Newsletter from Silver Hills Gems : Ten Places to Peruse for Offbeat Jewelry-Making Materials

We are excited at Silver Hills Gems about all the exciting new things we are listing. 

I have aquired a huge collection of specimens. There are 320 new specimens coming. I am busy taking photos of them and we will list these as soon as we have uploaded the pictures. Our way of doing things here at Silver Hills Gems is very thorough.

This is what we have done this week. I worked on our new corporate image and this can be seen on the landing page www.bronnrocks.com. There are still some work to be done and we will make more changes in the days to come. I have taken the back page of the new magazine Beads Alive magazine. This page reflects our new corporate image. I apologize if I confuse any of our clients with the changes. The catalog will also get some changes in the weeks to come. I look forward to your feedback as always.

I want to take this opportunity to introduce the new bead magazine Beads Alive to all my customers. It is a South African born and bred magazine. Lehette who designed and publish the magazine has dozens of projects in teh magazine that has been made locally. No funny foreign stuff in there. It is fun to copy the different projects. The magazine will cost you R28.00 only. We will list them on our website soon and you can get your copy from us. Lehette can be contacted at beadsalive@gmail.com.

We have a shop competition at Silver Hills Gems. We are giving away a large globe with inlaid gemstones to a lucky customer. If you purchase for more than R300 you can enter at Silver Hills Gems. At the end of February we will have a draw and the globe will be yours if you are the lucky winner.

What have we done this week.

• We stocked up on the Swarovski pendants and beads. 
  

• I listed a lot of AA grade fairy quartz and Mpumalanga quartz. You can buy these with confidence. The prices are excellent.
  
• We added more polypropylene bags. These are fantastic for displaying items in your shop. They are selling fast.
  
• Gemstone beads in AAA grade quality. The oversized beads are unique in their size. Remember these are all superior grade material. If you do not find the gemstones on page one you must go to page two or three.
  
• We have stocked up on the popular Signoretti clasp in 3 sizes. Check out our prices, they are the best!
  
• Then there are the metal beads and the roundels. Both fully stocked again.

Ten Places to Peruse for Offbeat Jewelry-Making Materials

Jewelry makers are really lucky these days because you can find readily available beading and jewelry-making supplies all over the place:  on the web, at craft stores, and even at some discount stores.  Beads especially, have become so popular that they're pretty easy to find these days no matter where you live.  But this can be a double-edged sword as well because everyone has access to the same or very similar jewelry making supplies.  What if you want to try something different?  What if you want to make your jewelry stand out from that of the average craft store shopper.

This chapter lists ten ideas for locating nontraditional jewelry materials and brainstorms different ways to incorporate them into your jewelry designs.  After you read this chapter and your creative juices start flowing, you'll probably be able to add to this list.

Hunt through Hardware Stores  

Large or small hardware stores are full of possibilities for the jewelry designer.  Consider just a few possibilities.

• Chain
  

• Fan pulls 
  
• Nails
  
• Nylon string
  
• Rope
  
• Screws
  
• Washers
  
• Wire

 
The list goes on as you stroll down the aisle after aisle of hardware goodies.

Look out for items that you can attach to other things.  Washers have holes in them, and copper wire, usually intended for wiring a light switch, is perfect for wrapping and connecting items together.

Scout Out Scrapbook Shops 

Scrapbooking is hugely popular right now, even more so than jewelry making (believe it or not!).  As a result, little scrapbook shops have popped up here and there.  They offer all kinds of unique items for the crafter, from pretty paper to little embellishments, many of which can also be transformed into jewelry items.

For example, small die cuts normally pasted onto a scrapbook page can instead be glued onto pin or post earring findings.  Scrapbooking stores sell ribbon by the spool or by the inch that you can use as the base for a necklace or bracelet.  Check out special scrapbooking touches that go beyond paper, such as plastic eyelids, metal or rhinestone brads, and charming charms, that you can use to make unique jewelry.

Instead of gluing fabric flower accents on a scrapbook page about your garden, pick a bunch of brightly colored flower accents, cut a piece or ribbon or elastic long enough for a necklace, grab a handful of beads and spacers, and you've got all the makings for a one-of-a-a-kind Hawaiian lei.

Stroll around Your Block, through the Park, or on the beach. 

Go for a walk in your neighborhood and get some exercise while you scout for natural elements to add to your jewelry creations.  Or just look for items while you're on vacation that you can brings home with you and use to make your own souvenirs (just don't take any plants, leaves, or other native specimens from prohibited areas).  Here are just a couple of ideas:

• A leaf can be rolled into polymer clay to make a leaf impression.  Then cut and fire the clay, and you have a leaf charm. 
  

• Small stones can be glued onto bails for super easy pendants.
  
• Pretty seashells can be strung onto wire or nylon string for a nautical necklace.  Sometimes you can even find shells that already have a hole in them, making them an instant pendant.  Otherwise, you can attach the shell to a bail or try to drill a hole trough it (practice first on a couple of extra shells).  

 
Rummage through Garage Sales, Thrift Stores, and Auction Listings 
Someone else's trash can be you treasure (going through their dumpster is not what we suggest though) if you like to hit neighborhood garage sales or local secondhand shops, like the Salvation army or Goodwill.  These are excellent places to load up on old jewelry that you can take apart and make into something old into something new.  Use wire and other beads to connect the mismatched jewelry items you've found. 

And don't restrict your findings (no pun intended) to old jewelry.  Think about ways you can deconstruct other items:

• Check out buttons on old shirts and dresses.
  

• Look through the kids' games for board game pieces, Army men, and so on (see the next section).
  
• Snatch up home décor items such as beaded lampshades, those beaded curtains people used to hang in doorways, and assorted small knickknacks.
  
• Dismantle an old typewriter (or computer keyboard), and use the keys to make wordy jewelry:

-Make a lapel pin that bears your initials
-Wear a pair of N-O earrings on a day you're feeling grumpy, or make an H-I pair for those days when you're not feeling friendly
-String together a necklace that conveys your worldview "PEACE," "LOVE," "BEADING."(Obviously, you'll need more than one set of keys if you have to repeat letters.)

• Use old scarves as stringing material for extra-large lampwork or crystal beads.
  

• Take apart small hair accessories, like those worn by little girls, and glue pin backs to them for some whimsical broaches.
  
• Turn smaller components from outdated computer parts into fun fashions for the office.  Take apart the electronics and use the memory chips, wires, and whatever else you can salvage to make a modern-day statement.  Just make sure that none of the items will harm the wearer.

Have fun filled experimental week and please call on us if you are in our area.

Cornel, Gerdus and staff at Silver Hills Gems

www.bronnrocks.com