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Help me with making jewelry...please!
I'm looking for a couple of different things and I'm new to this so I'm not sure where to look. If anyone is a Glee watcher I'm obsessed with Emma's jewelry box, and so I'm trying to make some pieces similar to some of the stuff she wears, figuring it'd be cheaper for me to do it this way! I went to Joann's to look at beads and couldn't believe how expensive they were - I guess I wasn't expecting that! Here's what I want to make, maybe someone here can help me? I guess I need help with where to buy beads and supplies at the best cost, and any sites that show techniches would be helpful too - thanks so much!
Bracelets - something similar to this, big, chunky, simple, colorful! Maybe something I can add a cute bow to or something;
Enamel flower brooch, similar to something like these;
And lastly necklaces, I love the idea of the double strands, bigger round colorful pearl type beads. Maybe an accent bead or flower somewhere in there for a little something extra.
Re: Help me with making jewelry...please!
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Lily Sue 8.17.2009
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Is there a Hobby Lobby where you live? They have a jewelry craft section, and they have huge sales ALL the time!
Also, I have found enamel flower brooches like those at antique stores and thrift stores!
Good luck!
Unfortunately no, the closest Hobby Lobby to me is 60 miles, the closest store similar (at least I think it's similar, never been to a Hobby Lobby) I have is Michael's and JoAnn's...maybe it's worth the 60 mile drive?
I used to make a lot of jewelry, and I found that you need to go to a specialized bead store and avoid joann's and michael's, etc. Beads at craft stores aren't great quality and are crazy expensive compared to bead stores.
This is the links page from my favorite bead store, and it looks like some of their links are to online bead sellers. I would go with that over a craft store. Crystal Moon seems to have good prices and selection (i've never ordered from them, though)
I think you would have to buy that flower brooch (unless you have the tools for metal work and enamel). I see that kind of stuff pretty often at consignment shops and tag sales.
Unfortunately, beading is not a cheap hobby. In 2-3 years of yarn crafting I've only spent maybe 1/2 of what I spent on basic beading supplies to get started! Admittedly I got better tools than you get at your local craft store, but they're not Lindstrom's or anything (the Cadillac of jewelry pliers/tools). Then besides the beads themselves there's the wire, all the findings (clasps, jump rings, crimp beads, etc.).
If you don't want to invest in all of that stuff at once, maybe you could go to a local bead store and just purchase the materials for the piece you want to make and use their tools first. Most local stores have a space and tools reserved for in-store use and I'm sure they'd be happy to show you a thing or two about how to get started, or you might look into taking a class. Start with something smaller and simple like the bracelet so you don't spend too much and see how you like it.
When I did jewelry making (I go from one hobby to the next, bad, I know) I got most of my stuff from Crystal Moon. They have really great shipping and I thought the quality was very nice.
Just thought I'd put my $0.02 in.
Have fun jewelry making! I stopped because my hands got really shaky, also why I stopped drawing and painting, and my fingers just got so sore! So don't do too much at once!
No jewelry making is certainly not a cheap hobbie but a rewarding one if you ask me!! I get most of my sterling sliver chains, beads, and other supplies from http://www.HouseofGems.com
Good Luck!