Lynda Musante - Jewelry Making for Fun & Profit: Make Money Doing What You Love!

The F OR F UN & P ROFIT S ERIES

Candlemaking For Fun & Profit

Crocheting For Fun & Profit

Jewelry Making For Fun & Profit

Soapmaking For Fun & Profit

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11: A Mini-Course in Crafts-Business Basics
by Barbara Brabec

MAKING YOUR OWN JEWELRY is a wonderful way to express yourself creatively. You can make gifts for friends and family, or begin a home-based business. Jewelry making can be very satisfying in that it is portable for the designer on the go, and profitable for those who want to sell their art.

I specialize in wire jewelry, but thoroughly enjoy all aspects of jewelry making: beading, modeling materials, fabric embellishment, and assemblage of found items (multimedia jewelry). For me, the exploration of techniques, self-expression, and development of skills are as satisfying as wearing the finished piece. I try many different mediums and combine a wide variety of materials in some of my pieces. I sometimes rescue a piece that I originally thought to be a failure by applying another technique or using different materials, and sometimes I need to put a piece down and work on something else. It is always a challenge to take an idea and make it into a three-dimensional item.

You may have heard jewelry defined into the categories of fine jewelry and craft jewelry. Fine jewelry generally refers to pieces created with gold or silver and precious gemstones, like diamonds, rubies, and sapphires. The processes used to create fine jewelry require a great deal of education, tools, time, and practice. This book covers information about craft jewelry, or multimedia jewelry, which can be just as elegant, valuable, and beautiful as fine jewelry, particularly today, when so many materials are available to the designer. Many of the pieces I have made or purchased from other designers are as valuable to me as some of the fine jewelry pieces I own.

The wonderful thing about making your own jewelry is putting your own imprint onto the pieces you make. Sometimes, I make a piece of jewelry to accessorize an outfit I purchased. Other times, I purchase an outfit to go along with a piece of jewelry Ive just finished! Youll discover an inner satisfaction when your jewelry is admired and appreciated by others.

This book, your hands, and a few items from your home and the local arts and crafts store are all you need to get started. In fact, you can get started with just a needle, thread, and some fabric. Many of the basic techniques in this book can be used in making many different types and styles of jewelry. Youll learn how to use different tools, combine materials, and the basic principles of design.

Since ancient times, people have adorned themselves with jewelry. The first jewelry probably consisted of sinew or cording strung with stones or pebbles with holes, or claws, teeth, or bones from animals. As man evolved, so did his adornment. Jewelry has changed throughout the ages to reflect the values and trends of the times. Guilds developed to educate apprentices and to protect and preserve the techniques of fine jewelry making. (Even today, jewelers become apprentices in order to reach the highest skill levels.) Folks who couldnt afford the education or costly materials to make fine jewelry continued to make their own adornments.

Many cultures have influenced todays jewelry designs. Some regions of the world have become famous for their native materials, used in making jewelry. Some examples are Tibetan jade, African glass trading beads, Egyptian scarabs, Asian pearls, and Australian opals. Your own preferences for certain styles or materials may be influenced by where you live or the places you have visited.

In the late twentieth century, new materials such as Bakelite and other plastics, polymer clay, and Precious Metal Clay (PMC) were developed and became available to crafters. The line between fine jewelry and craft jewelry thus became blurred as new materials and techniques allowed designers to create sophisticated looking jewelry without years of study. Even so, much of todays fine and craft jewelry is created using techniques that were employed centuries ago.

This book is designed with the beginner in mind, but the accomplished jewelry maker can also use it to expand his or her skills or to try a new technique. Use this book as a guide to setting up your work area, and choosing and using tools and materials. Follow the project instructions to learn about using four distinctly different categories of materials. Youll find many sources for materials and additional education in this book, as well as explanations of techniques and styles. Youll also explore methods and concerns for mass production for retail sales, retail display ideas, and most importantly, how to create your jewelry in a safe manner.

There are so many ways to create jewelryyoull want to try many of them in order to discover which ones you prefer and what challenges you. And most of all, youll have fun in the process. Enjoy!

1. Clay rolling pin

2. Round nose pliers

3. Wire cutters

4. Jewelry jig

5. Tiger tail wire

6. Ruler

7. Scissors

8. Fabric marker

9. Tapestry needle

10. Cutting knife

11. Chain nose pliers

12. Base metal wire

13. Coated wire

14. Cord for stringing beads

For Fun