filigree Archives - Filigree Beading .com

24Nov

By filigreebeNo Comments

Ideas

Other Projects

The brass stampings, beads and gem replicas we offer are used in many projects other than jewelry design. Here are just a few great ideas worth sharing. The beautiful bud vase pictured here was a gift from my sister and her husband. It includes several filigrees, a flower and two cherubs. They are soldered to a large round filigree and a plain brass band to hold it all together. The band doesn't show, but it is inside the design at the heads of the cherubs. The vase can be removed from the ornate holder for cleaning. The same concept could easily be used to make decorated jar candles or bud vases of your own design. Willie Zuniga is still recovering from hand surgery but she can't sit still. She is creating a line of gift items now. You can buy these jars at...

13Jul

By filigreebeNo Comments

Free Jewelry Making Lessons

Brooch Pins

My deepest gratitude to good friend and very talented designer Willie Zuniga who submitted this lesson on how to make a brooch pin. She is kind enough to share some of her techniques with you so that you can use that knowledge to make designs of your own. This copyrighted design is intended for learning purposes only and should not be copied for resale, either whole or in part. Start with setting #L52. Using small wire cutters nip off the loop. Remember, the technique is what you are learning, so be sure to look at all the other pieces on the site which can be used in the same way. Push the two opposing prongs of setting #S193 through the openings in filigree #D51. Set an 18mm stone into the setting and push the prongs down. Glue the edges of the fi...

23Jun

By filigreebeNo Comments

Free Jewelry Making Lessons

Filigree

This earring design was created using only jump rings to sandwich a buff top oval cabochon between two filigree triangles. I used the jet oval buff top cabochon #T38 with different sizes of jump rings to join the two filigrees around the stone. All items used to make the earrings are shown with their numbers in the second photo. (Note: #T8 is now item #T08) #T08, #AA68, #B105, #A252, #A164, #BB53, #R28, #A28 This is also a great little filigree to use as a fancy prong effect layered in collage jewelry. Keep scrolling for more ideas! I used this filigree triangle as the "setting" edges when I embellished the medallion pictured below in detail and also in a full view. It was easily molded to the sides of the stone which was first set into a plain setting. The secret ...

8May

By filigreebeNo Comments

Free Jewelry Making Lessons, Ideas

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...

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. ...

22Feb

By filigreebeNo Comments

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...

18Jan

By filigreebeNo Comments

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...

13Nov

By filigreebeNo Comments

Free Jewelry Making Lessons

The Cameo Lesson

A cameo or stone which measures 40x30 can be used in many ways when you first give it a dramatic setting. Glue the back of the cameo to front of brass frame #F79. Let the glue dry according to the directions on the tube.Then gently bend and wrap filigree piece #B33 around the first two items so that the ends of the filigree look like prongs holding the cameo in place.Lastly glue frame #A511 to the back of the above items to create the effect of a large dramatic setting. You could add a pin back or use this piece to embellish other items such as furniture, a journal or a jewelry box. Visit our store web site VintageJewelrySupplies.com to shop for these and thousands more items.(NOTE: our website best viewed on desktop or tablet)

2Nov

By filigreebeNo Comments

Free Jewelry Making Lessons

Step by Step

Mixing natural gemstone beads and cabochons with vintage glass beads and the oxidized findings lends importance to your art. The colors are rich and the markings are always interesting. The stones are very earthy and flattering to your face. Look for natural, not dyed stones, since the dye will change and fade over time. Steps to a Project... Here's the evolution of a necklace as it is being created. The focal pendant chosen for this piece is a Chrysocolla oblong gemstone bead with the hole passing vertically across the top. In my travels, I never pass up a bead store, rock shop or bead show. I want to see gemstones in person before I spend big money for something special like this bead. I threaded a heavy beading wire (#W01) through the hole and then added ...

9Oct

By filigreebeNo Comments

Free Jewelry Making Lessons

Dangle Earring Lesson

Many people have asked me if I will ever write a book. Considering that my work days now start at 4 AM and last well into every evening, I don't think I will ever find the time required for such an endeavor. It is however, a pleasure to put together occasional lessons to show you the basic steps for creating a project. Those lessons are always posted here for free. I've been told by my accountant that I give away too many services and products that could be sold, but I believe your actions come back to you. While I never support copying the work of another artist, you are welcome to use these lessons showing my work, in any way you wish. It is my hope that you will learn a new technique and then go on to create something wonderful with your newly fueled imagination. This le...