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Marc Jacobs

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Buy or DIY?
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For a while now, I've been interested in making my own jewelry for pleasure, but starting the process has been a little bit overwhelming. When I think about the money I would initially have to put down for supplies and stones and such I get frustrated and think it's better to buy. The jewelry I tend to like is very simple, but I love rich, colorful gemstones like opal, apatite, jade, moonstone and lots of colors of quartz. Lucky for my wallet, I don't own that much jewelry and tend to be picky about what I like.

So question is, do you think it's worth it for me to get all the equipment and stones and stuff and practice and yadayadayadayada to make my own jewelry, or would it be better just to buy it?

At the moment, I am interested in possibly making a necklace with FemmeGems. For the kind of necklace I want, it would probably be about $120. But I wonder if could just make one necklace... hence my interest in making my own.

Here are some images of things done by FemmeGems. I would probably just get a rounded beaded necklace of a bluish, green stone with ascending/descending size beads (like a few big ones in front and then decreasing in size).

These aren't really my style or what I'm looking to make but I thought they were nice examples.



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juno


Nine West

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DIY. if the initial outlay is too much- get some friends together, chip in some money, and have a beading night. if you havent found Exactly what youre looking for in the stores, bet that you never will. shopping is fun, but making something is so rewarding!! and just think, everytime someone compliments you on your new necklace, you can say "oh this? i made this one night with my girlfriends..."


if you make one, don't forget to post a pic and show off your handwork!



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A handbag may serve as a reflection of its owner's personality; it may fairly be said that in many cases a handbag is so essential that its owner would be lost without it. LOUIS VUITTON v. DOONEY & BOURKE, 454 F.3d 108 (2nd Cir. 2006)
jah


Dooney & Bourke

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I've been making jewelry for years, and say DIY.  It's a great hobby.  If you just want to do basic stringing, you really only need a few items:  Crimping Pliers, Needle Nose Pliers.  I use Eurotool and got both of mine for about $13 each. 


Basic Stringing IMO is best done on softflex.  For necklaces, I use fine.  You can get this at hobby lobby for $10 and it makes 20+ 16 inch necklaces.


In terms of gems, you can get reasonably priced gemstone beads many, many places.  If you want some websites, I'd be happy to pm you my extensive list.  Not sure where you live, but if it is a fairly large city, bead shows are always packed with good finds too.


Finally, if you don't want to put out the initial cost for the equipment, you can usually go to a bead store and they will let you rent a space to make stuff for like $5-$10.  You might try that first and see if you like it.  Generally, basic stringing classes are only $10-$15. 


Hope this helps!  I also do silversmithing...on that front, if you don't want to spend mucho grande on a hobby, don't get into it.


 


 


 


 



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