Thursday, November 21VintageJewelrySupplies.com

Tag: gemstone pendant

Natural Elements
Free Jewelry Making Lessons

Natural Elements

In this design example, I will show you one way to use a gemstone pendant bead which might not be perfectly drilled or evenly cut. This happens quite often when using a natural element of any type. Shell cabochons, gemstones or handmade glass stones are not always perfectly even or smooth, but I always try to make use of them. When I bought this black agate druzy geode pendant bead, it looked good in the poor lighting of the bead show. However, as I started to work with it in better lighting, I discovered that the hole was lopsided making the pendant hang at an odd angle. Usher in plan B. When the holes are not drilled properly in an otherwise beautiful gemstone, the layering technique can be employed to salvage the stone. Here I covered the hole completely with other elements. I wi...
Filigree Wrapping
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...