Sheffield Jewelry Tool Give Away

To be entered into the Sheffield jewelry blog give away, for the chance to win this Mandrel 4X tool by Bead Smith, leave a brief comment below telling us who your favorite jewelry designer is and why. Who inspires you to want to make jewelry of your own? I know it can be impossible to pick just one, for some people, so it is ok to pick more than one. Enter by leaving your brief description in the comments of this post, with email so we can contact you, letting us know who inspires you and why you are inspired in order to be entered to win.

The winner to receive this multi shape mandrel as a gift from us will be selected, at random, 6pm Monday May 6th, 2013. 

With this multi shape mandrel you will be able to form wire into several shapes creating jump rings, toggles, pendants, earrings, scrap book embellishments and more. 

• Select the mandrel shape you want and insert it into the handle.

• Attach wire to desired size level on mandrel.

• Make round loops in 8 different sizes, oval loops in 4 sizes, square loops in 4 sizes and triangle loops in 6 sizes.

• After forming be sure to harden with Plastic Hammer and Bench Block to hold shape firmly.

GOOD LUCK!!

Look forward to hearing from you!

If you're interested in learning more about jewelry design, we encourage you to explore the Sheffield School, New York, NY. Sheffield began as an Interior Design school in 1985, and then expanded our course offerings to train people in other design-related fields, including Feng Shui, Wedding and Event Planning, and Jewelry Design. With thousands of active students and more than 50,000 graduates, Sheffield has trained more design professionals than any school in the world.

Request a free Sheffield School catalog describing our distance education courses.

Subscribe to the Sheffield Designer newsletter.

Update on Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at 12:33PM by Sheffield Admin

Congratulations to our Sheffield jewelry tool winner Lori Wilson!!

Lori will be receiving her new mandrel in the mail soon!

Thank you for all of your input, the answers were absolutely great to read! We randomly select a winner by picking a name out of a hat. There will be more opportunities coming up to enter to win jewelry making tools and other jewelry making items. Check in to the Sheffield blog regularly so you don't miss them.

Finding Closure In Jewelry Design

 

Before reading on... for those of you who think this blog is about relationships, I must clarify it is not. This is for those who are interested in creating their own closures when making jewelry. At Sheffield we teach students how to make their own clasps and ear wires, otherwise referred to in jewelry design as findings. Findings are the parts used to join jewelry components together to form a completed piece.

  

Clasps above both found on Something Sublime blog.

Clasp by Image Bead Jewelry on Etsy.

Embellishing clasps and ear wires with stones and coiling gives your work that unique handcrafted look. When you create your own clasps you can incorporate stones into the claps so there is a blending, a consistent feel with the work, instead of finishing your piece with a purchased clasp that may not be cohesive.

 

Hoops by Fail Jewelry.

 

Earrings by Fail Jewelry.

 

Learning to create your own ear wires is one of the most liberating moments in jewelry making. It opens the door to a whole new world of where you can take your designs. Rather than always having to attach an ear wire to a drop stone, or chain, you have the option to shape your earrings into one continuous piece. The hoop and inverted V earrings by Fail Jewelry are great examples of this. Learning how to make inverted V earrings, and hoops, are taught in unit four of the Sheffield Jewelry Design Course.  

Bracelet by Silver Bench Jewelry.

Once you know how to make your own findings, you may choose to blend your clasp right into the design of your piece, like the bracelet above by Silver Bench Jewelry.

If you're interested in learning more about jewelry design, we encourage you to explore the Sheffield School, New York, NY. Sheffield began as an Interior Design school in 1985, and then expanded our course offerings to train people in other design-related fields, including Feng Shui, Wedding and Event Planning, and Jewelry Design. With thousands of active students and more than 50,000 graduates, Sheffield has trained more design professionals than any school in the world.

Request a free Sheffield School catalog describing our distance education courses.

Subscribe to the Sheffield Designer newsletter.

Jump Rings in Jewelry, More than Just a Connection

Mallory Marks bracelet at Twist

When you think of jump rings most people think of connecting a pendant, clasp or two components together. They can be used for many more purposes than just connecting, even being the focal design element. This playful bracelet by Mallory Marks is entirely made from rings embellished with floating gem stones.

Bella Luna Design on Etsy

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When using jump rings as only part of the focal point, design styles can vary. For an example of a simpler look this Bella Luna Bracelet uses three jump rings just slightly enhancing the forged links with out over powering them. The use of chain maille, from this unknown designer, connects the forged links with a bit more flare. You can learn to make braclets like these in unit 4 of Sheffield's jewelry design course.

Bracelet by Nancye Church

Love the way Nancye Church broke up this bracelet by using over sized rings with texture in contrast with the straight bangle bracelet as its focal point.

Earrings by Additions Style

Earrings by Eni Oken

Adding texture to the jump rings will also bring them to the forefront no matter what size. Connecting multiple rings with smaller jump rings or wire wrapping them together always produces a great look. Such as these earrings by Additions Style on Etsy and Eni Oken.

Mallory Marks earrings

These Mallory Marks earrings place the stones where the rings are connected holding them with formal structure. The rings would look spectacular even without the added sparkle of gem stones, but the uniform placement of the stones creates an elegant look for a dressier pair of earrings.

If you're interested in learning more about jewelry design, we encourage you to explore the Sheffield School, New York, NY. Sheffield began as an Interior Design school in 1985, and then expanded our course offerings to train people in other design-related fields, including Feng Shui, Wedding and Event Planning, and Jewelry Design. With thousands of active students and more than 50,000 graduates, Sheffield has trained more design professionals than any school in the world.

Request a free Sheffield School catalog describing our distance education courses.

Subscribe to the Sheffield Designer newsletter.

Thinking Outside The Box When Packaging Your Jewelry

Photo by Rachel Chew, jewelry by Elephantine.

When it comes to your handcrafted Jewelry, packaging appeal is not only an added bonus to please your customer, but you are assuring that your piece will be received in the style you want. Displaying your work with a walk away business card is a resourceful way to brand your name with your packaging. Most people are completely thrilled if you relieve them of the packaging part of the gift giving process, This is a great opportunity to do it for them while including your business name.

 

Carrie Hill Photograph on Clover Market.

Literally thinking outside the box can help you create packaging that is unique to you. You may even be able to find items around your house that are in keeping with your work. No matter what type of card you choose to use, keeping them in a wooden box will help keep your table clean and make your customer feel welcome to flip through the merchandise.

huaban.com

That does not mean you have to spend a lot on materials. Something as simple as a small paper bag with holes punched through it and tied closed with a pretty ribbon is clean and thoughtful. Personalizing it with an ink stamp or a business card is all you need to make it feel finished.

 

Supply Crate on Etsy

Kids At Heart Designs on Etsy

Have you ever purchased something packaged so well that you could not wait to give it as a gift? That is ideally what you want your customers to feel like. If your item is fun to give, and receive, it will be remembered. These match book boxes by Kids At Heart Designs can be decorated any way you want. 

JJB Studio

Using a business card tent as a way to display your work is not only a great way to stand your jewelry up for a table display at a show, but it also allows you to create a quick take away sale at a busy craft show. You may want to make sure the price is not permanently written on the card if it is to be given as a gift. 

Haley M packaging

In unit 5 of the Sheffield jewelry design course you will learn about packaging your designs. I have chosen to use screw top tins with a sticker for my packaging. Many of my pieces are mailed out in a bubble mailers. In order to minimize the risk of pieces getting crushed in the mail the look and protection of the tins work well for me.

Creatively packaged jewelry adds value in they eyes of customers. It also makes them want to come back for more. Think about your presenting and packaging your work in a way that reinforces your brand.

If you're interested in learning more about jewelry design, we encourage you to explore the Sheffield School, New York, NY. Sheffield began as an Interior Design school in 1985, and then expanded our course offerings to train people in other design-related fields, including Feng Shui, Wedding and Event Planning, and Jewelry Design. With thousands of active students and more than 50,000 graduates, Sheffield has trained more design professionals than any school in the world.

Request a free Sheffield School catalog describing our distance education courses.

Subscribe to the Sheffield Designer newsletter. 

Create Your Own Jewelry Displays

Willows Home and Garden in store jewelry display.

A great display can draw people over to your table. You are essentially creating your store on a table. Purchasing displays can become very costly. This is where the phrase necessity is the mother of invention comes in. Maybe seeing these cleverly made jewelry displays will inspire you to make your own, with items that you may already have in your home. This chest of drawers used as a jewelry display is in the Willows Home and Garden Store.
 

Using household bowls, trays and baskets can be visually fun for your customer and save you money at the same time. Also consider having attractive signs displayed beside your jewelry letting your customers know the price. These chalk boards by Pick Up Sticks are great looking and inviting.

River Song lays out her jewelry in trays with a natural wood frames and linen fabric. This clean, and easy on the eye, display makes you want to take a closer look. If you are worried about someone walking away with your work, at a busy show, pin your pieces to the fabric.

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If your pieces of jewelry are unique to you, then displaying your work in a unique manner will help to emphasize your brand. To save table space you can hang earrings from an upside down mesh pail, recycle a picture frame to hang on a wall, and create a stand out of wood like all of these great examples found on Pinterest.

pinterest

Viva Reviva Blog

Pinterest and Viva Revi blog. 

 We go over DIY display branding in units 5 & 6 of the Sheffield Jewelry Design Course. Creating your own display will give you the opportunity to size and customize your displays so they are cohesive with your work. Spending the time to personalize your display reinforces your style. For some of us this process comes naturally, for others it is a creative process that takes time to evolve. 

Driftwood bar by Haley M.

This long piece of driftwood holds my summer wrap bracelets with a reminder of that beach feeling. Think about your own buying preferences when shopping at a craft show and how you appreciate someone who can clearly communicate their product.

A rosy note blogspot.

This is a very sweet idea, using spools of thread as earring displays, I can visualize a group of them in soft colors. The sleek looking display below by jewelry designer Valerie Sloan looks like it is made from charcoal or possibly large stones. I am not quite sure but it looks great whatever they are. 

Jewelry and display by Valerie Sloan.

Displays should enhance your work, not detract from it. There are a lot of things to see at a show. You want to grab attention for the right reasons, an attractive pleasing look that makes people want to come over and take a closer look at your work.

Give those jewelry displays as much attention as you give your jewelry designs and have fun making them. Don't forget the mirrors!

Sheffield School began as an Interior Design school in 1985, and then expanded our course offerings to train people in other design-related fields, including Feng Shui, Wedding and Event Planning, and Jewelry Design. With thousands of active students and more than 50,000 graduates, Sheffield has trained more design professionals than any school in the world.

Request a free Sheffield School catalog describing our distance education courses.

Subscribe to the Sheffield Designer newsletter.