Jewelry Making Resources | Fire Mountain Gems and Beads

Ask the Experts Turquoise Q&A

Q: I need to identify and price turquoise I purchased in New Mexico 20 years ago. I do know that some pieces are Sleeping Beauty turquoise. What is the best approach to identifying this gemstone?

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Ask the Experts Alternative Donut Ideas Q&A

Q: How can I hang a gemstone donut on a length of cording without using a donut bail?

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Ask the Experts Seed Bead Stitches Q&A

Q: I am pretty new at beading and I am in love with seed beads. I am trying to do a two-row base for a necklace. I have tried peyote and square stitch. How do I get the tension right? I end up with it wiggly, or spiral, or twisty, anything but flat. Thanks.

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How to Add Color to Vitrium® Clay

Vitrium® clay—an air-dry resin clay—comes in transparent white or opaque white. Add color to either type using these two simple steps.

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Ask the Experts Hiding Knots Q&A

Q: I make wrap bracelets and I am having trouble tying off my thread so that my knots aren't so visible. Any suggestions? I love your website and I look through my catalog every day! Thank you!

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Ask the Experts Crystal Stringing Material Q&A

Q: What type of threads can I use for crystals? Can I use silk thread or only wire?

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Ask the Experts Bamboo Coral Q&A

Q: I have some bamboo rattle snake coral that I ordered elsewhere. It is long jagged pieces and I find it to be very ugly so I have put off working with it. Do you have any suggestions about using this product? What else would go with it? Thank you very much.

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Ask the Experts Using a Beading Needle Q&A

Q: How do you thread a beading needle? Do you use a double thread as in regular sewing or a single thread?

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Ask the Experts Smoothing Bead Edges Q&A

Q: I recently purchased packets and strings of gemstone beads. Some of them have jagged, rough edges. What can I use to smooth them?

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Ask the Experts Firing Q&A

Q: I just bought a new kiln and have tried the time and temperature listed, but my pieces are coming out not completely fired. How do I adjust the time and temperature without ruining more silver and copper clay?

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Ask the Experts Hammering Metals Q&A

Q: Please tell me what tool to use for a hammered look on metals like sterling silver and gold-filled?

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Ask the Experts Gold-filled Chain Q&A

Q: I recently bought gold-filled chains that I will resell to my customers. How do I explain gold-filled?

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Ask the Experts Pinch Bails on Briolettes Q&A

Q: When using a sterling silver pinch bail on a briolette, does pinching it together make a secure attachment, or should I be using some type of glue on the bail?

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Ask the Experts Pliers Q&A

Q: Please tell me the difference between "lap joint" and "box joint" pliers?

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Ask the Experts Crimp Tubes for Leather Cord Q&A

Q: What size tubes with loops do I use with 1mm and 2mm leather beading cord? I'm confused about the sizes in the catalog.

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Ask the Experts Knotting Pearls Q&A

Q: My friend brought me a pearl necklace from China that had a twist-together clasp. I knew right away that continually twisting the necklace would break it, so I was very careful to undo the twist exactly the same number of times and in the opposite direction... it broke anyway right inside the first pearl next to the clasp. There's no way I can fix it! What can I do? I love those pearls.

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Ask the Experts Sterling Silver Q&A

Q: Hi, I was wondering if there is a way to tell if a bead is sterling silver or something else. Whatever they are they are solid, nothing scratches off. Thanks

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Ask the Experts Lengthening a Choker Q&A

Q: OOPS! Should have tried on the choker I was making before I added the bar/ring toggle, crimped, and cut the wire--it is too tight! Any suggestions for "extending" the length of a necklace without removing the toggle? I'd hate to re-string it as it was a very intricate (time-consuming) project. Next time, I'll measure twice, cut once!

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Ask the Experts Knotting Q&A

Q: I am looking to make a necklace where the beads are on the thread but not connected to other beads or spacers. Do I just need to knot around the bead or do I need to do something different to hold it in place?

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Ask the Experts Add-a-Bead Chain Q&A

Q: What is "Add-a-bead chain"? What technique secrets apply to this type of chain?

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Ask the Experts Mother-of-Pearl Q&A

Q: Can I dye white mother of pearl beads with Rit dye? What do I cover them with to keep the color from transferring? Thanks!

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Ask the Experts Tennis Bracelet Stringing Material Q&A

Q: I saw a tennis bracelet pattern in Bead and Button book. I have made quite a few of them for gifts for my family although I used 6mm bicone crystals instead of the 4mm the instructions called for. The best one I've made so far was for myself, it was made using 6mm crystal AB. What I'm asking you is this: The pattern calls for mono filament beading thread. I am wondering if this line is going to get cut using the bicone crystals? Also, the pattern calls for a box clasp, mine keeps coming apart every time I wear it--what else can I use instead?

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Ask the Experts Extender/Safety Chain Q&A

Q: What do I need to add to my bracelet designs to keep them from falling off and being lost—my customers are asking and I want to be able to offer them a solution. Thanks.

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Ask the Experts The Best Knot for Donuts Q&A

Q: What is the best knot to use for putting a donut onto a cord so it hangs properly?

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Ask the Experts Release Q&A

Q: I was wondering if you need any kind of release with the flex molds? I'm thinking for PMC you'd want to oil them, but what about resin?

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How to Use the Hot-Fix Heater™ Tool

The Hot-Fix Heater™ rhinestone applicator streamlines the process of applying rhinestuds. Let these clear and concise instructions be your guide.

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Ask the Experts Making a Twisted Necklace Q&A

Q: What is the correct technique to make a twisted 3- or 2-strand necklace without unraveling the strands? What is the best beading wire to use? It's driving me nuts trying to figure it out.

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Ask the Experts Patina Q&A

Q: Instead of Liver of Sulfur, will using muriatic acid in small amounts to oxidize metal make the metal brittle? I like the gunmetal look I achieved in gold- and silver-plated chains but am unsure how long the patina will last. Thanks.

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Ask the Experts Cleaning Q&A

Q: How do I clean my pliers and wire cutters? They have become rusty and old looking.

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Ask the Experts Genuine Q&A

Q: How do you tell the difference between a cameo that is carved out of a single piece of shell, and one that has the image glued onto the background?

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Ask the Experts Securing Powercord® Q&A

Q: How do you tie off an elastic cord, as in a bracelet?

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Ask the Experts Avoid Marring Wire Q&A

Q: When I'm working with wire, I notice my tools are leaving marks behind. How can I avoid marring the wire?

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Ask the Experts Using French Wire Q&A

Q: What is French wire and how do you use it?

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Ask the Experts Pearls, Dyed Q&A

Q: Is the color on dyed pearls permanent?

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Ask the Experts Wire-Wrapping Q&A

Q: What is the best wire for a beginner to use for wire wrapping?

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Single-Strand Necklace

Bright seed bead rocailles frame a brilliant Crystal Passions® pear with a beautiful iridescent rainbow for a gorgeous pendant necklace.

Design Idea PH36

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How to Create a Loop in Loop Chain

Craft delicate, intricate and exhilarating chain designs. These user-friendly instructions will guide you in creating your own custom links.

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Ask the Experts Hinged Earwires Q&A

Q: I purchased a pair of hammered sterling silver earrings online for my daughter. The earrings have a bar closure that broke off (the bar and hinge). I have made a lot of jewelry myself. I tried to replace them with something similar, but could not find anything here on line. How can I repair them?

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Using TierraCast® BeadAligners™ with Large-Hole Beads

Discover how to use TierraCast™ Bead Aligners™—with or without Mini Bead Huggers™—to create secure, stunning designs by following these simple instructions.

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Ask the Experts Repair Q&A

Q: When I restick rhinestones with jewelry cement they lose their sparkle. Why is this? Does the stone need some sort of coating or a special glue?

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Ask the Experts Cleaning and Polishing Q&A

Q: I have trouble with gold/silver filled findings darkening over time. What can I use on them to keep them shiny as if new?

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Three Techniques for Fusing Glass Frit

Glass frit can be fused into glasswork shapes for jewelry, décor, gift items and more. This tutorial offers glass fusing tips and techniques.

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Ask the Experts Art Shows Q&A

Q: I am interested in selling jewelry at craft fairs and shows. I will need to have a pretty large inventory of necklaces, bracelets and earrings. What do you recommend as a good amount of inventory for a fair or show? Thank you!

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Ask the Experts Measurements Q&A

Q: How can I tell what gauge chain a necklace is made of? I want to buy a chain that is the same gauge, but don't know what it is!

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Ask the Experts Conversion Q&A

Q: I have a pair of post earrings that I want to make into dangles but there is no hole. How do I do that?

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Ask the Experts Clay Q&A

Q: What is the easiest way to get Vitrium out of a mold? Thanks.

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Ask the Experts Allergies Q&A

Q: Is titanium a good metal for someone with allergies?

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Ask the Experts Natural Q&A

Q: I made a necklace that was almost entirely wood beads. I made it in the winter. This summer the wood swelled and the necklace was too tight to hang right. Now it is winter again and the beads have shrunk back and the necklace is wearable. Any way to address this issue? It is making me shy away from using wood beads.

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