Janet Evans - Costume Jewelry Making & Making Jewelry With Beads : A Complete & Step by Step Guide

Jewelries are worn to signify wealth, power and status. The crown traditionally worn by royalty is perfect example of this. We use jewelries to show an affluent status and exude elegance. Jewelries are also used as charms and amulets. For example, ancient men used talismans to ward off evil. The crucifix worn around the neck is believed to not only ward off evil but also bring blessing to the wearer. Jewelries are also used as a symbol of connection or relationship. High school rings, lockets and engagement rings all signify our relationship with someone.

Today, jewelries could be worn as accessories to stand out, to feel sexy and to express yourself. These could be used by both men and women to attract the opposite sex. They could enhance a persons natural beauty, and show an aspect of his personality. We all have a need to express ourselves. Sometimes, we wear jewelries to make a statement.

Most women like to be different and prefer to make their own jewelry. Making your own jewelry has its advantages. Even the simplest pieces of jewelry out there can still be costly, but making your own jewelry will save you money. You dont have to fear walking into a ballroom and spotting another lady wearing a similar earring as your own. Since you made your own jewelry, the piece could be truly unique. And most of all, you can design your own pieces and make customized jewelry for that new black dress you bought. Youll never fear ending up wearing nothing to accentuate your new dress because you can always make one.

The first part of the book discusses the art of making costume jewelry. Costume jewelry is created to complement a certain outfit. Its origins can be traced back to the 1800s when jewelers started using inexpensive glass for jewelry pieces. Over time, costume jewelry has improved in materials and design and has quickly caught on to mainstream fashion with some vintage pieces dating back to the World War II era.

The early chapters describe the tools needed when making the jewelry pieces and the different materials to build one. The remaining chapters discuss the different techniques you need to learn when making costume jewelry. If you want to make simple pieces, theres a chapter dedicated to making simple projects which include the tools, materials and step-by-step procedure in making the project.

The second part of the book is all about bead jewelries. Costume jewelries could be made from various materials, but in the second part of this book, the focus in on the use of beads. Beads are small pieces which can be strung or adhered together to form a piece of jewelry. There are 2 different types based on the material. The first type is natural beads made out of naturally-occurring materials such shells, wood and nuts. The second type is the synthetic type made of materials such as plastic and ceramics.

The second part also discusses the different tools needed to start beading. Materials will also be discussed as well. The different techniques are in the proceeding chapter. The last part is dedicated to small projects designed for beginners.

Whether it is for your own use, for business, or as a gift, learning the basic technique in jewelry making is a must for anyone who wishes to create their own pieces. Jewelry making is not only a creative way to stand out; it may also be a start of your very own home business.

Read on, learn, and start making your first piece.

When it comes to buying the tools needed for making costume jewelry youll find there is a huge selection to choose from. However whats important is when investing money in such items buy the best quality ones you can afford. Not only will these tools last considerably longer, but will help to ensure the whole process of making jewelry pieces is a lot easier.

The types of tools youll need to buy when it comes to making any type of costume jewelry are as follows.

Its with these pliers you are going to find bending the wire and making loops a lot easier. Of all the tools you will invest in for making any jewelry even the costume type, youll find this is the tool youll be using the most often. Its important that the round nose pliers you purchase arent the standard DIY kind but those specifically designed for making jewelry, as they are much smaller.

These are useful in many different ways, not only will use these pliers to hold your pieces as you work on them but also for when you need to open or close jump rings or links in a chain. Although these two pliers may do pretty much the same job if you need to get into tight spaces. In fact if you cannot decide which pair you should be investing in, I would highly recommend initially you get a pair of chain nose pliers and then invest in the flat nose ones once your ability begins to improve.

Without a pair of these you wont be able to cut the wire or other materials you use for stringing your jewelry designs together. However if youre going to be using memory wire to make costume jewelry then investing in a good pair of memory wire cutters is essential.

This particular tool is the one you use to crimp beads and which helps to ensure the beads will stay securely in position. It also helps to ensure the rest of the beads and other ornaments used in your design remain in place as well.

Youll need this tool if you intend to do any kind of knotting when making costume jewelry. Without an awl youll find it very difficult to produce knots that are not only of the same size and shape but also are very tight.

You dont need a very big hammer just one that will allow you to flatten wire out so it becomes much harder and will in turn help to ensure it keeps its shape much better.

A really good pair of short sharp scissors is crucial when it comes to wanting to make any sort of jewelry. A sharp pair of scissors will ensure that when cutting materials such as leather, suede, silk or satin the ends dont become frayed.