making your own jewellry

[eleanor2]

well after my weekend away and having lessons off my sister i am now a jewellry making fanatic. i got all my equipment and beads out.i didn't realise how many different coloured packets of crystals i had bought.they are so lovely.i have just made a lovely bracelet and really enjoyed it.i am going to make them for presents.does any-one else make their own jewelry.any tips or ideas going.

[Serenity]

Hi Eleanor, I've been making jewellery for a while and did a night school course in silver smithing some time ago. I've recently turned my hobby into a small business taking on commissions and am in the process of launching a website. I make my jewellery out of silver and semi precious gem stones. Its great to be able to make your own things isn't it.

[eleanor2]

hi serenity.well i have spent hours today making bracelets.with mostly glass and crystal beads.on memory wire.i have made 2 that are so nice i want to keep them myself.but they are all for gifts.i have really enjoyed myself and felt very industrius.i have bought a few bali silver small like designed bead things.to make myself a medieval looking bracelet when i get around to it. i have bought real silver hooks to make earings.with lovely posts with designs on the stopper at the end.i bought a solid silver bracelet with a large garnet when i was on holiday medieval style.

[sheddie]

Eeeee you have been busy, it's a good job we are all different, i am more at home with a lump of cast iron, like a plough or milk churn.I like handmade things but couldn't fiddle with them myself. It was good your sister taught you how to make them wasn't it?

[Serenity]

You sound as if you have had a productive day. It's sometimes hard to part with things that you've made yourself but they make such special presents. Its my sisters birthday next week and I've made her a necklace and bracelet with rose quartz charms. Shes going through a bit of a hard time with her health and the rose quartz is supposed to promote love and healing.

[eleanor2]

she taught us something so inticate too.but i have to get the right wires for that.so today i did bracelets what she taught us last time.i actually felt quite industrious.one is what an old lady asked me to make for her daughter for a present.

[eleanor2]

serenity i am wearing a rose quartz bracelet at the moment.i bought it when shopping with daughter.gave it grandson to play with to keep him good in church.he broke it.so i have made a new one with the rose quartz beads adding diamonte spacers.so this bracelet means a lot to me.as daughter and grandson are now back in france.

[Serenity]

Its wonderful that you were able to salvage it and it now has more meaning because of the mishap!!!
I can be a bit of a magpie when it comes to beads and can't resist them. It started when I was about 5 or 6 and got a box of beads for christmas. I've tried many crafts but always seem to return to jewellery making

[eleanor2]

today i unthreaded another bracelet and completely changed its design .i am now wearing a new bracelet.which i can change again if i want to.its great.

[sheddie]

:eek: The bazzar I went to today was selling crafts and lots of handmade jewellery. The stalls cost £130 for 2 afternoons, I don't think it gave the stallholders a fughting chance do you?:eek:

[eleanor2]

seems a bit steep.i do know that home-made jewellry seems to sell well and for a decent price.it is jewellrys hey day at the moment.but to recoup £130 for the stall seems hard going.

[Oola]

how about trying to find old costume jewellery, or antique pieces and 'refitting' them into something new that would go with contemporary fashions? A girl I vaguely knew at school now does this as a sideline and is doing pretty well out of it.

[eleanor2]

i do look for old jewellry at car boots.for the glass beads.found a couple of good ones.i am into pearl jewellry at the moment too.

[Sparrow]

Myself and five friends have been fundraising for good causes with second hand jewellery for the last 2 years. We've managed to sponsor a couple of kids to have heart surgery in Israel. That's one of the reasons I'm heading there soon, to volunteer for a couple of weeks with the charity we're linked with.

So, if any of you gals are interested to donate any bits and pieces, we would sure be happy to have them. It doesn't have to be fashionable or valuable, just wearable (ie, not broken). Send me an email at my address on the page if you'd like more details.

Happy jewellery making. Serenity and Eleanor, I have some beads I could send you from some broken jewellery. Again, just let me have your details at my email.

[eleanor2]

dear sparrow how wonderful,i will have a clear out.what a fantastic thing are doing.

[Sparrow]

Hi Eleanor, Lovely to hear from you. Could you let me have your surname please (via the email on the page), so that I can mail you some beads etc.

The charity, if anyone is interested is www.shevet.org