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When most of us talk about innovation, we are talking about new tools and techniques. But innovation is not exclusively about technology. It is about the way technology is used. A look behind the scenes in many small shops proves that new technology is often a response to innovative impulses, rather than a source of them. The result of such questioning may be new tools, merchandise, or techniques. In almost all cases, though, being innovative for these small companies means changing the way they do business to be more efficient, creative, and productive.... (2005) Complete Story
Ivy Solomon combining resin, metal clay, and traditional fabrication techniques, her award-winning pendants are structured around textures and colors in ways that frequently depart from traditional jewelry designs. "When you use stones, you have to design to enhance the stone. The piece is all about the stone," says Solomon. "With metal clay, it its more about texture, because that iss what metal clay does the best"....
(2005) Complete Story
As you may have guessed, I highly recommend taking out frustrations at the bench on your tools. If you are a jeweler struggling with a process, stop and re-evaluate your tools and procedures. A few swift strokes of a file or a couple of minutes at the grinding wheel can make the tool youve been struggling with much more effective. Take the process of evaluating your jewelry designs a step further by evaluating your tools and processes, as well. Tool design may not become a business for you, but it can help your business be more enjoyable and profitable.... (2006) Complete Story
When a commercial finding isn't quite right but making the component by hand seems like reinventing the wheel, creative modification comes into play. That's what designer Jayne Redman of Cumberland, Maine, encountered when searching for the perfect clasp for her Palm Neckwire.... (2004) Complete Story
Dulla crochets niobium wire into airy beads and necklaces studded with Swarovski crystals. The result is jewelry that is bright, colorful, and exuberantly joyful. The sheer brightness of her work is even more surprising if you know her personal history. An incest survivor, Dulla has used niobium wire to make sculptures that vividly express the pain of that formative experience, as well as to create bright jewelry that represents her triumph over the past.... (2005) Complete Story
