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Any jewelery makers here?
Posted: Jun 9, 2013
Do any of you make jewelery? If so, would you be willing to share with me how you learned to do it? This is not a commercial venture, just a hobby I have always wanted to have. Now that I am retired, maybe I can do it! I love birds and would like to make some kind of jewelry incorporating the theme of birds; just want to give it as gifts to friends. It would be nice for Hanukkah/Christmas and other gifts. Thanks in advance for any advice, tips, etc.;
Just a novice here, but... - ZvilleMT
[ In Reply To ..]I started making jewelry about a year ago. My best advice for you is to start small - necklaces or broaches where you can put bigger pieces together - and work your way up from there. If you have a Hobby Lobby nearby, plan to spend a lot of time there :) Not only do they have some fantastic supplies, but they also have books and little freebie brochures to give you ideas and instruction. If you don't have a Hobby Lobby, a Jo-Ann's or someplace similar would work.
Get yourself some tools to start with - you may even be able to pick some out of your toolbox like I did, like needlenose pliers, wire cutters, and tweezers. Get a nice collection of beads, wires, chains ... whatever you're interested in (since you like birds, you could even start with some bead and feather combinations) and just let your imagination go! :)
Hope this helps and I hope you have as much fun with it as I do :)
Oh yeah, I almost forgot... - ZvilleMT
[ In Reply To ..]Don't give up!! My first pieces of jewelry looked REALLY BAD!! LOL!! The more you work on it, the better you get and the easier it gets, too. So if your first peacock looks like a hot mess, don't throw in the towel :)
Good luck to you :)
I'm sure there are videos on YouTube - wheres_my_job
[ In Reply To ..]I used to know how to make jewelry - but I'm doing some things with earrings, and have discovered I have forgotten the trick of how to open and close C rings (I think they're called, I don't remember) nice and neatly, so the bead or whatever doesn't come off. It's not rocket science, I've just forgotten how to do it.
So I'll probably look on YouTube - you can books also. Jewelry making is not that difficult, unless you want to solder stuff together - well, soldering isn't that hard either, really.
Jewelry making is satisfying. You can wear it when you get done, and is a lot easier than sewing (although I wish I had a sewing machine often).
I buy costume jewelry at estate sales and lots on - L&L
[ In Reply To ..]eBay which I break up and use for new items. I decorated several small silver plated goblets with old jewelry for office mates. I am in the process of decorating my urn (not the typical urn shape but simply a rectangular box) with pieces mostly from earrings. Hobby Lobby has all the tools, and a lot of pieces I see locally in small shops look to be made from older jewelry. A placed I stopped at recently was charging (!!!) $10 for bobby pins with simply glued-on pieces from old jewelry.
On the other hand, our local arts center has a jewelry making class, but since I always managed to burn myself with every wood burning kit I had when I was little, I stay away from anything that involves any heat.
It's 4am, and I tend to blather at the end of my shift. Carpe noctem!
Making jewelry - Alice
[ In Reply To ..]I enjoy making jewelry as a hobby; I'm not an expert. I learned a lot from watching free videos at firemountaingems.com and also found some "free" online jewelry-making courses. I found these by just researching the various related terms such as "make jewelry." Have fun!
I did, no time now, but plan to get back into it - sm - XXX
[ In Reply To ..]in a few years I hope....especially when I change careers and out of MT...soon have school plans for the Fall. But as for jewelry depends on what you are talking...I can make jewerly...have a BFA in Metals from art school. I can fabricate pretty much anything, can solder, cast (would have to send that out as I don't have that equipment or a furnace for burn-outs), screw together, chasing, anodize, etc. Have a full studio collecting dust. Did juried craft shows for years. No time now though. I work with silver and niobium mainly, some aluminum. I can do beading too. Presume you don't mean something so involved though, you want probably something more like easy assembly. I suggest looking at the Rio Grande website. The have about every finding in the world and lots of good tips, videos, etc. Your local A.C. Moore or Michael's may have some classes too, look into it. Enjoy.
Is there a mineral or stone store in your city? - Happy MT Robin
[ In Reply To ..]Here in Albuquerque there's a store called Mama's Minerals and they give jewelery making lessons. My sister threw herself a birthday party a couple of years ago and paid for about 6 of us to go have a necklace making session and it was a blast. They covered the basics on how to string the beads, how to put the fasteners on the end, etc.
I know my sister also has a book on jewelry making that she references quite a bit, but I don't know the name of it, sorry. She's made a bunch of necklaces - she finds it very therapeutic.
She alternates between buying some of the nicer stuff at Mama's Minerals and then she gets some stuff at Hobby Lobby. They always have 40% off coupons and she gets a lot of beads and stuff there. She and my sister-in-law also use a catalog from FireMountainGems.com for their supplies as well.
I think you'll find it great fun. A class would be the bet way to go, I think, at least initially. For me, at least, it was critical to have the hands on with the instructor there.
Ideas for you - To save money
[ In Reply To ..]I have a girlfriend who makes jewelry, but is always concerned about the cost of beads and things in the jewelry making shops. I don't make jewelry.
So, what I do for her is this: If I'm finished with a cheap bracelet, I take all the beads off and give them to her. Ditto with beaded sandals. Every 6 months or so I go through my earrings, and there's almost a few without matches.
In turn, she'll make me something from the stack of beads I've given her over the year. She makes me watches and earrings.
I also agree with the going to garage sales, estate sales, things like that. You can probably pick up some jewelry for cheap, then just dismantle it and use the parts for your own. Be creative with what you can use as a "bead" or piece for your jewelry. It could be an interestingly shaped button or something.
Rather than using clasps on bracelets (which can be hard to close) my girlfriend buys magnets made specifically for the ends of bracelets and watches.
Have fun with it!
Thanks to all! - Old Pro
[ In Reply To ..]Great and wonderful ideas! Thanks to everybody! There is a Michael's and a JoAnn's right close to my house. And I think the idea of taking a class is great, will shop the community schools, etc. Thanks again!
Right, magnet bracelet closures are fabulous. - L&L
[ In Reply To ..]I have arthritis in my thumbs and closing some of my bracelets is a nightmare. For all the ones I like to wear, I add magnetic closures. I get mine off eBay.
If you are not close to a great bead sore or Hobby Lobby, there are some great sellers with jewelry making items on eBay.
One down-side to the magnets - see msg
[ In Reply To ..]When you have that piece of jewelry in amongst others, it tends to attract any metal-based earring, bracelet, earring backing, etc., to that magnet. It's a very powerful magnet. In fact, I had mine on one day at a restaurant and was sitting at a metal table, and I finally had to take the thing off!
Otherwise, I love it. I don't have arthritis, but clipping and unclipping those bracelets is a pain in the neck. They do have special devices for putting on your own bracelets, but I prefer the magnet closures. They don't detract at all from the prettiness of the bracelet or watch.
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