jewelllery making for 2010

SueB

I'd really recommend going on a course if you are able to. I went on a years evening class course a few years back. I learned so many techniques including some silversmithing. In fact I enrolled again the next year just so I could use the equipment. To make silver jewellry from scratch needs quite a lot of stuff that I can't justify spending the money on :rolleyes: It's also nice to watch someone demonstrate the techniques and to learn with others who are just as clueless (we all used to stand round the teacher when she had finished a demonstrating with blank faces...poor woman...she was very, very patient with us all!)

If you can't get afford a course (and a lot of colleges offer some pretty hefty discounts for people on benefits) then there is so much info available these days on the web that it's not necessary to go anywhere.

SueB

This may be of some interest
Fire Mountain Gems is an American company with some fantastic resources. http://www.firemountaingems.com/beading_howtos/default.asp
They have 113 video's that take you through almost every aspect of jewellry making you can think of.
Elsewhere on the site is a design gallery and written jewellry making patterns to keep you going.

princesspoppypop

Shortie wrote: »

Poppy, can I check - the Jilly beads set looks like you only get single loops in the kits, but the PJ beads precut ones look like you're getting 2-3 circles per bracelet?

If I'm right on the PJ beads one, it's worth a go isn't it for that money! I don't have the right cutters but do have the round nosed pliers already (I have normal wire too but suddenly had no idea what to do with it all when it turned up

Hi Shortie the Jilly beads one is a four coil bracelet.

If you go to

http://www.jillybeads.co.uk/acatalog/ then findings-by style-chain and memory wire-memory wire. This shows the bracelet you would get as part of the kit.

The picture of the Jilly beads one shows the coils stacked up but they are all part of the four coils.

Hope this helps

Poppy x

princesspoppypop

sethsgran wrote: »

These are fabulous, I particularly like the green/blue pandora bracelet. Did you get your beads and findings for this at Jilly beads as I would love to make 1 each for 2 very special people. Thank you

Thanks sethsgran, the bracelets I got from PJ Beads - beadsales.co.uk.

The beads I got from few places - the diamante spacers are from PJ, the tibetan charms are from ebay, the other beads are from Hobbycraft and a local bead shop.

Try panda hall for some great beads and beads direct do beautiful pandora style beads too.

Poppy x

princesspoppypop

Just wanted to add for the memory wire peeps - that you will need quite a lot of beads to fill up the wire so its good to have a selection of say fire polish beads or bicones to use as spacers between a more focal bead.

Some of the bracelets I make have glass pearls and semi precious chips which when you work it out can be quite costly to fill 4/5 coils worth!

Poppy x

princesspoppypop

SueB wrote: »

I'd really recommend going on a course if you are able to. I went on a years evening class course a few years back. I learned so many techniques including some silversmithing. In fact I enrolled again the next year just so I could use the equipment. To make silver jewellry from scratch needs quite a lot of stuff that I can't justify spending the money on :rolleyes: It's also nice to watch someone demonstrate the techniques and to learn with others who are just as clueless (we all used to stand round the teacher when she had finished a demonstrating with blank faces...poor woman...she was very, very patient with us all!)

If you can't get afford a course (and a lot of colleges offer some pretty hefty discounts for people on benefits) then there is so much info available these days on the web that it's not necessary to go anywhere.

Blimey how many posts has Poppy posted on here today!:o

I was due to go on a 10 week course but due to stupid snow haven`t managed to get there.

Poppy x

Shortie

SueB wrote: »

I'd really recommend going on a course if you are able to.

Thanks SueB I've decided to go on a course, though the one I am looking at is just a single 2 hour beginners one. That should be enough to see if I'm totally kack-handed and best to leave jewellery making alone

I could then enroll in another class later if I get on with that one okay

shiprob195

""""a good starter bracelet can be purchased from Jilly Beads
http://www.jillybeads.co.uk/acatalog/
go to new arrivals- memory wire kits and you can pick from a range of colours and it comes in a little organza bag for £2.81. The only thing I will say with the kits is it makes a very lightweight bracelet. I like mine to be a bit more chunky and heavier to make more of a statement. Its all down to personal preference tho """""


I placed an order at 4:45pm yesterday (Fri)....I received the delivery this morning (Sat) before 9am! :j

I am trying out the memory wire braclet kit...so far , so good.

LJM

ive just placed an order with jillybeads got myself 3 of the memory wire kits

SueB

Thanks for the reminder about Jillybeads. I used to use them years ago but completely forgot about them. I had a look and they sell some fantastic bead mixes perfect for the sort of bracelets I'm making now. I need a real variety of beads and it works out quite expensive buying individual beads or even bags of the same bead. To be honest it's not like I haven't got enough beads to make a bracelet for everyone in the country BUT it's a brilliant excuse to buy more This is the one I made last night.