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| Beaded Bouquet design copyright Lisa Salsbury 2006. Web page design and contents copyright Lisa Salsbury 2007. All rights reserved. |
| Materials We Use |
At Willow and Me Jewelry Design, we use quality materials in the design of all
our jewelry. Pieces can be made in any price range by finding the materials to
fit your budget. Some of the materials we enjoy using are:
our jewelry. Pieces can be made in any price range by finding the materials to
fit your budget. Some of the materials we enjoy using are:
 | Swarovski Crystals. Crystals are a form of glass bead with added lead for | |
| brilliance. There are many manufacturers of crystal beads, with Swarovski being the premiere manufacturer. The Swarovski company uses a special compound which cannot be duplicated, and which produces crystal that is more brilliant and uniform in color than that from any other manufacturer. Swarovski’s machine cutting technique makes their crystals uniform in size and shape and their facets perfect. They are more expensive than other crystals, but I believe they are worth it. Vintage Swarovski crystal beads are available from one of my suppliers and come in many colors and shapes that are no longer manufactured. The vintage crystal gives a very distinctive look to a piece. |
| Czech Glass. Many of the flowers and leaves I use are made from glass | |
| manufactured in the Czech Republic. It is generally superior in color and form and comes in many shapes sizes and colors. |
| Vintage Lucite. Vintage Lucite beads are | |
| available in many shapes and sizes, but I generally use the flower and leaf shaped beads. Lucite was made by the DuPont Corporation beginning in 1937 as a more cost effective alternative to Bakelite. It was used in jewelry into the 1970’s. It is heavier than most other plastics and comes in the most beautiful colors. The craftsmanship in the vintage beads is far superior to the cheaper plastic beads made today. I have two suppliers of vintage Lucite beads whom I trust to provide me with quality materials. Not all beads that are marketed as “Vintage Lucite” are equal.. |
| Sterling Silver. Most of the metals I use, both in beads and findings, are | |
| made from sterling silver. It is tolerated by most people, where some lower cost metals can cause allergies and irritations. It is less expensive than gold and enables me to keep my costs more reasonable. In addition, it is available in the widest range of designs. Gold filled components can be used in place of sterling silver at approximately the same price. Many components are also available to order in 10K and 14K gold at an additional cost. |
| Pearls. There are many varieties of pearls in many different price ranges. | |
| They are lovely by themselves as well as paired with Swarovski crystal to add a little glitter. The Swarovski company also makes crystal pearls which are made of glass and less expensive, but just as lovely, as natural pearls. |
| Precious Metal Clay (PMC). A new medium for me, I have taken classes | |
| in the use of this versatile clay. It is .999 Fine Silver (99.9 percent silver - sterling silver contains 92.5 percent silver) particles contained in a binder. It can be worked much like other clays in shaping. When fired in a kiln for a sufficient time period, the binder burns off leaving a fine silver piece. PMC has enabled me to make pieces which would otherwise not be possible without metal casting supplies. I am currently working toward certification in PMC which will enable me to teach PMC skills to others. For photos of some of my PMC pieces, click here. |
| The flowers and leaves in this bracelet are a combination of Czech glass and vintage Lucite with Swarovski crystals in the centers. The clasp is a sterling silver flower. |