Making A Brooch Using Jewellery Findings
Brooches can be very simple or extremely intricate and detailed pieces. Using jewellery findings, it is possible to make your own brooches, honing your skills until you are capable of creating brooches at the level you desire.
Brooches can be created very simply; buying jewellery findings such as brooch blanks and gluing stones or mosaic pieces to them. Pins can be glued to the backs of the blanks and a very basic brooch is made. A popular effect is layering. Not only does it add an intricacy to the piece, but stones can also be incorporated for eye-catching effects. Round-nosed pliers are advisable in this process to cope with minute manipulation of the wire involved.
Firstly, you need to decide on the backing for your brooch: gold, or silver. Once you have made your choice, you will need gold or silver half-hard wire; – 0.50 mm in diameter. The hardness of these wires makes them perfect for incorporating small beads, gems or pearls into your design.
Take one continuous length and, using your round-nosed pliers, create a tine curve in one end; this will act as a seal. Form a looping circle and place your beads, stones or pearls onto the wire. Looping the wire into petal shapes, form the outline of a flower. Depending on how much wire you have, you can continue to loop petal shapes and layer them onto the petals behind, forming a succession of overlapping petals. These do not have to be perfectly aligned; it is often more interesting to see the petals at the back, as well as those on top. Ensure, however that you leave enough wire free to fix a central stone or gem.
Thread the exposed wire through your chosen centrepiece and then pull it through the centre of the flower and out through the back of the piece. Once again, using the round-nosed pliers, roll the end of the wire in on itself to form a securing seal. This can then be flattened using the pliers and a small amount of glue used to act as security.
Attaching pins, or pinbacks, can be either glued or soldered on. Soldering is an advanced technique that requires specialist equipment and is more suited to attaching clasps and other jewellery findings to denser brooch-bases, such as blanks.
Depending on the materials you have used to create your brooch, you may or may not want to seal them. This should be done before attaching the pinback. All raw brass should be sealed, as it will oxidise and discolour if it is not. There are many spray lacquers available, but it should be noted that many of them create toxic fumes and should only be used in well-ventilated areas. Glass and gemstones do not need sealing, but pieces of porcelain and anything that is unglazed will require it. Once sealed, the brooch should be given 8 – 12 hours to dry and a further 8 hours once the pinback has been added.
Some lacquers continue to release gases for up to three days after spraying and, if this is the case, the piece should be allowed to rest for that time, before wearing.
About the Author
Adam Hunter – E-commerce Marketing Manager of cooksongold.com. Cookson Precious Metals offer a choice of supplies from over 10,000 products including gold and silver solder,
jewellery findings
, findings, precious metal clay and precious metal sheet – gold and silver. For interviews, quotes, images or comments contact: Adam Hunter E-commerce Marketing Manager Tel(DDI): +44 (0) 121 212 6491 E-mail: adam.hunter@cooksongold.com
Selena Gomez [HD] ► Interview + Naturally (GMTV 2010) [HD-1080i]
|
|
SRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE Pinback Vintage short cake Pin Metal $7.83 |
|
|
3-1998 ARMAGEDDON Movie Pin Pinback buttons NEW $9.99 |
|
|
SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPIC SPONSOR PIN – TELSTRA (MEDIA) – AUST SWIMMING TEAM DOLPHINS $0.99 |
|
|
Franklin Delano Roosevelt FDR Pin Button Political Democrat President Campaign $0.99 |
|
|
JEUX CANADA GAMES LAPEL PIN Pinback Épinglette Clavija Speldje HAT TIE PIN $2.00 |
|
|
3-1998 ARMAGEDDON Movie Pin Pinback buttons NEW $9.99 |
|
|
3-1998 ARMAGEDDON Movie Pin Pinback buttons NEW $9.99 |
|
|
Collectables 3 STICK PINS RELIGION LOT $9.99 |
|
|
L.A. Dodgers Stolen Base Champs Wills & Lopes pin new $1.50 |
|
|
PIN-BACK “MONDALE-FERRARO” POLITICAL BUTTON – 1984 $1.99 |
|
|
PIN-BACK “KATHERINE PEDEN FOR U.S. SENATE” POLITICAL BUTTON $0.99 |
|
|
PIN-BACK “KEEP GENE IN CONGRESS” POLITICAL BUTTON $0.99 |
|
|
PIN-BACK “TEACHERS FOR BREATHITT” POLITICAL BUTTON $0.99 |
|
|
PIN-BACK “REAGAN BUSH ’84″ POLITICAL BUTTON $1.50 |
|
|
SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPIC SPONSOR PIN – TELSTRA (MEDIA) – AUST. WEIGHTLIFTING TEAM $0.99 |
|
|
MARVEL COMICS ELEKTRA LARGE RECTANGLE VINTAGE 1986 PIN BACK BUTTON BADGE $9.99 |
|
|
1989 JEUX CANADA GAMES TEAM SASKATCHEWAN LAPEL PIN Pinback Épinglette HAT PIN $3.00 |
|
|
SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPIC SPONSOR PIN – TELSTRA (MEDIA) – AUST HOCKEY TEAM, HOCKEYROOS $0.99 |
|
|
American College of Physicians ACP Chapter Member Doctor Lapel Pin New Mint $9.95 |
|
|
LOT OF 65 OLD NEW PINS BUTTONS HONG KONG USA CHINA JAPAN $5.99 |
|
|
116th QM, pin back DI $7.00 |
|
|
Yellowstone Old Faithful National Park Hat Pin HP4072 $8.95 |
|
|
Disney Sleeping Beauty Princess character pinback pin, Great Condition! $7.83 |
|
|
MARVEL COMICS X-MEN WOLVERINE LARGE RECTANGLE VINTAGE 1986 PIN BACK BUTTON BADGE $9.99 |
|
|
SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPIC SPONSOR PIN – TELSTRA – OFFICIAL PARTNER (OLYMPIC RINGS) $1.99 |
|
|
LIONS CLUB PIN VINTAGE 1999 ASIAN FAN INTERNATIONAL FLAG JAPANESE AMERICAN $5.99 |
|
|
LIONS CLUB PIN VINTAGE LEWES LIONS 22 D DUCK BIRDS $5.99 |
|
|
2006 Torino Winter Olympic Itay Welcom Pin $6.50 |
|
|
MARVEL COMICS IRON MAN LARGE RECTANGLE VINTAGE 1986 PIN BACK BUTTON BADGE $9.99 |
|
|
CHRISTIAN ARMY CRUSADER KNIGHT ORDER HOSPITALLERS WHITE CROSS BLACK SHIELD PIN $4.25 |
|
|
SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPIC SPONSOR PIN – TELSTRA – AOC (OLYMPIC RINGS + FLAG) $2.99 |
|
|
JOGGERS NEVER DIE THEY JUST LOSE THEIR SOLES PINBACK PIN $1.50 |
|
|
VINTAGE MULE KICK SEXAUER PINBACK PIN $24.95 |
|
|
I GET A KICK OUT OF EWE PINBACK PIN $1.75 |
|
|
MLB Welcome To The Show Pin Back Button $3.99 |
|
|
2006 Torino Winter Olympic Germany Welcom Pin $7.50 |
|
|
LIONS CLUB PIN VINTAGE DISTRICT 1-C ILLINOIS GOLD COLORED LION ANIMAL METAL $9.99 |
|
|
LIONS CLUB PIN VINTAGE NAGATACHO TOKYO ASIAN WHITE AND YELLOW COLORED $9.99 |
0 responses so far ↓
Like gas stations in rural Texas after 10 pm, comments are closed.