Jewelry Making, Is it For You?
Jewelry making is not for everyone, but do not let that stop you from at least tasting it to see if you might have the inclination for it.
With all the different types of craft and jewelry making supplies out there I have the utmost faith that there is some element that will grab your imagination and make you think "Hmm, that would make a wonderful necklace focal point" or "That tiny pebble I found in my backyard with the pretty red streaks in it would make a wonderful ring!" That is the imagination that drives us to try new things, and will help get you started in making jewelry or any other media out there in regards to art.
The biggest challenge I seem to have when I make jewelry is figuring out what to make.
There are so many beautiful beads, stones and findings out there, I have no idea where to start.
This is where books and magazines come in handy.
They are a wealth of ideas and usually include instructions to get you started.
I flip through these various books and magazines until I find something that catches my eye and I make it.
Then, once the item is done, I utilize the knowledge and skills I learned to decide, "well do I like it enough to make more" or "what if I modified that pattern this way, what would that do?" Where are these reference books and magazines found? Just a simple web search on 'bead magazine' or 'books' will turn up thousands to look at, and try your local library and bookstores too! There is a challenge with the above method, finding your supplies, unless you live near a fabulous bead or craft supply store, it can be a daunting task.
There are hundreds if not thousands of bead catalogs, in paper form as well as Internet, to find your supplies for your intended project.
If you are like me, though, I want it now and don't like waiting for things to come in the mail.
The main challenge I have found is having money for the supplies.
Not all of them are expensive, but if you have a mind to use the finer supplies, the cost will go up.
If money is as tight for you, as it is for me, patience can be the biggest reward.
I know, I said the bad word, patience.
Here is another bad word 'saving'.
In a nutshell, if it comes down to it, and you cannot afford everything you want at once, do it a bit at a time.
That is what I do.
I will wait for a sale on what I want, or my favorite sale ad 50% off coupon that happens occasionally and then go in and get one thing here, a small bag of findings there, and I am patient and set them aside until I have everything I need.
Are you still intimidated by the thought of jumping into making jewelry? Fear not.
If gathering ideas, and supplies has you hesitant, there is still hope of getting your feet wet without jumping into the lake of imagination and design.
Kits.
There are many jewelry-making kits out there and we are talking thousands.
I am not taking about the kits for kids that come with thousands of cheap plastic beads either, though those can still be fun.
I am talking about small kits that make a pretty necklace and matching bracelet set, or a few pairs of earrings.
Here is a plus; they are generally not that expensive
With all the different types of craft and jewelry making supplies out there I have the utmost faith that there is some element that will grab your imagination and make you think "Hmm, that would make a wonderful necklace focal point" or "That tiny pebble I found in my backyard with the pretty red streaks in it would make a wonderful ring!" That is the imagination that drives us to try new things, and will help get you started in making jewelry or any other media out there in regards to art.
The biggest challenge I seem to have when I make jewelry is figuring out what to make.
There are so many beautiful beads, stones and findings out there, I have no idea where to start.
This is where books and magazines come in handy.
They are a wealth of ideas and usually include instructions to get you started.
I flip through these various books and magazines until I find something that catches my eye and I make it.
Then, once the item is done, I utilize the knowledge and skills I learned to decide, "well do I like it enough to make more" or "what if I modified that pattern this way, what would that do?" Where are these reference books and magazines found? Just a simple web search on 'bead magazine' or 'books' will turn up thousands to look at, and try your local library and bookstores too! There is a challenge with the above method, finding your supplies, unless you live near a fabulous bead or craft supply store, it can be a daunting task.
There are hundreds if not thousands of bead catalogs, in paper form as well as Internet, to find your supplies for your intended project.
If you are like me, though, I want it now and don't like waiting for things to come in the mail.
The main challenge I have found is having money for the supplies.
Not all of them are expensive, but if you have a mind to use the finer supplies, the cost will go up.
If money is as tight for you, as it is for me, patience can be the biggest reward.
I know, I said the bad word, patience.
Here is another bad word 'saving'.
In a nutshell, if it comes down to it, and you cannot afford everything you want at once, do it a bit at a time.
That is what I do.
I will wait for a sale on what I want, or my favorite sale ad 50% off coupon that happens occasionally and then go in and get one thing here, a small bag of findings there, and I am patient and set them aside until I have everything I need.
Are you still intimidated by the thought of jumping into making jewelry? Fear not.
If gathering ideas, and supplies has you hesitant, there is still hope of getting your feet wet without jumping into the lake of imagination and design.
Kits.
There are many jewelry-making kits out there and we are talking thousands.
I am not taking about the kits for kids that come with thousands of cheap plastic beads either, though those can still be fun.
I am talking about small kits that make a pretty necklace and matching bracelet set, or a few pairs of earrings.
Here is a plus; they are generally not that expensive
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