New & improved jewelry design gallery

[marym]

Hi every one!!

Brand new for all of us jewelry-drooling, inspiration-seeking, gem-gazing beadaholics, I'm pleased to present the new and improved Rings & Things Jewelry Design Gallery

This wonderful re-design of our old on-line gallery took numerous (wo)man hours and caused a bit of sweat and tears, but thankfully - no blood.  For all of this hard work- we can now officially boast (modestly of course) over 180 designs in 16 categories complete with full color images, full part lists, informative links, a refreshingly perfect search function and a smattering of wonderful hints & tips for your perusal.

Have a BLAST looking at all the sparkly stuff. Oh, and your input and feedback is, as always, welcome with open arms.

Sincerely,
Mary Morton
Rings & Things staff

[Luann Udell]

WOW!!  Awesome work!  Easy to use, great photos--way to go!

Now...may I get instructions for the 3-strand watch, made with the stretchy stuff?  How did you know a store has been asking for these??  I thought I'd have to figure out the construction techniques from scratch, and there you have it on the new projects page....

gratefully,
Luann

[marym]

Luann which entry is this one?  I've looked and am not sure... '>

[Luann Udell]

It's the one that's labeled "file 7/11"--the url doesn't come up as anything separate so I can't post a link there.  It has rust/cream beads, it's under the "watch designs" image, and it says "three strand watch".
Luann

[marym]

Ahhh there it is.. right under the words "three strand watch"  (doh).

The woman who designed this watch no longer works here so recruiting her to help won't work.  It looks to me like she strung one long strand of beads on stretch cord then used larger jumprings and wove it around three times.  Stretch cord can be finished with a knot that can be tucked into any bead- I always dab a bit of glue on the knot then pull it into a bead-hole for extra security.  I don't see any crimp end anywhere so it does look like the knots were tied and tucked.


I cannot actually find this watch but I'm going to continue looking.  If I track it down I should be able to give you a more precise idea of how it was made.

-Mary

[marym]

P.S. (right click on any image or gallery page and hit properties- from there you can copy and paste the url into the forum)

[Luann Udell]

Okay, here's a question that's always puzzled me....
You need to have an OPEN jump ring to attach the three strands to the watch.
But once the jump ring is attached to the watch, what keeps the stretchy-cord from either pulling through the opening in the jump ring, or getting worn/abraded on that rough part?
You can't solder it, because it would melt the stretchy cord.
hmmmmm.....
Luann
P.S.  Thank you for the incredible detective work, btw!

[marym]

um..... um......  {{insert deer in headlights look here}}

Ok now seriously, here's the question that's always puzzled me:  Why do you always ask the hard questions??!!  

'>  This is my theory: MOST (not all but most) stretchy cord is a nice fat 2+mm or bigger.  They make it this "fat" because you can stretch it into a thinner cord in order to squeeze it through the tight spots.  However, when it's not under strong stretch pressure- it's fat enough to keep from slipping through jump rings, stretchy enough to resist short term wear (meaning it will last for quite a while before sharp edges wear all the way through it) and you can tie knot after knot after knot- so if your serious about the piece lasting- a few knots (secured with glue- never forget the glue with this stuff) will do the trick.  

How's that for a theory?

[Luann Udell]

Thanks, Mary!

Ooohh...I'm not TRYING to be annoying...  really!

I ask hard questions because I've been making stuff for a long time now, I always want everything to be PERFECT, and I just heard another fine jeweler complain about "bead stringers" and their "shoddy open jump ring" work.... OUCH!!  (She wasn't talking about me, but I felt guilty anyway.)

I use closed rings whenever I can, and work-harden open ones a little to make them sturdier.  But I'm at a loss at what to do when you have polymer clay, nylon/plastic etc. on or next to a jump ring you're *supposed* to solder...  

I also ask hard questions because I'm at that "time of life" where I wake up at 3:30 a.m. and think, "Gosh, what will keep that open jump ring from popping off that darn watch face???!!"  

Luann

[marym]

Quote

I just heard another fine jeweler complain about "bead stringers" and their "shoddy open jump ring" work.... OUCH!!  (She wasn't talking about me, but I felt guilty anyway.)

Now I feel guilty too!  Hmm... what about split rings?

[Luann Udell]

Split rings--I used to use them, but quit for a couple of reasons
1.  The ring can still work loose.  (I don't know HOW, but they do!)  
2.  They get caught in clothing and long hair.  (I know this from personal experience!)  
3.  And they can be scratchy on the skin.

In the interest of being HELPFUL instead of ANNOYING  '>  what DOES work is

1.  OVAL jump rings (because the opening is on the long side and the oval tends to long-ways in construction sit so the connecting strands/rings don't encounter it).

2.  And I only buy oval rings that are sawn rather than nipped (so the metal ends aren't deformed and squished, but cut cleanly).

3.  And I slightly work-harden them before using (either by hammering lightly or wrigging back and forth a few times) so they are stiffer once they are actually in place.  So the ends don't pull apart under stress as easily...

Hope this adds to the collective body of R&T knowledge!  '>
Luann