Rings & Things Jewelry Blog

Depending on the beads you use, this quick and easy unisex design can go from frilly and feminine to macho and masculine.  Created by: Michelle Horning   Designer TipsFor step-by-step instructions, see the Double Wrap Hammered Ring portion of our 2014 blog post on creating rustic hammered wire wrapped Swarovski crystal rings.Putting a small bend in the wire on either side of the bead before attaching to the thicker gauge wire will help keep the bead in place.Make sure the ends of the l …

Created by: Summer Melaas   Designer TipsAdd about 1/2" of soil, a small amount of moss, then sedum or other tiny succulents to a glass bottle charm. Total dirt/moss should be about 3/4". Mist very lightly as needed to maintain; do not overwater.Cut roughly 12" of wire. Wrap wire around the bottle approx. 3 times. Wrap wire one more time half way so that both wires are on opposite sides of the bottle. Make loops with each one of these wires for your chain. Continue to wrap the wire 2 m …

Created by: Cindy Morris Designer TipsThis exclusive Rings & Things wrapped leather bracelet kit contains everything needed to make one triple-wrap bracelet with parts to spare. It can also be worn as a necklace.Each kit contains detailed step-by-step instructions with photographs. Read the instructions thoroughly before starting.Also see: Blog post: How to make wrapped leather bracelets1 ea #45-204-010 Kit, Lashed Wrap Bracelet, Brown and Turquoise Blueor, see below to purchase in …

Created by: Mollie ValenteDesigner TipsString the following beads onto a eye pin: 1 round corrugated-metal bead, 2 rubber wire keepers (these work as positioning beads for the large-hole Mirage bead), 1 Mirage bead, and 1 round corrugated-metal bead.Finish the end of the eye pin with a wrapped loop; snip off the excess eye-pin tail. For step by step instructions on making wrapped loops, see Jewelry Basics 101 (PDF).Use a 5mm jump ring to attach the wood charm to the bottom loop of the eye pin.At …

Are you asking yourself "What clasp should I use for my bead stringing, wire lashing, kumihimo, multi-strand, chunky chain, awesome creation?"  There are 100's of options, and the "correct" answer is based on the weight and type of jewelry, as well as your personal preference and the stringing material(s) you choose. Find brief answers and illustrations here, with links to jewelry-making findings and supplies.Get more how-to tips with our free guides to finishing methods and stringing mater …

You are cordially invited to the next meeting of the Spokane Jewelers Guild.Meetings are normally held at 5:00pm on the 3rd Wednesday of each month, September thru May, at Rings & Things, 1011 E 2nd Ave Suite #6, Spokane WA.If/when current guidelines require it, wear a mask.Doors lock promptly at 5pm.Please bring a piece of your jewelry to share with the Guild, and…RSVP to Polly at 509-342-0438There may be exceptions to either the 3rd Wednesday, or the location, so be sure to RSVP!Membership …

Soldering (usually pronounced soddering) is the method of joining metal parts together, using another metal that has a lower melting temperature than the parts being joined.Solder is the portion that melts at a lower temperature. Flux is a substance that cleans the metal surfaces to create a stronger bond and help prevent oxidation. Most -- but not all! -- soft solders  and  hard solders require the use of flux.For details about soft solder vs. hard solder, and which typ …

Resin Jewelry 101 Epoxy jewelry resins are durable, usually clear or translucent, resins that come in two parts: the resin and the hardener. When the two parts are mixed together, a chemical reaction occurs that changes the epoxy from a liquid to a solid. When you mix the 2 parts together, you have the option of adding colorants and other inclusions such as sand, glitter, mica, and more.   You can add inclusions (mica, glitter, images, chain, crystals, charms...) to a bezel or a mold before …

What is Polymer Clay?Brands & StylesTools & TipsWhere to Buy ItResourcesWhat is Polymer Clay? Polymer clay is a manmade, non-toxic polymer-based alternative to natural clay. Its only real similarity to natural clay is that it is shaped while soft and then heated for hardening. Owning a kiln is not necessary for polymer-clay work, since the temperatures needed to bake it are easily achieved in a home oven (265° to 275° Fahrenheit). Each polymer-clay brand is made with its own "recipe," u …

What is "Nickel Free"?The term "nickel free" can be confusing since jewelry marked nickel free is still allowed to contain a very small amount of nickel ... but it is such a tiny amount that it takes extremely sensitive instruments to measure it. The European Union's (EU) Nickel Directive limits the amount of nickel that may be released onto the skin from jewelry and other products. This type of measurement is distinct from measuring the percentage of nickel that exists in an alloy's composition …