What is your favorite jewelry technique?

[beadyeyes]

I'm Angela, aka Beady Eyes and the Admin for this network. I would love to hear from other Jewelry designers/artists/hobbyists what your favorite jewelry technique is.

My favorite technique(s) are metalsmithing techniques. I particularly get great satisfaction from manipulating and forming sheet metal. Applying heat, shaping with hammers, texturing and creating flowing dimensional pieces often with an influence straight from mother nature. I have tons left to learn about these techniques and I enjoy experimenting and challenging myself with new methods.

How about you?

[Laulo]

My favorite technique(s) are bead embroidery that is, for myself, the best way to express my creativity. Another one is tri-dimensional peyote stitch.
Most af all, I am a seed beader. I am just exploring a new technique that is Doll Art.
But what I really love is to create "around" an extraordinary focal, lampwork bead or cab.
I am approaching Polymer clay also.

[Iris]

I think right now my favorite technique is texturing metal. I'm struggling to master satin & matte finishes because they lend a different look to a piece. I love my Miland texturing hammers too. I have to actively resist the urge to use them on every piece :)

[Penny]

I am Penny, aka Silver Penny, and as you can probably guess, I love working with silver. I am a beginner metalsmith, and I haven't settled on any particular type of metalworking. I love exploring the different ways I can set stones. The stones usually are a big part of the design, and sometimes I just need to play with metal without stones.

[Jennifer Casady]

Without a doubt my favorite technique has to be chainmail. *grin* But a VERY close second is fusing. I find myself struggling with soldering, but am slowly getting better and better at it, though I have a loooong way to go and a lot to learn about that particular technique. I long for the day when soldering is satisfying...not frustrating to me. *grin* Now fusing and chainmail...*happy sigh* Oh yea. I could do both for hours and hours on end. *grin* I enjoy continuing my dive into the world of metalsmithing.

[Phyllis Middleton]

My favorite technique, right now, is working with wire......I love to manipulate the wire around a focal bead, or several beads in order to discover unusual designs...my problem is I just don't like repeat myself....my clients know they have a "one of a kind" piece of jewelry. Someday,I would love to get into metal-smiting, but if my soldering is any indication, I've a long way to go.

[zosio]

I prefer working with metal, soldering, and I love the colors of gemstones,but I have a problem!

I love to shop & buy the stones, but when I have them, I find it hard to part with them....I know its crazy, but I keep making excuses to not using certain stones..I just need to put them into something and grow up! LOL

[Joy Raskin]

I live to braze - I can braze all day long if I can and I design work that requires much brazing to complete. I also love to forge wire which is a trademark of my work. I knit or weave fine gauge wire for relaxation, and find I make many Viking chains that I have to make into necklaces to finish them off. Recently, I learned to weld and it's a way of completion that I can work with steel. I find I can add much more individual compoments when I'm welding and not worry so much about solder remelting. After a quarter century of metalsmithing, I still have all my passion for it, despite all the repetive injuries I've acculumated in years of hammering, weaving and much more.

[Linda Chandler]

Metalsmithing has been my passion for many years now. It's all about design, variety and persuading unique pieces to come together with symmetry. Precious metal clay is a very close second because I love to carve with detail and watch it come alive with that little something that makes it uniquely my own.
Wire weaving and wrapping is another favorite but time consuming, intense labor with deep concentration with the pieces I like to make. My hands or mind won't let me indulge in this passion for very long at a time.
Resin has become a new trend I enjoy but haven't master it yet. I've learned just enough to be seriously dangerous.
This is all I can think of right now but there is so much more.

[geltdesigns]

We have been posting free jewelry making and glass tutorials based on materials we created for classes we teach. Check them out:
http://www.ehow.com/members/geltdesigns-articles.html

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[TaoGem]

Hi all......

New here!

My favorite is also metal forming. Problem is I suck at it ! Purchased some basic tools. Stainless steel plate, hammers, mandrels, and others.... My first attempt was pitiful. I really like the idea of the heavier gauged bezel settings. 18 gauge or so. Forming the bezel using the tools I bought.
Trying to do like William Fretz shows. He also sells miniature bezel making stakes that are ideal but pricey for miniature bezel settings.

Any way, my first attempt was not so hot, but it is my favorite technique and will continue to work at it.

For now sticking to basic silversmithing using sheet silver as backing with bezel tape for settings. Although I have had some good luck forming round wire to the shape of the cab. Flattening the wire then fine tune fitting for a backing. Then soldering tape to the outside of that flattened wire backing.

I never did care for the idea of cutting out backing from a sheet and then cutting out the interior of that backing. The remaining piece is such a waste.

Here is what the the setting looks like after flattening out the round wire and soldering the tape to the perimeter.

Working great !

[Silver Selkie Studio]

My current favorite thing is wire wrap. I use wire wrap techniques in a variety of ways. Not just for sterling silver and copper. But I also really like seed bead weaving too. It takes longer and requires more self discipline though. I have been collecting the tools to learn metal smithing for the last couple of years. So far the closest I have gotten to actually attempting anything is some PMC work. That just uses the torch to fire it so it is not real metal smithing but I am getting there. To be honest the torches kind of intimidate me but I will make myself get over that... eventually :-) I really want to learn to hammer and shape metal sheeting. I have an idea for a line of horse inspired jewelry. Mostly pendents and broaches. I have also been experimenting with iridescent patinas using LOS and amonia. So far I can get the colors I want but have had a hard time finding a finish that will protect the surface without dulling the colors.

[Beth Blanc]

I found the torch a bit intimidating at first also, but under the guidance of an experienced and wonderful teacher at a awesome school, here in Atlanta, I learned a great deal. I took basic metal smithing and will go on to take intermediate and probably advanced metal smithing before I venture out on my own and purchase my own torch. It's great fun and you can really expand your repertoire! Good luck!