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My Most Often Used Embellishments

by Judy Larson
There are some supplies and embellishments we all use, and some that are used with a particular style of jewelry. These are some of the embellishments/supplies I pull out most often when I am playing around designing new pieces. They can all be made by you, adding that designer one-of-a-kind element to the pieces you make. Pick a few and spend a few days building up a stash of them. You will be surprised how often you reach for a particular embellishment, especially since you made them and have them on hand.
Headpins
We all use them. My flat end head pins are all purchased but I make all my balled and paddled end head pins in different gauges and lengths.

When stock runs low, I spend a day or two replenishing my stock.
Judy Larson's My Most Often Used Embellishments - Headpins, Wire Jewelry Design, Design, often used embellishments
Doodads
I love adding these little unexpected flashes of silver when stringing multi-gemstone pieces.

They give your eye a place to rest and add a bit of whimsy to a piece.

The balled ends can even be flattened and stamped!
Judy Larson's My Most Often Used Embellishments - Doodads, Wire Jewelry Design, Design, silver when stringing multi-gemstone pieces
Paddled Fringe
At the end of every year, I gather all the pieces cut off head pins saved from making wire-wrapped loops on beads.

These pieces are cut to length and made into little paddled embellishments, used like the doodads mentioned earlier.

The third photo shows a year's worth of scrap wire turned into paddled fringe.

I'm not sure if I'll need to separate the gauges when I have enough embellishments to make a necklace.

But separating the gauges is a good habit to develop it could save a lot of time later.
Judy Larson's My Most Often Used Embellishments - Paddled Fringe, Wire Jewelry Design, Design, I pull out all the pieces cut off head pins
Judy Larson's My Most Often Used Embellishments - Paddled Fringe, Wire Jewelry Design, Design, often used embellishments
Judy Larson's My Most Often Used Embellishments - Paddled Fringe, Wire Jewelry Design, Design, but separating the gauges is a good
Leaves and Flowers
Leaves and flowers seem to make it into a lot of my designs and are a great way to use small scraps of sheet metal.

Several times a year I sort through my scrap sheet and make lots of leaves and a few different kinds of flowers.

They never seem to last very long in my stash.
Judy Larson's My Most Often Used Embellishments - Leaves and Flowers, Wire Jewelry Design, Design, use small scraps of sheet metal
Judy Larson's My Most Often Used Embellishments - Leaves and Flowers, Wire Jewelry Design, Design, scrap sheet and make lots of leaves
Judy Larson's My Most Often Used Embellishments - Leaves and Flowers, Wire Jewelry Design, Design, They never seem to last very long in my stash.
Decorative Balls
These NEVER last long in my supply stash so when one size starts to run low, I make a bunch of them.

There is nothing worse than being in the middle of a design and not having enough of something you need.

As you can see, MANY of them were used in the cuff and pendant above!
Judy Larson's My Most Often Used Embellishments - Decorative Balls, Wire Jewelry Design, Design, used in the cuff and pendant
Mobius Ring Spacers
This is one of those embellishments you think you will never use a lot of, and then you find you are using them everywhere.

You could make them as you need them, but it really does help to keep a lot of mobius spacers on hand in the sizes most often used so you can audition them in your projects.
Judy Larson's My Most Often Used Embellishments - Mobius Ring Spacers, Wire Jewelry Design, Design, most often used so you can audition them in your projects
Judy Larson's My Most Often Used Embellishments - Mobius Ring Spacers, Wire Jewelry Design, Design, You could make them as you need them
Small Rustic Silver Slide Tab Beads and Rustic Silver Links:
The links add a custom, handmade look and feel to any creation and can be used in many ways.

That's why I always keep them on hand.

The little tab beads are just plain fun and can be stamped with many different designs.

Tab slide beads come in various sizes.

Changing their shape, like to a rectangle, completely changes the look.
Judy Larson's My Most Often Used Embellishments - Small Rustic Silver Slide Tab Beads and Rustic Silver Links:, Wire Jewelry Design, Design, The links add a custom hand-made look and feel to a creation and can be used
Judy Larson's My Most Often Used Embellishments - Small Rustic Silver Slide Tab Beads and Rustic Silver Links:, Wire Jewelry Design, Design, That is why I keep them on hand
Judy Larson's My Most Often Used Embellishments - Small Rustic Silver Slide Tab Beads and Rustic Silver Links:, Wire Jewelry Design, Design, Changing the shape, such as to a rectangle
Trees and Animals
Since many things I make are nature inspired, and I live in an area with many pine trees, every so often I spend a day or two cutting out trees and animals so they are ready when inspiration strikes.
Judy Larson's My Most Often Used Embellishments - Trees and Animals, Wire Jewelry Design, Design, spend a day or two cutting out trees and animals
Judy Larson's My Most Often Used Embellishments - Trees and Animals, Wire Jewelry Design, Design, I live in an area with many pine trees
Little Saucer Bells
This is a new one added to my list of what will be used often because they are just so cute, and have a slight tinkle when a bracelet moves on the wrist.
Judy Larson's My Most Often Used Embellishments - Little Saucer Bells, Wire Jewelry Design, Design, a slight tinkle when a bracelet moves on the wrist.
Judy Larson's My Most Often Used Embellishments - Little Saucer Bells, Wire Jewelry Design, Design, often used embellishments

Materials

20 Gauge Round Half Hard Argentium .940 Silver Wire
H19-20H
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
  • Price: $31.42
  • Gold Club Price: $23.57
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Tools

Blazer GB4001 Stingray Torch, Blue
TRCH-4002
  • TRCH-4002
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $49.95
  • Gold Club Price: $37.46
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  • Category: Design
  • Technique(s): Design

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