Jewellery making anyone?? 26 April 2008 at 9:22PM in Crafting 746 replies 81.6K views

Millie2008_2

Ok, I think some people on here make their own jewellery already?

I was thinking maybe we could start a thread - offering/sharing tips, advice etc?

I have been making jewellery for years now and sell in a couple of local shops and to friends. I also make things for pressies, so am happy to offer advice (not an expert by any means:rotfl: )

Anyone??

Lillibet_2

Oh Millie, you could be about to save my life!:A:D:p
I bought a tripel stranded row of freshwater pearls for £1.50 from a chairty shop (that's good, right?) with a view to re-threading them into 2 necklaces, for Mum & M-i-L for Xmas. Trouble is, I haven't a clue where to start!
A lovely Moneysaver kindly sent me 2 books on the subject which have lots of lovely ideas for designs, but they seem to be geared more for lots of projects & both suggest an equipment list as long as my arm! I want to do this cheapley as possibl & am a total novice! I've never ever made any jewellery before!
I have got some other very tiny beads to create some sort of design with the pearls , and I can get "catgut" from work (I work for a Vet, he laughed when I asked but said yes, to take as much as I want!). Can it be as easy as threading the beads onto the catgut in my chosen design then adding fastners? (Where do I get fastners BTW?:o)

Thank you for starting this thread, you lovely, talanted, special person!:A
Lillibet x.

Millie2008_2

Ok to start with, get some tiger tail. This comes in different thicknesses, so get a standard thickness like 7 strand, available from Jilly beads, I can't do a direct link, but under findings- stringing materials. I'd go for the top one-This is far easiest to work with for a beginner (at least it was for me)

Then you need something to cut the wire. I used heavy duty nail clippers as you can get a really clean, close cut- as will become clear...

Cut a piece of wire a couple of inches longer than you require for the necklace, standard length I do is 18", but depends on neck thickness and you can add an extension chain

Now you will need some crimp beads- also from J beads under findings - crimps and charms. I'd go for these

[SIZE=+1]Crimp Beads : silver plated : per pack[/SIZE]<FONT face=ARIAL size=-1>


Pack contains approximately 125 crimps.

Millie2008_2

agh, it only posted half of my reply

OK, take crimp bead and thread onto end of wire, then add a clasp, I use 13mm trigger ones from J beads (under findings- clasps). Then thread the end of the wire back through the crimp bead so it pokes out a bit the other side, and squash the crimp bead with some flat nosed pliers (under tools on J . Give it a tug to check it is secure

Then start to thread your beads, mkaing sure that the end beads cover the sticking out bit of wire.

When you get to the other end, add another crimp bead, then a split ring, 5mm (under findings- clasps), then bend the end of the wire back, through the crimp bead and under the end beads (this may take a bit of fiddling) then squash the crimp bead as before and test it's secure

Hope this helps I know there are quite a few bits to buy, but once you've built up a bit of a collection, you can make lovely bits for v little money

There are other on line bead stores, but I find J beads the best. (I don't work for them btw:rotfl: )

Any other qns, just ask

PinkLipgloss

Hi Millie,

Thanks for starting this thread - I'd quite like to get into jewellery making!

I was wondering if there are any books or tuition websites that you could recommend?

PinkLipgloss

Jo_F

Pinklipgloss.... that would all depend on what kind of jewellery you are wanting to make, there are books and tutes all over the internet, but you would need to know what you want to do.

I do stringing, wirework and beadweaving, I know others that make glass beads and others that only work with sheet metal.

There are a few magazines available, and another place to look is in the local library and see what it is that you fancy having a try at.

Then you can narrow down your search and perhaps join a few of the beading/craft/jewellery making forums for further information.

Hope this helps

PinkLipgloss

Jo_F,

I think I'll start off simple with just stringing and then take it from there. Thanks for your advice!

Lillibet_2

Millie2008 wrote: »

Ok to start with, get some tiger tail. This comes in different thicknesses, so get a standard thickness like 7 strand, available from Jilly beads, .

So medical grade catgut won't work then?

Millie2008_2

Lillibet wrote: »

So medical grade catgut won't work then?

Not sure, I have never used it. I was advised to start with Tiger tail and found it v easy to work with, so stuck with it:D

I was wondering if there are any books or tuition websites that you could recommend?

Echo Jo- there are so many out there. I have only bought one book called jewellery making for dummies- which is ok, but not many piccies. Otherwise I am self taught, through trial and error (more error!)

Jo_F

Sorry Millie, I didn't mean to high jack your thread, it caught my eye and I noticed that you weren't online at the time and that's why I answered (makes a change for me to be able to answer something!).

didn't mean to step on toes and hope that I haven't.

Jo

The_Good_Fairy

I'm sure you haven't Jo, I think the idea for this thread is to just all muck in together with tips, advive and general showing off hehe

I love beads, I've got way too many! I do straightforward beading, some beaded flowers, recently I've been making focal beads from Fimo. I'll take some pictures later and explain how they can be made.

Lets have some nice pictures on here of what people have made