Featured Brand of the Month: TierraCast Week Five

For our final week highlighting TierraCast, I want to close by talking about super-versatile links and connectors. A link can transform into so many different things. For example, you can use it as a toggle clasp, or you can link a number of them together to make a chain. Elevate your designs by using TierraCast Links and Connectors.

For instance, instead of just doing a simple drop earring, why not do a drop earring with a link? It's instantly more eye catching. 

Featured Project: Contempo Quatrefoil Earrings

These earrings show one gorgeous way to utilize the Quatrefoil connector link. By wire wrapping the link with the olivine SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS bicones, you can transform the link into the focal piece of this earring. It enhances it so much.

Featured Video: How to Wire Wrap Beads onto a Form

This is a great video that shows you how to add beads into your wire wrap of a connector link.

We went ahead and chose some of our favorite TierraCast links and connectors for your delectation:



Julie:

I love the Dia De Los Muertos Paloma Bird Connector. I have gone in and hand painted the details of this connector before and it looked stunning! I turned the ones I used into earrings but you could very easily make a bracelet out of them too. The design is so unique and beautiful!






Megan:

The TierraCast Dia De Los Muertos Collection is one of my all-time favorites! I especially love these Radiant Heart Connectors - the detail is gorgeous and they give such a distinctive look to any piece. I can only imagine the possibilities for using them!







Kat:

These hammered pieces give a cool industrial feel to any piece.  I particularly like these copper plated pewter square connectors that can be used in earrings or a great bracelet.  Mix up the metals with the Brass Oxide and Silver versions of these connectors.  And mix up the shape with the round hammered connectors as well.

Karlin:

I love these Black Finish Connector Links by TierraCast. Using these links is a simple, yet effective way to display your SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS rivoli stones. They have a beaded edge that give it a somewhat vintage look and I especially love the black finish. I think they would look especially gorgeous with a SWAROVSKI rivoli stone in Vitrail or Provence Lavender. They're so pretty!






Sarah:

I love these Infinity connector links.  They work so well as the center pieces of knotted macrame bracelets.   The detailing that TierraCast puts into their infinity link makes for a unique take on this popular symbol of the endless cycle of life. 






How do you use connectors and links in your jewelry?  Share with us on our customer gallery.  I hope you enjoyed our month dedicated to TierraCast. Be sure to check back with us next week as we begin our Month Dedicated to all things Vintaj.

Spotlight Saturday: Jump Rings

Jump rings are used in just about every project but finding the right one can be tough.  I think it helps to have all different sizes and colors on hand for comparison.  Why use the wrong size when you don't have to.  Sometimes it can feel like you are Goldilocks, trying ring after ring... but you'll know when it's right.  When a project calls for a lot of jump rings, like chain maille or the Carmela Necklace, the jump ring opener can be a valuable tool.  Worth it's weight in gold, you might say.

Featured Video: How to use Beadsmith's Jump Ring Opener

The Beadsmith's jump ring opener is such a convenient tool to help you open and close jump rings while keeping your hand free.  It can also replace the need for a second pair of pliers in some cases.  It will help to steady jump rings so they don't go flying across the room.  

Featured Project:  Carmela Necklace

Shown here is the center piece of the Carmela Necklace.  It is comprised of gold plated oval connectors and gold plated jump rings.  Jump rings are what brought this idea to life.  They were the perfect little connecting tools to use as building blocks in this piece.

Featured Product:  Jump Rings

There are many varieties of jump rings. Because many jump rings are so inexpensive you can always have extra in your jewelry storage. When choosing the right jump ring, pay attention to the gauge of the jump ring as well as the size. When looking at gauge the higher the gauge number, the thinner the jump ring. For example, a jump ring that is 18 gauge is much thicker than a jump ring that is 22 gauge. This also applies to wire and other findings. See our handy wire gauge guide in our Techniques & Guides section on our website. There are a lot of helpful tools there.