Jewelry & Beading Tips
Let There Be Light
Make sure your work area includes adequate lighting that is well directed into your immediate work space. This is important to keep your efficiency up and to reduce eye strain.
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Wire Cutting Courtesy
When cutting wire ends, be kind to others (and yourself) by putting your non-dominant finger gently over the end to be cut so that it does not fly out into the surrounding area.
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Tight Jump Rings
When working with jump rings, try to apply a bit of pressure while reversing the motion to close it. This makes for a much tighter fit and strengthens the jump ring. Never pry the jump ring open by pulling the ends away from each other as this weakens it.
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Bead Cap Knots
To make a really tight fit in a bead cap knot, first thread on a tiny seed bead and then catch it in the knot. Pull tightly to secure the knot and then thread it into the bead cap. The addition of the seed bead prevents it from pulling out of the bead cap.
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Safe Wiring
When working with thin lengths of wire, remember to work safely and wear protective eye coverage. You would be surprised how quickly a wire end can end up in your face!
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Spacers for Chandelier Earrings
Simple spacer bars make great geometric and unobtrusive chandelier components. The simplicity of the lines really allows special beads to take center stage.
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Slider Bracelet
When making bracelets with slider components, it is best to keep the tension slightly loose as you string it together. This allows the bracelet to form a natural curve that works equally well with the weight of the design.
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Stabilize Jewelry Slider
Add a few complementary beads while stringing, if you think the back (unfinished) side of a slider might show. You don't need to get fancy or elaborate, just aim to have a consistent amount for balance and color accent.
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Threading a Needle
Here's a good tip for threading a needle quickly: hold the thread between your left thumb and forefinger leaving just a tiny bit of thread exposed. Place the eye of the needle down over the thread and push quickly to insert it through the needle.
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Finding Jewelry Bargains
Keep your eye out at garage sales and flea markets for outdated or "antique" jewelry -- this is a great way to find interesting chain links, disks, closures and unusual beads.
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Practice on Recycled Jewelry
When beginning to learn how to make jewelry, it's a good idea to recycle bits and pieces of older or outdated jewelry to practice on. This offers an affordable way to practice and also gives you a good education as to how things are assembled.
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