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GEMSTONE BEADS : Sounds like you need to find a place where they give classes....have no idea where you live, but here in So. California - we have the Shepherdess in San Diego, and they give the most wonderful classes.It's inspirational just to go to the store and see the samples of beadwork they have on display.I do this from time to time when I feel I need some new inspriration.SuePalmdale, CAWhen you work with gemstone beads, don't be afraid to take apart yourfirst few tries and re-assemble them differently. I usually stringgemstone necklaces on test strings first, to see if I _really_ likethe way the beads look together, the way the necklace hangs, the length,the pattern I used. If I don't like it, it's simple enough to slip themoff the test string and start over (I usually use Silidimide or waxedlinen for test strings). I've been experimenting with pearls lately,and I _really_ want to make sure I like the design before I string them,since I'm knotting between each pearl. Bead & Button #19 has a necklacethat's vaguely like the treasure necklaces I've been doing lately. Thetype that you'd pay $$$ for from a jewler. I tend to use combinationsof baroque pearls with cut crystal, glass, and gemstone beads. Usingsilver/gold gimp or bullion to cover the thead at the fasteners givesa professional, finished look. I also tend to use either sterlingor gold plate findings.
GEMSTONE BEADS : The biggest thing about gemstone beads is that they're _heavy_. Learn to use the heavier threads, because Nymo usually isn't strongenough. I've used multiple thicknesses of Nymo for gemstone beadswith very tiny holes, but I'd rather use silk, linen, or Silidimide.I haven't tried SoftFlex yet, but have been considering it. For thevery heaviest beads, I've had to use silver wire before. This is notan ideal design, because the wire kinks and can break if bent back andforth too often. SoftFlex may be the correct solution.Oh, and if you start into gemstone beads, you'll probably end upjoining the Huge Stash Club pretty quick. ;} Hoarde all your extrabeads, because sooner or later, you _will_ find a use for them. Theonly time I've tossed a gemstone bead is because I've broken it tryingto get a needle through a too-small hole. That's the other thing to beware of: cheap gemstone beads often have small, crooked holes. Thestones are often brittle, so trying to use a reamer to make the hole wider may get you a bead that cracks in half. The solution is to buyfrom a source that you trust. My local bead shop will let me bringback beads that are completely unusable. Of course, I regularly buywhole strings of gemstone beads and pearls from them, so they like me.
GEMSTONE BEADS : Try finding a jeweler that has strung pearls and gemstone beads. Thismeans you'll have to find something other than the typical mall chainoutlet shop. Chinese jewelry shops are a good place to start. We havea large jeweler who does custom work here, so I can compare techniques.If nothing else, the stuff in the shops may give you some ideas on whereto start. And find a good book that discusses pearl stringing technique.Both the stringing and finishing techniques are useful when dealing withvery expensive beads.Since you mentioned using French bullion in the finishing of a piece,could you be so kind as to either give some words of wisdom on how thatis done and where you get the materials for this technique. Or, can yousuggest a good book or periodical with such info. In the past, Bead andButton had an article with pictures on this technique. However, it wasso abbreviated I couldn't get enough out of it. I think it would begreat if, perhaps, you thought to submit such an article to thismagazine with photos. Too often a nicely designed necklace looks prettysad when the finishing is done in a sloppy manner due to lack oftechnical know how. Any help in this area would beappreciated...Thanks, Aviva Suchow
GEMSTONE BEADS : When all else fails, check at Lacis. [grin] They tend to carry the most obscure types of things. Actually, they carry metal threadsbecause it's used in needlework.Not an employee, just live down the street from them. It's awful on the wallet.Stefany Tomalin's book, _Beads!_ talks about starting and finishingand findings pretty well. She has enough diagrams that it made senseto me. ISBN 0-7153-9838-5. It's also just a useful reference book,because she talks about a wide variety of techniques. It doesn'tgo into great depth for every topic, but if you're not a beginner,it'll probably still make sense. If nothing else, it's a changefrom the project-oriented books that talk about how to make a specificproject, and not enough about the idea behind the technique.
GEMSTONE BEADS : I am interested in writing an article about Gemstone beads. How theyused to be made. How, and who makes them today. Equipment, Techniques,etc. Any help?ThanksJerry Smith, owner******************************Jerry Smith, BeadsGemstone BeadsSounds like it will be an interesting article when complete. I'd enjoyhearing the answers to those questions myself.If you haven't already, perhaps a post on rec.crafts.jewelry? Peter Roweis an amazingly well-informed moderator, and could probably steer you inthe right direction.Jerry:Try Peter Francis's siteHe is a tireless bead researcher and may have archived some writing onthis subject or he might help you with pointers to resources. He alsopublishes a free email newsletter that's very educational. The latest onehas some historical writing on how Chinese beads came to Spain. (I thinkI've got that right)....Happy Hunting-okateHey, that is a *great* site! I appreciate this group so much, since I startedout "self-taught" and need all the help I can get. Almost every time I readhere I pick up another useful site, not to mention the sites with all thebeautiful beads and jewelry for inspiration! And all the helpful tips postedhere. Thank you all very much; give yourselves a pat on the back(s).
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