JewelleryMaker Blog

Egyptian Link Tutorial by Karon Crawford

Thu, 09 May 2013 05:51:22 -0400

Tutorial for Egyptian Link

1. Cut a 6.5 inch length of wire (gauges 0.6mm – 1.0mm are best suited for this, however if you are making a necklace or bracelet I recommend using either 0.8mm or 1.0mm). Bend the wire in half and grasp it at the centre point with your round nose pliers approx. 2/3 along from the points of the pliers.

2. Using your chain nose pliers, pinch the wire around the round nose pliers to make a loop.

3. Using your chain nose pliers, grasp the wire at the base of the loop and bend the wire away from you to make a gentle bend, not a sharp angle.

4. Using your round nose pliers, make a loop at each end of the wire, making them as small as possible so that they look like antennas.

5. Grasp one of the loops about half way with your flat nose pliers and moving the wire and NOT the pliers, make a spiral down to where the wire bends and repeat for the other side.

6. Make as many of these as you need for your design. Take two links and sit one behind the other like chairs. Take the one in front, turn it sideways and slot it through the loop of the link behind.

Turn it around to face front again so the loop of the link behind is resting at the bend of the link in front and push the loop down to close the link.

Continue to link them together until you have the desired length. You can manipulate the links with your fingers to ensure that they sit flat and straight.

Anodised Aluminium Step by Step by Cherry Green

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 12:18:55 -0400

Everything you require to get started is included in this pack.

Ink-dilute the ink 1 sachet to 500ml of de-ionised water (I make up half this amount and keep it in plastic tubs with lids).

Only ever handle your anodised aluminium wearing the gloves provided as the natural oils in your hands will affect the anodised aluminium until it has been sealed.

Decorate your aluminium with the graphics pens in your kit. You can draw or stamp to create your desired effect. Then follow by over-dying with the inks. You can submerge your piece in the dye bath or paint on and leave to dry.

You can submerge your aluminium in the dye bath for up to 20 minutes to achieve the desired depth of colour.

Wipe off excess dye with kitchen roll.

Your aluminium will now need to be sealed. It must be steamed for 45 minutes. You can do this in a food steamer.

Once steamed you will no longer need to handle with gloves.

You can cut your aluminium using the tin snips and the saw blade.

Tin snips are great for straight lines and the saw blade for straight and curvy edges (Tip-when using saw blade run a candle over the blade this will help to lubricate the blade and make it easier to cut).

All edges must be filed, first with the files in your kit, then finished off with a very fine emery paper.

If you require holes in your pieces to make into jewellery, make the spot so that you can see clearly where to align the punch with the hole-punch provided.

You will need to clean and polish your pieces using furniture polish.

Good luck and enjoy!

JewelleryMaker @ Hobbycrafts - NEC, Birmingham

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 08:52:59 -0500

Are you going to Hobbycrafts at the NEC, Birmingham from the 21st-24th March?

JewelleryMaker will be back BIGGER and better this spring - bringing you even more of your favourite JM Presenters and Guest Designers!

Come along and watch LIVE demonstrations, sign up for a selection of FREE make and takes and enjoy exclusive exhibition offers and competitions you won’t want to miss.

Last in stock/end of line products including jewellery kits, bundles, gemstone strands, findings, tools and threading materials, all at SUPER DISCOUNTED prices!!!

FREE Make & Takes will include:

Wirework with Laura and Gemma

Macramé with Mark

Beading with Linda, Sheila and Cherry

Doodle Clay with Debbie

Places are limited! So come early. Spaces can be booked at 9.30am and again at 12 midday for afternoon courses.

Demonstrations: (Every hour)

Will feature a mix of specialist designers, including

Silver Clay Natalia

Jewel Enamel Liz Welch

Resin Claire John

Polymer Clay Debbie

Wirework Laura

Shrink Plastic Linda

You can find our stands at: E22 & E28 (Hall 11).

Ships Wheel Charm Turtorial by Karon Crawford

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 06:24:39 -0500

Instructions for ‘Ship’s Wheel’ charm

1. Cut a 40cm length of 0.6mm wire. Measure 5cm from one end, hold the wire at this point with your round nose pliers (at about a 1/3 of the way along your pliers) and bend the shorter end of the wire around the pliers. Thread on one of the closed jump rings from the JM silver/gold plated findings packs so that it sits in the bend. (Fig. 1)

2. From the bend, measure 1.5cm along the longer wire end, hold at the same point of the pliers as before and bend the wire around the pliers (Fig. 2).

Thread the wire through the jump ring (Fig. 3).

Grip the wire as before and bend (Fig. 4).

Repeat to make 6 more loops through the jump ring and trim the wire leaving a 5cm tail.

3. Fan the loops out evenly around the jump ring in a flower shape, bringing the two 5cm tails together making sure they are both pointing upward and are either side of the jump ring (Fig. 5).

These will be used later to make the bail.

4. Starting at the bail wires grab the wires at the base next to the jump ring with your flat nose pliers and twist the wires together 3 – 4 times. Repeat this with all of the loops. (Fig. 6)

5. Cut a 15cm length of 0.6mm wire and curve by running it through your fingers. Starting at the bail wires, thread the wire through all the loops (Fig. 7)

And when you reach the bail wires thread through all of the loops again. You should have the two wire ends either side of the bail wires. When you are satisfied that your threading wire is positioned correctly by pulling both of the ends gently, wrap the wire ends around the bail wires to secure, trim them with your wire cutters and gently push the ends in neatly with your chain nose pliers. (Fig. 8)

6. Holding each loop at the top with your flat nose pliers, twist them twice (Fig. 9).

Using your round nose pliers make a wrapped loop with the bail wires (Fig. 10)

And add an open jump to finish (Fig. 11).

Scale Maille Classic Bib, by Tina Booth

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 09:57:28 -0500

Hello everyone, I have had lots of requests for a tutorial the Classic Bib design. I’ve enjoyed seeing loads of you have been creating fabulous pieces and the scales are very versatile so I hope this is helpful to everyone wanting to try this design and I will put up some further ideas for you soon.

Tina x

Ingredients:

13 light gold scales

21 copper scales

22 purple scales

Silver plated copper chain, toggle clasp

7mm open jump rings

Tip:

Exchange these for other colours to make this your own taste, but I have found that 3 colours gives a nice balance.

1. Cut a 41cm length of curb chain. Find the middle of the chain and attach your first scale with a jump ring. This is middle scale of the first row, complete the first row of 7 scales following your colour scheme.

First row as seen from the front.

Tip:

I find it useful to have my pattern laid out first so it’s easier to just pick them up and work. The scales have a concave side and a convex side, for this design I have the concave on the front but you can vary the design by using them convex

2. Now turn your work over and work on the back to complete the pattern.

Tip:If you work flat on your beading mat you may find it easier to pin the chain to the mat to stop it moving around or you can pin it to a bust and work with it hanging.

Using jump rings attach each scale to its neighbour

First row of jump rings on reverse

3. Attach the next row of scales, which has one less. Attach each scale to the jump rings that have joined the previous row together.

Second row of scales attached to the first.

4. This pattern is repeated for the bib until you have all the rows complete. The final result will look like this at the back.

Firing Gemstones in Silver Clay, information by Natalia Coleman

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 10:38:58 -0500

Firing Gemstones in Silver Clay, information by Natalia Coleman

Karon Crawford's Wirework Spiral Ring...

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 10:12:07 -0500

Cut three 18cm lengths of 0.8mm wire and bind them together at one end with a small piece of masking tape so that they sit side by side. Calculate the centre of the wires and make a mark with a permanent fine maker pen (make sure you hide this mark with the wrapping wire) about 5mm back from the centre where you will start the wire wrapping. Cut approx. 40cm of the 0.25mm wire, push it up between the first and second wire and wrap around the first wire three times. From the back, take wrapping wire up between the second and third wires and wrap around the second wire three times. From the back, take the wrapping wire up and around the 3^rd wire and wrap it around three times. Take the wrapping wire down behind the three wires and push it up between the first and second wire ready to start the next row. Repeat to complete four more rows and trim all excess wire. (fig.1)

Remove the tape and bend the wires around a ring mandrel to the desired size, so that the wire ends cross over. Repeat the wire wrapping as before to secure the ring at the shoulders. Using your fingers bend the wires from each shoulder to curve out slightly and fan out the wire ends. (fig.2)

Thread a 3-4mm bead onto each wire and form into spirals to finish.(fig.3)

Karon Crawford's Circles Necklace...

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 10:06:49 -0500

Cut a 1.5m length of 0.38mm beading wire and thread a bead onto the centre with two crimp beads either side. Thread another bead onto one end of the wire and thread the wire back through the first bead and both crimp beads leaving a circle of wire. (fig.1)

Thread the beading wire from the other side and thread it through the first bead and both crimps leaving another circle of wire inside the first circle. (fig.2)

With the same wire make a third circle inside the second circle, as before, and thread the two wires in opposite directions through another bead with a crimp bead either side, leaving another circle. (fig.3)

With one wire end make two circles inside the first. (fig.4)

Thread the left hand wire back through the middle bead and the top bead to make side loops either side of the top circles. (fig.5)

Thread the right hand wire through the middle bead and crimps and the top bead and crimps to make side loops outside the previous side loops. (fig.6)

On one side of the pendant make another double circle with two beads and crimps and repeat for the other side.

To complete the necklace, attach the wire end using crimp bead to some chain and add a clasp. (fig.8)

Karon Crawford's Wirework Flower...

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 07:16:57 -0500

Cut approx. 45cm of 0.8mm wire. Measure in approx. 6cm from one end and bend the wire into a zigzag pattern as shown. Each zigzag should measure approx. 2.5cm. (fig.1)

The long wire ends will be used to make the bail so starting with the first 2.5cm zigzag, place your chain nose pliers at the centre point on one side of the zigzag and pull gentle outwards creating an angle and repeat on the other side of the zigzag. You should now have the first petal shape. (fig.2)

Continue this process with the remaining four zigzags and you should see the flower shape develop. (fig.3)

Cut approx. 3m of the 0.25mm wire, fold it in half and from the folded end, hold the wires together and start twisting them. I find it easier to do about an inch and then move down the wire and twist another inch etc. Holding the twisted wire on top of the flower, wrap it twice around the bottom of one side of the first petal leaving a 5cm tail. Take the twisted wire up through the middle of the petal, over to the other side and wrap it around twice. Take the wire down through the middle of the petal, over to the other side and wrap it around twice. Continue this figure of eight process to the tip of the petal and wrap the twisted wire around the tip a few times to secure. Trim the wire and start the next petal. Repeat to make 5 wire wrapped petals. (fig.4)

To make the bail, use the same wrapping method to bind the wire ends together, wrapping the wire for approx. 3.5cm and trim the wire leaving a 5cm tail. If necessary trim both wire ends leaving approx. 1- 1.5cm unwrapped and make basic loops with your round nose pliers to finish. (fig.5)

Bend the wrapped wire ends around to the back of the flower forming the loop of the bail. Close the loop by wrapping the tail wire around all the wires at the base of the bail 3 times. Trim wire to finish. (fig.6)

Using your fingers, bend each petal upwards and bend backwards from the middle of the petal. Using you finger nail or flat nose pliers gently push down on the centre of the wire wrapping at the top end of the petal to make a nice curve in the petal. Repeat for the other four. Push the petals together so that they sit neatly with the bail hidden behind. If you want to you can dangle some chain and bead from the loops at the bottom of the bail. (fig.7)

Cut three 12cm pieces of the 0.25 and thread a 4 or 5mm bead onto the centre of each wire. Bend the wire ends around the bead until they meet and twist them together. Repeat for the other two and twist all three together to make a bunch. (fig.8)

Place the bunch at the centre of the flower and wrap the ends of the wires around the base of the flower to secure. Trim the wires to finish. Make sure all wire ends are pushed neatly against your work to prevent them catching on clothing or scratching your skin. (fig.9)

Make your very own Festive Wirework Robin by following the...

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 05:28:25 -0500

Make your very own Festive Wirework Robin by following the incredibly talented Rachel Norris’ Step By Step tutorial!

Carol's Adventures... Jaipur

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 08:02:57 -0400

What an opportunity!

When Paula (The head of JM) asked me if I would be interested in going to India, China and Hong Kong for 8 days on behalf of JM I didn’t have to think too hard I can tell you. I’d said, “YES” before she had finished asking me the question. The opportunity to travel to the other side of the world to see, first hand where our gemstone strands come from was incredibly exciting, not to mention the chance to experience massively different cultures!

Our trip would start in Jaipur and end in Hong Kong and over the 8 days myself and Chloe (head of production on JM) would visit gems faceting facilities, copper bead and resin factories, rough stone markets, we would also see how quality control processes are carried out on strands…. basically the whole process from beginning to end! 8 days didn’t seem long enough, but it was, just! It was the most jam packed, rewarding, exciting, interesting, scary and exhausting 8 days of my life! What a trip!

A journey to Jaipur

The first adventure was getting to Jaipur! Chloe, who incidentally is petrified of flying (so am I but tried not to let on) and I took a flight to Delhi and a connecting flight to Jaipur. The connecting flight only took about 20 minutes, which made me wonder why we didn’t go by road. I later found out that during the rainy season, which was when we were there, there is not a reliable road going into Jaipur as it gets flooded. This was one of the many reasons why I believe Jaipur is such an incredible place. Even though it’s a very difficult place to get to it is regarded by many to be the hub of the gemstone world, and I was about to find 101 other reasons why Jaipur is such a magical place.

Chloe and I with Prakash and Pramod.

Firstly the people in Jaipur are some of the friendliest people I have ever encountered. The team in Jaipur are wonderful. Pankaj, Pramod, Prakash along with Sharmil and Biplab are a fantastic team. But it wasn’t just the JM team who were friendly, every workshop and factory we visited we were greeted by smiling faces.

The streets of Jaipur, with added cows!

Jaipur is an attack on the senses! The constant sound of car horns are alarming when you first arrive in the city but within 24 hours you are used to them. Cows, donkeys, pigs, dogs, camels and goats roam the streets and people just drive round them. The sights, sounds (and smells) of Jaipur are truly incredible… Oh and then there’s the gemstones!

We tend to get a lot of our ‘Gems of Distinction’ strands from Jaipur and we had the chance to go and see the strands being made. I expected a fairly detailed process, carried out by skilled craftsmen. What Chloe and I learnt was incredible. We stood and stared on in awe as each gemstone was cut, faceted, drilled and stranded by hand. It is a hugely skilled, time consuming process which can take around 45 minutes for each gemstone. To see the process first hand was awesome, if a little sad when I think back to a game on JM where 200 strands of high quality black Spinel can sell out in under 5 minutes!

We were lucky enough to visit a copper bead factory and a workshop where our Lac beads come from. What struck me about both places was the pride which people take in their work. The attention to detail applied to the Lac beads for instance is breathtaking. Each bead is unique and each craftsman uses their own flair to make each bead their own.

The walls of the Pink City; Jaipur.

The highlights of Jaipur for me were seeing our gemstones being faceted, visiting the copper and resin bead workshop experiencing some of the best food I’ve ever tasted and riding an elephant!

It was one of the best professional experiences and life experiences I’ve had. Jaipur has definitely left a lasting impression on Chloe and I. We packed so much into the few days we were there and I would love the chance to go back (hint hint Paula!) I really hope you get a sense of what a special place Jaipur is from the footage you see on the channel over the next few weeks.

Moving Day!

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 09:46:27 -0400

There’s a buzz around the office at Gems Towers today… IT’S MOVING DAY!

Today we say goodbye to one of our old warehouses, and a great HELLO! to our fantastic shiny new warehouse. As you can see we have so much more room, 5x more in fact, ready to be filled with lots of sparkly products.

One of our old warehouses…

View from outside.

View from inside.

And this is our much much bigger new warehouse!

View from the outside, even the sun came out to help the move along!

And finally the view from inside, look at all the space!

Save the date!

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 12:09:51 -0400

Embrace the magic of Christmas at Crafts for Christmas, Hobbycrafts and Art Materials Live from 8th – 11th November at the NEC, Birmingham.

Hobbycrafts is one of the UK’s largest creative shows, with over 200 exhibitors bringing the best of the creative world together. With everything from stamping, cardmaking and calligraphy to beading and jewellery making – it’s a perfect pre-Christmas one-stop show, full of inspiration and great ideas!

So come along and join the festive fun with JewelleryMaker, and take the opportunity to meet your favourite JM Presenters and a mix of our Guest Designers. Watch LIVE demonstrations, sign up for our make & take sessions, and enjoy exclusive exhibition offers, flash sales and a mix of competitions and prize draws that will make perfect Christmas gifts, or a special treat for yourself.
You can find our stands at: E32 & F14 Hall 20.

Buying Trip to Hong Kong

Sun, 23 Sep 2012 05:59:11 -0400

Here at JM we travel the world to secure you the very best deals on gorgeous gemstone strands.

Paula and I have just returned from the worlds biggest jewellery show at the Asia World Expo centre in Hong Kong, the following post is a little peek into what a buying trip involves…

We arrived in Hong Kong on Tuesday 18th September feeling surprisingly upbeat after a long 10hour over night flight. Time for a quick refresh before sitting down with the manager of our China office to discuss the plan of action for the visit to the jewellery show and our goals for the up coming months.

Armed with our plan of attack we arrived at the jewellery show the following morning, the sheer size of the show is overwhelming enough and that’s without taking into account the other halls that specialise in other elements of the jewellery trade such as tools, packaging and loose gems. Each day, 4 days in total, was the same format. We would discuss the night before hand key items we would look for then head to the show and search!

We enjoyed meeting with a lot of our regular suppliers, it’s always nice to meet face to face with the people who we have brilliant working relationships with. Everybody we spoke to couldn’t be more helpful!

After sourcing some fantastic sparkly deals from our suppliers it was time to search for new suppliers with the aim of bringing you, our customers, new gemstone strands that you haven’t seen on screen before.

Hong Kong was truly an amazing place to visit, the pace of life is very different to the UK everybody live in immense high-rise apartments and building work goes on constantly. Hong Kong is very much a 24-hour city, after dark the buildings come alive with colourful neon signs and decorations. You do get the sense of a real buzz through the streets. We had a good giggle at the hands free set up in a few of the taxi cabs there, it became a bit of a competition between us who could find the taxi with the most ingenious hands free system. I’m delighted to say I won with a count of eleven mobile phones with one tablet computer!

I don’t want to spoil any surprises but WOW! I can tell you then next few months are going to be particularly exciting, getting ready to tick some items off your wish lists!

Han x

Workshops... September - December

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 06:39:13 -0400

Here at Jewellery Maker we run a whole host of exciting workshops aimed at giving you the very best basis in a wide range of jewellery making techniques. Run by our fabulous guest designers, who are specialists in their fields, the workshops are sure to inspire your creativity.

To book yourself on to one of our courses, or for further information, please phone our call centre on 0800 6444 655.

We look forward to seeing you!

How To... Make Hand Jewellery

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 10:28:36 -0400

It’s a typical British Summer; lots of rain! I hope you are all safe and well. Let’s have a go at some fresh and funky designs, if we can’t have the sunshine let’s cheer ourselves up with some summery jewellery!

Recently shown on the Retro Showcase here’s a step by step on how to create your own hand jewellery!

How To… Make Hand Jewellery

For this tutorial you will need:

A length of gemstone chain, I have used pearl chain
An open jump ring 7mm
A reel of 0.6mm wire
15 x 6mm gemstones, I have used silver and white faceted shell pearl
A length on silver coloured chain
11 x 15mm gemstones, I have used plain white shell pearl rounds.
A length of elastic
Clear nail varnish
Remember you can use and gem combination you like you will just need to adjust the amounts
Snips
Round nose pliers
Flat nose pliers

Firstly let’s start by looking at the design process; most hand jewellery features a ring, and central design and then a bracelet. It is nice to stick to a theme or colour scheme so for this tutorial I am going for pearls and silver.

I start by taking the length of gemstone chain; in this case I have used pearl on silver, and measured it around my finger before cutting it to a suitable length.

The take an open jump ring and thread both sides of the gemstone chain through before closing.

We now create the lengths of chain running from the finger back to the wrist. Using your snips cut several lengths of 0.6mm silver coloured copper wire each roughly 1.5” in length. It is more efficient to have every component part readied before you start assembling the design.

Take one length of wire, and 1cm from one end make a right angle over the top of your round nose pliers.

Using you round nose pliers create a loop in the wire. Remember to always create your loops at the same point on your round nose pliers as this gives a more professional finish to your design, you can even make the pliers to make it easier.

Thread on a gemstone of your choice, I have used a 6mm faceted white shell pearl round.

You now need to form a loop at the other end of the wire, do this by position your round nose pliers at the top of the gem and bending the wire away from you ensuring it is aligned with the lower loop.

As before create a loop, snipping down the wire as necessary. Keep all your off cuts as these can be used to form other links. This measurement creates two links from each wire.

Continue this process until you have five gems threaded on wire, the required amount will vary depending on gem size and hand size.

Now using your flat nose plier’s open the loops away from you like a door, slip on the next gemstone and you can begin to build the chain.

Repeat until you have three matching lengths of gemstone chain.

We are now ready to attach these lengths to the jump ring. Attach them by opening the loop on the gemstone chain with your flat nose plies.

At this point check the lengths against your hand.

Next snip down three lengths of silver coloured chain, two containing 5 links and one containing 9 links.

Attach the chain lengths to the gemstone chain, when attaching the central longer length attach it via the central link.

Take a length of elastic, roughly 15” in length and begin threading on the gems that make up the bracelet part of your design. For this tutorial I have used 15mm plain white shell pearl rounds.

To make this design add four shell pearls then thread on the first section of chain. Numbers of gem will vary depending on design and size.

Continue the design by adding one shell pearl followed by the first chain length, another shell pearl, the second central chain, another shell pearl, the final chain length and the four other shell pearls.

Finally we knot the elastic in a double overhand knot, stretching the elastic tight as we go. Add a dab of clear nail varnish over the knot to keep it secure.

Once the nail varnish is dry, cut the excess elastic and there you have your finished hand jewellery.

Experiment with different colours and sizes of gems and chain to create different looks!

Happy making! Han x x x

Beaded Fan Design

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 12:51:25 -0400

Beaded Fan Design:

There have been many requests for a tutorial of this gorgeous design demonstrated by guest designer Gemma Crow on her most recent show with Jewellery Maker. Gemma has kindly shared a link to a video tutorial she has made for the fan necklace. We hope you enjoy and we look forward to seeing your designs on the Wall of Fame.

Beaded Fan Design

Han x x x

Floral Designs

Fri, 08 Jun 2012 10:00:10 -0400

Finally the warmer weather is here hinting that summer is just around the corner and we all know what this year’s key trend is when it comes to Summer 2012… FLORALS!

Over the next few posts I will be sharing with you some hints and “How To’s” when it comes to adding a floral edge to your jewellery making designs.

How To… Make a simple flower embellishment…

For this project you will need:

1 metre length of beading thread

5 x 8mm round gemstones of your choice

1 x 6mm round gemstone of your choice

Flat nose pliers

Thread the five 8mm round gemstones on to the 1 metre length of beading thread. For the purpose of this tutorial I have used deep purple Chinese jade plain rounds.

Take one end of the beading thread and pass it back through the end gemstone in the opposite direction.

Pull both ends of the beading threads tight, you can use your flat nose pliers to allow extra grip.

On to one side of your beading thread, add the single 6mm round gemstone. Again I have used purple Chinese jade but you can use different colours to great effect.

Position your 6mm gemstone in the centre created by the 8mm gems.

Using the same side of beading thread that you threaded your 6mm gem on, pass it through an 8mm gem opposite to it.

Pull both ends of beading thread tight, shuffling your beads so they sit in a nice flower design.

From here you can thread the beading thread around the piece until it meets back at the top and continue to bead up the strand as you would normally to create a necklace or bracelet.

Or you could tie the two strands off, add a drop of clear nail varnish to secure and use your stand-alone flower in a variety of way to add to your designs.

Jewellery Maker Tip:

Why not try this technique with a range of different gemstone cuts and shapes for different effects.

Research colours of flowers and try emulating the colour combinations with gemstones to create a more natural look.

Add in some green 0.4mm wire (Jewellery Making Wire RUJM72) to give the appearance of leaves.

More floral designs!

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 09:21:34 -0400

I first demonstrated this technique on JewelleryMaker and thought I would share the instructions with you all so you all can enjoy creating some amazing summery jewellery.

How To… Make a beaded five petal flower.

For this project you will need:

3 metre length of beading thread cord
85 x gemstone rondelles of your choice
1 x gemstone of your choice
Flat nose pliers
Crimp bead

Thread one gemstone rondelle 1/3 of the way down the length of beading thread. For this purpose of this tutorial I am using 6x3mm faceted amethyst rondelles.

Take another rondelle and thread both sides of the beading thread through, move the rondelle down so it meets the first gem.

Now on the shorter thread (I am keeping the shorter thread to the left for ease of identification) add seven rondelles.

On to the right hand thread add seven rondelles, you will start to see the formation of the petal now.

Next we add one rondelle on to both strands and pull both sides of the beading thread tight, using your flat nose pliers for extra pull. Due to the shape of the rondelless and the manner in which we have added them the sides of the petal will automatically curve to create a classic petal shape.

To continue one to the next petal add ten rondelles on to the right hand beading thread, run down so that they meet with the last petal formed.

Take the end of the right hand beading thread and pass it back through the second rondelle. The end rondelle will form the point of your second petal.

Add seven rondelles to the right hand beading thread.

To finish the second petal pass the end of the beading thread through the first rondelle next to your first petal, pull the beading thread tight and shuffle the gems to position.

Continue these steps, adding ten rondelles, passing the thread back through the second rondelle, add seven rondelles, passing the thread back through the first rondelle next to the previous petal, until you have five petals formed.

To finish the petals take the left hand beading thread through the rondelle forming the base of the last petal. Pull both threads tight and shuffle the gems until you have the petals sitting how you wish.

On to the right hand thread add the single gemstone and position it in the centre of the petals. For the purpose of this tutorial I have uses a 8mm faceted round mystic quartz.

Take the beading thread and pass it through a rondelle forming the base of a petal on the opposite side, pull the threads tight and make sure you are happy with how the centre of your flower is sitting.

Now both of the beading threads are to the reverse of the flower. Take a crimp bead and pass both threads through it, run the crimp bead down to the centre of the piece. Form a loop in the beading thread by passing both strands back through the crimp bead and using your flat nose pliers, squish the crimp bead securely.

The flower is now complete, you can add it to a necklace like you would with any embellishment or add a bolt ring clasp to the loop formed and you can attach it to your piece by including a jump ring in the design.

Jewellery Maker Tip:

Why not add a pin fitting to make a spectacular brooch.
Incorporate the flower in to a tiara design for a very pretty headband, perfect for proms.
Experiment with different sizes and colours of gemstones and numbers of petals to create your own versions of this effective technique.

Leading on from the show on Tuesday 22nd May with our talented...

Thu, 24 May 2012 08:10:47 -0400

Leading on from the show on Tuesday 22^nd May with our talented wirework and gizmo expert Rachel Norris, many of you have been asking for the tutorial for the superbly ornate tasselled beady bead that Rachel demonstrated.

I am very excited to report that Rachel has been kind enough to write and photograph a step by step tutorial on the technique and share it with us all via the Jewellery Maker Blog!

I for one will be definitely trying out this stunning pendant and will be adapting it by using smaller beads to make drop earrings too!

A big thank you to Rachel Norris for sharing!

Han x x x