Beads & Jewelry Making Supplies by WigJig Newsletter 9/17/2006

There are four wire components in these bracelets that are made on our WigJig Jewelry Making tools -- an end component, two hole spacer bar findings, 2-1 connectors, and a chain of wrapped links.  All the wire components were made using 18 gauge 1/2 hard wire.  For this bracelet we used 8mm Swarovski Crystal Pearl beads separated by size 6 seed beads.  The groups of beads are separated from one another and the strands of the necklace are held in place by 2 hole spacer bars findings.  The beads themselves are strung on Soft Flex or Soft Touch bead stringing wire. 

This will be the last project like this that we do for a while.  We wanted to do projects showing both two strand and three strand techniques using beads in 4mm, 6mm and 8mm sizes.  With this project, we have completed jewelry making projects in all three sizes and in both two and three strand configurations.  In our next newsletter we will show a chandelier earring design incorporating wire, commercial chain and simulated diamonds. 

To view our instructions for how to make this jewelry item please select here or select either picture above. 
 

Jewelry Technique:
This weeks jewelry making technique is a discussion of how to make a necklace extender.  Sometimes when you make or purchase a necklace you will find that the necklace isn't the length that you want it to be.  In order to make a necklace longer we can make a very simple finding that we call a necklace extender. 

A necklace extender is made from a commercial clasp that is similar to the clasp on the necklace you want to extend, a segment of medium to large commercial chain, and a jump ring or split ring finding.  To make the necklace extender first connect the commercial clasp to one end of the commercial chain using a jump ring finding.  Then measure the length of chain that you need to make the necklace length you want and cut off the excess chain.   Finally, add a medium size jump ring or split ring to the other end of the chain. 

To use the necklace extender you simply connect your existing clasp on the necklace to the medium jump ring or split ring finding.  When you are ready to wear the necklace you just connect the clasp on the necklace extender to the existing catch in your necklace and you should be good to go.

Nostalgia Corner:
This weeks featured design in our Nostalgia Corner is the design for our Chandelier Earrings with Pearl Beads shown at right.   These earrings make an excellent accessory when worn with the pearl beads bracelets that we described in our new jewelry making project for this week.  These earrings use 6mm beads and 18 gauge wire.  If you wanted to more closely match the bracelet described above, you could add size 8 seed beads to either side of the 6mm pearl beads in the earrings.  This would allow you to closely match the seed beads used in the bracelet.  Since the beads used in the earrings are smaller than the beads used in the bracelet, you would want to use smaller seed beads in the earrings (than the bracelet) to retain the relative size of the beads versus the seed beads.      

Please select here, or select the picture at left to view our instructions for making the Pearl Beads Chandelier Earrings.
 

We are continuing to improve our newsletter, so please feel free to provide feedback at custsrv@wigjig.com. 

Announcements:
Online Books.  If you are looking for new and interesting jewelry projects -- try one of our Online Books.  Our most detailed instructions are for sale online.  Please select here to view our selection of online books.  These books are delivered over the Internet and there are no shipping costs on an order with just online books. 

Shipping Policy.  We waive the shipping charge on orders over $60 shipped within the US (as long as these orders remain over $60).  For International orders we ship via FED EX or UPS international service and charge $34.95 (our average cost) for this expedited shipping service.  Please select here to view our entire shipping policy.

WigJig University.  We provide Over 2,200 web pages of free information, tips, techniques and free jewelry making designs in WigJig University.  We encourage everyone to view this information as a source for new ideas, projects, or a way to learn new techniques.  We now have a page in WigJig University that shows our designs sorted by the WigJig tool used to make them.  Please select here to view that information. 

International Vendors.  We do have vendors who sell our WigJig products outside the US.  We encourage customers to contact these vendors in their home country.  Please select here to view our list of overseas vendors.  We are also happy to sell our WigJig tools to stores.  Please send us an e-mail if you are interested in selling our WigJig tools. 

Classes.  We have a listing of various jewelry making classes using our WigJig tools that are offered by bead stores throughout the country.  If you are interested in classes, please select here.  If you know someone who has classes in using our WigJig tools, please ask them to send us an e-mail at custsrv@wigjig.com so that we can include them in these pages. 

SHIPPING WAIVED ON ALL ORDERS OVER $60.00 SHIPPED TO USA - Customer Care - WigJig, PO Box 5124, Gaithersburg, MD 20882; (800) 579-WIRE (phone), (240) 597-2262 (fax), custsrv@wigjig.com (email).  Privacy Policy.  All content on this web site including jewelry and wire designs are copyrighted© by WigJig.  WigJig® is a registered trademark.  Last modified: 9/17/2006