| Making your own jewelry is a fun, satisfying hobby. If | | | | item in your creation, but they may just be the most |
| you're serious about it, and get good at it, you can | | | | important. They will be what makes the impact of your |
| even sell your wares at shows and boutiques. But | | | | creative statement. So what sort of beads are best to |
| what are the items you need to start such a venture? | | | | buy? All kinds. Fire Mountain Gems offers customers a |
| It's actually easier than you might think. | | | | "Grab Bag" for just a few dollars. This Grab Bag |
| Michaels, JoAnne's, Hobby Lobby, any fairly large craft | | | | contains items that are basically, thrown in there and |
| store will have the necessary products for at least | | | | you, the customer, don't know what's there before you |
| rudimentary jewelry making. Look toward catalogs | | | | open it. It's like unwrapping a favorite gift, and because |
| from Fire Mountain Gems and Rio Grande for more | | | | of the hodgepodge, you will likely come across a bead |
| substantial, impressive gems and materials. | | | | or pendant to use that you never thought of using |
| Designer Handmade Jewelry: String Me Along | | | | before. |
| You'll need various stringing materials such as beading | | | | Beads come in all different sizes, shapes, colors, |
| wire, braided thread, elastic cord, fiber cord, leather | | | | textures, and densities. They are created all over the |
| cord, nylon thread, silk thread, satin cord, etc. The | | | | world and in some cultures, are used as barter, |
| stringing material you purchase is directly related to | | | | something very much like money. |
| what type of jewelry craft you are designing. Pearls | | | | Types of Beads include: |
| generally are strung on silk or nylon thread, heftier, | | | | - Glass beads |
| southwestern styles are strung with leather cording. | | | | - Pony beads |
| Overall, for general uses the beading wire will do just | | | | - Bugle beads |
| fine, and you'll find beading wire at the giant chain craft | | | | - Seed beads |
| stores. | | | | Gemstones that can be created into beads include: |
| Some extras to purchase for the cording are waxes | | | | - Swarovski crystals |
| and conditioners, and these are to help keep the more | | | | - Agate |
| fragile strings from fraying and unintentionally knotting. | | | | - Amber |
| Designer Handmade Jewelry: Show Me Your Tools | | | | - Carnelian |
| There are a number of tools that make creating | | | | - Citrine |
| jewelry easier. Items such as anvils and bench blocks, | | | | - Jade |
| crimping pliers (essential), chain nose pliers, files, flat | | | | - Jasper |
| nose pliers, hammers, jigs (for creating quirky patterns) | | | | - Topaz |
| and mallets will all allow you to bend, snip, twist, and | | | | These are just a very small sampling of the enormous |
| tighten your beading wire. You might even find some | | | | number of beads available on the market. There are |
| of these tools in the garage or in the tool box! | | | | also metal beads, porcelain beads, and beads that are |
| Sometimes these items can be purchased as a set, | | | | made of nuts from a tree. Practically anything at all |
| which makes it easier on the pocketbook if you | | | | can be made into a bead by drilling a hole through it. |
| intended to buy them all anyway. It is best to talk with | | | | The vast number of materials available for making |
| an experienced jewelry maker to ask them what you | | | | designer handmade jewelry makes it one of the most |
| will need for the specific designs you wish to create. | | | | fun hobbies around. After you get the hang of seeing |
| Designer Handmade Jewelry: Beads are Us | | | | a vision in your mind and then admiring the creation |
| Beads are the stuffer in the stockings, they are the | | | | around your neck a couple times, you'll be hooked. |
| frosting on the cake, beads are certainly not the only | | | | |