Basic Jewelry Tools: Beading Pliers

Specialist Crafts stores often carry a wide range of jewelry beading tools. Such tools can help beginners and Pros create impressive and elegant jewelry pieces. Some of these tools can also be found at hardware stores. But a craft store is your best bet in finding the right size tool for your beading projects. I would suggest investing in a reasonably price stainless steel set of tools whether it be a plier or a cutter. Cheap ones don't last long and rust easily in storage.

To begin with, any one trying to get their groove into jewelry making or beading should have a reliable plier in the toolbox. You don't need to purchase all the pliers just specific ones tailored to the kind of material you'll be working on.

A good pair of Pliers equal a good grip on the material you are handling.

Here are the types of Pliers used in Jewelry-Making or Beadwork:

Crimping Pliers

Primarily use for fastening strings, wires and creating an end loop as a lock. This is usually done by using crimps, french crimps, bead crimps and folding clasps.


Crimps are cylindrical tubes you can insert wire ends of a necklace.

Folding clasps once crimped provides a hole that any lock or clasp can latch unto.

The crimping plier will secure necklaces and bracelets strung on flexible beading wire by folding the metal tube of the crimp, once the beading wire or thread is in inside. Available here. 

Chain-nosed Pliers
An essential tool in the any crafter's toolbox. This is the most traditional and reliable plier used in beadwork- it does most of the crafting action.

Mainly, use for making loops, bends, opening and closing and twisting metals, locks, rings. I would recommend this Ergonomic Chain Nose Pliers from Bead Smith. 

There is also a variant known as Blunt Chain-nosed Pliers for getting into those tight miniscule spaces. The nose ends angle at a certain direction. Find this beading plier here.


Snipe-nosed PliersThese pliers taper toward the flat end, oftentimes group with or similar to chain-nosed pliers. Basically, they are use the same way. You can find a jeweler's snipe-nosed plier here.



Flat-nosed Pliers
Use for straightening bent wire and for making sharp angles in wires. The insides of the noses can be smooth or serrated. You can buy one here online



Round-nosed Pliers
Handy to ascertain wrapping space, positioning wire and enlarging loops when needed. The round noses helps you maintain good control of the loop and creating diameter. This is not a plier for gripping or flattening metals, this is meant for wrapping and twisting wires the way you want them. Check out Round nosed pliers at http://www.beaducation.com


Blunt-nosed Pliers
Blunt-nosed pliers help put on the squeeze, its the plier to use to bring on a tight tough grip without causing damage. They do not taper (become smaller or thinner) towards their flat ends.



Split-Ring Pliers
Designed for opening split rings and making attachments fast and easy. Hardened steel nose separates rings and keeps them separated while you secure findings. Spring hinge increases comfort by reducing fatigue.

Get yourself a handy split-ring plier here

Nylon Jaw Pliers
Nylon Jaw pliers are designed to treat wire and metal surface delicately particularly sculpting craft wire, wrapping wires and soft wires. The soft nylon jaws will not leave a mark, dent or a texture on the surface of the material you are working on.


In fact, it protects the surface finish of wire, so no need to polish it off later. Nylon Jaw Pliers can easily undo angles, bent wires or simply straighten the wires. Keeping the design or wire scuplture in place while giving you that flexibility to edit your wire angles. Go steady with this Nylon Plier

Using the right plier for your project can help you move or bend the metal around with ease and smooth precision. So its a good idea to invest and collect on reliable beading pliers.

Authentic Human Hair Jewelry by Larissa de Souza

Human Hair jewelry has been around for centuries since the dawn of time as tribal adornment and as mementos for deceased loved ones. Today, it may border on the uncanny valley of creepiness as a macabre memento- almost like a serial killer trophy.



But the art of Hair Jewelry is grounded on sentiment, maybe even grief or love. It may also prove to be quite fashionable and elegant once braided and weaved with precious metals.



Larissa de Souza is a NYC jewelry designer who views hair as a great medium for scupltural design. She does custom jewelry work using your hair or a loved one's. 



For more info on her hairy craft visit www.desouzajewelry.com or at her Etsy shop
http://www.etsy.com/shop/desouzajewelry

Disc Earrings Come Full Circle from the Gorjana Reidel Collection

Today I am in love with Gorjana Jewelry

Well mainly her earrings!

These sophisticated designs are created by Yugoslavian-born jewelry designer Gorjana Reidel.

These lovely shiny discs should adorn my lobes :) 

Launch in 2004, the Gorjana Jewelry Collection has been a regular on the glossy pages of Lucky Mag and InStyle and favored by celebs such a Paris Hilton and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Visit their website http://www.gorjana.com

Edward finally Sparkles Bella with an Engagement Ring

From the world of teen vampires and all that Twilight rage, comes top-notched jewelry to take your Edward fever to the next level, the new brand of moneysucking merchandise introduces Bella's Engagement Ring. This Twilight-inspired oval ring is encrusted with 13 diamonds and 14K yellow gold, handcrafted by master artisans and diamond setters.

Bella's Genuine Engagement Ring

Personally, I find this finger bling just too big and gaudy for delicate hands like uh- Kirsten Stewart's. Then again, its Bella. So does it matter if the ring looks like some flashy vegas gambler's bling? or that it cost $1,979? Aaah such ode to fandom.

But knockoffs are on sale for 14-year-olds on a weekly allowance. See faux Bella's Fashion Engagement Ring for $35!

So you can still sparkle with Edward Cullen!

Alkemie Jewelry: Forged from Nature

Alkemie Jewelry is pioneered by LA-based husband and wife designing duo- Ashley Lowengrub & Dara Gerson. 

Many of the metal pieces are inspired by their real-world encounters with nature.

Alkemie Jewelry will always be known for its skillful play on texture.

My favorite cuff: A starfish hanging on your wrist for dear life

Whimsical designs are forged from 100% reclaimed metals. Alkemie Jewelry is eco-friendly and socially responsible.

Please visit http://www.alkemiejewelry.com for more of their fabulous designs.

Things to Consider When Making Your Handmade Jewelry Pieces

Making your own jewelry can be incredibly easy and fun. And making great looking pieces by hand are not entirely hinge on buying the most exquisite or priciest beads.

In creating pieces, you can keep the following in mind:

Consider geometry. Would square shaped glass stones go well with wooden felt balls? Would the thin rice beads emphasize my bold and large cabonchons? Glass beads are great for bead embroidery and creating large intricate shapes by following patterns and using stitch techniques like peyote and right angle.

Cerulean Sunset by Belinda Saville

Circle Pattern Bracelet by ForbesFarm

Consider Color. Experiment with palettes, try to mix and match, group beads in same color families or string together those of great contrast. Like any artist working with different mediums, one rule rings true and universal. The use of Color, manipulating tones and gradiations is essential. How you put colors together has a great impact on your work. So at best, study and tinker with swatches. A great resource for color ideas, go to Colourlovers. I have been using this site since my agency days.

A colorful geometric pattern bracelet by BeadsForever

Learn to layer or cluster. If you like eclectic jewelry pieces, creating the extra strands will give you the extra Ooomph. You can also cluster beads into attractive little bundles. Some create special knotted areas or pendants embellish with smaller beadwork.

Fringe by TheJadeDog (She is one of the best out there I feel so sad she put down her blog)

Add something personal. Found objects can spice up things like a piece of wood from a part of your house or a seashell you found on your honeymoon on beach. These can make nice charms or trinkets, simply drill holes in them or glue them to a hook.

Floral fabrics, beads and lace on a necklace by Aysetugrul

Never be afraid to experiment. You can always unsnap, unhook or snip off whatever mistakes you make. It is in making these mistakes that you develop your artisan's eye.

A quirky 3 peas in a pod pair of earrings by HeartinHawaii

Have fun! Your craft should never feel like a chore, it should relaxed you, give you a sense of accomplishment and keep you interested into doing more.

Patricia Tager Bracelet

Oscars 2010: The Best Red Carpet Earrings

It's all flash, flash! and bling! bling on the Red Carpet! It's time for BeadSnob's Annual Oscar Bling roundup!

First on our Oscar red carpet is Rachel McAdams who's back to being blonde. 

Rachel McAdams dons earring elegance with these large intricate multi-layer plates studded in multi-colored diamonds by Lorraine Schwartz.

Lorraine Schwartz, Jewelry Designer to the stars doesn't have an online shop, she prefers you call and be one of her private clientele. 

Rachel McAdams is a walking canvas in a flowing Elie Saab watercolor gown.

Holy mother of pearl! Opulent teardrop chopards fit for a Queen Latifah

Our curvy highness in a Badgley Mischka single-strap baby plum gown. Note the adornment of gemstones on the lovely strap.

Elizabeth Banks complements her floral gemstone studded earrings with a classy, yet simple diamond studded headband. All from jeweler Fred Leighton.

Her gown is almost the same hue as McAdams and has the same ruffle motif as all the Versace Atelier dresses on the red carpet. Still fierce though! 

 

Demi Moore looking luscious with these hand-strung multi-strand ivory pearl earrings.

Another Versace Atelier ruffles and frills maven, but the most stunning one on the red carpet. She is my Oscar fave even without her gorgeous arm candy Ashton Kutchner. 

Demi is radiant in this intricately layered gown that seamlessly blends into her skin tone.

Fabulous under the stage lights. Demi Moore rocks it!

Cameron is gorgeous for her age and she is aging wonderfully. Her earrings are Cartier's trinity circle earrings in white and yellow diamonds crafted on rose gold. Overall, I am not a fan of this look, kinda gives me that rich Texan oiler's wife vibe.


However, her Oscar de la Renta dress embelished in silver and sparkles is to die for.

And best pair of earrings on Oscar night goes to British actress Carey Mulligan.



Artfully inspired ornate diamond briolette earrings by Fred Leighton.



Shia LaBeouf's pixie dream is all gamine gorgeous in Prada. This black ensemble is adorned in silver trinkets such a knives, forks and spoons. Quirky and charming much like Carey herself.