Have you ever signed yourself up for something without really thinking about it? This recently happened to me when I offhandedly mentioned in a meeting that I…

I’ll just tell you right here at the beginning that I am not a flex shaft pro. I’ve had some of my larger and less-used jewelry tools…

During Bead Fest Philadelphia, resin jewelry techniques, ideas, and classes seemed to be everywhere and the attendees couldn’t get enough! Ranger Industries hosted several resin classes, all…

When you incorporate photographs or other images into your work, you increase your chances of creating a signature look all your own. It can be as simple…

Each year, Halstead Jewelry Supplies hosts The Halstead Grant competition. Grant founder and Halstead President Hilary Halstead Scott shares: “The competition began in 2006 as a way…

Everybody shops online these days. It’s quick, it’s easy, and you can find just about anything you need. But it can be hard sometimes to decide exactly…

We’ve been looking at different colors–and by extension, colored gemstones–and the effect they have on our minds and emotions. There is almost no color that gets as…

Although I have a degree in metalsmithing along with the accompanying tools and torches (now that I think about it, my tanks may be empty), I rarely…

Nothing beats taking a class with an expert jewelry artist to master jewelry-making skills. If that’s not possible, online courses are excellent ways to learn and expand…

Who knew anvils could be sooooo exciting. Recent online buzz about these jewelry tools has even generated some anvil envy. ABOVE: Judy Staby Hoch’s 35-pound studio anvil by…

Embrace variation: a touch of change is your friend. Tweaking jewelry designs lets you spin one idea into many. Go back to the original and push in…

There seems to be no end in sight for the popularity of bangle and cuff bracelets–and the more, the merrier! Bangles and cuffs provide armfuls of opportunities…

When first learning kumihimo wirework, you’ll notice right away that braiding with wire is different than other media you’ve used before. Wire is firmer and less forgiving…

Having the right tool for the job is such a joy. It makes the task go from a struggle to a pleasure. Some things require lots of…

Do you use a bench block? (These jewelry tools are heavy plates of hardened steel about 4 x 4 inches square.) Does it bounce every time you…

I’ve always loved the look of a double-wrapped loop in wire wrapping. It’s my go-to method for joining beads into chain for bracelets and necklaces. The double-wrapped…

Look up on a cloudless day and what do you see? Blue. Deep and limitless. Perhaps it is no wonder that this color is the favorite color…

As a jewelry maker, do you ever find yourself just obsessed with a particular style, technique, or design motif? For me, over the past few years, one…

After years–wow, it’s actually decades now–of working in the crafts/maker industry, I’ve picked up so many favorite techniques, materials, and genres along the way. So my happiest…

An inexpensive kumihimo disk and some basic tools are all you need to create Christina Larsen’s braided wire earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. You’ll find a few extra…