Jewelry How-to’s | Jewelry Designer Blog

December 6, 2011

Easy Techniques for Finishing Wide Leather Cords with Silver Clasps

Filed under: Jewelry Design Ideas, Tips and Techniques — Tags: Inspiration, jewelry design, jewelry how-to's, leather — juanita @ 5:35 pm

Learn easy techniques for finishing wide leather cords with silver clasps in our FREE classroom and jewelry how-to’s. Making leather jewelry has never been easier with step-by-step instructions and photos by Marcy Kentz. Marcy works here at Nina Designs as a customer service rep you have most likely talked to on the phone. What you may not know about her is that she makes extraordinary leather jewelry. As you can imagine, we were thrilled when she offered to share her inventive techniques in our FREE online classroom.

Currently she is rolling out a lesson a week for finishing wide leather cord. You’d be surprised how easy they are, and you might kick yourself for not thinking of them yourself. I did. And, you don’t need to buy specialized tools for working with leather. As you’ll see, besides the jewelry supplies, in many of the techniques Marcy just uses a hammer, thumbtacks, scissors and glue! The lessons on finishing leather cords will start out easy and become more sophisticated as we go. After offering all the ways she can think of for finishing wide leather cord, Marcy plans to offer new design ideas for the front of wide leather necklaces and bracelets, so stay tuned.

Currently in our classroom, find lessons for finishing leather cords with a toggle bar, an S-clasp, and a silver box clasp. You can also find a three strand pearl and leather necklace and an imaginative steampunk leather bracelet. Enjoy!

Beautiful Leather Cord Necklace by Marcy

Finishing Leather Cord with Box Clasps

Finishing Leather Cord with Toggle Bars

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August 13, 2011

Jewelry Design Ideas Come from Unlikely Places

Filed under: Jewelry Design Ideas — Tags: jewelry charms, jewelry design, jewelry how-to's, silver charms — juanita @ 2:23 pm

All jewelry designers experience “designers’ block,” but recently I learned that sometimes it is when you stop looking for inspiration that you find it. A little while ago I was under some pressure to design some jewelry. I struggled in my studio for a night . . . or two. Then the weekend came, and instead of working, I decided to make it a movie marathon weekend.

Well, you can guess what comes next . . . me in my comfy sweatsedo on my couch with my puppy, bags of chocolate, and bowls of popcorn nearby. I watched countless movies and shows that mostly blur together now. By Sunday evening I was bleary-eyed and a little panicky. My jewelry party was just a couple days away. That’s when I got off my you-know-what, and marched back to my studio to make something.

After making my “go-to” jewelry designs to get my juices flowing, my design inspiration hit. As if commanded, I designed necklaces inspired by Rango and Secretariat, my two favorite movies from my marathon weekend! Sounds cheesy, I know. But I loved them both. Secretariat because I was moved by the idea of being born into this world to do one thing and to do it with all your might. And Rango . . . well, all the lawless characters of the town of Dirt were heartwarming and unforgettable – rattlesnake, lizards, armadillos, and buzzards included. The animation and story of finding your own path were both artfully done.

The next day at Nina Designs I picked up the western-themed charms I needed – a silver cowboy boot, rattlesnake charms, and couple of horse charms – and got to work. This is what I came up with. They were the first to get plucked up at my jewelry party!

What do you think? All parts are now available at Nina Designs, and a parts list will be up on Design Ideas soon.

Winner's Circle Necklace inspired by the movie Secretariat

Winner's Circle

Spirit of the West Necklace inspired by Rango!

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August 6, 2011

Stamping on Silver Charms and Spangles

Filed under: Tips and Techniques — Tags: jewelry how-to's, silver charms, stamping charm — Emily @ 11:56 am

We often receive questions about which sterling silver charms and spangles are best for stamping. We strongly recommend using our thicker sterling silver charms because the thickness of the metal absorbs the impression of each stamp for a nice clean finish. However, we also offer thinner silver spangle charms that can be used for stamping as well.

When stamping on our the thinner spangle charms, the results will be a bit more rustic and handmade looking, as shown below. Because they are thinner they became a bit warped after being stamped, but you can flatten them out again. The stamped designs also showed through on the back of the disk. And, the silver became a bit depressed around the letters, making them a bit more indistinct.

While we recommend using our thicker silver charms for stamping, you can achieve a rather charming and rustic finish by using our sterling silver spangles. To learn how to stamp on your sterling silver charms, read more in our classroom.

Achieve a Rustic FInish by Stamping on Silver Spangle Charms

Back Side of Spangle Charms after Stamping

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July 26, 2011

Jewelry Making Tips Contest Winner

Filed under: Giveaways — Tags: Contests, Giveaways, jewelry how-to's — juanita @ 10:40 am

jewelry making tips, jewelry how to, handmade earrings

Kimberly, these are yours!

Kimberly, Comment #9, you won the jewelry making tips contest. Thanks for sharing your awesome tip for jewelry making moms on the go. Jewelry designers are always looking for ways to make traveling with all our jewelry supplies possible. Please contact us soon at juanita(at)ninadesigns(dot)com, and we’ll send out your beautiful fashion earrings when we get your address. They were made by hand by one of the ladies here at Nina Designs. And, a big thank you to all those who shared their jewelry making tips throughout the week. Keep making irresistible jewelry!

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July 20, 2011

How to Make Leather Jewelry with Silver Findings and Pearls, by Marcy Kentz

Filed under: Jewelry Design Ideas, Tips and Techniques — Tags: Inspiration, jewelry design, jewelry how-to's — Marcy @ 3:48 pm

Learning how to make jewelry with leather cord, silver findings, and pearls is a lot easier than you think. I began making leather jewelry many years ago when a generous leather hand bag designer offered me his leather scraps. Because I had a fairly unlimited supply I felt free to experiment, to hit bumps in the road, and to keep trying. Through years of trial and error I have come up with some unique leather jewelry techniques that I can’t wait to share with you.

You may not know it but here at Nina Designs we offer FREE jewelry design ideas and FREE how-to lessons. This is where I will be sharing my leather jewelry how to’s. The first lesson is available now and teaches you how to punch, cut, and glue leather, as well as how to seamlessly attach 3 strands of pearls to wide leather cord. By the end of the lesson you will have created a beautiful three strand leather necklace with pearls. I hope my classroom lessons will inspire you and open new doors in the world of jewelry making.

Leather jewelry is a hot trend right now and it’s a lot of fun to make. The look of leather jewelry is at once feminine and edgy, and appeals to a wide audience. Stop by Nina Designs where you’ll find new wide leather cord that is a dream to work with. Have you been working with leather cords in your jewelry? Do you have any questions I can address in upcoming leather jewelry how-to’s?

Leather Necklace How To #1, by Marcy Kentz

Find Jewelry How To's at Nina Designs

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January 17, 2011

How to Clean Silver Pendants and Charms

Filed under: Jewelry Care, Tips and Techniques — Tags: jewelry how-to's, silver pendants — juanita @ 11:33 am

We receive many calls from customers asking how to clean silver pendants, charms, and earring findings without harming them. With silver becoming more and more precious with every day, taking good care of it is very important. All sterling silver will tarnish when exposed to air. The process is called oxidation and it will cause sterling silver to blacken over time. Leah wrote a great blog, Preventing Tarnish on Sterling Silver, that’s packed full of helpful tips & tricks to prevent tarnishing in the first place.

Be gentle when cleaning. You don't want to remove all the oxidation!

Now assuming it’s too late and your sterling silver has tarnished and needs to be cleaned, start here:

1. Before you start cleaning jewelry always do a quick visual check to see if there are any loose or damaged gemstones; cracked or broken metal; bent or warped prongs/tips; discolored or pitting metal. If this is the case, we recommend having it professionally cleaned and repaired. You wouldn’t want to cause any further damage.

2. Always remove jewelry before showering or cleaning. A film can form if the soap is not washed off completely. This film will become a magnet for dirt, dust and other contaminants.

3. Use a silver polishing cloth to remove oxidation from silver. Tissues and paper towels can cause scratches. We recommend using a Sunshine Cloth. Be sure to use fresh cloths since the dirt and grit left on the cloth from a previous use can leave scrapes and pits. Use light pressure and allow the cloth to do the work for you. If your arm starts to ache, you’re probably pressing too hard.

4. Commercial cleaners can be purchased at jewelry stores. Always remember to read the instructions on the commercial cleaners first before you attempt cleaning. Most commercial cleaners are very strong and will remove all oxidation! Many of our designs are purposely oxidized then polished, so that crevices are darkened to bring out the depth and beauty of a piece. Take care not to remove this design element. Do not go overboard!

(psst . . . click on the link below to read more cleaning tips).
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November 15, 2010

Sterling Silver Pendant Bails Demystified

Filed under: Tips and Techniques — Tags: design process, jewelry how-to's, pendant — juanita @ 8:30 am

Sterling silver pendant bails offer jewelry designers an elegant way to hang pendants from a silver chain or a necklace. You can find over 40 different gold vermeil and silver pendant bails for sale at Nina Designs. In addition to your traditional pendant bails, we’ve designed a number of pinch pendant bails, tube pendant bails, and removable pendant bails. Traditional pendant bails and tube pendant bails are made to slide over your chain, silk cord, leather cord, or wire wrapped gemstones while you are composing your necklace. Once they are placed where you want it, there it stays.

Removable pendant bails offer maximum versatility. If you have a favorite pendant you like to wear often, this is a good choice for you. On a day you’re wearing your favorite jeans and a t-shirt, you can hang your pendant from chain. That evening on your way to the opera, you can easily remove your pendant from the chain and hang it on black silk ribbon worn as a choker. We offer a good variety of removable pendant bails, some quite fancy & embellished with marcasite, others understated & minimal.

One we get a lot of questions about is the simple s-shaped removable pendant bail pictured below. It causes some confusion and took some explaining for me to get it too. It is designed to use with front-drilled pendants, like front-drilled gemstones and artisan pendants made of resin, clay, glass, or shell. But as you can see from our design, you can use it in many ways. The thing to remember is that it’s made for use with any pendants whose holes or rings are front facing.

For comparison purposes, I’d like to introduce a unique silver charm holder that looks almost like this removable pendant bail. The main difference is that it’s made for use with silver charms whose ring faces to the side. They both offer designers a minimal looks that doesn’t interfere with your overall design, but is effective, simple, and secure. Try them today and see for yourself.

Removable Pendant featuring pendant with front-facing hole.

Same Pendant, simply switched to a more dramatic cord.

Removable Pendant Bail - for pendants with sideways facing holes.

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August 27, 2010

Gold Vermeil Charm Graces Knotted Necklace

Filed under: Tips and Techniques — Tags: jewelry how-to's — leah @ 8:00 am

A necklace of knotted gemstones and a clasp at the front is a novel way to display treasured gold vermeil charms, like the wise old owl on this necklace. I love the design of this modified S-Clasp. Not only is it elegant and curvy, but versatile as well! I can easily replace the small charm cluster with a large pendant for a bolder look. Speaking of love, the silver granulated small beads above the clasp are another favorite of mine — they have wonderful texture and amazing detail and provide just the right accent to almost any creation.

Knotted necklace with clasp in front puts charms in the spotlight

I used a knotting trick on this necklace that I learned from Clara: string ALL your beads on the thread first, and THEN knot between each bead. Before Clara’s tip, I would pick up the needle, string a bead, put down the needle and knot the thread, then pick up the needle again, string a bead, put down the needle and knot the thread, repeating until done. There was a lot of picking up and putting down of the needle. Clara’s tip saves a lot of time– it’s easy to get into a rhythm of sliding a bead down, tying a knot, sliding the next bead down, tying a knot. No need for so much needlework!

A piece of advice: when knotting, use the longest piece of thread you can comfortably handle! Each knot requires a length of thread, and I ran out with only about 1 inch left to complete my necklace. I had to tie on a new piece of thread to reach the desired length. The effort was worth it: I now have a versatile layering necklace in neutral tones that I wear almost every day!

Do you use your fingers for knotting, or do you have a favorite tool? If so, what is it?

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June 25, 2010

How to Use the Tulip Crimp Clasps

Filed under: Tips and Techniques — Tags: design process, jewelry how-to's — juanita @ 8:05 am

Silver and gold vermeil tulip crimp clasps available in three sizes

Deer hide lace and silk cords & ribbons can be turned into necklaces and bracelets in just a few easy steps using Tulip Crimp Clasps. They’re available in sterling silver and gold vermeil and come in three different sizes: small, medium, and large. Pick your clasp according to how thick your cord(s) are. The thickest silk cord will fit into our biggest tulip crimp clasp with some coaxing. If you’re working with multiple strands, tie a knot into your cord(s) for added security.

Next, stuff the knot into the bell of the clasp. If you need to do a little extra coaxing, try using the end of a paper clip or the tip of your round nose pliers to push the knot in there. These crimp clasps are designed with four petals, each with a little burr that prevents the cord from moving once pinched shut.

This next part is the most critical. You want to close these petals in phases. Using your round nose pliers, pinch the two petals that face each other closer together, but NOT all the way. Next pinch the other two facing petals closer together until they meet the first two petals. NOTE: if you were to close the first two petals all the way down, there would be no room for the next two to pinch down. After the first round of pinching, you’ll most likely want to adjust the petals a bit closer and tighter together. I like to make sure they’re as evenly spaced as possible. And, that’s it. Voila, you’re done!

Coaxing Thin Silk Cords into Smallest Crimp Clasp

Slowly close facing petals toward each other in phases

Wow, that was easy & what a clean finish!

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May 6, 2010

Jewelery Supplies: Go Ahead and Splurge

Filed under: Tips and Techniques — Tags: jewelers supplies, jewelry how-to's — Stephanie @ 9:03 am

Having good quality jewelry supplies is imperative to the craft. It really doesn’t matter if you’re a hobbyist or if you’re a professional, having the right tools can make or break your project as well as increase your enjoyment of the process.

When I started making jewelry, I thought mini tools would be cool because they wouldn’t take up too much space, I could take them anywhere and they were cheap. I quickly found that my purchase was not the right choice. Their cuts were jagged and my hands would cramp with every use making projects a hassle. My jewelry designs looked sloppy and thrown together due to the struggle with the mini tools. It was time for me to invest in some good jewelry supplies.

If you do a lot of wire working like I do, then Chain Nose, Flat Nose, and Round Nose Pliers and Flush Cutters are jewelry supplies you must have. Nina Designs sells a great all-in-one starter kit with all the essentials. It includes one pair each of Chain Nose, Flat Nose and Round Nose Pliers and a nice sharp Side Cutter.

My absolute favorite tool is the Tronex Flush Cutters. They truly are the creme de la creme of wire cutters. Although the Tronex cutters are fabulous for smaller gauge wire, they slice through our thickest 22 gauge wire items like butter! I recommend this item to everyone!

After my experience with the cheap mini tools, I understand the importance of having a quality set of jewelry supplies, used exclusively for my jewelry designs. My pieces look professionally made and my new tools are a dream to use!

What’s your “must have” jewelry tool?

Mini cutter already cramping my hand!

I love my Tonex Flush Cutters

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