This book isdedicated to Melissa and Sarah for their inspirational words and unwaveringsupport.
Chapter 1- An Overview of Jewelry Making
People like to make their ownjewelry for various reasons. Some people desire to use their creativity andmake unique designs. Others want to make their jewelry so that they can sell itat stores or other venues. Still others like to make theirs so that they cangive it away to friends and family for gifts throughout the year. For whateverreason they decide to make their own jewelry, they find that the time that theyspend on it is enjoyable. It becomes something that they look forward to doing,and they want to make more of it.
Does Someone Need A Lot Of Experience To Their Own Jewelry?
A person does not need priorexperience to learn how to make their own jewelry. They can learn as they goalong and try out different things. They can change the way that they maketheir jewelry along the way. Making their own jewelry allows them much leeway,and they will be able to make their very own unique designs in no time at all.They just need to have the proper supplies, some reference materials and the patienceto make their ideas come to life.
What Type Of Supplies Do They Need?
It is important that people thatmake jewelry get their supplies and have them on hand. They should also have aclean workspace that isnt cluttered so that they can spend time making theirtreasured pieces. This can be a work bench, a counter top or even a desk, aslong as there is plenty of good light for them to see what they are doing.
When they are purchasing differentsupplies, they should make sure that they get plenty of gems, stones, crystalsand more. Scissors, string, needles and glue are other supplies that shouldalways be on hand. People that want to make their own jewelry should buy theseitems in bulk amounts. They should then organize them so that they know what haveon hand when they are starting a new project. Since jewelry making is socreative, a person can use all kinds of different things to make interestingpieces. It is all up to their imagination and the design that they have inmind. They should get the supplies before they start making it so they canproceed to the finished piece as soon as possible.
What Types Of Reference Materials DoThey Need?
When people want to make jewelry,they should make sure that they have a couple of reference books on the subject.These books are filled with knowledge and will allow them to followinstructions on making the jewelry without making costly mistakes. People thatdont have references books tend to make more mistakes with their jewelry thanthose that use them.
What Are The Costs For A PersonMaking Their Own Jewelry?
The cost for making their ownjewelry will depend on the types of metals that they use and the pieces thatthey intend to make. Smaller pieces will cost less and larger pieces will bemore of an expense. It will also depend on the types of stones, gems orcrystals that they decide to use in the pieces. Since the prices vary, someonethat wants to start making their own jewelry will want to scour the craftstores for good bargains. They should make sure that they visit them on saledays and stock up on the supplies that they might want to use with theirpieces. Another great way to save on supplies is to trade with other jewelrymakers. They may be looking for something and want to switch it for a piece thatthey have.
How Should A Person Care About TheirJewelry After They Made It?
They should remember to store theirjewelry in a clean, dry place. Jewelry boxes are excellent for storing manydifferent jewelry items. For bigger pieces they will want to store them in aseparate box from other pieces. They should also wrap them in a jewelry wrapperfor protection. They will also want to clean it with a damp cloth from time totime. Some people like to hang their pieces from hooks or by other means intheir room or closet. They should make sure that these items wont be disturbedand that they also clean them with a damp cloth from time to time. For otherpieces, a person may wish to get some jewelry cleaner that will work well withmany pieces. This can be found in any department store and will allow them toclean most if not all of the pieces that they make.
Making jewelry will always besomething that many people will love to do. They can enjoy wearing their uniquepieces and selling them too. They will never know who might want to acquire oneof their own designs, so they should take pictures of them to show others whenthey are out. It can become a very fruitful hobby or a plentiful source ofincome for a lot of people.
Chapter 2- What Are the Different Jewelry Making Techniques and Designs?
The need for jewelry in all of itsmany forms has existed for as long as we've had the ability to create. Theinherent fascination of a precious stone or prized piece of metal, worn upon apersons body is somehow undeniable. It's a fascination that has compelledprimitive tribes to decorate their bodies to denote tribal rank and givethemselves a feeling of identity.
Today, the passion for jewelry isexhibited in almost too many ways to count. It's an expression of fashion andpersonality, drawing influence from cultures and ethnicities across the Earth.The jewelry of a modern person can convey signs of their religious affiliationsor their wealth and status. So, not too much has changed from those ancientdays.
The designs and creative techniquesused in making a truly unique piece of jewelry are truly varied and oftencontain something of the creators passion for art and craftsmanship. It seemsonly appropriate to take a close look at some of those techniques and wonder atthe intricate designs wrought by human hand.
The medium of wire provides ampleopportunities for a talented jeweler to take fine pieces of precious metal andshape them into delicate coils of decorative art. Truly extraordinary wire artcan contain an exquisite filigree of the finest silver or gold, often featuringa precious stone at the heart of the work. High quality pliers and cutters areused to wrap the metal into unique patterns that look elegant on any arm orneck.