Organizing Supplies | Design Inspiration | Recycling Broken Jewelry

Learn to make consistent wire loops and how to deal with large-hole furnace glass beads.

1. Utensil tray
Use a wood or plastic utensil tray to organize materials and projects. The compartments are the ideal size for storing beads, findings, and tools; longer sections work well for bead strands or unfinished projects. Sturdy and portable, the tray will help you see project options at a glance. C. Atkins, via e-mail

2. Home, sweet home
Home decorating magazines are a great source of jewelry design inspiration since they present patterns, textures, and colors in unexpected ways. Try international magazines, too - they'll lend ideas for jewelry with an ethnic flair. M. Rae Smith, Wauwatosa, WI

3. Furnace glass bead solution
When stringing a large-hole furnace glass bead, string a wire coil to nestle inside the bead's hole. Make coils by wrapping 24-gauge wire around an 18- or 20-gauge wire. Remove the coiled wire and cut it to fit within the bead. The coils prevent smaller beads from becoming lodged inside the furnace glass. Veronica Stewart, via e-mail

4. Vintage breakdown
Even though it's best to shop for vintage jewelry in pristine condition, don't pass up a beautiful piece because it's broken. Consider reusing the beads and the clasp in separate projects: Augment a necklace or bracelet with a pendant or new crystals, or create an entirely different piece with a vintage clasp. Marie Schalk, Alexander, AR

5. Consistent loops
With a permanent marker, indicate on your roundnose pliers where you wrap wire loops. Use the mark as a gauge to help make the size of plain or wrapped loops consistent. If necessary, the mark can be removed with rubbing alcohol. R. Davis, Cleveland, OH

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March 2005