Have fun adding wire embellishment to your jewelry making designs! By simply adding a swirl or organic shape, you've added a new element to your design.

Soldering Wire Embellishments to the Surface of your Jewelry Designs

Soldered wire accents allow you to create geometric designs with a line drawing feel. But, soldering thin wires onto sheet metal is a challenge. Our very own Studio Coordinator, Erica Stice, has some tips and a video.

Learn how to sweat solder! Raise the value of your sterling silver pieces by soldering on 14kt gold to really make your jewelry designs stand out.

by Erica Stice

How to Sweat Solder 14kt Gold to Sterling Silver

Use 14kt gold solder ornaments on sterling silver jewelry blanks to create unique mixed metal jewelry pieces. Erica Stice is breaking down the sweat soldering process so you can add this great technique to your jewelry making skills.

Julie Sanford is the Halstead Catalog featured metalsmith! She stopped by and gave us some great tips for sawing in the jewelry studio.

by Ashley Maldonado

Learn Sawing From Our 2019 Featured Metalsmith, Julie Sanford -

We are proud to present Julie Sanford as the 2019 Halstead Catalog featured metalsmith. Learn more about Julie, check out her tips for using the jeweler's saw, and watch her demo video in this article.

Use pre-made jewelry findings in new and creative ways with these inspiration and tips in this guest blog from Metalwerx Studio!

by Paulette Werger

Get Creative With Pre-Made Jewelry Components!

Get inspired to look at findings in a whole new way! Paulette Werger ran a workshop "Creative uses for Premade Components" and you'll love some of the ideas she and her students came up with.

Learn tips on untangling jewelry chain! Jewelry footage and finished chain tend to tangle also we'll cover how to package and store them to prevent tangles.

by Erica Stice

Untangling Jewelry Chain: Tips, Tricks & More

Read Tips & Tricks from the Halstead team on untangling chain plus how to properly store chain to prevent further tangles from happening. We've added a few tangled horror chain stories as well.

Gwen Youngblood's riveting techniques make it easier than ever for everyone to master a basic wire rivet and ball rivet as well as riveting to set bezel cups.

by Ashley Maldonado

Riveting Techniques from Gwen Youngblood -

Gwen Youngblood's jewelry riveting cold connection techniques make it easier than ever for everyone to master a basic wire rivet and ball rivet as well as riveting to set bezel cups.

Setting geodes and slabs can be challenging and fun. We've created a few pieces to show you how much fun these can be to set. Embrace the challenges they can bring.

by Erica Stice

How to Set Geodes & Slabs

Setting geodes and slabs can be challenging at times but this blog will cover the two basic settings to get you started. Both require basic soldering skills.

Want to learn how to set raw crystals into sterling silver findings? We take you through three separate settings, ranked simple to hardest, in this blog.

by Erica Stice

3 Ways to Set Raw Crystal Points using Sterling Silver Findings

Use gallery end caps and bead cones to create simple, striking drop earrings or challenge yourself with a center banded technique. The star of each piece is the raw crystal adorning each one.

Erica walks you through a variety of techniques to learn how to size a ring up or down, a great skill to have in your jewelry studio business.

by Erica Stice

How to Size a Ring in the Jewelry Studio

Having the skills to size rings can be very handy for your jewelry studio business, especially if you don't have the right size for a customer in stock. Learn sizing to capture more sales and offer superior service to your clients.

Learn how to determine the correct amount of material you need for a jewelry ring based on the desired finger size and material you choose.

by Erica Stice

How to Buy Ring Making Material

Check out our handy jewelry ring material conversion chart and learn how to calculate the right material length for each finger ring size with this tutorial.

Learn how to solder pattern wire rings or stacking rings made from half round wire stock. Use basic soldering & forming techniques for rings you will love.

by Erica Stice

Soldering Half Round Wire & Pattern Wire for Rings

We love to make silver rings in the Halstead Studio. These simple stackers are a low price-point crowd pleaser. If you're preparing for a show, a holiday is around the corner or you just want to bulk up inventory, ring bands can be a great addition to your collection.

Be inspired by Eva Sherman's creative approach to using soldered jump rings in a whole new way for your jewelry making designs.

by Katie Hacker

Eva Sherman's Spectacular Soldered Jump Rings

Make whimsical jewelry designs with silver jump rings and stone settings. Practice your soldering skills and flex your creativity with this inspiring technique from Eva Sherman.

Learn about Rock Salt Silver Casting as detailed in Erica Stice's recent article published in Belle Armoire Jewelry Magazine.

by Erica Stice

Rock Salt Casting as Seen in Belle Armoire Jewelry

Get a sneak peek at rock salt casting: it's easier than you think! Watch a quick video demo and preview some of the designs that appear in the Spring 2018 issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry.

Learn easy jewelry making techniques to showcase your lampwork art glass beads or other artisan glass jewelry components.

by Katie Hacker

Turning Your Art Glass Beads into Jewelry

Learn a few easy ways to turn your stash of lampwork art glass beads into beautiful, marketable jewelry. Sterling ear wires, basic tools and a few other jewelry supplies are all you need to get started. Plus, tips for selling your jewelry.

Glass artists, learn how to make easy pendant necklaces with your custom lampwork. This tutorial covers supplies and the best glues for the job.

by Erica Stice

How to Make Standout Glass Cabochon Pendant Necklaces

We take the guess work out of making jewelry with your lampwork or art glass cabochons in this tutorial. Choose the best adhesive and findings to make high quality silver pendant necklaces with your glass focal pieces.

Learn how to make an easy chain necklace that is interchangeable to showcase your art glass beads collection. This tutorial covers materials and techniques.

by Erica Stice

Simple Chain Necklace for Interchangeable Art Glass Beads

Learn how to make bestselling interchangeable bead necklaces with your dichroic or lampwork art glass beads. Customers love this simple concept.

New to making custom silver bezel settings? Learn how to measure and calculate exactly how much material you need and order at the right quantity.

by Erica Stice

How to Buy Bezel Strip Wire

If you make custom cabochon settings on a regular basis, it makes sense to buy basic bezel strip by the troy ounce coil so you always have material on hand. But, if you need just a little fancy gallery bezel for a special project or you rarely set custom...

Make your own sterling silver tassels from chain and jewelry findings. Tassels make beautiful earring dangles, charms or pendants.

by Erica Stice

Two Ways to Create Sterling Silver Tassels

Create your own silver jewelry tassels! In this step-by-step guide, we show you how to wire-wrap or solder chain tassels for your jewelry making.

Halstead Jewelry Articles in How To