beads 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 a...

20Apr

By filigreebeNo Comments

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...

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 s...

17Jan

By filigreebeNo Comments

Free Jewelry Making Lessons, Ideas

Earrings = A Facelift?

Have you ever thought about why you tend to wear your favorite pair of earrings with so many different looks? Earrings and necklaces can light up your face and make you look thinner. A few years ago, I was a guest on a TV show in Virginia. The interviewer asked me, with doubt in his voice, how I could possibly make a woman look ten pounds thinner instantly. With the help of the female co-host of the show it was easy to demonstrate. I had already staged for her to be wearing small round button earrings and a choker style necklace with yet another round shaped pendant hanging from it. Her sleeves were long and her collar was flat… so was her hair. First I lifted the crown of her hair just a bit, flipped up her collar, took off all that round jewelry and replaced it with small dangle earr...

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...

27Mar

By filigreebeNo Comments

Free Jewelry Making Lessons, Ideas

Focal Pendants

Components can be glued, wired or soldered if you will be adding your own patina. Note that there are loops and several openings from which you can attach strands of beads and chain. Our items #CC69, #H116, #M66 and #B723 were used in this example but you could use this idea to create many more pendant styles. To fit a fully faceted stone into a flat back setting you can often set it pointed side out if it is unfoiled. This general idea can be used with many different elements to create different designs. Visit our store web site VintageJewelrySupplies.com to shop for these and thousands more items.(NOTE: our website best viewed on desktop or tablet)