Janet Alexander Jewelry Designs and Classes

In my last blog I discussed annealing sheet and how annealing metal softens it so its more bendable. Wire anneals the same way. Heat it until its a dull red and then quench in water. Flux or ...

http://janetalexanderdesigns.blogspot.com/2016/04/annealing-wire.html

Annealing (metallurgy) is the process of heating metal altering the microstructure of a material causing changes in properties. In metalsmiting its used for softening the metal so that it is...

http://janetalexanderdesigns.blogspot.com/2016/04/annealling-silver-or-copper-sheet.html

TIPS TO KNOW ABOUT JEWELER'S SAWBLADES Saw blades are measured in size by numbers that are like the numbers on a number line. There is no zero size saw blade. Just like the number line, as...

http://janetalexanderdesigns.blogspot.com/2015/03/tips-to-know-about-jewelers-sawblades.html

A question was asked online about how to work-harden fine silver. Someone had embedded fine silver wire into metal clay earrings and they wouldn't hold their shape. There was quite a bit of d...

http://janetalexanderdesigns.blogspot.com/2014/12/can-fine-silver-really-be-work-hardened.html

by Janet Alexander  Now that most kilns have a computerized controller it’s become easier to control the kiln’s temperature. But, is the controller’s readout accurate? With so man...

http://janetalexanderdesigns.blogspot.com/2014/09/testing-your-kilns-temperature.html

How is the Tumble-Vibe different from a rotary tumbler? The basic difference between a vibratory and a rotary tumbler is the way the unit is driven.  A rotary tumbler consists of a barrel th...

http://janetalexanderdesigns.blogspot.com/2014/09/vibratory-tumblers.html

All jewelry tools are made smooth without teeth so that they don't mar the finish of your work. But, sometimes it's helpful to have a vise with gripping teeth to hold various objects. If you ...

http://janetalexanderdesigns.blogspot.com/2014/09/no-more-maring-your-metal-while-holding.html

Cabochon stones have a flat bottom with the sides rising up into a dome on the stone’s top. They are cut into a convex shape. There is a 90˚ angle where the bottom and the sides meet. The...

http://janetalexanderdesigns.blogspot.com/2014/08/11-tips-for-creating-bezel-settings-for.html

Here is my latest video on  how to cast a silver pendant in cuttlebone. If you have ever watched the first Hobit Movie they quickly show the ring being cast. The method they are using is cuttl...

http://janetalexanderdesigns.blogspot.com/2014/06/a-short-video-on-casting-in-cuttlebone.html

In my last blog I discussed the basic setup of light, camera, white balance, and camera stand. What’s next? Sometimes the area around the table where you are taking photos can be a drain on...

http://janetalexanderdesigns.blogspot.com/2014/06/more-tips-on-photographing-jewelry.html

http://janetalexanderdesigns.blogspot.com/2014/06/creating-hollow-pendant.html

  I was recently asked to submit 15 photos of artwork to a magazine for a local art tour of professional artists. We have over 25 artists. It shouldn’t be hard to find 15 quality photos, righ...

http://janetalexanderdesigns.blogspot.com/2014/05/lights-camera-action-behind-scenes.html

Many times as we work with metal hammering, texturing, or bending it, it becomes work-hardened. Some metal is sold in this hardened state. Too much work-hardening can make the metal crack! Te...

http://janetalexanderdesigns.blogspot.com/2014/03/bench-tips-on-annealing-metal-filing.html

I’d like to pass on some tips I use when working with metal or setting stones. Have you ever had a small piece of wire you wanted to use but it was all bent out of shape? Well here is a tip o...

http://janetalexanderdesigns.blogspot.com/2014/03/bench-tips-and-tricks-to-make-your-work.html

PROBLEM TORCHES Have you ever had a problem with the small butane torch acting like its empty even though you just filled it? That's because over time compressed air from the butane can fills ...

http://janetalexanderdesigns.blogspot.com/2014/03/fixing-common-problem-with-butane.html

Ring gauges and ring mandrels are used in concert to make rings. Ring gauges are used to measure the size of a person's finger and ring mandrels are used for manufacturing rings to the requir...

http://janetalexanderdesigns.blogspot.com/2014/02/tips-from-bench-ring-gauges-and-mandrels.html

This tip is for those of you who like to use a sanding disc with your rotary tool. I don’t know about you, but sanding discs just don’t last long and can become very costly. Here is a way...

http://janetalexanderdesigns.blogspot.com/2014/01/saving-by-making-your-own-inexpensive.html

Have you ever wanted to dome something in metal clay only to find you don’t have the correct size or slope? I've had that  happen to me. So, I looked around my studio to find an object I...

http://janetalexanderdesigns.blogspot.com/2014/01/surprising-ideas-you-can-come-up-with.html

There are two types of kilns, brick and ceramic muffle. Mine is a muffle. Muffle kilns heat up faster than the brick type and can easily be moved from classroom to classroom without damaging th...

http://janetalexanderdesigns.blogspot.com/2013/12/kiln-maintenance-for-metal-clay-artists.html

Over the years I’ve been told not to place my moist metal clay on aluminum or there would be a reaction, so I never have. With that being said, I don’t know what the reaction is! Inquirin...

http://janetalexanderdesigns.blogspot.com/2013/11/what-is-reaction-of-metal-clay-with.html

In September 2011 I was given Sterling Silver metal clay by Mitsubishi to test. I am now going to start posting these tests for you all now  that it isn't confidential information. TEST 1 S...

http://janetalexanderdesigns.blogspot.com/2013/10/part-1-testing-of-sterling-silver-metal.html

In this test I focused on soldering. I explored the following questions over a series of tests: Does the porosity of the clay cause problems with soldering? Do I need to burnish the clay first...

http://janetalexanderdesigns.blogspot.com/2013/10/testing-how-fired-sterling-siver-metal.html

With the new sterling silver metal clay, there is a lot to experiment with, and to push its limits to find out what IS its limit. The first thing I wanted to do was make some slip and syringe cl...

http://janetalexanderdesigns.blogspot.com/2013/09/v-behaviorurldefaultvmlo.html

I spent a year testing the PMC Sterling Silver metal clay and wanted to post the results on my own blog. So, here is the very first post. Questions, questions, questions! It seems the more ...

http://janetalexanderdesigns.blogspot.com/2013/09/recap-of-my-sterling-silver-metal-clay.html

I recently moved to Alto NM and set up my new studio and thought I’d like to share with you some of the things I thought about while setting it up. I asked myself some questions and then...

http://janetalexanderdesigns.blogspot.com/2013/07/questions-i-ask-my-self-while-setting.html