Handmade Silver Jewelry by Jo

I just wanted to put a post about “handmade/handcrafted jewelry” so you too can “get it”.  Handmade jewelry is made with pride. Most artists use the finest ingredients to make their pieces, something that really stands out from all the other jewelry out there.

I personally use sterling silver or fine silver in most of my pieces. I use enough silver that when you pick up the piece, you’re going to say “wow, that’s a piece of jewelry”. I don’t use thin little pieces of silver that are flimsy or just not enough to hold the piece together for a lifetime of enjoyment in wearing the piece.

The stones, I pick out of thousands. I try to find the nicest stones I can afford, thus making it affordable for you, the buyer. What’s the point of putting in all the work and using a stone that isn’t top quality? I want the best for my customers, within reason, of course.

Handmade jewelry takes time and patience to make. There is no “cheating” when it comes to making beautiful, quality jewelry. Each piece is thought out, put together perfectly, and finished well with no sharp points or places that will catch on your clothing. There are properties of metals and there are no shortcuts in the procedures to get from point A to point E.

I was taught by perfectionists, and I can’t say I didn’t have a few choice words for them when I thought my piece was ready for sale and they had other ideas. Now I see why they were so picky.

You, the consumer, have a choice to make. Do you want a fine piece of jewelry made to last and pass down to the next generation, or do you want mass made jewelry that everyone else can have. You can support your local artists, or you can continue to buy production pieces. It’s the difference between eating at a chain restaurant, and eating at your family owned restuarants.

I say support independent jewelers and artists and give them an outlet for their creativity. You’ll end up with a unique piece that you can cherish for a lifetime.

All the credit for this info goes to Beading Daily!

Trace the contour of the hammerhead for reference on a piece of paper. Make a tracing of both axes of the curve. Take measurements with a caliper if you desire total control over replicating the hammer face prior to the ding.

File down to the deepest depth of the offending mark with a #3 or #2 hand file. Preserve the contour of the hammer face prior to the ding by comparing it to the tracings and measurements you made.

When the mark is filed down and the face profile of the hammer is to your liking, proceed through several grades of sandpaper from coarse to fine until the steel is absolutely smooth and scratch free.

Buff the hammerhead on a polishing arbor with Fabulustre compound until it is polished to a mirror finish. Remove excess compound with a lint-free cloth. Hide the hammer, so no one will ever use it for home repair again.

Equipment: Crimp pliers (I use Eurotools)

Ending a beaded bracelet with a crimp bead or tube can be trying.  If you squeeze it too hard, the crimp just breaks and you have to start again.  If you don’t squeeze it enough, the string just comes out and all the beads fall off. This is an easy “how to” use a crimp tube correctly.

Place a crimp bead (tube) at the end of your beading wire or string and push down about 2 1/2-3 inches…this leaves about 3 inches of string to finish off.  (You can adjust to less as you get more proficient).  Thread the clasp of the through the string to meet the crimp. Fold the string around the clasp and lace through the crimp so now you have both ends of the string or wire through the crimp. (one short one and the long one that has the bracelet or necklace beads on)

With your crimp tool, squeeze the crimp bead, gently but firmly, with the first hole at the nose of the tool.  Then move to the second hole and squeeze again.  The crimp bead should now be bent in the middle.  That’s it! You did it! Repeat on the other side with the other half of the clasp! 

Use a crimp cover bead over the folded crimp tube for a more refined look! A Crimp Cover Bead is a special silver or gold bead that is “open”. Place it over the crimp tube and gently close it around the tube with the first hole toward the nose of the pliers. It takes a little practice but it will close and look exactly like a bead.

You can also use a bead with a hole large enough to fit over the crimp tube to cover up the tube.  Try this a few times and you will come out with a perfect crimp every time!

Stop by and join in the fun at a benefit for Packages from Home honoring our Servicemen and women! Entertainment, raffles, vendors, and friendly people!
Great coffee and atmosphere!
This Saturday Nov 14th 6-10 pm. 
Bring your friends and family to Downtown Glendale to
A Shot of Java
7003 N 58th Ave
Glendale, AZ 85301-2409
(623) 847-2423

Come see my jewelry on April 18th, 10-4pm, at Angels Serenity Art Walk!!  Small show, great art, music, and fun! Greenway and Tatum, South-East Corner by Safeway!

Come to the Art Fair at Katherine Metcalfs from 11-4 on Feb 8th.  This will be held at 1221 E. Winged Foot Rd., Phoenix 85022.  There will be other artists, including jewlery, paintings, crystals for sale, etc and you can also get a tarot reading!  Jewelry by Jo and Woodturned Bowls and pens by Barry will be available!  Come, relax, and have a great time!

Come on down to the Flagg Gem and Mineral show at Mesa Community College-Southern and Dobson.

We’re set up on the Southwest corner of the show…look for the Big Gray Prevost Bus

and our OdorZout trailer.

Happy New Year!  Hope you all have a prosperous and healthy new year! Upcoming shows for my work include:

Jan. 2nd Open from 6-10 pm First Friday at Tilt Gallery in Downtown Phoenix.  For directions: Visit www.tiltgallery.com.  Come and visit while looking at great photography and art from LOCAL ARTISTS.  Friendly people, relax and stay a while!

Jan. 9-11, 9-5 pm Flagg Gem and Mineral Show:  Mesa Community College. Look for the big gray Prevost Bus!  For you gem and mineral collectors and rockhounds, a nice small show with great vendors.  Google Mesa Community College for directions to the campus.  Oldest running show in the valley for Gems and Minerals.

Feb 8th 11-4 Art Fair for Valentines Day at Kathy Metcalfs.   Mapquest 1221 E. Winged Foot Rd, Phoenix, 85022. for directions.  Lots of great artists will be there, plus Tarot Readings, Angel Readings, and discount prices on Astrological Compatiblity charts.  See www.katherinemetcalf.com to make appts for readings. Relaxed atmosphere and lots of fun.

Feb 14th 10-4   Angels Serenity Art Walk located on the southeast corner of Tatum and Greenway, between Safeway and Walgreens.  Come and shop with local artists, visit the store.  They usually have great musicians playing while you shop.  Come and hang out in a casual atmosphere for a great time.

Went to the MacFest in downtown Mesa yesterday and set up our booth of jewelry.  Along came two people from the show and awarded me the first MacFest Blue Ribbon ever given to a jeweler in a show for excellence in my work and my booth!  They also wanted me to know that one of the “secret jurors’ was a jeweler himself and very picky about picking a fellow jeweler!  With over 50 artists there, from woodturners, painters, other jewelers, glass artists, etc, it was quite an honor to be chosen.

Dichroic Glass was originated by NASA for the space program.  Dichroic glass has a fine film of metal fused to the surface of the glass which gives it amazing sparkle and pizazz.  There are many, many patterns and colors.  Dichroic glass is absolutely one of the most intriging mediums from which to make jewelry.

Although it may look like something easy to make, it takes a lot of practice and knowledge to put the pieces together.  Most of the Dichroic jewelry you see has anywhere from 2-4 layers of glass, but may have even more. 

You must pick the layers carefully; color, textures, surface of the glass, types of glass must be compatible, and chosen to co-exist to form a beautiful finished product.  Carefully cut by hand and then layered together, they await to be fused (melted) together in a kiln.

The glass is carefully fused together in a kiln brought up to over 1600 degrees for hours, and then left overnight to cool.  If done correctly, pendants made of fused glass may be made into stunning pendants, earrings, rings, etc.  It can also be made into larger plates, trays or dishes by designing pieces of Dichroic glass into other types of glass.  Once again, adding sparkle to a eye-catching piece of art.