DIY Tutorial: Handmade Earwires.

If you love making earrings, you always need ear-wires, right?

You can purchase commercial ear-wires almost at any craft store or on-line.
An average price for 1 pair of sterling silver hook ear-wires is $1.20, the av. price of 20-22ga sterling silver wire - $2.00/foot. To make 1 pair of ear-wires you will need 3"- 4" = $0.50- $0.65. Do you see a difference? Plus, you will have fun making them :)

OK, let's start!It's easy as 1-2-3!


Tools you will need:

Round nose pliers

Flat nose pliers

Dowel (Round pencil )

Tree of Life

The Tree of Life is an esoteric philosophy common to many cultures and mythologies, and the Ancients envisioned the entire cosmos in the form of a tree whose roots grow deep in the ground, branches reaching high into the heavens.

 My  tutorial has 9 pages with 24 steps, 27 photos.

Buy this tutorial HERE

DIY: Beaded Cactus

Do you like cacti?  I love them. I used to have a dozen of them on my window-sill. 
Today I will show how make this beaded cute cactus:)

 

Materials and Tools:
Seed beads, green, size 11/0
Craft wire 28 ga
Wire-cutters
Arranger
Clay pot
Glue (glue gun with plastic sticks) 

Video-Tutorial: S-hook Clasp

"S" clasp is a nice comfortable clasp. Handmade clasps and hooks will add a personal touch to your jewelry. Make sure you use a wire gauge that is heavy enough to produce a strong clasp for your necklace or bracelet. I generally use 14 gauge wire, but, for a delicate piece I may use 16 gauge.You can also use a jump ring with the clasp.

To make this clasp you will need round nose pliers, chasing hammer, steel bench block.
Watch my video tutorial how to make this "S"-hook clasp.

PS. Excuse my web-camera for going out of focus in some episodes.

Chain Mail Bezel for Coins and More

Not long ago, I found a Russian Saint-Petersburg Metro token at home (I guess, I brought it from my last visit of Russia) and 5 ruble coin. Turning it in my hands, I decided to make something with it since I cannot use it  here anyway:) Besides, coin jewelry has been popular since coinage began. 

I  did not want to make any holes in it, so the chain mail bezel should work. 

Jump rings are woven so that they hold the token firmly in place.

You will not believe, just  after making this "Russian" pendant, my daughter found a genuine Slovenian 1 tolar, 1995, coin and  Canadian Elizabeth Head Penny 1969 coin.  I wanted to make a bezel for them too!

Video Tutorial: Ear Wires

Ok, this is my first "home-made" video tutorial. I hope you can understand my Russian accent. Please excuse my possible mistakes in English :)

Tucson Gem Show 2012. Part 1- Fun Things

I was in Tucson for the whole week.

The Tucson Gem Shows are a collection of different events held at over 50 locations through the Downtown area.

Dozens of shows and exhibits are running at the same time.
I spent most of my time in Tucson Electric Park (I was teaching classes there).
First thing I really wanted to take picture of was this retro looking Ice-Cream Car.

DIY: Spring Flower Earrings

This lesson shows how to make 3-D (three-dimensional) spiral and use it for making earrings, pendants, etc.

Materials:
•    15” (38cm)* of 18 ga Round Soft Wire
•    Jump rings -2
•    Ear wire -2
* The length of the wire depends on the mandrel’s diameter and the number of coils.
Tools:
•    Chain nose pliers
•    Wire cutters
•    Round mandrel (or pencil)

Charming Heart Pin

For pin lovers :)You can wear this pin with or without a charm.

My tutorial will show how to create a pin from one piece of wire and how to make a heart-charm.

Tutorial has 26 steps with 29 full-color pictures.

Material List:

* 20 ga half hard round wire – 6” (pin)

* 20 ga dead soft wire – 4” (heart)

* Crystals or gem beads

Tool List:

* Chain nose pliers

* Round nose pliers

* Flash wire cutters

* Flat nose pliers

$2.90

Video Tutorial: Swan Clasp

I would like to invite everyone to view  my  Swan Clasp Video Tutorial  (click on the photo, then "start" video)