Beads & Jewelry Making Supplies by WigJig Newsletter 10/15/2006

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Boomer the Beads & Jewelry Making Supplies by WigJig SpokesdogWigJig News -- AKA Boomer Sez:

Our Spokesdog:  If an insurance company can have a gecko, we have decided that we can have a spokesdog.  Boomer, shown at right, is our spokesdog.  Boomer needs his rest now because this is his busy season.  One of his jobs is to keep the deer from getting too close to the house.  In the fall we have many deer that visit our back yard, including for the first time this year we have a white deer.  For some reason it is very interesting to watch a white dog chase a white deer.

Shows:  Boomer Sez we are done with shows for 2006.  We also want to thank all the people who stopped by the Beadfest in Reading, PA to say hello.  Boomer says hello back.  Our next show will probably be in Tucson in early February 2007.

New Items:  We have added many new items to our store since our last newsletter.  We believe that our readers will really like several of these new items. 

Our first new item is a new pair of round nose pliers.  These pliers were designed by us and manufactured overseas so that we can sell them at a reasonable price.  We believe that these pliers are the best round nose pliers you can buy for under $50, but we are able to sell them at only $17.99.  If you are ready to upgrade your round nose pliers -- these are the ones to buy.

Our second series of new products are new watch faces.  These new watch faces are both very stylish and very inexpensive.  We have a total of 9 new watch faces all priced between $5.99 and $7.99.  All of the new watches have Japanese made quartz movements.  The watch pictured below-center is shown about 2 times larger than the actual watch so that you can view the details on this watch.  The watch shown below is also used in our jewelry making project for this week, discussed below.

Our third series of new products are a series of silver-plated picture frames that can be used in bracelets, necklaces and even earrings.  The picture frame shown below-right is also about 2 times larger than actual size.  This particular frame comes with lobster clasps so that it can be very easily added to a charm bracelet, or a necklace.  The picture frames come in a package of 10 so you can include the entire family.  We have received requests for these frames in the past.  We hope you like them. 

Please select any picture below to view our new products!

Florence Kim Ruby and Emerald Christmas Necklace Jewelry Making ProjectGuest Contributor:  This weeks guest contributor is Florence Kim who currently lives in Belgium.  Florence made this Emerald and Ruby Christmas Necklace for a theme party.  Her husband and son have their birthday in May so their birthstone is emerald.  Her birthday is in July so her birthstone is Ruby.  The combination makes a perfect Christmas necklace.  Florence used the WigJig Delphi to make the wire components in the necklace.  (Florence purchased and learned to use the WigJig Delphi in Singapore at the Beadhub, Sunshine Plaza.)  Florence is selling another of her necklaces in an auction for the Jupiter Florida Christian School.  If you are interested in more pictures of Florence's jewelry she can be reached at lwlv02@yahoo.com.sg or flovoho@hotmail.com.  Boomer says thank you to Florence for sharing her design with us. 

Warning! Philosophy Follows.  This is only one person's opinion.  This does not mean that we are opposed to anyone or anything. 

Boomer Philosophy:  Boomer was telling us the other day that "People make the worst customers.  Some people complain, some aren't grateful for what they receive, and some people are sometimes grumpy."  We had to agree with Boomer that people do make the worst customers, BUT we also had to remind him that dogs don't spend money and without money we can't buy dog food.  The message for Boomer is rather deep.  What this means is that we live in an imperfect world and we have to make the best of it.  We tell Boomer that all any of us can do is to do our best in a less than perfect world. 

Philosophy aside, unfortunately for Boomer, doing his best still means that he will never catch the white deer.  The deer is just too fast.  Here is a picture for you.  Think about a small white dog in a crouch, slowly stalking a white deer who is grazing on green grass.  Both stand out like a sore thumb.  It would make a great picture if only we could capture it.  We hope this thought makes you smile.  It certainly makes us smile watching it happen.  ;-)
 

On Sale:
We update the jewelry supplies that we have "On Sale" with every newsletter.  A small sample of the products we have for sale at discounted prices are shown below.  Please click on any of the text below the pictures to view our entire list of sale items.  Select the picture itself to view that specific item in our Internet store.  This sale will be effective through October 27th, 2006 or until we run out of that item. 


6mm Swarovski Capri Bicone Beads

6mm Bicone Swarovski Capri Beads
Package of 12 beads


6mm Bicone Swarovski Topaz Beads

6mm Bicone Swarovski Topaz Beads
Package of 12 beads
 

6mm Czech Glass Pony Beads Black Diamond

6mm Czech Glass Black Diamond Pony Beads
Package of 24 Beads


5x8mm Magnetic Beads
5x8mm Magnetic Beads
Package of 6
 


8mm Gold Filled Snap Fit Pending Setting Jewelry Making Finding

8mm Gold-Filled, Snap Fit Pendant Finding
Package of 1
 


20 Gauge Silver-Plated Anti-Tarnish Jewelry Wire
20 Gauge Natural Silver Silver-plated Wire
with Anti-Tarnish Enamel Coating

18' Spool
 

Free Jewelry Design:
Jewelry Wire Chain Watchband Jewelry Making Project With every newsletter we provide a new jewelry design from WigJig University to spur the creative juices.  The new design for this newsletter is the design for the Jewelry Wire Chain Watchband shown at right.  This is an advanced beginner's jewelry making project and is very easy to make.  Making this watch requires a watch face with loops, 39 inches of 18 gauge wire, and a commercial clasp.  The watch show at right is our new watch, items 3232 and can be found in our Internet store by searching on that number.  Making the links in the chain requires one of our WigJig tools along with one regular metal peg and two 3/16" Super Pegs.  We think that you will really like this watch project.  It is easy to make, it doesn't take a lot of time to make one, it is inexpensive, and best of all it is stylish.  What better way to display your jewelry making hobby than in your wrist watch.  We plan on making more of these watches as Christmas presents for our female relatives.  

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

Past Techniques:
We maintain a techniques web page that provides links to the discussion of techniques in our prior newsletters.  You can visit this web page here.  Follow the links on that page to the discussion of the technique in that newsletter. 

Jewelry Technique: Jewelry Making Tools by WigJig
This weeks jewelry making technique is a discussion of the tools we use and recommend.  We have had a web page listing the tools that we actually use and because of the round nose pliers that we just developed, it is time to update this web page.  Before we list the tools that we think you will need, it is worth discussing our role in the development of these tools.  Unlike many of the executives in companies that make jewelry tools, the owners at WigJig actually make jewelry.  They make jewelry often and they make a lot.  Gary Helwig at WigJig also thinks like an engineer.  When he views an item of jewelry he first thinks how could he make that piece instead of how nice it looks.  Those of you who associate closely with engineers can probably understand that engineers view the world slightly differently.  Not better, just different. 

When we at WigJig use a tool, we tend to think what can I do to make this tool work better.  Obviously, as a result we developed our WigJig tools and accessories, but we did not stop there.  We also worked with manufacturers to develop the Fine Bent Nose Pliers (item 2828), the Fine Step Jaw Pliers (Item 2774), and now the Round Nose Pliers -WigJig shown at right.  We are also working on developing a lower priced alternative to the Fine Bent Nose Pliers and hope to be able to sell these new Bent Chain Nose Pliers-WigJig in about a month.  Our goal is simple, we want jewelry making tools do the best job possible and we want them to be relatively inexpensive.  We really do use these tools and we feel that the tools we recommend will make it easier for serious wire workers to make the best, most professional jewelry wire components possible.  End of self promotion.  You can view the updated list of the tools that we use and recommend by selecting here, or selecting the picture above-right.    

Amethyst Cubes Bracelet Jewelry Making ProjectNostalgia Corner:
This weeks featured design in our Nostalgia Corner is the design for our Amethyst Cubes Bracelet shown at right.   This bracelet uses Swarovski Cube 6mm beads and a wire component that is identical to the wire component that we made in the Jewelry Wire Watchband, this week's new project above.  After making this bracelet, we learned that some people do not like the edges on the cube beads when worn on a bracelet.  The cube beads are very attractive, but are probably better when used in earrings and necklaces.  In the future, we will avoid using the cube beads on a bracelet in spite of the fact that we like the way they look. 

Please select here, or select the picture at left to view our instructions for making the Amethyst Cubes Bracelet.
 

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: 10/15/2006

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1/16/2006   02/12/2006   02/26/2006   03/13/2006   03/26/2006   04/09/2006   04/30/2006  

05/14/2006   06/29/2006   07/16/2006   08/06/2006   08/21/2006   09/04/2006   09/17/2006

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Beads & Jewelry Supplies by WigJig Jewelry Making Newsletter