Here I have used some lovely chunks of ametrine and citrine with 24k gold wire which I feel gives a nice warm look and the facets make it extra sparkly!

I have fallen in love with copper and these colours!

An experiment with rondelles as I think they’re just as beautiful front ways on as they are stacked next to each other when strung.
If you’d like to try something similar use 20 gauge wire, cut a strip as long as you want the base to be and make a loop on either side. Hammer this flat. Then simply add the rondelles onto the base by twisting wire through the rondelle and around the base, making sure the rondelles lie flat. Great for bangles as well!
Would look great strung on ribbon or suede in a complimentary colour!

This is made from 12 gauge sterling wire, shaped and hammered flat and then hammemered with a rounded hammer to give it slightly dimpled look.

I am really pleased with the results this technique has given me. It was so much fun to make as well; not at all tedious as repetitive work can be. I simply shaped 20 gauge gold craft wire into ‘S’ shapes and jump rings and flattened them with a silversmith’s hammer on a block. Then made a large ‘S’ shape with curled ends for the ‘S’ clasp! A large green fluorite drop and smaller green drops compliment the gold well I thought.
Watch this space for charm bracelets using a similar method

1)You will need a bead, a long head pin (thick or thin), some round nose, flat nose and cutter pliers
2)Thread the bead onto the headpin and grip it with the round nose pliers a third of the way up the shaft
3)Bend the headpin to a 90 degree angle over the round nose pliers
4)Turn the piers up..
5)…and flip the pin back over the top of the pliers..
6)…bend all the way around to form the loop
7/8) Grip the loop with one pair of pliers and wrap the end of the pin with the other pliers. You will be able to use your finger for thin headpins but will need to use pliers to twist for thicker headpins like the one shown here.
9/10) Snip the end, tuck it in and tidy up by squeezing with flat nose pliers
11) A fantastic wrapped loop headpin!

1)You will need wire (20 - 26 gauge – I have used 20 gauge here, experiment to get the result you want), round nose pliers, and a top drilled (not through drilled) bead of your choice
2/3) Thread a length of wire through the bead and squeeze with round nose pliers
4/5) Snip one side of the wire leaving ½ cm
6) Pull the wire over the top of the round nose pliers
7) All the way around to form the loop
8/9) Grip the loop with the pliers and with the other pliers wrap the wire all the way to the top of the bead
10) Snip the wire off as near to the bead as possible and align the cut end with the rest by pressing with flat nose pliers
11) Re-adjust the loop with round nose pliers to centre it

1)You will need tigertail, cutters, flat nose pliers, four crimp beads and a clasp with two completely closed (no gaps) jump rings or loops attached. (Do not use this method with an open jumpring the tigertail will slip out)
2)Cut a length of tigertail (9 inches or 30cm to be safe) thread on two crimp beads, followed by the clasp
3)Loop the tiger tail through the clasp’s jumpring and back through the crimps to form a loop
4) pull the end with pliers until the crimps are next to the clasp (leave some room so the clasp hangs nicely)
5/6) Crush the crimps firmly with the flat nose pliers
7/8) Thread on your beads of choice over both strands of tigertail
9)Finish following steps 2-5 and pull the end of the tigertail back through the last bead
10/11) Snip the end of the tigertail close to the beads to finish

1) You will need a pair of round nose pliers, flat nose and cutters. Two headpins, two earwires and two beads of your choice.
2/3) Thread the bead onto the headpin
4) Bend the pin at the base next to the top of the bead over to a 90 degree angle with your finger.
5) Cut the pin with the cutters leaving 1cm/half an inch
6) Using the round nose pliers, grip the pin at it’s tip, half way up the plier’s shaft
7) Hold the pin steady by pressing its head with your finger at the bottom of the bead. Now roll the pin towards you.
8/9) It May be necessary to reposition the pliers to carry on rolling the loop all the way around
10) Open the loop by twisting it sideways (as shown in the picture) do not pull it away from itself or it will lose that wonderful shape you have created
11) Now add the earwire to the loop and close it again
12) Voila! the perfect pair of earrings!

I have compiled a list of ideas and themes that seem to be re-occurring and possible ways to incorporate them into our jewellery…

Feminine/ Floral / Floaty - Rose quartz, hazy chalcedony, silks, ribbons, pinks and greens, ‘stems’ of twisted wire.

Greek Goddess - drapes of material make elegant summer dresses in pale colours next to a tan. Light brown and dark suede, copper, dark blue and burnt orange colours.

Themes from the Orient - Rich colours, dark red Murano beads, garnet, dark amethyst, gold, long elegant earrings and striking hair decorations wired onto grips. Try experimenting with shapes by bending wire into patterns, intricately wrapping the pattern with thinner wire to make a feature. A dragon would fit in with the theme, perhaps with a fire agate pendant hanging from it.

Back to nature - Organically themed jewellery - leaf and flower charms, Peridot and Smoky Quartz.

Messy on purpose - Loosely wrapped briolettes, oxidised silver to give that tarnished look and strips of loose chain all look very modern and contrasts particularly well next to faceted gemstones in stunning colours.

Magical/ Mystical - Incorporate beautiful images of lands far away by using tiny pictures of other worlds. Put them behind glass to make a pendant and pick out the key colours in the picture for the beads to compliment it. This seller on Etsy will make a custom pendant for you for a bargain $10 or this seller uses microscope glass slides wired together to frame her pictures - amazing! Find royalty free images to use here.