Jewelry Classes

Jewelry Classes

from Ring by Ring Designs (me)

 

Most of you are aware that in addition to jewelry designing and producing different pieces, I love to teach, especially Chain Maille and lately Kumihimo.

 

Lots of people ask me "Why teach people how to do what you do?"

 

 

 

 

Well, that is rather simple, well, sort of simple. First many people are not willing to pay the price, particularly, for the Chain Maille that I make. Showing them how will either get one of two results.

 

 

 

They love it as much as I do and are very pleased with their results or else, they now realize how much time it takes and how it is not as easy as they thought.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That response usually brings them to the appreciation of the amount of work that goes into Chain Maille (plus and maybe most important, the cost of the silver used).

 

 

 

Now, they will understand the prices I have to charge for a piece of hand made Chain Maille. Some have even said I don't charge enough. :-)

 

 

 

 

I've been able to share Kumihimo lately with the local Easton Library Beaders.

 

 

 

 

 

A very great group to teach who have taken the craft in many directions. I also teach Kumihimo at Beadcache, a local bead store in Mansfield, MA.

 

 

 

 

 

Kumihimo can have completely different looks depending on the choice of materials used. The bracelet above is made with seed beads.

 

 

This necklace is made with strands of fibers and has a shell pendant attached.

 

 

 

 

This bracelet used long Magatama beads and seed beads.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've also taught at my home. Makes it easier for me.

 

 

 

Awhile ago (you can tell by the quality)  I made a short video of some choices for a specific Chain Maille Bracelet. Click here or on the picture to see the video.

 

 

 

Anyone interested let me know.

 

Gemstone Pendants

Gemstone Pendants

(new ones)

 

A few weeks ago I made a trip to my gemstone supplier, Two Guys Fossils.

 

 

 

This is the pendant I made for my friend who was looking for a gift for a friend (See this post awhile ago - Christmas already.)  This pendant is sold but I purchased many others and here they are

 

Some of my favorite stones, Picture Jasper and then of course Malachite and Lapis Lazuli.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They come with an 18 inch silver plate chain. If you want a different length just ask. Here is a picture of a Malachite pendant with a chain.

 

 

 

 

 

These gemstone pendants make great gifts. They go well with different outfits and are one of a kind gift as no two stones are exactly alike.

 

Here is a link to all the various pendants available.

 

 

I will send a picture of the exact gemstone to make sure you will like what you order.

 

 

Spiro Pendant Revisited again

Spiro Pendant

Revisited again

 

Awhile ago I showed the new Spiro Pendant I had made. It was available in several colors and I showed a picture of the crystals but not made up.

 

Since then I was able to make up three more. Well, one is in the same color, one in green and one in Golden Shadow.

 

Here is the original color I showed, Bermuda Blue:

 

 

 

and here is Green

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bermuda Blue shown on a chain

 

 

 

 

OK, where is a picture of th Golden Shadow?

 

Well, I hate to admit it but my comfy chair ate it! I'm not kidding. We turned the chair upside down and looked in all the crevices, flash light in hand and it is no where to be found. Darn! I dropped it while sitting in the chair, on the left side and abracadabra it disappeared.

 

I did find several missing beads, a dime, and some legos but no Spiro. Go figure.

 

Well, I've added these two to the website. Hope you will enjoy having them available.

 

 

Pop on Top Bracelets

Pop on Top Bracelets

(new ones)

 

When we lived in Hemlock, NY I used to teach several different sewing classes at a fabric store in Honeoye. One of the perks of the class was that I was always making shirts for my family to show how it was done.

 

 

 

I demonstrated how to cut, sew and finish, usually shirts with ribbed necks (above) or the more popular collar and placket 3 button openings. My husband still wears some. (He never throws out anything - but that is another story)

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I taught Kumihimo for the Beading group at the Ames Library recently, I found a similar perk. I now have 3 new bracelets.

 

 

 

 

It took me awhile to actually finish them with clasps since I really only showed finishes and did not do it in the class time. Now I've finished them!!!

 

 

 

 

 

I used the pattern from Sally Battis that she calls "Pop on Top".

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've made Kumihimo bracelets with the long Magatama beads before and I really like them but sometimes they seem a bit thick and bulky to wear.

 

 

 

 

This pattern uses seed beads for the bottom part

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and the Magatama beads to "Pop on the Top" of the bracelet. You may notice that I used different beads in this example and not Magatamas. Good catch!

 

 

 

 

 

Now that these are finished, I've added them to my website. You can see/purchase them here.