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Jewelry Making -- beginning - 6/2/2011 5:59:46 PM   
barelynangel


Posts: 6233
Status: offline 		I figured there may be a few people on here who make jewelry to ask this question here.   I am interested in getting into jewerly making as a hobby.  I have made a few earrings in the past but i did it on the fly. 

For those who have this hobby, what books or websites would you recommend for someone who is starting at the very beginning?  I would like to get into the wire jewelry eventually but figured i should start with basics of learning.

I have looked at books, read websites etc, and it just seems very overwhelming and i really don't know where a good place to start is.

Thanks for any advice.  angel

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RE: Jewelry Making -- beginning - 6/2/2011 6:21:30 PM   
SylvereApLeanan


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Joined: 11/1/2007
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Status: offline 		My mom is into this and has made several gifts for my grandmother and sis-in-law over the years.  She took a couple of classes at a bead store when she first started.  I also bought her a few books from a crafting book club I used to belong to years ago.  I can't recall the titles but I'll ask her this weekend and get back to you.  In the meantime, you might check to see if there's a craft store in your area that offers classes.  I think you can also get introductory kits in places like Target and Walmart that might be good for practice.

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RE: Jewelry Making -- beginning - 6/2/2011 6:41:20 PM   
dreamofthemoon


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Joined: 2/2/2007
Status: offline 		Hi, angel,

i think i'm where you are, in that i'd love to try getting into wirework - and maybe try my hand at chain mail, too! i've taken regular beading classes in the past, and i've been feeling "the itch", lol, to do more lately.

i'll second what Syl said, about looking for classes/workshops in bead stores near you. i'd also try Michaels, if there's one by you. Or any art & craft store.

www.beadshopfinder.com is a good place to look for bead stores online, too.

Also, if you like magazines, look for one called BeadStyle, or Step by Step Wire Jewelry, is a good one.

Hope this helps.

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RE: Jewelry Making -- beginning - 6/2/2011 8:16:41 PM   
peachgirl


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Status: offline 		I think it's Beadstyle that offers step-by-step instructions and supply lists.

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RE: Jewelry Making -- beginning - 6/2/2011 9:41:24 PM   
windchymes


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Status: offline 		There are how-to videos on YouTube. jtv.com sells what are supposed to be some really good basic videos, too. If you're the learn-from-a-book type, like I am, look through the selection at Michaels, Jo-Ann's, WalMart, etc. There are really only a few simple techniques you need to learn at the outset, like making loops and putting on a crimp tube, and a lot of books have step-by-step instructions and pictures.

To get started you need a basic set of tools: round-nose pliers, chain-nose pliers, a cutter/snipper, and a crimper. That will be about a $30 investment. You can add fancier ones later on, those will get you started. A U-shaped beading board is a necessity, too. I think WalMart has the best beginner's selection, kits and simple instruction booklets. They have little beginner packages that have earring wires, jump rings, clasps, head pins, crimp tubes, necklace wire, stretchy cord for bracelets, etc. for about $4.00 Wire-wrapping is next on my list to learn.

Good luck! If you have any questions, feel free to cmail me on the other side, as I've been pretty involved in doing this for a few years now. :)

JTV (channel 86 on DISH Network, not sure about the others) has "Gemstones & Jewel School" on Sunday & Thursday mornings at 11. It's worth watching because they bring on jewelry designers, show you new techniques & products, gives you ideas, makes you want to buy everything in sight, lol. If you're like me and easily sucked in, you might want to hide your credit card, lol.

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RE: Jewelry Making -- beginning - 6/2/2011 9:58:51 PM   
windchymes


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Status: offline 		Also, there are instructional videos on the firemountaingems.com, auntiesbeads.com, and beadingdaily.com, as well as sample projects to get ideas from.

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RE: Jewelry Making -- beginning - 6/2/2011 11:07:22 PM   
gungadin09


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Status: offline 		Joanne's and Michael's probably have classes.

pam

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RE: Jewelry Making -- beginning - 6/3/2011 12:04:35 AM   
MaxsBoy


Posts: 766
Status: offline 		Are you talking bead jewelry?  I'm not a pro by any means, but I do enjoy beading sometimes.  The Fire Mountain Gems catalog is actually a pretty good resource for finding out what's available and getting some inspiration.  The website even offers some instructions for basic techniques and specific pieces.  Community centers and community colleges sometimes give classes as well.

< Message edited by MaxsBoy -- 6/3/2011 12:05:07 AM >

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RE: Jewelry Making -- beginning - 6/3/2011 4:58:25 AM   
Aneirin


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From: Tamaris
Status: offline 		I make jewellery, I started with silver work and that all came form a six week part time study class on the basics, since then I have applied the basics to every metal and am currently designing and sometimes making jewellery out of recovered bog iron, aluminum and stainless steel. I go on the principle of personal adornment, not portable wealth and that because as a metalsmith I can't afford the expensive metals, ( although I do have my own reigistered assay mark) and it occurs, not many customers can either, so, it's big and bold, shiny and attractive, often reptilian or sinuous

What piece of advice I would give to you, is learn the basics, get au fait with them, it can be applied in any direction as I have found. I still use the basics for everything I make, be it custom knives, kink jewellery, swords, bellydance jewellery, chainmail, and even parts for old engines, my current project a dipstick for a borg warner marine gearbox, ( has to seal tight in it's hole and resist ingress of sea water/bilge water and also be of a material which will not degrade in a marine enviroment).

Get the basics and the world of metalsmithing is your oyster

But, some websites which I have found particularly useful from time to time;

http://www.ganoksin.com/

http://www.mailleartisans.org/   ( many wire workers and bead smith websites can be found via M.A.I.L, let alone their wonderful articles section)

As to books, well, the authors; Sylvia Wicks ( this book I had from the start and still use it from the early nineties) and Tim MCreight I recommend, those authors out of my large collection of metalworking books I use the most, and find the most approachable. Interestingly, McCreight is linked to the Ganoksin website, I believe via the BrynMorgan Press.


And lets not forget that wonderful wonder we have today, Youtube, an often superb resource.


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RE: Jewelry Making -- beginning - 6/3/2011 5:04:57 AM   
barelynangel


Posts: 6233
Status: offline 		Thanks all, for the tips, books and site recommendations.  i have checked Michaels and JoAnn's for classes, unfortunately, my schedule has never coincided with the classes.  I've also looked at the books and stuff in those places and have been able to make a few earrings but many times the books have so much information i end up overwhelmed with it all.  Duhh, i never thought to try videos.  Yeah i only live in the day of utube lol.   I think i need patience lol and to practice.  I want to get good enough where i can sell what i am making to pay for this hobby and move into wire-jewelry making because i love the look of stones with wire wrapped around them.  i bought some black blister pearls a while back and want to make them into a bracelt with matching earrings.

angel

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RE: Jewelry Making -- beginning - 6/3/2011 6:36:56 AM   
Aneirin


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Joined: 3/18/2006
From: Tamaris
Status: offline 		Another thing I should have added, was know a bit of theory, what is actually happening when you solder that part or bend that bit of wire, as theory helps you not to mess up so much material, and you will bugger up some stuff, I have a box of silver bits, all failures, about a pound in weight now from the last twenty years, it's not waste per se, as I dip into it now and again to make findings, or melt it to make sheet or wire.. Also if working with metals, a bit of metallurgy helps with such stuff as how many time a bit of metal can be bent before it fatigues and breaks, how to recognise impending failures etc

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RE: Jewelry Making -- beginning - 6/3/2011 7:09:31 AM   
windchymes


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quote:

ORIGINAL: barelynangel

Thanks all, for the tips, books and site recommendations.  i have checked Michaels and JoAnn's for classes, unfortunately, my schedule has never coincided with the classes.  I've also looked at the books and stuff in those places and have been able to make a few earrings but many times the books have so much information i end up overwhelmed with it all.  Duhh, i never thought to try videos.  Yeah i only live in the day of utube lol.   I think i need patience lol and to practice.  I want to get good enough where i can sell what i am making to pay for this hobby and move into wire-jewelry making because i love the look of stones with wire wrapped around them.  i bought some black blister pearls a while back and want to make them into a bracelt with matching earrings.

angel


Dale "Cougar" Armstrong is one of the best-known wire-wrap designers and instructors. This is a link to her book "Wirework" that they sell for a good price on jtv.com, scroll down toward the bottom of the page. Their wirewrapping dvd is also here. I have heard that they're the best for learning, simple instructions and good camera work to show exactly what they do from the best angles. I'm going get them when I get ready to do wire wraps, which will be soon...

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RE: Jewelry Making -- beginning - 6/3/2011 1:47:00 PM   
Lucylastic


Posts: 40310
Status: offline 		I picked up "Jewellery making and beading for dummies"And "Jewelery and beading design for dummies" on amazon.
Firemountaingems http://www.firemountaingems.com/ has a lot of great hints and designs
Shipwreck beads is an awesome site also with how tos and free videos
http://www.shipwreckbeads.com/
Rings n things is another good site with some design pages
http://www.rings-things.com/gallery/
and for jewellery with wire, I got a wig jig and then found this
http://www.wigjig.com/jewelry-tools/
Ive just started reading chainmaille and viking knit, theres so many of those and I order mystuff from Canada so you can probaly find US companies thru google

http://www.google.ca/search?rlz=1C1SKPM_enCA421CA431&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=viking+knit#q=viking+knit&hl=en&rlz=1C1SKPM_enCA421CA431&prmd=ivns&source=univ&tbm=vid&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=HEjpTaLRILPr0QHH9tG9AQ&ved=0CC4QqwQ&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=e412b376bd18c81b&biw=1272&bih=757




Have fun


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RE: Jewelry Making -- beginning - 6/3/2011 3:11:55 PM   
Lucylastic


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Status: offline 		Also..http://www.jewelrylessons.com/

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RE: Jewelry Making -- beginning - 6/3/2011 10:11:30 PM   
windchymes


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Status: offline 		Hmm, some sites there I hadn't heard of yet. Gonna have to check those out, thanks for posting, lucy :)

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RE: Jewelry Making -- beginning - 6/4/2011 5:18:16 AM   
barelynangel


Posts: 6233
Status: offline 		Wow you guys thanks.  I will start with some of that and see where it leads.  I was so irritated yesterday -- i found JoAnns had a class for beginning yesterday at 6:00 but of course, i wasn't able to run out of work until 5:45 -- Blah! nevermind i should have left at 5 lol.

There are some jewelry colleges so to speak around here but damn their tuition is extraordinary so maybe i will start here and then see where it takes me because i don't even know if i will like this enough or have enough patience or be creative enough to want to become really edumicated that deeply on it and expensively.

angel

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RE: Jewelry Making -- beginning - 6/4/2011 7:50:06 AM   
LaTigresse


Posts: 26123
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Status: offline 		In my previous life I was studying gemology and had been making jewellery with the lost wax cast method and tufa stone. That is probably the courses you've looked into and yes, they can be pricey. I was very luck to apprentice under two masters of the trade for free. I didn't even realize at the time how fortunate I really was. Just sort of already knew them, and didn't realize how talented and well known they were within the business. Another thing that may of of help in the future is to go to gem shows. Not necessarily to buy, but to learn. If your interest is to work with real gems, learning about them, their properties, strengths and weaknesses (literally) will be invaluable. Example, some stones may be harder than another, but more brittle and prone to breaking. You need to consider these things when designing settings. You don't want to put a fragile and expensive stone in a piece that will get a lot of wear and banging about.

Another cool thing that I have seen in Iowa City, many bead stores have glass bead making classes and supplies. You can literally buy the glass rods and make your own beads. They usually sell findings and beads, but it is cool to make some of them also. Something I looked into, but decided against because of the limitations, clay metals. Likely very pricey right now, they were not cheap when I played with them several years ago before gold and silver skyrocketed, but can be quite interesting if used within their limits.

There are also resin clays that can be sculpted and hardened, then painted. I've actually seen some very cool pendants done with that. Leather can also be used in many ways. As can wood. I used to have a dentists dremel and carved many things out of stone and wood. The only addition things needed were good task lighting, clamps, and magnifying glasses. Bone and antler material is also fun. I've done some really great scrimshaw with deer anters.

Another idea. There is an artist in Iowa City that repurposes old costume jewellery with amaaaaaaaaazing results. Taking things apart and creating new and exciting items. It is really fabulous. She gets nearly all her stuff at garage sales, estate auctions and second hand stores. Antique stores usually ask too much, unless they are little small town shops.

< Message edited by LaTigresse -- 6/4/2011 7:51:36 AM >

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RE: Jewelry Making -- beginning - 6/4/2011 8:31:17 AM   
barelynangel


Posts: 6233
Status: offline 		Wow LaTigresse, thanks for the post.  grins, see i want to be able to do everything and know everything but i want it right now.  I would like to get into designing because i think that may be where my strengths will be.  But as you said, it will take knowing what i am working with and how it all works together.  Yes, estate sales and such would be a great place to find old jewelry to utilize parts for.  Thanks for the ideas.  See i didn't even realize gem shows....

I think i would enjoy resin work as i have looked up the jewelry etc and its awesome.  But again, it all comes down to starting at the beginning instead of the middle. 

This is a whole wide world!!

angel



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What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.
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RE: Jewelry Making -- beginning - 6/4/2011 8:43:21 AM   
Lucylastic


Posts: 40310
Status: offline 		http://www.arrowsprings.com/
For getting into making your own beads(lampwork)

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RE: Jewelry Making -- beginning - 6/4/2011 8:52:35 AM   
barelynangel


Posts: 6233
Status: offline 		Wow you guys are a wealth of information.  I did research prior to asking the question but it all got so overwhelming. So i do appreciate the ideas and such even if i haven't responded to each individual. 

Thanks again.

What did you all find the hardest thing to deal with when starting? 

angel

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What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.
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