Birthstones: December - Turquoise

December’s stone is Turquoise.  The name is thought to come from the French “pierre turquoise” (tourques in old French) possibly because the Persian (Iranian) material was imported to Europe via Turkey.

Turquoise can be sky blue to green in colour.  The bluer Turquoise can fade to green if exposed to excessive sunlight.

Turquoise is the ultimate good luck stone!  It wards off bad luck, and if the stone cracks the story goes that the stone took the blow that was destined for you.

There is a tale from the Apache that if you go to the end of the rainbow after a thunderstorm, you will find turquoise, and if you then use that turquoise on your weapons, you will always have true aim.

The Navajo used turquoise when praying for rain, and the Aztecs believed turquoise were the tears of the sky goddess. 

The blue colour is associated with the sky in many traditions.

Overall the stone is said to bring protection and luck, promote friendship and stop you falling from a horse! J

Buyer beware:  turquoise is one of the most “copied” gemstones; to get a genuine piece for jewellery making could be quite difficult.  There are a lot of imitations; typically man made or using the stone howlite which has been dyed to look like turquoise.  These will give you the “look” but if you want the real deal, you may have to do some searching.  Always carefully read seller descriptions and buyer reviews before you purchase.

Tutorial - Caged Marble Magic

Wow another year almost over!  It's time for the shiny lights and celebrations to cheer up the midwinter gloom.  Magic and fun are in the air!

Here's a tutorial which you can use to make a beautiful gift for a loved one... or yourself.

You will need:

Coloured craft wire  (You will need a sturdy wire for this - I used 0.9mm thickness.)
A marble
A cord, ribbon or chain to hang the pendant from.

Tools:

Wire cutters
Round nose pliers
Flat nose pliers

Step 1:  Choose your marble and craft wire!  I picked a blue wire to go with the blue part of the swirl inside my marble.

Step 2:  Cut approximately 30cm of craft wire.  (This is for a standard sized marble, if your marble is bigger than normal, you may need a longer length!)

Step 3:  Make a loop at one end of the wire.  This is going to be the loop you hang your pendant from, so make sure it is large enough to pass your cord, chain or ribbon through.

Step 4:  Using your flat nose pliers, hold the loop flat and continue to roll the wire into a flat spiral.

Step 4:  Make a loop at the opposite end of the wire and following steps 3 and 4 again, roll another spiral.  It should go the opposite way to your first spiral, to make the wire into an "S" shape.

Continue to roll the wire from both ends until you have two even spirals that meet in the middle.





 Step 5:  Fold your wire in half so that the spirals sit one on top of the other.

Step 6:  Using your round nose pliers, carefully pull the first loop you made so it is sitting up at 90 degrees to the rest of the spiral.

Step 7:  Now begin to gently separate out your spiral, pulling the twists up into a cage shape - you may find it easier to do this with your fingers or pliers. 

Step 8: Gently ease the marble into the middle of the cage.

Step 9:  Gently pull the spirals up to encase the marble.  This will take a little bit of fiddling, but you'll get there!

Your marble is all ready to hang on a cord!

Birthstones: November - Topaz

The birthstone of November, Topaz takes its name from the Sanskrit word “tapas” meaning fire.  It can be colourless, blue, green, sherry-yellow, port red, and very rarely, pink.

The yellow colour is the one that represents the birthstone.

Due to its fiery colour, it has been likened to the sun, and has been associated with sun gods in a few traditions - however the powers attributed to it are also said to be connected to the phases of the moon – being strongest at the full moon.

It is said to promote courage, drive away sadness and strengthen intellect.  It was believed that in the presence of poisoned food or drink, it would lose its colour, warning the owner of the danger.

There is some confusion to where the gem has cropped up in legend – as other yellow gems and peridot were sometimes also referred to as “topaz”.

Some say that the sun god Ra gave it its colour.

Blue topaz is often colourless topaz that has been treated to give it its blue hue; although it does occur as blue naturally, most natural blue stones will be much paler.

It’s another expensive stone, so glass or the secondary birthstone of citrine will be a more affordable representation in your jewellery making!

Tutorial - Pacman necklace

This is the first tutorial I ever took photos for - before I had a desk!  So sorry about the lack of consistency in the pictures - I made this necklace sitting on the floor!
It just goes to show you can jewellery make anywhere. :D

I gave this necklace a Pacman theme, but you can do any theme you like-  the basic steps work for anything.  You can see another couple of examples below using this technique.

You will need:

Stringing material (The first picture shows tiger tail, but I ended up using plastic)
Assorted Beads
2x Crimp beads
2x Jump rings
Clasp

Tools:

Beading tray
Flat nose pliers
Scissors or wire cutters (to trim your stringing material)

 

Step 1:  Arrange your design on the beading tray, making sure that it's an even length.

 I put in the small beads first, and then my focal beads afterwards to make sure that they were evenly spaced.

Step 2:  String your beads onto your stringing material.

Step 3:  Attach your clasp to one of the jump rings.  On the end of your design, string a crimp bead, then the jump ring with the clasp.

Step 4:  Gently bend the stringing material into a loop, and feed it back through the crimp bead.

Step 5: Using your flat nose pliers, squash the crimp bead flat to secure the stringing material.

Step 6:  Trim the end of your stringing material, if it needs it, and then feed the loose end back down the beads.

Step 7:  Repeat the crimp and loop at the other end of the necklace, making sure to push your beads up tightly so they are neat.  Finally add a jump ring to the opposite loop for the clasp to hook onto.

All done!

You can use this technique to make all sorts of strung necklaces, just by varying the beads.

Birthstones: October - Opal

There are four types of Opal commonly used in jewellery; white, black, fire and water opal.  White opal has a pale body colour.  Black opal is any that has a dark body colour, such as black, blue, green or grey.  Fire opal is transparent yellow, orange or red.  Water opal is clear and colourless.

All have the trademark play of colour or iridescence which makes this gemstone instantly recognisable.

According to Aboriginal legend, the swirling colours were created when a rainbow fell to earth.

No gemstone has had such mixed press about it either!  You’ve probably heard someone say that its bad luck to wear an Opal unless it is your birthstone.  Apparently that association only really started in the 1800s when the story “Anne of Geierstein” was published.  The main character possesses an Opal which reflects her emotions and fate, but it seems rather than assuming it to be that way around, many people thought it was the Opal that caused the character bad luck.

Historically Opals were said to make the wearer invisible (that could come in handy sometimes!) and in the east are known as a stone of hope.

The changeable stories probably just reflect the gem’s changeable appearance; so I would say you will get out of an opal only what you decide to see in it!

As an alternative to expensive opals, you can get some lovely iridescent glass beads to represent this interesting month’s stone. 

Tutorial - Chains Bracelet

With Halloween approaching I wanted to have a go at something that would look good with any witch, ghoul or vampire ensemble!  This of course meant getting a bit of autumn colours and some fun into this bracelet design.  This one has a few more steps and components to it than previous tutorials, but the methods are the same simple ones we have used up until now, so give it a go! :)

You will need:

Black ribbon
Crimp ends (you will need two sizes - ones that are the width of your ribbon, and one smaller one for the feathers.)
4 lengths of assorted chains (Black and copper colours are excellent for the Halloweeny look!)
4 black beads
3 teardrop shaped beads in clear and orange
3 jump rings
Claw clasp
3 orange feathers
7 eye pins (preferably black or copper coloured)

Tools:

Needle and black thread
Round nose pliers
Flat nose pliers
Super glue

Options:  You can of course change the shape and colour of the beads, chains and ribbon to suit whatever outfit you are making.  Perhaps red feathers and silver chains would work better for you - feel free to adapt and experiment!

Step 1:

Cut a length of ribbon that fits around your wrist - make it a bit shorter than you want the bracelet to be when it's finished.  Remember:  the clasp with lengthen it - and if you make it too short you can add jump rings to extend it - but too long and the ribbon will just slide off your wrist!

Cut four lengths of assorted chains - they should just be slightly longer than your ribbon length - but again, not too long as you want them to sit over the ribbon on the finished bracelet.

Step 2:

Using a dab of super glue in each crimp, squeeze the crimp ends onto your ribbon using the flat nose pliers.


Step 3:

Using a dab of super glue in the crimp, place your feathers into the smaller crimp end and squeeze closed using the flat nose pliers.


Step 4:

 Slide your beads onto the eye pins, so that the loops are at the top of the beads.

 Using your round nose pliers, create a decorative spiral at the bottom of the pin to hold the bead in place.

Repeat with all of the beads.


Step 5:

 Using your needle and thread, carefully sew the first of your chains to the upper corner of the ribbon.

 Repeat with the other three chains, placing them in the order you want the colours and shapes to go.

Check to make sure that the chains aren't twisted and carefully sew them secure to the opposite end of the ribbon.
(Note:  I had my chains a little too long here - I shorted them later - but it's best to double check this when you are sewing as it's easier to shorten them at this point if you need too!)


Step 5:

 Attach your beads to the bottom chain, spacing them out evenly along it's length.

Step 6:

 Attach the feathers and a jump ring to another jump ring, and then attach that jump ring to the crimp end.

At the other end of the bracelet, attach a claw clasp.


Step 7:

 Your bracelet can now  be worn!

Optional:  Or you can add a stitch to the centres of the chains to hold them in place against the ribbon, if you prefer them to be a little less loose.



All ready for Halloween!

Birthstones: September - Sapphire

Sapphire, the name coming from the Greek “sapphirus” for blue, are well known as those beautiful bright blue gems that represent the month of September.

However, Sapphires are not just blue!  In fact any colour of corundum apart from red (which is a ruby) is known as a sapphire.  They can be black, purple, violet, dark blue, bright blue, light blue, green, yellow and orange!

Traditionally it is the dark blue that represents the birthstone.

 In some versions of the legend, King Solomon’s Seal was an inscribed Sapphire.  This magic ring variously gave Solomon the power to command demons, genies (or jinni), or to speak with animals.

Sapphires were said to protect against poison – even being able to kill spiders and snakes just by being in their presence!

They represent truth, spirituality, order and hope. 

Can’t afford a sapphire for your crafting? (I know I can’t!)  You could use the secondary birthstone of Lapis lazuli, or some sparkling glass beads to represent the beautiful blue gem.

Tutorial - Autumn Earrings

Now the leaves are beginning to change colour, and the autumn equinox approaches bringing the longer nights... but also the harvest!  There are many celebrations associated with the harvest in different cultures.  The ancient Romans would dedicate their celebrations to Pomona was the goddess of fruit trees, garden, and orchards.

Inspired by the harvest and the golden leaves, I present a tutorial for some very autumnal earrings!

You will need:

Gold earring hooks
Approx 6cm (roughly 2 1/2") gold chain
Gold headpins
Gold jump rings
Assorted beads  (I used:  Red carnelian, natural carnelian, yellow opal chips, bronze and copper coloured metal beads.)

Tools:
Round nosed pliers
Flat nosed pliers

Step 1:

Cut yourself 2 equal lengths of chain, around 3cm long.

Tip:  Cut one length and then count the links - that way you can make sure you have the exact same number of links and thus length in your second piece of chain.

Attach the two lengths of chain to your jump rings.


Step2:  Arrange your beads onto the headpins.  You can have as many or as few dangles as you like.  (Remember that if you put more than one bead onto the headpin you will need to leave room to make a loop to attach it!)

Step 3:  Which brings us onto making loops!
Using your round nose pliers, make a loop in the top of each of the headpins.

Step 4:  Attach your ear hooks to the jump rings at the top of the chain, and then lie out your pieces so you can see what order you would like to put the dangles in for your design.

Step 5:  Attach the dangles to the chain.
Remember to open the loops sideways as you would a jump ring to stop them from distorting and weakening.
Hold up the earring to see how it's hanging, and if you need to move any of the dangles around.

Step 6:  Attach the dangles on the second earring, counting the links to make sure you have put the same type of dangle on the same number link as the first one, to get even earrings.

 
All finished and ready to celebrate autumn!