Janet Crowther - Make a Statement: 25 Handcrafted Jewelry & Accessory Projects

Text copyright 2015 by For the Makers.

Photographs copyright 2015 by Janet Crowther.

Illustrations copyright 2015 by Evie Shaffer.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

ISBN 978-1-4521-3320-1 (pb)
ISBN 978-1-4521-3961-6 (epub, mobi)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Covington, Katie.
Make a statement / Katie Covington and Janet Crowther.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Jewelry making. 2. Costume jewelry. 3. Fashion. I. Crowther, Janet. II. Title.
TT212.C675 2014
745.5942dc23
2014004103

Designed by Hillary Caudle

E-6000 Craft Adhesive is a registered trademark of Eclectic Products, Inc. Beacons Glass, Metal & More Premium Permanent Glue is a registered trademark of Beacon Adhesives Co. Beadalon is a registered trademark of Wire and Cable Specialties Inc. DMC Embroidery Floss is a registered trademark of DMC Co. Soft Flex is a registered trademark of Soft Flex Co. Super Glue is a registered trademark of Pacer Technology. Tacky Glue is a registered trademark of Duncan Enterprises.

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Weve been making our own jewelry for as long as we can remember. We started with macaroni necklaces, graduated to friendship bracelets, and eventually we moved to New York to design jewelry professionally for companies like Marc Jacobs and Anthropologie. Weve always loved making pieces that nobody else has, and when asked where we bought our jewelry, we loved telling people that we actually made it. Around 2010, something changed. People started asking how we made the jewelry we were wearing instead of where we purchased it.

We started For the Makers to share everything we had learned from years of designing jewelry. For the Makers is an online destination that makes it easier to craft jewelry and accessories. We sell kits that include all the materials to make each of the projects featured on our website, and we stock our online shop with additional hard-to-find materials and supplies for designing your own projects. We search high and low for materials you cant find anywhere else, and when we cant find them, we have them made. We believe in making the things you owntreasured items youll love and wear, now and for seasons to come.

People often tell us that they make our projects because it feels like a luxury to spend a few moments of their day creating something. They often send photos of how theyve put their own twist on our designs to suit their style. Whenever a new For the Makers collection launches, we find that our makers cant get enough statement jewelry. When they finish a project, theyre often surprised that their piece looks professional and chic yet was easy and fun to make. We wrote this book to share our favorite tips, tricks, and techniques from years of designing for some of your favorite brands, including For the Makers. With the right materials and a little DIY know-how from us, we think youll learn just how easy it is to make your own personal statement jewelry.

Whether youve never picked up a pair of round-nose pliers, or youve been making your own jewelry for years, this book will have you creating and wearing your own statement jewelry in no time. Armed with the helpful information on the tools, components, and beads needed, youll be ready to shop your local craft store like a pro. Well then walk you through the basic jewelry techniques to give you the knowledge and confidence to dive into any of the projects included in this book. At the back, weve also included Sources and Resources, a list of our go-to shops, websites, and publications to make finding your favorite materials and make-worthy styles even easier.

Each of the twenty-five projects at the heart of this book makes a statement. And as a collection, the pieces range in style and complexity from over-the-top necklaces embellished with crystals to elegant geometric hoop earrings. What these pieces do share is a style that feels elevated from the everyday, even when paired with something as simple as a white T-shirt. We chose projects that are updates of favorites from our jewelry boxes, as well as new pieces we were itching to design and wear. Some will only take a few minutes to complete . We hope youll try them all!

As you make your way through the book, we encourage you to regard the projects as inspiration and feel free to inject your style and sensibilities into each piece you make. Playing with different materials, scale, and colors will allow you to come up with jewelry thats uniquely you. And remember, perfection isnt the goal. The inherent beauty in handmade jewelry resides in its uniquenessit doesnt look like you picked it up at a store.

We hope as you read and craft these projects, you will trust your creativity, come up with even more ideas, and develop a love for handmade jewelry. Happy making!

The materials you choose will mean the difference between a statement piece that finds its way into heavy rotation in your wardrobe and one that ends up at the bottom of your jewelry box. Take time to find materials you love, in colors that speak to you, and youll find that youll need to do less to them in order to make them shine. Well-made, beautiful materials that are simply prepared often make the most compelling statement jewelry.

Sourcing jewelry materials can seem intimidating at first, but really, its just like shopping for pretty things, so have fun with it. We often start by looking for items that excite us and sometimes end up creating a style inspired by our finds. Vintage shops, flea markets, and stone stores are helpful places to start. Online resources like eBay and Etsy make shopping for specific vintage components easier. Stores that sell ribbon, trims, hardware, and fabric are great places to get inspiration for using nontraditional materials in your jewelry.

When youre looking for the basic elements of a piece, it helps to familiarize yourself with the names of the various jewelry-making components, or findings. Findings are simply the components and materials used in making a piece of jewelry. This can mean anything from ear wires to clasps. Theyre the nuts and bolts that hold your statement jewelry together. Knowing their names will make it easier when youre talking to the people at your local bead store or shopping online. In this section, we included the technical names for components and beads so youll be ready to shop. You will want to pay attention to the sizing and weight of the components you source, since youll be wearing what you make. Youll find our favorite places to shop in the Sources and Resources section at the back of this book.