When I first decided to make some jewelry I had no idea what all could be involved. I am still learning, but I'm happy to share my learning experience with you. I discovered a long time ago, that it's better to have someone who knows just a little more than you trying to explain how to do something... they still remember what it's like to not know at all.
Ok, first there are some tools that you really need in order to make jewelry
- A pair of smooth jawed pliers (they won't scratch metal
- A pair of round jaw pliers (to bend and make loops)
- A pair of wire cutters
The picture also shows a pair of wire crimpers... these can be very handy, particularly if you start making neclaces and bracelets.
A good pair of cutters are worth their weight in gold. Get some heavy duty side cutters for memory wire and some angle cutters for head pins and soft wire.
The first jewelry I made was a pair of earrings. I don't have a picture of them... though I'll try to find some. Anyhow I had some turquise from Jerusalem, 8mm beads, and I purchased some
small silver beads for spacers.
You start out with a sterling silver headpin, something like this:
Put a small silver bead on your showcase bead in some combination.. I put on a small silver, a turquiose, another small silver another turquoise, then a small silver on top.
Make up two that are identicle in layout, hold them to an ear and look at them. DON'T Bend the head pin yet... Once you have them exactly the way you want, then you are redy to make the loop at the top of the head-pin.
Grasp the pin about a quarter inch above the top bead with the round nose pliers, and wrap the wire around the pliar jaw. then carefully and neatly twist the wire around itself.
Here is an example, they don't have anyhting on the body of the wire, but you can see clearly how to make the loop. Once this is donw take your premade wire earloops (Preferably either sterling silver or hypo-allergenic and put them on the loop.
Presto your first piece of home-made jewelry.
The most importatnt thing to remember, in my opinion, when you are making jewelry, is have fun! What's the point of doing it if it's just labor? Make what you want and what you like. Once you put it in the market place someone will purchase it.
My next post is going to be about using Sterling Silver Wire to make earrings with a twist!
oh, a piece of advice, find a local bead store, there will be someone there who can answer your questions, and they always like to see what new people are doing.
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