Tuesday, October 8VintageJewelrySupplies.com

Tag: layering technique

Filigree
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 ...
Earrings = A Facelift?
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 earri...
Classic Design
Free Jewelry Making Lessons

Classic Design

The classic style of mixed metal jewelry will allow you to wear the items for years to come and with a variety of looks. These earrings are from my personal collection of items I've made and kept to wear. I'm showing them to you for several reasons. I made these earrings in about 1991. I've worn them hundreds of times and I still reach for them at least once a week. Note how the plating has not changed even after all this time. I combined antique gold, oxidized brass and antique silver in layers with no stones included. Also note the placement of the earring posts near the top third of the settings and the use of backs with stabilizer discs. This allows the earring to stay in place without tilting forward. When you create classic style jewelry from qua...
The Layering Technique
Free Jewelry Making Lessons

The Layering Technique

It's fun to create beautiful jewelry from found objects and all sorts of available materials by using the technique of layering, combined with a bit of artistic ability and ingenuity. This was always the technique I favored during the ten years I earned my living as a designer.The overall effect is elegant and the layers lend a bit more substantial weight to your work. I used an endless combination of textures, color hues and materials. At times I also hand painted the metal pieces to define them even more. The point is that you shouldn't limit yourself to using items only in the way they are presented to you. Think of the items shown on our site as the parts of a puzzle or as building blocks. The way you combine and layer them creates your own unique work of art to wea...
Dangle Earring Lesson
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...