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?

Q: I've come across the terms "lentil beads" and "melon beads." What are they? How do you describe them?

Q: I am looking for the Crystal Passions® bead colors for all the different cancers. I have breast cancer and want to make bracelets for the nurses at the oncology department at my hospital. I know there are names for them, but they do not match the beads. Can you help?

Q: I think your how-to videos are a wonderful addition to your site. I was watching the bead tip and French wire videos in particular. My question/suggestion is that I don't have a problem with finishing my jewelry on the first end but after the stringing is complete it is the second end which gives me trouble, when you have to tighten the string so that there are no loose beads. French wire is very difficult to use, but doubly so when you are finishing the second end. For example: when I pull the loop, the wire tends to spread and becomes useless. Can you include the second half of the how-to as well as the first?

Q: How do you avoid leaving fingerprints on your polymer clay beads?

Q: What kind of dye can I use on bone beads?

Q: Can crimp beads be used with thread?

Q: What is the difference between side clamp-on, standard and bottom clamp-on bead tips?

Q: Is it better to put a smaller stone in a larger setting, or a larger stone in a smaller setting?

Q: What does "gold-filled" mean?

Q: How do I choose the size stretch cord to make bracelets?

Q: Can any size bead be used for tubular peyote, or is it confined to the smaller beads? What shape bead works best?

Q: I am new to loom working and would like to know how to attach my project to a steel bracelet blank.

Q: I have several strands of tiny 2.5mm diamond beads and am in a quandary as to the best way to string them. I've tried fishing line and extra fine beading wire, but I'm not satisfied with the results. I've also tried stringing them onto jump rings I made with 18K 30-gauge wire, but it made them look too spread out. Any suggestions?

Q: What is the difference between regular sterling silver 2x2mm cut crimp tubes and lightweight sterling silver 2x2mm cut crimp tubes? Under what circumstances would I choose to use one over the other?

Q: What size silk cord or thread is needed to make tassels?

Q: How can Thread Magic® help my seed beading?

Q: A gallery that recently bought some of my jewelry asked me not to sell similar designs through my own website, at shows or to other galleries. I'm not sure how to respond to their request? It feels too restrictive. Any advice would be appreciated.

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

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 am wondering how to drill small holes in certain pieces to accommodate certain designs. How would I drill holes in sterling silver or brass components? Also, how would I drill an extra hole in a pendant made of howlite? HELP!

Q: My children tangled my memory wire--is there an easy way to untangle it for use? Thank you!!

Q: How do you take out a bead from earrings and replace with new ones? The bead is glued in.

Q: Hello, I am making lots of sterling silver and gemstone pieces (mostly earrings). How should I care for the pieces? Can I use a silver polish when the pieces have bead components? Thanks for your advice.

Q: I've used toothpaste to clean my silver necklace for about the last 4-5 years. I was just wondering if I was ok in using it, or am I hurting my necklace?

Q: Ring sizes: I notice you often mention ring size 6 or 7 etc. Is this size in mm? And what is the average ring size for a lady?

Q: I have a bracelet I made out of large chunks of turquoise and spaced out with much smaller coral and bronze beads. The problem is that my arm hairs get pinched really badly, even though I tried to leave some room for the beads to move around. Is there a trick to knowing how much room to leave so the beads can move without pinching?

Q: I bought an odd-shaped cameo in Roatán, Honduras. Would I damage the product if I bonded a bail to it? I bought just the piece, so there is no sterling or any other type of metal attached to it already.

Q: What size bead should I use to put between charms for a Pandora or Biagi bracelet? The mm means next to nothing to average people. Thanks!

Q: What is the best way to compensate for stringing beads that have different hole sizes?

Q: I bought some silver Art Clay some years ago, it's never been opened. Do you know if it can still be used? I would be firing it with a butane torch. Thanks!

Q: How do you use Kato Polyclay? Do you need something else to mix with it or use it by itself. How do you know how long to bake it? Thanks.

Q: If I make a necklace that has the gems floating, what type of wire is good, and what type of crimp bead is good for keeping the bead in a suspended hold?

Q: I'm making hatbands, but I don't know how to finish the ends. They need to be adjustable. Do you have any ideas? I'd prefer to NOT sew the bands to a backing. Thanks!

Q: I've been beading for about a year and my biggest issue is the excess wire at the end of my project. Is there a trick to threading it into the strand of beads?

Q: I have a glass pendant that the loop broke off of. How can I wire wrap it and put a loop at the top, where the glass loop broke off?

Q: I am seeing cabochons used with pictures and words, and I want to use this style to make a 50th wedding anniversary piece for my mom. Is it just printer paper, or is there a certain glue or mounting that has to be used?

Q: How do I check for colorfastness?

Q: I'm hearing that aluminum is a good metal for jewelry chain. What are the benefits to using aluminum vs. sterling silver? Also, what is rhodium? Is it hypoallergenic? Thank you.

Q: How do you get the kinks, creases, etc. out of leather cord or other types of cord so it will lay nicely?

Q: Is there some magic way to attach a crimp tube with an attached clasp to a finished piece strung on wire? Attaching the first tube at one end is easy, but when attaching the second one, the wire slips back through the beads (and then the beads fall off the wire causing endless frustration)--and the wire is cut so short (to fit into the crimp), there's nothing to grasp. The opening on the tube is so narrow that it would be nearly impossible to put a long piece of wire through the tube and cut it later. Any suggestions?

Q: How do I attach a ribbon to a beading wire?

Q: I have some carved shell flowers. The hole is in the middle of each flower. How do I attach beads, and how do I make them into earrings?

Q: I am making earrings and a necklace using 2-3 links. Should I use a round jump ring or an oval jump ring to attach the links?

Q: I am totally new to beading. I want to make a right-angle-weave bracelet. Can you tell me where to find instructions for adding the center bead to each right angle group? Thanks.

Q: I just bought some beads, charms and hoops to make wine charms. They look great, but the beads fall off easily. Do you have any suggestions for what I could do to fix this? I bought 25mm, 24-gauge hoops. Thanks!

Q: I would like to string some heavy gemstone beads on elastic. What's the best material to use and how do I finish it? If I tie it, how do I hide the knot? Thanks.

Q: I am just not good with knots. I would prefer to use crimp tubes on stretch cord ("powercord"). I would like some reassurance that finished bracelets would last for a long time with wear. Have you had any testimonies from clients on this, and what is your opinion?

Q: I have sold my jewelry and wire work on consignment before, with pretty good success. However, I recently spoke with a shop owner who wanted me to pay a nonrefundable consignment fee to sell my work. I'd honestly never heard this before, and I'm a bit wary. Should I be?