JTV Blog

June is Pearl Month at Jewelry Television and JTV.com

Ah, the lovely month of June when JTV turns its eye to PEARLS! All month long Jewelry Television broadcasts and JTV.com will be featuring pearl jewelry and loose pearls--the birthstone for June. Keep an eye out for keshi and Biwa pearl rings, necklaces, earring and brooches, saltwater and freshwater pearls,  Tahitian and South Sea pearl jewelry and loose pearls, Akoya pearls and so much more. For more information, be sure to check out Jewelry Television's official YouTube channel and view the 12 new Pearl Videos we've just uploaded. Several are by Mark Brown, and others share some of the pearl lore surrounding Cleopatra, Queen Elizabeth, and more. Only from Jewelry Television and JTV.com. - Dana Sebby, JTV.com Online Community Manager

Make Margot Potter's "Green with Envy" Necklace and Earrings Design (Jewel School by JTV)

Green with Envy Collar and Earrings, Design by Margot Potter for Jewel School by JTV

I love collar necklaces- they frame the face so beautifully!  This design can be reinterpreted using a variety of beads. I’ve featured Jewel School's faceted black lip shell, Brazilian rainforest marble and dark green serpentine beads in my version. I love the richness of these colors together, but think how pretty this could be for a bride in all pearl and crystal?  Designs can change entirely just by making small adjustments in the materials you use. As always, you can find everything you need to make this project, using the beads and gems that suit you best, on JTV.com in the Jewel School by JTV section.

- Margot

Materials

JLW4718 15 Brazilian rainforest marble coin beads

JLW4718 12 Brazilian rainforest marble oval beads 

JLW4015 15 rectangular faceted black shell beads

JLW4216 47 Canadian green serpentine round beads

JLW2103A Silver plated lobster clasp 

JLW1782A 6mm silver tone plated jump ring 

JLW1952A 2 size 2 silver tone plated crimp tubes 

JSWR10B .018 19 strand Beadalon wire 

JLW1796E 2 silver tone plated lever back ear wires

JLW1792E 15 silver tone plated head pins 

JSWR86C 22 gauge tinned copper Artistic wire 

Tools

PLIER27 Round nose pliers 

PLIER22 Chain nose pliers 

PLIER25 Flush cutters 

PLIER21 Standard crimp tool

Begin by creating your dangles.  Create 15 coil topped dangles using the head pins and the marble coin beads.

1.       Create 15 double looped rosary chain segments using your faceted shell rectangles and 22 gauge wire.

2.       Create 21 double looped rosary chain segments using the dark green serpentine rounds.

3.       You will need to create 7 dangles with a serpentine round on top and a marble coin on the bottom.  Create 8 dangles with a serpentine round on top, a shell rectangle in the middle and a marble coin at the bottom.

4.       Attach the clasp to a 19” segment of wire using one of the crimp tubes and the crimp tool.  When crimping, make sure to make your loop large enough to allow the wire to move freely around the clasp.  ¼” is a good size for your loop.

5.       Thread the beads and dangles on the beading wire in the following pattern: round, short dangle, round, oval, round, long dangle, round, oval, round, short dangle, round…repeat this pattern alternating long and short dangles until you reach the 13^th round and hanging dangle segment.

6.       Attach wire to jump ring using crimp tube and tool and cutting off any excess wire.  Be sure to always round your designs before crimping so they are supple when worn and not too stiff.

7.       To make earrings, create two short dangles (serpentine round, shell rectangle, coin) and attach them at the top to lever back ear wires using your chain nose pliers.

 

 

JTV World Tour: Gemstones from Nepal, Turkey, Russia, Czech Republic

Beginning Thursday, May 26, through Sunday, May 29, Jewelry Television and JTV.com will embark on the next leg of our spectacular World Tour of gemstones and their exotic origins. This week our destinations are Nepal, Turkey, Russia, and the Czech Republic, home to some of the most rare gemstones on earth, such as alexandrite and demantoid garnet, as well as newer faves like chrome diopside (pictured left is a beautiful Russian Chrome diopside ring in 10kt white gold with diamonds and is currently selling for only $206.96 on jtv.com). Be sure to tune in to Jewelry Television or shop JTV.com for all the best JTV World Tour gemstone and jewelry deals! 

 

 

 

Jewel School by JTV Newsletter: Meet Our New Team Members, Make "Something Blue" Necklace, Customer Show and Tell

Hey Jewel Schoolers! 

Can you believe summer is just around the corner?!  Where does the time go?  I can’t believe I’ve been working with Jewel School now for ten months!  Time truly does fly when you’re having fun.  Gearing up for summer, we’ve got a lovely knotted necklace that is perfect for a bride or anyone attending a summer wedding.  Bridal Jewelry is fun to make and if you make your own jewelry to sell, it’s a lucrative niche for the designer.  You can use the Easy Knotter or the Beadalon Knotter tool to make these pretty exposed silk necklaces, they’re simple to create and stunning when worn.  Speaking of the Easy Knotter, we are thrilled to have Maureen Olivetto back on Jewel School on Thursday, June 2.  If you missed out on this incredibly smart tool the first time, now is your chance to get one home and start playing!

We also have the most auspicious return of Katie Hacker with her fun, customizable components on Sunday, May 22.  KatieDids are designed to be used with 4mm beads, clay, resin, wire.  Wait until you see these innovative and ingenious metal frames you can embellish endlessly!  Katie is the host of Beads, Baubles and Jewels on PBS as well as being an author, designer, Beadalon Design team member and an ambassador for Create Your Style with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS.  Mark those calendars so you don’t miss this show!

I know you’ve all been waiting patiently for the next generation of Jewel School DVDs and I am happy to tell you that the first one is finished editing!  We are producing copies as I type and the first DVD should be available on Jewel School in the next month!  Stay tuned for our second DVD with Jackie Truty of ArtClay^™ and much, much more to come in the future.  We’re all tickled sixteen shades of pink around here!  We hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed making them.

BIG NEWS for Jewel School!  We’re moving!  Well, figuratively speaking.  Beginning Thursday, May 26, both the Thursday and Sunday Jewel School shows will be on air from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. EDT!  This means we can invite our West Coast fans to the party!  Huzzah! 

We are so excited that Julie Evans is now a member of the Jewel School team. She’s lives the art of buying beads and everything else that goes into the Jewel School inventory. That’s great news!  Julie’s heading out on buying trips this summer including an international trip to Asia!  Read more about this amazing woman further down in the newsletter.   

Calling all wire wrappers!  Our customer this month is Jacque from Garden City, Kansas!  Jacque creates stunning jewelry and has designed a beautiful website featuring wire wrapped pieces. Grandniece Emilee is working it, too!  Jacque is in our customer spotlight this month.

Until next time, Jewel Schoolers, happy beading!

Margot Potter, Jewel School Education and Creative Coordinator

Veteran Retail Merchandiser Joins Jewel School™

It is with pleasure we welcome veteran retail merchandiser Julie Evans to the Jewel School team. Since joining the company last month, Julie has added new meaning to the words hit the ground running!  On the job two days, she headed out the door to our four day Nashville Southern Women’s Show event and then quickly jumped into a redesign of Gem Gifts all the while getting up to speed with our Jewel School initiatives.  As Jewel School Buyer, Julie brings so much to the table including 26 years of solid business experience creating, analyzing, negotiating, and executing strategic business plans in the retail industry.

Please join me in welcoming Julie Evans to Jewel School.

Jeffrey Banks, Jewel School^™ Divisional Merchandising Manager

A Message from Julie Evans, New Buyer for Jewel School by JTV

Salute!! Gorgeous Bella Venetian Beads are coming to Jewel School for your up close viewing on Thursday, June 16.  Bella mean beautiful in Italian and that may be an understatement.  They are sparkling stunners!

Kathy Fox journeys to Italy and selects an assortment of Bella Venetian Beads.  Artistically inspired by European opulence, the beads are created by the hands of the finest bead makers in Venice and Murano using secret glass recipes and traditions passed down from generation to generation. The centuries old process of hand forming single glass beads is truly fascinating with a vintage appeal. Venetian Beads use the power of natural light to fashion a colorful dazzle for the eyes. They are truly spectacular. No imitations here!!

Shop with us on June 16 and purchase your own Bella Venetian Glass Beads at an affordable price JTV secured just for Jewel School. You will be amazed at their beauty and inspired to create your own unique pieces of wearable art with these one of a kind glass beads.

Until then, wishing you all things bella!

Julie Evans, Jewel School Buyer

Make Your Own "Something Blue" Bridal Necklace, by Margot Potter for Jewel School

Pearls and sparkling crystals are suspended along baby blue silk in this lovely three strand design that is perfect for the bride.  You can hand knot and measure this or use the Easy Knotter, either method works well.  Try using EZ-Crimp ends for your knotted designs, they work surprisingly well! 

Materials

JLW3053 20 8mm cream freshwater potato pearls  

JLW3357B 40 8x5mm faceted cracked crystal rondelles    

JLW4728J 80 11/0 clear ab lined seed beads  

JSWR130A 3 size 4 Turquoise Silk Spools  

JLW1768A 6 sterling silver EZ-Crimp ends  

JLW1782A 2 6mm silver tone jump rings  

JLW2103A 1 silver tone lobster clasp  

Tools

PLIER21B Mighty Crimp Tool  

JSKIT001 Beadalon Knotter Tool and Snips  

(OR Easy Knotter and scissors)

 JSRL04 Ruler  

Instructions

1.     Slide needle on silk into an EZ-Crimp End, the needle will need to thread inside of the EZ-Crimp and slide out of the front hole.  Slide this down silk about 20” from needle and attach EZ-Crimp with Mighty Crimp Tool.

2.    Make a knot flush to the end of the EZ-Crimp.  Slide on the following beads: 2mm, 8mm, 2mm, pearl, 2mm, 8mm, 2mm.  Make a knot flush to the end of your bead segment. 

3.    Move down 1.5” and make a knot.  Slide on the following beads: 2mm, 8mm, 2mm, pearl, 2mm, 8mm, 2mm.  Make a knot flush to the end of your bead segment. 

4.    Continue moving down 1.5” from each beaded segment for a total of 7 segments.  Thread needle into an EZ-Crimp end, threading through the front of the component.  Pull silk flush to final knot, use Mighty Crimp Tool to secure silk and cut off excess wire.  Repeat this process for a second beaded strand.

5.    The third strand starts with a knot followed by a 1.5” space before making your first beaded segment.  When you reach your sixth beaded segment, knot and move down 1.5” before attaching EZ-Crimp end.

6.    Use chain nose pliers to secure all three strands on a jump ring on both sides.  Attach the lobster clasp to the jump ring on one side. 

Jewel School Customer Show and Tell - Jacque H.

If you have been looking for just the right moment to try wirewrapping, customer Jacque H. suggests picking up Dale Cougar Armstrong’s book and get going!  The result, after a bit of practice, is unique jewelry with your artistic stamp on it!

Jacque is now a confident jewelry creator with a website for selling designs!  The family benefits of jewelry making are many because it is often done around the kitchen table.  In Jacque’s case, her adorable grandniece Emilee (pictured right) is picking up the skills and creating beautiful work! Here’s more about Jacque’s experiences in jewelry making, in Jacque ’s own words:

“Here is my story of how I came to jewelry making. In the summer time here in Garden City, Kansas, I do landscaping and gardening and get a lot of good ideas from nature for jewelry designs.  When winter time comes, I make like a bear and hibernate. It’s a challenge to find things to keep me sane on those long, cold, gray days!

“I crocheted for a long time and loved it but when my fingers started locking up, I couldn’t do that anymore. So, I was looking for a new craft when my niece bought me wire wrapping books for my birthday. I started wire wrapping and beading and the rest is history, as they say!  Wire weaving is on my radar, too.

 “My daughter thought I was getting way to many pieces so over Christmas she created a web site so I can sell some of my jewelry. I guess it was a long winter!  I’ve found a way to help others by donating pieces for local benefits. I used to donate my crocheting; now, I donate jewelry. Friends and family love getting pieces I make just for them." 

“The best thing I can tell anyone ready to start wire wrapping is to not be afraid of it and get the Dale Armstrong book. it's wonderful. Jewel school also has some wire wrapping projects. They help a lot too. Jewel school has everything you need for jewelry making; it’s my new one stop shop.

“Making jewelry has kept me from going stir crazy in the winter and it has given me something to share with my great nieces who also now love making jewelry.  My 8 year old grandniece Emilee is getting pretty good with wire. I love the time we spend together. Thank you Jewel school.”

Thank you, Jacque!  We hear it over and over from our customers.  Taking the first step is always the most difficult!  After that, the fun and creativity blossom and open up new doors.    

We love hearing your stories!  Email us at jewel.school@jtv.com.  Share photos of your work and we’ll try to get them on the air for all to see!

 

 

 

 

Margot Potter Product Review Of Laura Timmons Crystal Crochet Kits Available from Jewel Shool by JTV

I started doing wire crochet a few years ago; it’s so fun and easy.  When Jewel School by JTV got the Laura Timmons crystal crochet kits in, I took one and reinterpreted it using some other JTV beads and a slightly different technique.  This is my version of the Captured Hearts kit, using the beads, wire and chain from the kit and adding some sponge coral , breciated jasper beads (jtv.com item number JLW3790A) and faceted pyrite beads (jtv.com item number JLW4073). 

I created two chain stitched strands alternating between the crystal, pyrite, jasper and coral and twisted these together every two inches.  Then I threaded the chain into the openings snaking it around the entire necklace and attached it all to a jump ring on each side.  The Crystal Crochet Captured Hearts kit itself is terrific and the project Laura guides you through is gorgeous all on its own.  I just wanted to mix it up a little and see what happened! 

Have you tried wire crochet?  We’d love to see your projects here on Jewel School!  Just send pics to Jewel.School@JTV.com and we’ll share your work on a future show!

Cheers,

Margot Potter, Jewel School Education and Creative Coordinator

 

Top 5 Jewelry Must Haves for Summer 2011

JTV"s resident style expert, Jessica Cavalaris, shares the top 5 most important must-have jewelry items efor the summer. Shop Jewelry Television and jtv.com for genuine gemstone fine jewelry at prices you have to see to believe.

Top 5 Jewelry Must Haves for Summer 2011

1. Bold Hues with Citrus Twists - Deep purples, reds, blues, bright turquoise, lemon yellow, and orange.

 
2. A Statement Watch is a necessity. White ceramic, rose gold, neon colored silicone styles are all great pieces to have for summer watches.

3. A Bold Necklace - It’s important to have a bold necklace to throw on with that dress or cotton blouse. Collar styles and multi strands are great attention grabbers. A long necklace helps your look appear effortless, and you appear taller!

4. Stacked Bracelets are great on their own or with your other favorite pieces of jewelry.  Whether they are bangles or stretch bracelets, stack them as high as you dare!

5. Earrings with Movement work for any hairstyle. Watch Jewelry Television or shop JTV.com to find dangles, hoops, and chandelier earrings to add to your jewelry wardrobe.

- Jessica C. 

 

JTV's Artisan Gem Collection India YouTube Playlist - View the Videos Now

Jewelry Television's YouTube Channel is now featuring a playlist all about the exotic jewelry that makes up JTV's Artisan Gem Collection. You'll see great behind-the-scenes footage of the exotic jewelry as it is being fashioned by master craftspeople. See how the natural form and shape of the gemstones means every piece is totally unique. View the video playlist here. Only on Jewelry Television and JTV.com.

Free Seaside Necklace Design Project from Margot Potter for Jewel School by JTV

How To Make Your Own Seaside Necklace

Jewel School by JTV only has a smattering of these Italian branch coral beads left —JTV item number  JLW4835--and it’s easy to see why!  I love the look of coral with turquoise blue, in this case I used magnesite beads (JLW2786)  which is a perfect substitute if you can’t get your hands on turquoise.  What I like about this design is the kinetic nature of the chain  (JSWR81B).  I was thinking of the chain as seaweed, dancing in the water among the coral.  Adding genuine freshwater pearl beads (JLW3053) for texture was an easy decision.  I featured 20 gauge copper Artistic Wire (JSWR87D), silver designer chain (JSWR82A) at the back, and strung the beads and chain on the front on .018 19 strand Beadalon wire (JSWR10B) using  EZ-Crimp ends (JLW1768A). Mixing metals can have surprisingly interesting results, don't you think?

Can you make a design inspired by this piece?  We’d love to see it!  Email us at Jewel.School@JTV.com.  We will select our favorite two and post them here in a future blog! 

Margot Potter, Jewel School Education and Creative Coordinator

JTV World Tour: Jaipur, India - Diamond and Color Gemstone Cutting Center

The JTV World Tour makes its next stop in Jaipur, India, and beginning Thursday, May 12th, Jewelry Television will feature gemstones and jewelry from this exotic locale. We're also celebrating our second anniversary of JTV's Artisan Gem Collection from India (May 13-15). As an added bonus, Jewelry Television customers will enjoy Value Shipping and orders on jtv.com receive FREE standard shipping on all orders of $49.00 and up from midnight on May 12 through May 15 at 11:59pm Eastern time.

JTV's Bella Luce® Event

Join Jewelry Television on Wednesday, May 11th, as we bring you gorgeous new Bella Luce® rings, bracelets, necklaces, pendants, and earrings. Bella Luce® is Jewelry Television's exclusive line of fine jewelry featuring the most dazzling man-made gemstones in the world--all at super-affordable JTV prices. Pre-shop the Bella Luce® collection on jtv.com. 

JTV Bella Luce® Tanzanite and White Diamond Simulant, 18kt Yellow Gold over Sterling Silver Ring

JTV item number BLL295Y