Beginner to intermediate glass bead making project

In the summer of 1978 at 32 years old with 3 children and one on the way, I knew my future included a nursing career and a larger house with a big yard. (more…)

Intermediate project.
Editor’s note: Kate Drew-Wilkinson is featured on page 38 of the December 2000 LJ; see “Sense of Drama.”

Some of you may have seen my tide pool beads made with Spectrum flat glass remnants. The beads are layered with many kinds of latticcino - essentially, rods of different colors (more…)

For this project, use unfinished or bleached wood beads in you favorite shape or size. You do not want any stain or varnish on the beads you are going to paint. (more…)

Enameling is a time-honored process that’s great for bringing elegant color to metal jewelry. (more…)

In this article, I hope to present a very simple description of electroforming. In his book, Jewelry: Concepts and Technology (New York, NY: 1982, Doubleday), Oppi Untract defines electroforming as the “process of synthesizing a metal object by controlling the electrodeposition of metal passing through an electrolytic solution onto a metal or metalized form.” Very simply, a metal skin can be built up on a metal surface, or any surface that has been rendered electroconductive through the application of a paint that contains metal particles. This differs from electroplating basically because the skin is much thicker and can exist as a self-supporting structure if the original matrix is removed. (more…)