JTV Blog

How To Polish Gemstones, Metal, and Make Beads for Jewelry Making at Home: Jewel School Shows You How

Here at Jewelry Television and JTV.com, we are so excited about the JoolTool™, which is one of Jewel School's newest additions to its lineup of state-of-the-art jewelry making tools! This tool allows you to polish your own gemstones, make your own beads, polish your own metals, and so much more, all in the convenience of your own home. Here's more about this must-have tool:

"The JoolTool™ is a revolutionary, compact, multi-functional tool perfect for grinding, sharpening, sanding, deburring, polishing and much more, and is designed to be the safest sharpening system in the industry. The speed and precision of the tool allows you to safely grind even the very tip of a needle without overheating the metal or experiencing any kickback! The JoolTool™ patented shroud design allows grinding dust to be directed away from the user and can be evacuated through the standard vacuum port. The additional removable disk retainer maximizes user protection. The JoolTool™ is the only dry sharpening system that keeps tools cool at working speeds of 5000 RPM. High-speed sharpening is cooler than ever! The JoolTool™ system can be fitted with available attachments that greatly broaden your user experience. For example, The JoolTool™ Flex-Shaft accessory (JST458C) can be combined with The JoolTool™ for freehand sanding, grinding, cutting and carving and countless other applications. Be sure to check out the optional accessories to maximize."

Wanna see more? Watch this video, and the view the other two videos on JTV's YouTube channel at youtube.com/jewelrytelevision.

 

Jewel School Newsletter August 2011: Jewel School Workshop, Design Contest, Fall Trends and Free Project

 

Hey Jewel Schoolers!  Fall is almost here, can you believe it?  The Jewel School Team has been busy gearing up for our big Jewel School Customer Workshop 2011 in late October. Two New Jewel School DVDs will be debuting soon, including one featuring Jackie Trudy from ArtClay^™. Our buyers are always on the hunt for the newest tools, beads, findings and kits that will get your creativity flowing, and this month is jam-packed with new products and guests on Jewel School, along with some return visits from some of your favorite guest experts.  Be sure to tune in and see what’s new!

This month’s newsletter includes a fall trend report fresh from the fashion runways.  You may be surprised by some of the directional color palettes this fall, I surely was.  It’s always good to expand your horizons and try new things.  Our project shows you how to combine three of the hot colors for fall along with the big ‘metallic’ trend.  I’m particularly mad for using splashes of bright orange in my work right now--it’s so unexpected and fun!

Got design ideas that are uniquely yours?  The Jewel School Design Contest offers an opportunity to show your stuff!   It begins on September 1, 2011 and will culminate with a Ta-Da! announcement of the winners on Sunday, October 30, 2011 on the Jewel School Show.   Go to jtv.com/designcontest or to facebook.com/jewelschool to learn more about the contest.  Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of this exciting event!  A contest equals prizes so get busy creating your best work so you can photograph it for the competition.

Jewel School Buyer Julie Evans has so much to share about specialty findings and upcoming Jewel School guests.  We’re going to keep you busy right on through the end of the year with new ideas, creative options, and exceptional ways of making jewelry right on your kitchen table or in your studio.

You won’t want to miss a moment of Jewel School this month, so tune in every Thursday and Sunday to see what Kim Prentiss and the Jewel School Team have in store.  As the weather turns colder, there is no better way to spend time indoors than making gorgeous jewelry and we’ve got you covered with lots of inspiration for your creativity! 

Until next time, happy beading!

- Margot Potter, Jewel School Education and Creative Coodinator

Jewel School Workshop 2011

Join us October 27 – 30, 2011 for four days of Jewelry Making with Jewel School! There’s still time to register for our annual Jewel School Customer Workshop here at our corporate headquarters in Knoxville, TN.  We offer an opportunity to meet up with other interested jewelry makers and learn from the experts. 

Scenes from the 2010 Jewel School Workshop at JTV Headquarters in Knoxville, TN

The Jewel School Workshop All-Star Lineup includes our own Margot Potter, Christiane Ross, and Jerry Sisk. Also joining us will be:

- Jackie Truty - Unleash the fear of fire with Art Clay™ molds and your imagination.

- Katie Hacker - Learn how to Katiedid from the host of the PBS show, Beads, Baubles, and Jewels  

- Dale Armstrong – Wire wrap with the queen of professionally created rings and things!

- Wyatt White - Manipulate wire to do what you want it to do!

- Stephanie Eddy - Weave wire like a pro with the Lazee Daizee tool!

- Maureen Oliveto – Put the kibosh on the angst about making perfect knots!

- Barbara Carlton – Plug into pricing your jewelry to sell for a profit!

- Fernando DaSilva – Combine your jewelry with fashion trends!

Attendees of the 2010 Jewel School Customer Workshop were first in line for registration this year.  Here is what they are telling us:

"I just received the invitation to this year’s Jewel School Workshop. I am delighted, pleased, jumping up and down!!!!  Thank you, Thank you, last year was so wonderful!!!" - Joyce  

"I am so excited...I have been calling and waiting for this invite.  Please please, please COUNT ME IN!!!!!  I had so much fun last year and I came by myself...I will try to bring a friend this year."  - Marianne

"I'm sure I'm not the only success story that came out of that first workshop. I learned so much and met so many interesting people. One of them has become my partner in a new jewelry-making business! We've had several successful shows and are about to open a website. And it all started with Jewel School. We are your biggest fans!!!"  Lorrain  

" Oh, yes. I will be there with bells on my toes and dancing wherever I go.  I have called twice about the dates for this experience.  As an alumni of the first Jewel School, I am committed to attending whenever you offer the opportunity."  Jo Anne

Here is a link for registration!  http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=dcg6xvgab&oeidk=a07e4gi4g5j9ad17b83 We are limited to 125 registrants, so register today! We look forward to welcoming you to Jewel School from October 27 – 30! 

Jewel School Buyer’s Insider Scoop by Julie Evans

Hey Jewel Schoolers! We have been working double time to bring you double the artists and designers, the techniques, and the education this fall.  Looking for something new for you jewelry making skill set?  Keep watching the Jewel School!  Circle your calendar, September is an all-star month!   

September 1 at 11:00 a.m. EDT- Lilla Balint from John Bead joins us to introduce metal stamping and apoxy.  Lilla has the professional capability of designing through various mixed media jewelry and accessory creations such as; jewelry making, metalsmithing, handbags, hairpieces, scarves, leather working, and whatever connects to the latest fashions. On the show we’ll also become better acquainted with engraving, etching, and stacking!

September 4 at 10:00 a.m. EDT – Jill McKay brings specialty findings including pendants, magnetic clasps, toggle clasps and spacer beads detailing her intricate design work.  Jill’s well-known for her design skills and her products sell in over 2000 stores around the world. 

Some of your favorites returning in September:

- Katie Hacker is here on September 8 with her fabulous Katiedids in kits, new deluxe tool kits, and assorted memory wire kits.

- Watch out! The Coiling Gizmo is back!  Julianna Hudgins will be at Jewel School on September 11with a new wrappers kit, a new artistic wire kit as well as other tool kits!

- On September 15, Barbara Carleton returns with her user friendly Bejeweled software designed to make your business dreams come true.

- Stephanie Eddy is back on the same day with a new twist on the Viking Knit Wire Kit!

- Chain Maille is so popular right now, and who better to show you how to show your metal than Lauren Anderson?  She will be rocking the set on September 18!

- We’ve got a secret for you on September 22, when EK Success brings some incredibly exciting…. Oops!  It’s a secret.  I can’t say!

See you at Jewel School!

- Julie, Jewel School Buyer

Equinox Necklace and Earrings Design by Margot Potter for Jewel School

Though we are knee deep in the dog days of summer here in East Tennessee, fall is not far away! There isn’t much prettier than fall in the Smokies--the leaves are a virtual symphony of color.  And speaking of color, this is a piece I designed for Jewel School last year that features three of the directional colors for fall.  I’ve combined the bold metal trend in the chain along with an unexpected palette of chocolate brown in smoky quartz, mossy green in grossular garnet with pops of vivid orange in carnelian.  The color trends this fall are truly different and a great way to stretch yourself creatively.

 

Materials

JLW880E         6mm faceted carnelian rounds  

JLW3156          Approx. 12 large smoky quartz nuggets  

JLW2821          Approx. 15 grossular garnet rondelles  

JSWR115D     4” segment aged brass leaf chain  

JSWR85C        20 gauge brass colored copper wire  

JSWR10B       .018 19 strand beading wire  

JLW1951A      Size 2 crimp beads in gold tone or gun metal  

JLW2669A 2 6mm aged brass jump rings  

(Earrings feature two 1” segments of chain, two 6mm carnelians and two smoky quartz nuggets and are constructed with 20 gauge wire creating the double loop beaded segments and ear wires.)

Tools

PLIER27 Round nose pliers  

PLIER22 2 pairs chain nose pliers   

PLIER25 Flush cutters   

PLIER21 Crimp tool   

JSKIT0040 Chasing hammer and steel bench block  

PLIER47 Nylon jaw flat nose pliers  

Directions for Equinox Necklace and Earrings

1. To create your custom hook, cut a 3” segment of brass wire.  Loop one end with the tip of your round nose pliers.  Loop the opposite end and use nylon jaw pliers to form a loose spiral. 
2. Bend wire over a 10mm dowel to shape the hook.
3. Hammer the hook flat and add texture with your chasing hammer and bench block.
4. Attach a 14” segment of beading wire to the hook using a crimp bead.
5. Thread beads on in the following order, you may need to use more beads to reach your desired length as these are organic in size.  Garnet, smoky, garnet, smoky, garnet, smoky, garnet, smoky, garnet, carnelian, garnet, smoky, garnet, carnelian, garnet, smoky, garnet, smoky, garnet, smoky, garnet, smoky, garnet, smoky, garnet, smoky, garnet. 
6. Attach wire to a jump ring using a crimp bead and crimp tool.
7. Attach center of folded chain to jump ring and a second jump ring to opposite ends of chain, this creates a double chain segment. Hook threads into jump ring and necklace is meant to be worn asymmetrically.

 

 

 

Jewel School by JTV Announces Jewelry Design Contest!

Jewelry makers, start your creative engines! Jewel School has just announced a Design Contest beginning September 1, 2011. This blog is a "heads up" about the event, as more details will be available on JTV.com by September 1st--I just wanted to give you a "heads up" so you could get your best projects started or completed. Here's the link to jtv.com/design contest, the place where you will be able to submit your designs beginning September 1, 2011. This page has all the details released so far, so click over and get the details on this new contest. We can't wait to see what you come up with! - Dana Sebby, JTV.com Community Manager

 

 

Jewelry Television Weekend Update: JTV Gem Days, New Jewelry Lines Launch

It's been a big week here at Jewelry Television and JTV.com, and we're rolling right into the weekend with new product lines and the biggest color gemstone jewelry event we've ever had--JTV Gem Days. And we've debuted two new product lines this week, so shop JTV.com to see the collections now. Here's a quick description of these two lines:

JTV's Off Park Collection, upscale costume jewelry designs the likes of which you find on Park Avenue in New York City, at the prices you find only on JTV. The big, bold, famous look of luxury jewelry, all at a very affordable avenue...the JTV Off Park Collection, exclusively at Jewelry Television and JTV.com.

 

JTV's Beria Collection™, unique handcrafted jewelry designed by a family whose passion for jewelry design is globally inspired. Four generations of true passion and love for jewelry. The Beria family surname Beria means 'humble', and is a Cinderella story with humble beginnings. Mr. and Mrs. Ali Beria were born in Herat, Afghanistan more than 200 years ago. Mr. Beria always loved designing unique, one of a kind handmade jewelry pieces, and his personalized designs have been sold in galleries all over the U.S. After traveling through Italy, Thailand, India and Indonesia, Mr. Beria eventually found the ideal place to produce his designer line of jewelry when he visited the Indonesian island of Bali. He quickly became captivated not only by the island, and the talented artists who shun machines, choosing instead to handcraft every piece of jewelry.

The Beria family values the beauty and appeal of loose gemstones as much as the art of silver manufacturing. An intricate part of Mr. Beria's designs, each gemstone is carefully selected based on cut, color and shape to enhance every piece of jewelry. This collection features large-scale, unique designs that are always relevant to the season and packed with color, color, color! Each gemstone has a story within itself and the Beria family takes us on a journey showing how gemstones meet sophisticated, beautiful artful designs and then come to life in jewelry.

Free Bracelet Design Project by Margot Potter for Jewel School: Cattywompus Bracelet

This very structured bracelet appears rather random in its design.  I love the look of the angled spacer bars separated by three different lengths of beads.  The key to this design is spacing, and by adding the smaller 3mm beads to the mix, I was able to get the spacing just right.  This is a technique that has a lot of potential, so have fun taking it into different directions. 

I am also quite enamored with this color combination, the hematine really looks great next to this slightly green tinged yellow jasper.  This is right on trend for Fall and you can easily make coordinating pieces for an entire chic and modern set. And as always, you can get everything you need to create this fun design from Jewel School on jtv.com.

- Margot

Cattywompus Bracelet, design by Margot Potter for Jewel School 

Jewel School Materials

11 JLW3589CC Yellow jasper spacer bars

26 JLW4932 6mm faceted hematine rounds 

10 JLW4932 10mm faceted hematine rounds

40 3mm beads (I used faceted crystal-you can use any 3mm white or clear bead)

JSWR10B .018 19 strand beading wire 

JLW3214 3-strand silver tone clasp 

6 JLW1952C size 2 crimp tubes 

Jewel School Tools

PLIER21 Crimp tool http://www.jtv.com/Bead-Crimper/15649,default,pd.html&mcid=XSO0001000211

PLIER25 Wire cutters 

Finished length: 7.5”

Directions

1.      Cut three 10” lengths of wire.

2.      Attach all three to one end of clasp using crimp tubes and crimp tool.  Be sure that all are secured so the tube is approximately 1/4” from the clasp loops, this allows for movement to help prevent early wear of the wire.

3.      Thread a 6mm round on each wire.

4.      Thread all three wires into a spacer bar.

5.      Thread one 6mm round on an outer wire.  Thread a 3mm bead, 6mm round and 3mm bead on the center wire.  Thread a 3mm bead, 10mm bead and 3mm bead on the open outer wire.

6.      Thread all three wires into a spacer bar.  Make sure you thread one wire into each hole and the wires do not get crossed while stringing.

7.      Thread a 3mm bead, 10mm round and 3mm bead on the wire that had the 6mm round threaded on in the last segment. Thread a 3mm bead, 6mm round and 3mm bead on the center wire.  Thread a 6mm round on the open outer wire.

8.      Thread all three wires into a spacer bar.  Continue the established pattern, alternating bead placement each segment to create the 'cattywampus' effect.

9.      When you reach your final spacer, finish with 3 6mm rounds, one on each wire.  Attach wires to open end of clasp with crimp tubes.

GemVue Professional Gemological Tools from Jewelry Television and JTV.com

Learn how to use the GemVue gemological tools the JTV buyers use to inspect, grade, and identify gemstones. JTV's own Shawn O'Sullivan, Graduate Gemologist and Gemstone Buyer, shows us some of the tricks on the gemological trade in this video. And celebrate GemVue's 2nd anniversary with us on Monday, August 15th through Tuesday, August 16th, as Jewelry Television and JTV.com debut new GemVue gemological tools and offer special pricing on standards no gemstone or jewelry collector/fan should be without. Shop our hand-picked selection of loupes, lighted loupes, microscopes, polariscopes, refractometers, and so much more!

 

Chrome Diopside Gemstone Market Report from Jewelry Television and JTV.com

Russian Chrome Diopside Market Update from Jewelry Television, August 2011

Jewelry Television and JTV celebrate Chrome Diopside loose gemstones, Chrome Diopside jewelry, and Chrome Diopside jewelry-making supplies all weekend long in JTV's first ever Chrome Diopside Event, Friday, August 12 thru Sunday, August 14! Why all the fuss? Our customers have made chrome diopside one of the most popular gemstones at JTV! (Hint: shop the links above now for the best selection.)

And as part of our promise to you as the world's largest retailer of loose gemstones, we at JTV do our best to inform you of the latest news about your favorite gems, including the latest mining conditions.

Choi (pictured above), one of our expert buyers stationed in Bangkok, recently filed the following report on Chrome Diopside. From Choi:

Chrome diopside mining takes place for only 2 to 3 months per year during the summer, usually beginning in June and ending at some point in August.

In today’s chrome diopside marketplace, when cutting factories buy chrome diopside, they often have to buy the entire mine run. Since the factories aren’t able to ‘pick and choose’ only the finer quality rough, the quality of material being seen on the market currently is lower than that seen in the past: the material is more included and the colors are darker green to yellowish.

Yields of larger chrome diopside gemstones (10x8mm and up) from the original rough can be 3%--or less! And these special stones sizes have been purchased for JTV's Chrome Diopside celebration!

In the past few years, all of the major cutting factories in northern China have changed from cutting peridot and moved to cutting chrome diopside. Therefore this has created a HUGE demand for facet-grade material, which has driven rough prices up in the past few months.

Our vendors can no longer guarantee that they can supply us with product of the same quality, quantity and size as we saw when we first began carrying this gem.

Smaller sizes of chrome diopside are still available in the market but larger stones of good quality stones are in short supply. It takes months to collect enough rough that is larger enough to yield the larger stone sizes. Right now, we’re focusing on the larger sizes in good quality….no small stones on our shopping list currently!

All of these marketing conditions were substantiated at the Las Vegas trade show in early June, 2011. Our buyers saw lots of included gems. The fine quality gems were nowhere to be found!

- Choi, JTV Gemstone Buyer - Bangkok

Free Button Ring Design Project by Margot Potter for Jewel School

Who's Got the Button Rings?

We are gearing up for a new Jewel School event here in Knoxville, Tennessee.  I actually started working with JTV at last year's event and I can hardly believe a year has gone by so quickly.  I shared these rings in my class last year and now I'm sharing them with you.  These are really fun to make and it is easy to find buttons at craft stores, yard sales, flea markets and online auctions.  I have a huge collection of vintage buttons; it is one of my crafty obsessions.  This is a whimsical way to show them off.  Be forewarned, this can be addicting!

How to Make a Button Ring by Margot Potter for Jewel School

Materials

2 Smaller and larger stackable buttons

2 4mm Swarovski crystal beads 

20 gauge tinned copper wire 

26 gauge tinned copper wire 

Tools

JSKIT0040 Ring mandrel 

JSKIT0040 Chasing hammer

PLIER25 Flush cutters 

PLIER27 Round nose pliers 

PLIER22 Chain nose pliers 

1.   Wrap a 4” length of 20 gauge wire around the ring mandrel ¼ size up from desired finished size.

2.   Thread wire tails into bottom and top button.

3.   Make sure wire is tightly wrapped around mandrel and there are no bumps or slack in wire.

4.   Thread a bead on each wire tail.

5.   Use round nose pliers to loop wire at top of each bead.  You can also opt to coil here for a more decorative finish.

6.   Use your flat side of your chasing hammer to work harden the shank of your ring.  Do not remove from mandrel until you have worked your way around the shank tapping gently to harden the wire.

7.   Use the 26 gauge wire to tightly wrap the entire shank, this will give it stability and structure.  Cut off excess wire and tuck under with chain nose pliers when you reach the top of the shank.

Back to School with Jewelry Television and JTV.com

Back to school shopping is always an eye opener for me. Although I have no children of my own, I am surrounded by nephews (and honorary nieces and nephews) who look to "Aunt Dana" for fashion advice when it comes to the back to school wardrobe--especially in the timepiece/watch and jewelry accessories department. And what always surprises me most is the high cost of fashion jewelry made from nothing more than base metals and plastic "gems". (And I'm not talking about the high quality lines of costume jewelry that are built to last.) My nieces roll their eyes as I exclaim, "Are you kidding me? At work (Jewelry Television and JTV.com) we sell .925 sterling silver with genuine gemstones for the same price as this hunk of metal and plastic!" After a calculated silence, my nieces (who are well-practiced in getting what they want from Aunt Dana) inevitably turn their big brown/blue/green eyes to mine and say, "Oh, really?  Could you really get that for me, Aunt Dana? You're the best! How soon can I have it?" This is followed by the ritual "I'll see what I can do," and the promise that they will pay for it from their allowance, yada, yada, yada....Of course, nothing beats the day when the jewelry arrives, and my nieces #1) fall in love with genuine gemstones and precious metals, #2) learn the value of a dollar and how to shop to make the most for their money, and #3) hug my neck.

Well, there is one thing that beats that back-to-school moment. Just recently I was marvelling at my soon-to-be 21 year old niece, Hope, who is a beautiful young woman with a flair for style that I can take no credit for whatsoever. I noticed she was wearing a pair of sterling silver and turquoise earrings I had given her for either her 13th or 14th birthday. (I was really pleased to see her wearing those earrings because, no offense to Hope, she is jewelry snob--I taught her well, don't ya know?) She grinned at me and asked me if I remembered giving those to her for her birthday so many years ago. I said, "Well, duh. Of course I remember. I'm happy that you remember." She gave me a hug, just like she did 7 or 8 years ago when I first gave the earrings to her, and I realized all over again how special the gift of fine jewelry can be. It's so much more than something cute to wear back to school, but rather a lasting legacy of memories captured in precious metals and gemstones designed to last several lifetimes. And to me, that's money well spent.

JTV.com Top 5 Watch and Jewelry Picks for Back to School 2011

(according to my nieces and nephews)

1. Best Friends Rings - Item numbers JMO880, JMO881, JMO882, JTV.com Price $15.00. These two interlocking rings are perfect for BFF's! Just wear one and give the other to your bestie.

 

2. Men's Lucien Piccard Stainless Steel Chronograph Watch - JTV.com Price $99.99, Retail? 495.00!

 

 

3. Bella Luce Sterling Silver Peace Necklace - JTV.com Clearance Price $18.41, save 35%!

 

 

4. Cool Multigem Ring Watch - JTV.com Price only $12.00!

 

 

 

 

5. Whimsical Beads and Charms from Green Girl Studios on JTV.com. My sweet nieces wanted to share their jewerly "connection" with their friends, so they loved the enchanting charms, pendants, and beads from Jewel School and Green Girl Studios. These handcrafted beads are perfect for them to string a silk chord through, throw on a fastener, and voila! A handmade necklace for their bestie. Plus, they loved the video on how these handcrafted beads are made. You can view the Green Girl Studios for Jewel School video here.

Tell me, what's the most you've paid for base metal jewelry accessories during your back to school shopping this year?

Best of luck surviving the back to school rush!

- Dana Sebby, JTV.com Community Manager

 

 

 

JTV Ethiopian Opal

Jewelry Television and JTV.com present a behind-the-scenes look at where our phenomenal Ethiopian opal originates. (Originally posted on February 2, 2011 on jtv.com/blog.)

Jewelry Television's opal vendor just finished a trip to the Dalanta mountain region of Ethiopia where there has been a recent discovery of opal. Now, JTV is sharing amazing photos of digging for opals in this mountainous region.  We will let the pictures do the talking, because the beauty of these opals will truly take your breath away!  Be sure to check out the selection of Ethiopian Opal on JTV and JTV.com.  Enjoy!

One of the main mountain ranges in Dalanta that produces quality opals

Traditional equipment is still used to dig for opals

Gorgeous Opal Rough

The dangerous path to get to the opal

Opal on the mountain surface!

Vendor assessing the opal prior to digging

Men at work digging for opal!

A work in progress

Searching for opal in holes and tunnels on the mountain

What a rare find!  Ethiopian opal and Ethiopian Black Opal from the mountains of Dalanta

JTV Vendor with Ethiopian opal

 
Buyers, Rahul on the far right, in action securing the best material for JTV customers

Opal rough--top material for JTV customers

Amazing!  Look at these quality Ethiopian opal Cabachons

Sneak peek!  The upcoming fine faceted Ethiopian opals