I am not a fantastic metal stamper, and sadly, practice doesn’t always make perfect. I am the queen of stamped four-letter words, and even those are crooked. But actually, what I need is a process that camouflages my imperfections as rustic charm and offers the opportunity for do-overs. If this sounds too good to be true, it’s not–read on to learn how in this step-by-step tutorial.
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The bolo tie is a truly American piece of jewelry. Appealing to diverse groups of people, bolo ties have gone in and out of fashion over the years. They recently became popular again when Prada introduced a bolo tie (that’s right, I just used “Prada” and “bolo tie” in the same sentence). But before you consider spending $300 on a Prada bolo tie, why not craft your own? Bolos can be made out of so many objects, such as vintage pins, bottle caps, old coins, buttons, or a gemstone donut. And whether you are Mid-Century Western, 1980’s New Wave, or 21st-Century Pop Culture–a bolo tie is the perfect statement piece!
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Here’s a jewelry project to welcome in Spring Time! The “Busy Bee” Earring project celebrates our friend the bee and his contribution to our world through pollination. Honey bees bring us beautiful flowers, healthy food and even clean air. To help protect the bee and other pollinators, Rings & Things has joined with the Pollinator Partnership; when you purchase bee-related items from Rings & Things, a portion of the sale goes to support this non-profit organization and their mission. So get busy and make some bee-related jewelry; the bee and Mother Earth will thank you for it!
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Making your own jewelry components can add a unique look to your handmade jewelry. It can be a lot of work making jewelry parts from “scratch”, but customizing existing components is fun and easy. Here is an earring tutorial that features instructions for using a metal dapping set to turn flower-shaped filigree into large, lacy bead caps. Read on to learn more.
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The Rings & Things Design Gallery is the place to go for inspiration. You will find hundreds of free jewelry designs that include both the instructions for making each project, and a list of the tools and suggested supplies that you will need. And there are designs that will appeal to both the skilled jewelry maker and beginners.
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Did you know that all of Rings & Things’ hat pins meet the guidelines set forth by the Arkansas hat-pin ruling of 1909? Curious? You can read about the history of hat pins on the American Hatpin Society’s website: http://www.americanhatpinsociety.com/tour/history.html. (And yes, there is an American Hatpin Society!)
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Do you have a favorite spacer bead? What is your go-to for your bead stringing? My favorite is…
The trend of using finely faceted, beautiful gemstone beads in jewelry continues.
We’ve expanded our selection of these little beauties, so lash, wrap and string until your heart’s content!
Free admission! Share this invitation with creators, beaders and collectors – we have something for everyone!
Wholesale prices to the public. No tax ID required.
Arrive early to shop the best selection. Free on-site parking!
Bring a friend! Make a weekend trip to the Northwest.
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We have beautiful, lustrous freshwater pearls with holes sized for leather cording! Shop our 2-Day Trunk Show and Gemstone Bead Sale that starts tomorrow!
Check out our great DIY designs! For tips on working with leather, check out our Leather 101 page. Continue Reading…
