it has to do with my use of split jump-rings, and my up-until-now refusal to admit that they are inappropriate for connecting a clasp to a necklace.
my realization is this: i can ALWAYS use this kind of join between my necklaces and clasps. so much more reliable than open jump-rings! this technique probably has some official jewelry-making name, but i think of it as a twisted bead wire. sometimes it seems to take me an awfully long time to discover obvious solutions to problems.
8 comments:
This solution looks really pretty, Holly! I was going to attempt to fuse some fine silver rings tomorrow, but I would have to wind them first, then cut them, then try to fuse....
This looks like much more fun way to connect the clasp. Maybe I'll brush my teeth more often, to come up with some good ideas!
Miss you. xox
P.S. How thick is the circle for your clasp? And is that a hollow tube for the toggle?
the circle is 4 cards....i've tried 3 and it feels a bit flimsy...and the toggle is solid....i think that's why i sometimes still feel that clasps are a "waste" of clay. i've been thinking about figuring out a way to do flat toggles, rather than bar. maybe like a boomerang shape?
Yay! Now you can fix the clasp on my necklace with the jasper beads that I broke taking off a turtleneck. :)
hmmmm....heath, i don't know which necklace you mean (jasper beads?) but i'd be happy to fix it!
Okay. I tried fusing some of those jump rings tonight. The 14 gauge ones worked, but just so-so. They are no longer round, but sort of organic shaped! Like they are part way melted. For some reason I forgot to order any 16 gauge wire. So I tried fusing a bunch of 18 gauge jump rings. More melted pieces and others that refused to fuse. One or two actually looked okay and didn't open up, but i don't know what I did right with those. I would like to see Kate's DVD on this when it comes out. I'm missing something!
oh!!!!! i was only using 20 gauge! maybe that skinny stuff just can't handle the heat....i'll try some 10 gauge and see what happens.....
I just posted a photo of the jump rings for you on my blog. 10 gauge wire? You could make yourself a bangle! Can't wait to see!
xoxo
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