Making Wire Jewelry with Crystals
Question:
I was wondering if the insides of a geode can be used in jewelry or will the crystals just crumble apart? Thanks!
-Cindy in Lake Station, Indiana
I was wondering if the insides of a geode can be used in jewelry or will the crystals just crumble apart? Thanks!
-Cindy in Lake Station, Indiana
Instructions
Answer:
Well Cindy, using the crystal formations inside a geode to make jewelry with really depends on the crystals.
(Of course, another way to use these crystals is as cut druzy cabochons.)
Well Cindy, using the crystal formations inside a geode to make jewelry with really depends on the crystals.
(Of course, another way to use these crystals is as cut druzy cabochons.)
Most quartz crystals are pretty stable (including amethyst, citrine, etc) and small botryoidal formations (like azurite, malachite and chrysocolla) are good because even though they are a softer material they are rounded and compact.
When we see lovely, feathery crystals of more delicate minerals such as the zeolite natrolite, in my opinion specimens such as these are way too fragile to consider using in jewelry making of any type!
When making crystal clusters into wire jewelry, a good approach is to use a minimal amount of wire so the focus stays on the featured material.
For example, the pendant shown here features a silver-dollar-sized amethyst cluster. I titled it Vineyard Harvest because the crystals reminded me of grapes.
To frame it, I used a mix of half-hard and dead-soft 20-gauge square wire.
The softer wire was carefully entwined between the crystals to secure the cluster without overpowering it.
I finished the piece with Bali silver leaf beads for a simple, natural accent.
(The frame design is a modified version of my Anything Pendant Harness.)
For example, the pendant shown here features a silver-dollar-sized amethyst cluster. I titled it Vineyard Harvest because the crystals reminded me of grapes.
To frame it, I used a mix of half-hard and dead-soft 20-gauge square wire.
The softer wire was carefully entwined between the crystals to secure the cluster without overpowering it.
I finished the piece with Bali silver leaf beads for a simple, natural accent.
(The frame design is a modified version of my Anything Pendant Harness.)
Of course, you also should take into consideration the back of the crystal cluster, the geode matrix.
If it is very rough you may want to make a woven, open mat-style frame from round or square wire for the back first (or crochet the backing) and then attach the cluster as described above.
Answer contributed by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong
If it is very rough you may want to make a woven, open mat-style frame from round or square wire for the back first (or crochet the backing) and then attach the cluster as described above.
Answer contributed by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong
Materials
Druzy One of a Kind Cabochons
Wire
Tools
Chain Nose Wire Pliers
G2-508
- G2-508
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $32.95
- Gold Club Price: $24.71
3 Step Square Pliers
G2-505
- G2-505
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $37.95
- Gold Club Price: $28.46
Flat Nose Wire Pliers
G2-506
- G2-506
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $32.95
- Gold Club Price: $24.71
Round Nose Wire Pliers
G2-507
- G2-507
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $32.95
- Gold Club Price: $24.71
C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches
PLR-487.00
- PLR-487.00
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $16.97
- Gold Club Price: $12.73
6 Step Barrel Plier - Pack of 1
G2-503
- G2-503
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $14.95
- Gold Club Price: $11.21
Supply Detail
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- Category: Stones
- Technique(s): Wrapping, Design, General Education
Dale Armstrong
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