Tools & Supplies

What do the ancient Egyptians, Native Americans, 1970's celebrities and people today all have in common? A love of turquoise! This article highlights this gemstone's popularity throughout history.

One of the most important things in jewelry-making is having the right tools. Check out this handy guide to jewelry-making hand tools to learn the right tool for every job, ensuring a professional-looking finish every time.

What does your choice of metal say about you? This article explores the meaning of different metals in jewelry designs to help you learn what your jewelry is saying.

Ever wonder what a bail is? How do you use it and what should you look for to find what you need for your designs? All of that has been compiled in one handy location.

In this article and video lean everything about pearls ... or at least a good start, such as how they are formed and harvested, pearl quality and how to tell genuine from imitation pearls.

Have questions about mandrels? Learn all about this valuable metalsmithing tool and the different options available in this article on mandrels.

Travel to the Crystal Valley and explore the rich heritage of Czech glass beads.

What is marcasite? And why is its price tag higher than other gemstones? To answer this important question, a little gemology and fashion history is in order.

The benefits of torch-firing enamel can be incredible for your designs as you don't need to rely on a bulky kiln. The end result is beautiful enameled beads and metal just for you.

Learn about the different types of jewelry-making wire and how to use them.

Using cold connections can really change how your jewelry comes together. Find out what metalsmithing master Tammy Honaman says are some of the best tools for cold connecting metal.

Have you never worked with leather before? It can be tough (heh) sometimes but don’t worry, Tammy Honaman is here to guide you like only a jewelry-making expert can.

Opal is an uncommon gemstone with an equally uncommon beauty and a sadly common fragility--leading it to be recreated in the laboratory as a stronger composite that withstands the stresses the natural opal cannot.

Make your designing life easier with bead boards. Learn the bead board types and how these tools are advantageous to the beginner as well as the high-producing professional.

Delve into the rich history and cultural significance of jade, highlighting its revered status in Chinese culture, its exceptional toughness, and its various forms, including jadeite and nephrite, as well as its widespread use in jewelry and carvings, with an emphasis on the importance of color, translucency, and texture in determining jade quality.

Discover the complex nature of light and the human eye and the importance of daylight, not only in jewelry-making but all forms of art to find true color.

Find the answers to your questions about sterling silver-filled wire and findings in this performance results test conducted by jewelry-making experts. Discover why this metal offer a tremendous value and amazing workability.

An insightful exploration of the intricate art of creating lampwork glass pendants. Review the fascinating process involving fire and steel tools, the various types of glass used, and the historical evolution of lampworking, with a focus on the tools and materials essential for crafting these exquisite glass components.

Q: Sure hope you can help me. I'm making a necklace and my pendant is a lampwork bead, sort of rondelle shaped. I want to use a large jump ring, 17mm, but I am having trouble as it does not seem secure on the necklace. Is there something I can use or some technique to keep this ring securely closed? I really don't want to invest in or learn soldering. Thank you so much.

Q: I need tips, please, on how to organize a large inventory of beads and findings. Not the physical components—trays, bags, etc.—but the logical organization. Do the experts find it most useful to organize by color? By size? By material? By shape? Which are the main categories, and how are items sorted within the main categories? For example, beads might be organized first by main color (pink, yellow, black), then by big category of material (gemstone, glass), then specific material (calcite, mookaite, crystal, crackle glass, lampwork). Then within material by size or shape. What logical organization works best for you to help you find what you need quickly? Do different people organize different ways? How do you organize strands that have mixed colors or materials?

Q: I was given a battery operated bead reamer as a gift, but am hesitant to try it. I was watching your bead reamer video and didn't even see a powered version mentioned as an option. It seems to me the hand versions offer more control. Do you have any recommendations?

Q: I have collected lots of abalone shells. What is the best way to drill holes in the shells, shine, polish, etc., to make jewelry?

Q: I've seen Chainmaille sites online and thought, "Wow, that looks cool! I want to make it!" How can I cut the wire to make jump rings, without it flattening the end of the cut part? I know I can buy machine made jumprings that are perfectly shaped and cut, but I want to make my own, so I can fabricate the entire piece. I've been using regular wire cutters, and am looking for a cutter that won't flatten the jumpring ends. Thanks

Sculpt clay with precision and ease. These step-by-step instructions will show you how to effortlessly utilize Makin's Professional® Clay Core and Ultimate Clay Extruder®.