Ask the Experts

Q: What is the difference between saltwater and freshwater pearls?

Q: What needle should I use for my seed bead project?

Q: When I use my split ring pliers to open the ring and put a charm on, I seem to "ruin" the ring. It doesn't close back up properly, but remains separated from the center. Am I opening them incorrectly?

Q: Can garments which have been embellished with hot fix rhinestones be ironed safely? Or will the heat of the ironing cause them to un-adhere? I would be ironing at synthetic or silk settings, not at high.

Q: I would like to know what wire to use for bead crochet.

Q: I recently collected a lot of small stones and pebbles on the beach and want to wire wrap them and turn them into pendants. However, after the stones dried, they lost some of the appeal that made me pick them up in the first place. How can I treat the stones to give them the ''just out of the ocean'' look again? And I need this to be permanent and safe to wear. Thank you,

Q: Which precious metal wire forms the best, and does it hold its shape?

Q: How do you secure cord coils to rubber cord? The fit is pretty tight, but is there some way to secure it further? Thanks.

Q: I would like to start using pure copper beads and findings, but I'm not sure about whether or not they can be cleaned at all, and if so, how? What about copper plated items?

Q: A customer of mine told me that a competitor was bad-mouthing my business. We're in a small town, and I know the competitor. What should I do?

Q: How do you cut memory wire into individual loops for use with strand separators?

Q: Hi, I am new at jewelry-making. Do I have to use a beading needle with the Accu-Flex® wire? Will it speed up the process? Thanks!

Q: I'm curious about cup chain and cup-chain link mesh. Exactly what is it and how is it used? Thank you

Q: I am looking to sell my jewelry online. Do I need to get a business number if I only plan on selling $100 or $200 worth of jewelry each year, if I am lucky?

Q: I love doing shows! The problem I have is when there are several people standing at the booth. I'm afraid if I focus on one person, the others will leave because I am not paying attention to them. What do you recommend I do?

Q: I am going to add some crystals to wooden letters. What would be better, flat backs or hot fix, and what glue would I use? If hot fix is better, how do you use them? Thank you

Q: My great aunt used to tie her beaded necklaces into a lover's knot, but I have lost the instructions. Do you know how?

Q: I recently started selling jewelry. I've had a repeat customer that has bought my standard sized beaded bracelets. However, she now wants them re-sized to be smaller. Should I charge her a fee to do this? I don't want to lose money on my supplies to do this, but I don't want to lose a repeat customer.

Q: How do you know what size thread to use for a necklace strung with knots in between each bead? I have had experience with the beads slipping over the knots.

Q: How do you clean the black off around the holes of the beads ... this is from the wire rubbing with wear? Thanks.

Q: I have a faithful customer who wears clip-on earrings. What can I use to make them less painful for her? Is there something similar to the coating for tools that could be used?

Q: What on earth is druzy and what is druzy quartz and blue lace agate druzy? Merriam-Webster on-line does not recognize the word druzy.

Q: What should I use to clean up any excess Apoxie from my piece? Should the excess be removed before set and dry?

Q: Hello! I have a question about how to market my fine silver pendants: With the rising cost of precious metals I often find it difficult to sell my pendants for the price I want if I consider the chains that go with them. I really want to sell my pendants "as is" without a chain to keep costs down, but I feel if I do that it hinders sales since people want to wear the pieces right away or they don't have a chain of their own. Should I just charge more and supply a chain? Or should I keep my prices affordable and skip the chain? I was thinking about using a cord or something since it would be cheaper, but I'm afraid it won't mesh well with the more formal look of my pieces. Help?

Q: I recently completed a bracelet using various colors and two sizes of seed beads. After wearing the bracelet once, I noticed the finish on the semi-transparent, size 8 purple ones wore off over some of the exposed surfaces. I'm told this problem happens often with purple and red beads. Any suggestions?

Q: With the precious metal market so volatile, I've been using some silver plated findings in my designs. On my cards I tell of what each piece is made. Is there a legal explanation required when you have a piece, say, 20% silver plate, 80% sterling or can I just say SP and Sterling or Sterling w SP and leave it at that? I don't want to mislead my customers but I also want to point out that the piece is mostly sterling. My cards are not large so space is limited.

Q: I have some opals stored in glycerine oil. They have been in oil since the 1930s. Must they stay in the oil or can I put them in cage bails?

Q: Only a few of your pearls indicate a grade in the description. Does that mean that the others are D grade or below? Thanks.

Q: I buy pendants and antique beads at garage sales, flea markets and other sources. I use these pendants as focal points to build my necklaces around and some of them have a name printed on the back. Do I have a copyright problem or is there some other problem I might have if I want to sell my work?

Q: How do you use spring coils? I often see them in men's jewelry.

Q: I have some copper pieces that I would like to look a bit darker, more antique. What product should I use to do this?

Q: Someone I know purchased a bracelet from an art gallery - it was silver and copper. She told me that the first time she wore the bracelet it got wet and the parts that were copper turned black. Why would this happen?

Q: I'm looking for your video or answer on how to join a new thread onto an existing thread for projects that need you to use a lot of thread, like necklaces, etc. What I mean is: I have started my project (beaded fringe on a bracelet, just like your video) and the string is now too short to do any more beading. How do I join the next piece of thread? Thank you.

Q: I am attempting to make a jeweled leather dog collar. I would like to affix rhinestones and other colored crystal stones to the smooth leather face of the collar. The stones I am using are framed and backed in silver tone metal without rivets or claws to grip the leather. What is the best way to permanently attach these stones to the leather collar?

Q: I would like to know how to get started with seed beads. I want to seed bead a 5" hoop to make a dreamcatcher. All I want to do is the outside (if not) the hoop in seed beads. Thank you.

Q: I am trying to learn the benefits of resin beads over plastic beads, what are the characteristics of resin beads?

Q: The manager of a gift shop told me she wasn't interested in carrying my work, and all I could think of to say was, "Thanks anyway." What's the right way to handle this kind of rejection?

Q: Should I offer a satisfaction guarantee for my jewelry?

Q: What is the best size and type of sterling silver wire to make earring wires?

Q: I love the look of the gold-plated beads with my gemstones but they "turn" or tarnish with only one or two wearings, and then they look awful! Is there anything I can do to stop this? I can't afford to use the real thing.

Q: I have seen a necklace that I would love to make, but I need advice on the clasp at the back. The necklace was 10 strands of silk thread with pearls and crystals knotted about 1 to 1-1/2 inches apart. It looked like a crimp with a loop that finished it off, but I am unsure which one to order to complete the necklace, or even if this is the right way to go. Can you please advise? Thanks so much!

Q: I have made and sold over 50 beaded lanyards since November. Now all of a sudden people are coming back because they have broken. I used Accu-Flex® beading wire 7 strand 0.019 clear for stringing. Do you have any suggestions for something stronger? I have a large order coming up and really don't want to restring.

Q: Would you please explain the differences of sterling silver wire dead soft/half hard and what type of projects they are best suited for. Thank you much!

Q: When working with wood beads, what type of stringing material works best?

Q: How do you make earrings for people who don't have pierced ears?

Q: Do you know of a way to clean cat's eye beads?

Q: Is there a rule of thumb for what gauge of headpins to use for various projects (i.e. making dangles on earrings, adding a dangle to a bracelet, etc.)?

Q: How do I get my pieces clean after people handle it at a show, and get fingerprints off, too?