Ask the Jewelry Experts: Material Obsessions |
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Making beautiful jewelry begins with using materials that speak to you. Three of our top jewelry authors, designers Nancy Alden, Scott David Plumlee, and Stephanie Wells, share the materials they find inspiring.
NANCY ALDEN, author of Simply Gemstones, Simply Pearls, and Simply Stunning Jewelry and cofounder of Beadworks: I have always been inspired by unique and interesting beads. The current trend in jewelry design is heading toward a greater variety of bead styles, both new and vintage, which has been a great jumping-off point for my imagination.
SCOTT DAVID PLUMLEE, author of Handcrafting Chain and Bead Jewelry, Chain and Bead Jewelry Geometric Connections, and Chain and Bead Jewelry Creative Connections: Argentium silver, invented by Peter Johns, is a new alloy with amazing properties for jewelers. When soldering with Argentium silver, it doesn’t form any “fire-scale,” or darkening of the metal, nor any “reticulation,” or wrinkling. Both attributes allow Argentium wire to be heated on one end to form a perfectly smooth teardrop-shape, used to make headpins and set gemstone beads in a variety of chain patterns, as illustrated in my third book, Chain and Bead Jewelry Geometric Connections. As an added bonus, many clients who have an allergic reaction to other metals find Argentium to be wearable.
STEPHANIE WELLS, author of The Earring Style Book: I am currently obsessed with brass sheet metal! I’m still learning about the tools and finishes, but I just love the color and the possibilities. I plan on doing a sheet metal collection for the Double Happiness holiday 2011 collection.
