Jewellery making anyone??

vicks276

Hi everyone!
sorry not been posting much recently just moved house and its taking some work!
Not made much since the craft fair, but got a load of hobbycraft vouchers for my birthday last week and i've got my own little "studio" in my new house, so its time to crack out the beads and get going again!
hope you are all good, and the pics are fab! very inspiring!

vicks xx

tiamai_d

PMC, Precious Metal Clay. It is silver paticles held in a bonding agent, similar to clay basically. You mold it, roll it, press it, weave, make it into slip and dip stuff into it, put it in syringes and draw with it, roll it into wire... then you fire it with a blow torch for 10-30mins (depending on what PMC you use), clean it, polish it, tarnish it and voila! It shrinks by about 10-15% depending on PMC type as the bonding agents burn off leaving silver that is purer than traditionaly worked silver.

this page gives you a quick idea http://www.pmcsupply.com/

I can't wait! Though I have to say, I am about as artistic as a flea. I'm hoping that by sticking to plain forms and focusing on texture that I can make some nice stuff. I fiddle with my jewellery all the time and so the idea of tactile silver is appealing.

newlywed

Hi all, took some quick snaps of my beaded bags and things I've made - here's the link to my album
http://s277.photobucket.com/albums/

Interested in any comments or suggestions (good or bad)

Angie100

Wow newlywed-what beautiful things you have made. I love them all. How do you do the beading?? Do you use a loom? I have a beading loom and it is in the attic, I bought it years ago, I must get it down again.

I love the belt, fab colours. All looks very professional.

You are very clever.

Angie100

tiamai_d wrote: »

I can't wait! Though I have to say, I am about as artistic as a flea. I'm hoping that by sticking to plain forms and focusing on texture that I can make some nice stuff. I fiddle with my jewellery all the time and so the idea of tactile silver is appealing.

Wow looking forward to seeing your creations, sound very technical!!!!!

newlywed

Angie100 wrote: »

Wow newlywed-what beautiful things you have made. I love them all. How do you do the beading?? Do you use a loom? I have a beading loom and it is in the attic, I bought it years ago, I must get it down again.

I love the belt, fab colours. All looks very professional.

You are very clever.

Thanks, the belt was done on a loom. The rest is "bead weaving" which is basically beads, and needle and thread - much more adaptable than just the loom. I started off with the loom but wanted to do more and went to a bead show and met the ladies from the Bead Weavers Guild - saw the work they were doing and then got hooked on the off loom weaving!! I was a member of the Guild for about a year and got their newsletters - but their booklets are great - the bracelet booklet shows lots of different types of weaving stitches so good to learn on small projects.

Some of the necklace designs are adapted from Bead and Button mag and from another one I can't remember the name of.

newlywed

The completely beaded bag (done in square stitch) was done off loom and took a fair while (blinkin ages) and loads and loads of expensive delica beads

Angie100

Newlywed - you've made me think now about trying more things out!!! Will definately get my loom down and have a look at it-think there is a half finished project on it from about 15 years back!!!!

I wish I could find a bead show local to me!!

newlywed

Angie100 wrote: »

I wish I could find a bead show local to me!!

I tend to get bored quite easily of craft projects. I like the learning but when it's not much of a challenge I start to get bored:

Cue cross stitch, beaded cross stitch, knitting (cables, patchwork style jumpers), card making, rubber stamping etc.

Beading is the only one that has stuck and I think it's because there's just so many options when you start weaving off-loom.

newlywed

If you have a good WHSmith or Borders near you, look for the beading mags - they are about £5 a go but give loads of inspiration.



Oh and for free beading tips and techniques try here: http://beadwork.about.com/

And free lessons here: http://beadwork.about.com/od/freebeadlessonstutorials/Free_Beading_Lessons_and_Tutorials.htm