filigreebe, Author at Filigree Beading .com

8May

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More Layering Ideas

In this focal point piece,I gathered seemingly unrelated pieces of filigree, stampings and functional findings and then layered them together to create something out of the ordinary. Tip: Use a dot of E6000 glue between each layer of the pieces to hold everything together. After the project had time to set, I gently pushed the prongs onto the edge of the cameo to give the illusion that they are doing all the work. #A842, #A724, #R154, #B206, #BB43 The item numbers are shown below each piece used to make this pendant. Using a filigree piece like #B206 near the top of the pendant allows for necessary openings to attach chain, ribbon or bead strands. Some elements of this design technique include: 1. Framework - Adds textural interest and defines t...

15Jan

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Artisan Jewelry, Inspiration

Photo Slide Show

Over the years, we've saved many pictures of designs by clients, students and also a few pictures of our own designs. We've created a photo album featuring some of the collection. We hope that you will find inspiration to create your own designs from the examples shown here. If you would like us to include a photo of your work and a link to your site, please send us an email using our main contact page here. Our current jewelry making artist list on this photo slide show includes the following: Created by Susan Street - VintageJewelrySupplies.com Created by Willie Zuniga - www.etsy.com/shop/MorningGloryLegacy Created by Nancy Hamilton - NancyLTHamilton.com Created by Jessica Galbreth - TheVintageAngel.com Created by Terri Moore - www.etsy.com/shop.forthecrossjewelry ...

4Nov

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Free Jewelry Making Lessons

Tool Tips

Many of you have written to me over the years to ask questions about how to get started designing jewelry. I started my design career in my mid-thirties with very little money (less than $10.00) and no training at all, while working another full time job. You can do it too! I'll give you a few pointers on this site and you can fill in the blanks with your own creative ideas. The most important thing to have in this business is imagination! Take a basic idea and make the design your own. Don't be afraid to cut pieces apart, bend or hammer them into different forms. The pieces you buy from me are brass which is a soft composite metal which can be manipulated easily. The only warning I can give is that the plating may "pop" off of items that have been plated bright gold or sterling silv...

8Sep

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Free Jewelry Making Lessons

Open-Back Turtle Setting

This page is a gift for you from Willie Zuniga. "I really love these settings, so I wanted to share a few ideas with you." writes Willie. Turtle settings and open backed turtle settings can be used with almost any stamping, drop or connector that has an opening in the center or not. That's why they are one of our top selling items. You can use them for any type of jewelry making, since they are so functional. Except for the earrings in the picture below, the following items are not finished pieces, but I'm sure you'll find some ideas there. Whether you glue the settings on top, or wrap them around the piece (as in the earrings) ... you've created a whole new "setting." These aqua earrings include 16mm size settings, wit...

2Sep

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Inspiration

The Lighter Side

Yesterday, I was working on an order when my cell phone rang as it so often does. A young sounding fellow said to me "I'm taking a shot in the dark here. I found this woman's purse and the only phone number in this whole bag is on your business card, so I'm calling you. Do you know this person?" Within two minutes I sent her an email to each of the email addresses she had used with me and located a phone number for her through her last PayPal payment. It took about eight minutes to locate her so that Scott could return her bag to her. She was visiting New York City from her home in Ontario, Canada when Scott, the Good Samaritan found her bag…nothing was missing from it when he returned it to her! It really is a small world and we never know just how important we might be to people we...

1Aug

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Free Jewelry Making Lessons

Unique Bails

A unique bail can make all the difference in the look of your finished project. Here are some ideas to help you create unique bails from which to hang your pendants. Try folding over a connector which is the correct size and shape then add a jump ring as in item A. You can also use one link of rollo chain as in item B in the first photo. Any unsoldered larger link chain which has the right size and shape links can be used as a bail. In this photo you see a bail made from our long bar filigree #B33. This technique combines settings of various sizes with the rings either nipped off or turned downward so that you can attach other items. You can also use any of our ring findings as a bail as shown in the photo below. ...

20Apr

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Free Jewelry Making Lessons

Tiny Rhinestones

Earrings with tiny rhinestones add just the right touch of sparkle near your face. These earrings feature some of our items which hold tiny pointed back rhinestones. I used stones measuring about 1.6mm up to 2.5mm in this example. They are pp10 and pp18 size stones (pp stands for pearl plate and ss means stone size. This is how rhinestones are measured.) Connector #B11 was cut off as shown and used under #W138X to create the earring top. I glued our post back #A10 to the back. I used our fan #A729 to create the dangle area. I first added #B11 turned upward to create the hanging loop. Next I layered #CC13X, #T126X and #C91X.The beads and dangles include other items from our site. This same layering method can be u...

22Feb

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Free Jewelry Making Lessons

Create Unique Settings

When you find a beautiful cabochon in a non standard size, you may reject it knowing how hard it is to find settings for those stones. The lesson below shows you how to create a setting for any size or shape stone. #F81, #A724, #A566, #G34 Step 1Choose a flat stamping with openwork or a filigree as the base, which will allow lots of open areas from which to attach strands of beads or chain. Step 2Glue the cabochon in the center. Let the glue set up according to the instructions on the tube. (More about this on our page "E6000 Glue Tips".) Step 3Add chain, beads, stones, trim or other stampings to rim the cabochon so that it appears to be in a setting. In this picture you se...

18Feb

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Inspiration

Beyond the Sparkle

I believe we are here to bring joy to the lives of others and in so doing, that joy will be returned to you many times over. I received the special letter below several years ago but I'm always inspired to start the day with a positive attitude each time I read it. This lady is a testament to the strength and good in all of us. I applaud her and others like her who give so much of themselves when it would be so easy to just give up.Susan Street Dear Susan, I hope you don't mind my taking a few minutes to tell you how much your lovely products have affected my life, as well as the lives of others. I am a 54-year-old widow, a mom and a grandma, and am currently fighting my third battle with cancer. My treatments are tough, I spend many days in bed, literall...

18Jan

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Free Jewelry Making Lessons, Ideas

Filigree Wrapping

I'm often asked, "How do I set those odd shaped vintage stones?" One way is to wrap them in filigree and stampings to create a cage effect. Filigree always has lots of openings from which to attach chain and beaded strands. Please use great caution when folding, bending and otherwise manipulating filigrees and stampings. We do not guarantee that they will hold up to manipulation. Here I used a half round peach colored vintage glass stones. I placed it inside a partially folded together filigree (Item #A727) and then continued to fold it closed..In the image below you can see how I folded #B208 around from the opposite side so that the ends overlap. I used flat nose pliers I found in the tool section of Sears. They are smaller for craf...