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Illustrated instructions on using wire, beads, crystals, precious metal clay, cabochons, rivets, and other materials to create unique jewelry
Includes 15 projects for making beautiful necklaces, bracelets, rings, pins, and earrings
Expert instruction from master jeweler Carolyn Yohn McManus

Learn how to make boutique-style jewelry at...

What to Bring to Jewelry Class
 
Whether you are advanced or just starting, jewelry classes provide new techniques, hints, and inspiration. Get the most out of taking a class by being prepared.
 
ToolsAlways bring the required tools that are listed in the class description for individual classes.  Some classes require very general tools like scissors, beads, clasps, and  tweezers, and some classes require very specific tools like sterling cones, 20-gauge wire, draw-plates, or 4mm beads. If you have any questions about what tools are needed, call the teacher or school before class starts. Most teachers sell or bring extra supplies just in case, but you should make every attempt to bring what the teacher wants.Pliers: Jewelry pliers are a special kind of pliers.  They do not have teeth inside them.  If you borrowed your pliers from a garage toolbox, you might not want...

 
As the saying goes... You can't "e-mail a smile, or fax a handshake"  ...not in the flesh anyway. Like this truism suggests there's no substitute for personal contact with clients... or is there? 
The messages we convey to others by what we do, say and display make a statement about us, our degree of professionalism and expertise. Equally the tools we use, to convey these messages, influence people's perceptions of us.
Traditional marketing tools were -limited to- business cards, brochures, catalogs or other “printed media.” These ‘visuals’ allowed us to express basic information about who we are, what we do and how we work. By taking advantage of Web 2.0 & 3G (device) technologies that allow communication avenues...

 “Fashion jewelry fads"
 fad - a practice or interest followed…with exaggerated zeal             
 
Less Is Best…
“keep accessories at a minimum”…but still make what little you do wear noticeable!
 
Make It Fun! …
Mix and match colors (for example: a black and silver bracelet combination)…make sure that it’s based on a well-put-together outfit!
 
Compliment Haircuts with Earrings! …  
...

Hello gentle beaders,
Well, were in the lazy days of summer. The days are nice and long, the vacations have finally started, the gardens are blooming, and the juicy aroma of barbeque often fills the air. Here in Pennsylvania, despite the rain, it’s been a wonderful summer so far – lower humidity than usual, with cooler days, and even cooler nights. The fireflies are finally out - silently filling the night sky with sparkle and tangible fantasy. The evening air is filled with delicate floral scents of honeysuckle, roses, and lilies – and this past week – the days have had the most amazing cloud formations – Cumulonimbus - the kind you are likely to...

So recently a customer wrote, "Dear Babby of Buttercup Beads - How can I tell if my bead hobby is out of control?"Dear Worried Beader, Aunt Babby is really glad you asked that question; and has prepared a little quiz below to help you find the answer. No need for fancy paper, pencil, ruler, or graphing calculator - just answer each question openly and honestly in the privacy of your own little fuzzy head. ~Welcome to Aunt Babby's~~How to Tell if Your Bead Hobby is Out of Control Quiz ~1. Do you or have you ever had to eat next to the dog or cat bowl on the kitchen floor because bead projects are/were covering your kitchen table?1a. dining room table?1b. counter tops?1c. end tables?1d. coffee table?1e. lap?2. Do you, or have you - ever hidden bags of "stash" overnight in the trunk of your car, under your coat, or in your large handbag -...

 
How do you capture people’s interest in your jewelry? Do you wear it or use attractive displays and good lightning in sales presentations? Good ideas... but do these things make a personal connection between what you’ve made and other people?
Whether making jewelry is a hobby or your profession a story about your work will personalize it in people’s minds in many, beneficial ways!
Imagine sitting around a campfire telling someone about your work. Talk about the techniques you use, the procedures you...

Here is another little earring tutorial that I hope you enjoy. These don't take that long to make, are pretty simple and make a wonderful pair of earrings. It's a versatile wrap because this can be done with many different types of beads, doesn't require a lot of wire and allows you some room to be creative with either side of the earring. Offering a customer a 'two sided' pair of earrings or a pendant wrapped that way, makes for a bonus reason to buy your jewelry! Plus it allows for you to enjoy both sides of the finished stones. Sometimes, it's hard for me to 'choose the front'. ;)
 
You'll need:1. Round nose pliers2. Flat nose3. Cutters4. File5. Two beads with holes drilled 18 or larger gauge (sometimes a visual will tell you if your wire will fit that hole).6. Two gold filled, round, soft, 18 gauge wire, cut to 4 inches each.
1. Take the end of a wire with the round nose pliers. Get a firm grip about one quarter inch down the nose of the pliers.2. Roll the pliers toward you as close against the wire as you can....

Most wire wrapping projects use either square or round wire. There are many techniques which can be applied to the wire before the wrapping process. One of them is to add a 'twisted' or filigree look to square wire. This is a short, free tutorial on how to create a twisted wire to use for your wire wrapping projects. Click on any of the images for a closeup view of the tools and wire used.
 
There are a few ways to create a twisted look to square wire. The old fashion way is shown here and best used for 'smaller' projects. If you are twisting a foot or two of wire, this method is good to use, but if you are twisting many many feet of wire, then an alternative would be to use a drill head or similar type tool. In this tutorial, we are using a Pin Vice and flat nose pliers.The pin vice I'm using is two sided and each 'bit' is designed for certain gauge wires. The most common gauges for wire wrapping jewelry are 21 or 22 gauge, dead soft wire, either square or round and 'half' round banding wire. The pin vice I have will work with...

Needed:

Two, 4 inch pieces of 24g, soft, round, sterling silver wire.
Two shell teardrop beads.
Round nose pliers
Wire cutters

Step1:
Get your round wires threaded through the bead hole until it is about even on both sides and the bead is center the wire.Bend the wires up with your fingers while hanging on to the bead. bring the wires together and gently squeeze them until they meet.Rub them out once or so to keep your wire neat and straight after you have them together. Work slowly and deliberately. These are quick, so an extra minute to straighten the wire makes a difference. This is 24 gauge SOFT wire and so bends quite easily. Keeping control over a pair of loose wires makes it more...