a good foundation in the basics. If you start off with sloppy methods or build on bad habits, the problems can just multiply and get so ingrained in your techniques that they're like all bad habits--hard...
Posted to
Jewelry Making Daily
by
TammyJones
on
25 Mar 2013
Filed under:
Filed under: chain maille, metalsmithing, gemstones, micro torch, jewelry tools, Wire Jewelry Making, Earring Making, Jewelry Making Techniques, Jewelry Supplies, Stone Polishing, Recycled Jewelry, Metal Stamping
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As we receive and answer questions to our 5-Tool Challenge, we'll post them here for everyone's benefit. Get complete details here . Q: I'm all set to jump into the "5 tool Challenge" and find some confusing rules: Soldering and Do not solder! Flat, not domed or formed in any way...
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A lot of jewelry makers come to the craft because of an insatiable need to make things with their hands. In that need, everyone faces the challenge of mastering the use of many tools. For sure-torches, chemicals, and sharp objects can be pretty intimidating. And it's hard to master the sometimes...
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This one was way out of my comfort zone, but I had to bring it home. I call it "Leonardo Meets Tim Burton." Do you know what it is? Those of you who have followed my writing on JMD know two things. My absolute passions are writing for JMD and Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist and teaching. Well...
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Thanks to the prices of metals going up, up, and up (even though silver took a small dip this week, still...), I'm increasingly interested in what I can do with wire instead of metal sheet (ironic, coming from the girl who was adamantly not a wireworker or wire jewelry maker a couple of years ago...