Ideas for Jewllery Making???

Emmala

I am thinking about learning a new craft....I love sewing but don't have the room to leave the machine out, and would like to do something which fits round looking after three kids. Anyway, I was thinking about jewllery making but I haven't a clue where to start!!

Do any of you make jewllery? and if so, how, what with? where to start??? any suggestions gratefully recieved!!

meritaten

I had a great success with making jewellery and selling on ebay with hand made glass jewellery - until the world and his wife did it too! and undercut me on price!
if you want to make money with jewellery - then do something UNIQUE! charge as much as possible and sell to the posh stores if you can. People with money will pay huge prices for 'one offs' if you have talent in jewellery design - try them first and only sell on ebay or markets if you dont interest the big stores. Do you understand hun? Have faith in your product and talk it UP!

Scrapaholic

In the big hobby stores they have leaflets to give ideas how to start making simple bracelets, earrings etc . Have a look there to get inspiration . Some of the beads etc in these stores are not too expensive but the tools are . When you think you know what you'd like to try , have a look at markets etc where things may be cheaper . The special pliers you'll need etc may be got online cheaper than the shops . I make a few bits just for myself and friends , not to sell. There may be some ideas on you tube and there is a jewellery making channel too. Good luck.

Kittenkirst

Have a look on sites like beads direct (uk ) beading daily (american but good for inspiration). Also have a nose at magazines in whsmiths; have a flick through and see what caches your eye. You can then see what you like and find out on the sites how to do it :0)

I make lots but due to the time spent I find I end up keeping it all (greedy!!) :0)

Aarons_mummy

I do it for 'fun', I bought most of my stuff from ebay, a selection of beads in a bumper pack along with wire, 2 pairs of pliers and various hooks/earrings and loops for necklaces etc.

It's a fun thing to do and you can make tons of variations too so you can always have jewellery to match your outfit They also make lovely gifts.

ab7

My DD did a jewellery making class so took her in into hobbycraft and :eek: at the prices - have you looked into your local library/freecycle to see what books they have? And then try browsing around jewellery sites, ebay so see which have better prices once you know what to look for?

E.g. DD told me she needed long nosed pliers for the earrings and when we were in hobbycraft she showed me the set her teacher had bought - £17. So I promptly went into Wilkinsons and bought her the little set of the exact same for £3.47. And they worked perfectly. Good luck, my DD and I had fun making stuff for xmas and everyone loved their earrings.

Millie2008_2

There are a couple of threads on here, if you do a search I started one of them, waaay back and you should find some useful stuff on there

Emmala

Thank you all for taking the time to reply! Some great ideas, I will start looking around and see what I come up with. I just thought it would be nice to learn something different and maybe be able to make presents. DD is really into crafty things too (she's 7) so it's something else we might be able to do together.
Thanks again xx

snowleopard61

I've never made jewellery with it but have used Fimo clay (available from lots of craft places) to make tiny ornaments and Christmas decorations, and you can certainly use it to make jewellery. It's rather expensive (I think) but you would only need fairly small quantities to make things like beads, and it can look really amazing. You can certainly improvise tools and don't necessarily need all the correct ones.

meritaten

I would say from experience that only TWO tools are essential to buy - anything else can be improvised - and that is a pair of SMALL needle nose pliers (essential for perfect loops) and as another poster says - look in Wilkinsons or even B&Q and a small pair of wire cutters. you tube has some excellent tutorials and the basic methods are simple when you know how! the more professional the results in the beginning the more likely you are to stick with it and develop your OWN style!
you will probably like to buy the 'findings' (the earring hooks, the little fasteners etc as they are fiddly and time consuming to make) I would suggest Ebay rather than places like Hobbycarft as they are really expensive there!

tallyhoh

I found lots of clips for jewellry making on youtube. I had most of my stuff from ebay or the pound shops or even broken bits of stuff I already had.