Kate's Jewellery Making Blog http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk Sun, 20 Apr 2008 16:28:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.2 en Citrine and Ametrine Necklace http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/04/20/citrine-and-ametrine-necklace/ http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/04/20/citrine-and-ametrine-necklace/#comments Sun, 20 Apr 2008 16:28:55 +0000 Kate http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/04/20/citrine-and-ametrine-necklace/

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!]]> http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/04/20/citrine-and-ametrine-necklace/feed/ Some Earrings :-) http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/03/24/some-earrings/ http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/03/24/some-earrings/#comments Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:30:36 +0000 Kate http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/03/24/some-earrings/ Beautiful hand-made earrings
How to make earrings

I have fallen in love with copper and these colours!]]> http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/03/24/some-earrings/feed/ Rondelle copper chain necklace http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/03/17/rondelle-copper-chain-necklace/ http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/03/17/rondelle-copper-chain-necklace/#comments Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:06:00 +0000 Kate http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/03/17/rondelle-copper-chain-necklace/

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!]]> http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/03/17/rondelle-copper-chain-necklace/feed/ Labradorite and silver link braclelet http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/03/09/labradorite-and-silver-link-braclelet/ http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/03/09/labradorite-and-silver-link-braclelet/#comments Sun, 09 Mar 2008 19:53:30 +0000 Kate http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/03/09/labradorite-and-silver-link-braclelet/
How to make gemstone jewellery tutorials

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. ]]> http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/03/09/labradorite-and-silver-link-braclelet/feed/ A hammered link necklace… http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/03/05/a-hammered-link-necklace/ http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/03/05/a-hammered-link-necklace/#comments Wed, 05 Mar 2008 22:21:57 +0000 Kate http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/03/05/a-hammered-link-necklace/ Watch this space for charm bracelets using a similar method :-)




]]> http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/03/05/a-hammered-link-necklace/feed/ Everything you need to start making jewellery… http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/02/11/everything-you-need-to-start-making-jewellery/ http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/02/11/everything-you-need-to-start-making-jewellery/#comments Mon, 11 Feb 2008 20:29:27 +0000 Kate http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/02/11/everything-you-need-to-start-making-jewellery/ To make everything shown in the following tutorials you will need;
Round Nose Pliers
Cutters
Flat Nose Pliers
Tigertail (strong stringing material)
Crimp Beads
Open and closed jumprings
Reels of wire in varying thicknesses (20,24,28 gauge)
Headpins
Clasps
Earwires
A selection of beads of your choice
Suede/ Leather
Ribbon
A box to keep it all in
]]> http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/02/11/everything-you-need-to-start-making-jewellery/feed/ How to do a wrapped loop using a headpin… http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/02/10/how-to-do-a-wrapped-loop-using-a-headpin/ http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/02/10/how-to-do-a-wrapped-loop-using-a-headpin/#comments Sun, 10 Feb 2008 13:11:31 +0000 Kate http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/02/10/how-to-do-a-wrapped-loop-using-a-headpin/

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!]]> http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/02/10/how-to-do-a-wrapped-loop-using-a-headpin/feed/ How to wire wrap a briolette http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/02/09/how-to-wire-wrap-a-briolette/ http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/02/09/how-to-wire-wrap-a-briolette/#comments Sat, 09 Feb 2008 23:30:37 +0000 Kate http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/02/09/how-to-wire-wrap-a-briolette/

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]]> http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/02/09/how-to-wire-wrap-a-briolette/feed/ How to finish a bracelet/necklace the easy and secure way http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/02/09/69/ http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/02/09/69/#comments Sat, 09 Feb 2008 21:14:25 +0000 Kate http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/02/09/69/

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 :-)
]]> http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/02/09/69/feed/ How to turn a loop on a headpin - make a pair of earrings http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/02/09/how-to-turn-a-loop-on-a-headpin-earrings/ http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/02/09/how-to-turn-a-loop-on-a-headpin-earrings/#comments Sat, 09 Feb 2008 17:22:46 +0000 Kate http://www.howtojewellery.co.uk/2008/02/09/how-to-turn-a-loop-on-a-headpin-earrings/

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!
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