| When you think about lapidary you right away | | | | and chain necklaces. When you have mastered |
| think about rocks and gemstones, but there are | | | | the knotting you can then move on to cutting and |
| more sides to this like making wire jewelry or | | | | polishing cabochons. |
| making a setting. Some find it better to buy the | | | | Learn the way to cut the cabochons into a shape |
| stones already finished and then create their own | | | | and the way to use the apparatus and also what |
| jewelry. | | | | safety gear should be worn. Gem trees are a |
| If you're actually creative you can make your | | | | fascinating and ornamental item to make. These |
| jewelry from nothing using silver, gold and bronze. | | | | are tiny pieces of gems that are attached to |
| Wire-wrapping is used to create solder-free | | | | branches made out of wire and attached to a |
| jewelry to set finished stones. You must learn the | | | | base. |
| fundamentals first, like what sort of wire may be | | | | For this you want pliers flat nose, round and |
| employed and also the correct pliers required (flat | | | | regular nose pliers; wire cutters; wire and glue. |
| nose, round and regular). | | | | This is an inexpensive project. |
| Bringing out the beauty hidden away within a rock | | | | Silver is an enjoyable metal to work with you can |
| is a particularly rewarding experience. Lapidary | | | | shape and solder strips together to outline a |
| jewelry is a particularly exciting craft due to the | | | | picture or figure and then solder it on to a silver |
| many sorts of stones you may use to form | | | | back. The spaces between these strips can then |
| gorgeous pendants, broaches, rings and bracelets. | | | | be crammed with cut gems. There are several |
| It can be a pricey past-time but there are | | | | systems for this and it's a good ability to be in a |
| numerous clubs that you can join and use their | | | | position to cut, solder, file and polish the silver. |
| tools, so check out your local lapidary club. Also | | | | Lapidary jewelry is a great pastime and a smart |
| purchase used lapidary tools which will help you | | | | idea is to join a group so you can source |
| keep to a budget. | | | | information and get pointers on how to start and |
| Taking classes is a great concept as there are | | | | what tools and supplies you want. Also visit rock |
| jewelry classes for all levels of experience. | | | | shows and see the huge array of stones you |
| There's a lot to digest on making lapidary jewelry, | | | | should purchase and the jewelry folks have made |
| this is just some of the things you can make and | | | | to come up with ideas. But do be ready to |
| methodologies to learn. | | | | devote lots of time to it. |
| For amateurs you want to know the way to | | | | It does take practice and most of all patience but |
| knot necklaces and bracelets on silk with clasps | | | | you will be rewarded at the end. |
| and without. Also learn the way to make earrings | | | | |