STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

cat · Marc Jacobs

Who makes thier own jewelry?

kenzie · Chanel

I do and I sell it. Right now I sell by word of mouth, but in the spring (fingers crossed) I'll have a website up and next summer, I hope to do some art shows and trade shows.

luckylily · Gucci

I make my own. I sell a little bit - mostly custom orders for friends, family, and coworkers. I'd like to sell more, but I don't have the money to invest in a business right now.

Renee · Kenneth Cole

I make my own jewelry. A lot of my friends tell me I should sell, but I have no idea how to do it.

Escrime · Kate Spade

My husband makes my necklaces for me.

He just makes them for me when I think of a piece I want, and he makes them for some friends.

atlgirl · Gucci

I make it - since 1993 - and sell it (since 2001). It's how I make my living. And occasionally I still manage to sneak in making a few pieces for myself. *s*

splash · Kenneth Cole

I make a lot of my own. I'd like to start selling it, as I get complimented a lot, but I've no idea how to start.

Cortney1982 · Chanel

When I was little I used to make necklaces from seed beads, floss, clear nail polish (to secure the knot) and cheap barrel clasps. I wore them all the time. This past spring I decided to get into making jewelry for myself when I saw a Banana Republic necklace I liked. This is my version of it:

theotherjess · Chanel

Just a question, how do you start making your own jewelery? I know there are books and magazines out there; did you use these or just teach yourself? This is something I would like to get into.

janey831 · Kate Spade

theotherjess wrote:

Just a question, how do you start making your own jewelery? I know there are books and magazines out there; did you use these or just teach yourself? This is something I would like to get into.

me too. i was just wondering the same thing. i have another question though, where can i go to get a starter kit or something along those lines? i am needing a new hobby, and this sounds like it would be a lot of fun.

kenzie · Chanel

Cortney1982 wrote:

When I was little I used to make necklaces from seed beads, floss, clear nail polish (to secure the knot) and cheap barrel clasps. I wore them all the time.

I made jewelry as a kid, too, out of sead beads. Just simple stringing and knotting techniques. I also made jewelry out of clay (FIMO)--sculpting it into different designs, then string it or wire wrapping it. Now, I don't really do too much stringing. I do mostly wire work now, which I like much better.

For those who want starter kits, check out a craft store like Michael's. They have jewelry tool starter kits for pretty cheap there. If you haven't the slightest idea what you're doing, I recommend getting a book or a magazine from the craft store to learn basic techniques and then go from there.

nunzi182 · Kate Spade

I just started making my own about two months ago. I've only make a couple of pieces but my FH thinks I should sell and I have no idea how to go about doing such a thing either!

I plan to eventually give some as gifts for Christmas.

ranchera20 · Marc Jacobs

When I was little I would love to make bracelets with those big, colorful beads and put them on floss! Recently a teacher taught some of us at school one day because she would always have some beautiful necklaces on. So once I figured out how easy it was I started making myself the bracelets and some necklaces. I'm really bad at selling!!! This past Mothers Day I made my mom a rosary. And I must say I was really proud of my work, especially after seeing her reaction!

Its really fun and quite relaxing!!

JMR · Dooney & Bourke

I make my own jewelry - I mostly sell it - I rarely make myself anything due to lack of time.

I have been doing it part time for a few years now, but since I am having a baby I am not going back to work and plan on making jewelry full time.

Cortney1982 · Chanel

I figured out what I needed from firemountaingems.com. They have some designs and instructions and what you need. It's a little expensive to start out. You really need good wire cutters, needle nose pliers, and crimping pliers. Plus I use this nylon coated wire, and sterling silver findings for the stuff I don't want to get all tarnished.

atlgirl · Gucci

sterling silver findings for the stuff I don't want to get all tarnished

Um...sterling silver *does* tarnish. So if you are trying to avoid tarnish by using it, you'll be disappointed. To avoid tarnish you'd have to use PMC (which is fine silver, not sterling, so it doesn't tarnish) or Argentium silver (a new product on the market). I don't know much about Argentium - haven't played with any - but the big selling point of it is that it's supposed to not tarnish like regular sterling.

Also, you don't want *needle* nose pliers - you want chain nose. Needle nose jaws are much longer and won't grip like you want them to if you are bending / shaping wire or holding something. I don't order from FM, so don't know what the catalog calls their pliers - they might refer to them as needlenose - but you want pliers with shorter jaws (about 1" long or shorter), regardless.

I agree about the flush cutters. Mine are about $38 apiece, but they are fabulous (I started with a cheap pair of cutters, but they soon dulled). I just replaced my old pair of these (Lindstrom brand) with a new pair - the old ones had been dropped on the floor one too many times, but they still cut well, even though they were all taped up. I had the old pair for four years, and they'd made literally thousands of cuts, but were still going strong, except for my dropping them.

kenzie · Chanel

atlgirl wrote:

sterling silver findings for the stuff I don't want to get all tarnished Um...sterling silver *does* tarnish. So if you are trying to avoid tarnish by using it, you'll be disappointed. To avoid tarnish you'd have to use PMC (which is fine silver, not sterling, so it doesn't tarnish) or Argentium silver (a new product on the market).

I agree. The only way to keep sterling from tarnishing (or to slow the process, at least) is to store it in a plastic, ziplock bag. That's what I do with my sterling jewelry. You can always polish it with a cloth, but you have to make sure that it's safe to use on gemstones, too.

jah · Dooney & Bourke

I make jewelry. I do the bead work (wire work and silk knotting), but I am also as my teacher would say "an intermediate silversmith". I make make rings from silver sheet and set cabochon and faceted stones in prongs or bezels. My first "intermediate" project was featured in a gallery for an art walk and someone tried to buy it... but I said no way. It took hours to make, no way was I selling it.

I sold beaded jewelry on ebay for two years and made good money (it was very lucrative), but I stopped enjoying making jewelry, so now I just make stuff for myself.

In terms of learning (as some asked) beadworking and wirework, I would suggest finding a class at a local bead store. They will usually rent supplies and this can help one determine if they like the hobby and have a knack for it prior to making an investment in the tools. To learn metalsmithing, I recommend going to an arts center or a community college to see if they have classes (I have now learned to fuse glass, enamel, make glass beads, do pmc, cast and silversmith from local metalsmith supply store classes, art center classes and/or community college classes--its a great way to meet people and learn something fun!).

-- Edited by jah at 16:51, 2005-08-28