An Insider's Look at Jewelry Making and Beading: Why Make Jewelry Yourself?
An Insider's Look at Jewelry Making and Beading: Why Make Jewelry Yourself?
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Like what you see? Great! Intimidated? I hope not. Dont worry. I spend the
rest of the book giving you details on how to make each and every piece you
see in the pages of this book.
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In this chapter, I give you an overview of the topics and projects that I cover
in the book, and I help you start making jewelry on your own using a variety
of techniques that you can apply to the projects throughout this book. I also
give you plenty of tips for taking these techniques and adapting them to
create your own designs. And finally, I give you ideas for making money with
your newfound hobby. While reading, feel free to take a break at any time,
whip out your pliers, and bead something.
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Discovering Jewelry-Making
Designs and Techniques
I intersperse design tips and tricks throughout this book, and I offer many
color photos to illustrate my suggestions. For many of the projects I present,
I also give you ideas for making them your own.
The following sections briefly explain a few simple jewelry-making techniques.
You can get the lowdown on each in Part II.
Wire wrapping
Wire wrapping involves twisting and bending wire into shapes or around
beads. This technique is exciting because you can do just about anything
with it. Create delicate chains, beautiful wrapped beads, or easy dangle earrings.
Look to Chapter 6 for exciting and easy designs using this technique.
Figure 1-1:
Sliding the
pendant
onto your
cord.
Illustration by Wiley, Composition Services Graphics
2. Holding your cord (with pendant attached) in one hand, take the clasp
in the other; insert the end of your cord into one coil end of your
clasp.
Take a look at Figure 1-2a.
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Figure 1-2:
Attaching
the coil-end
clasp.
Illustration by Wiley, Composition Services Graphics
3. Using the chain-nose pliers, pinch the coil end around your leather
cord, as shown in Figure 1-2b.
Use your pliers to bend the last coil in the clasp, instead of trying to
mash the entire end of the clasp flat.
4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 to finish the other side of your clasp.
The finished clasp should look like Figure 1-2c.
Figure 1-3:
Eternity
Knot
Pendant
on Leather
Cord.
Photograph by Andy Dismore
Figure 1-4:
Wrap
bracelets.
Photographs by Matt Bowen and Andy Dismore
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Figure 1-5:
Fashionable
rings.
Photographs by Matt Bowen and Andy Dismore
Figure 1-6:
Statement
necklaces.
Photographs by Matt Bowen
Figure 1-7:
Simple
earrings.
Photographs by Andy Dismore
Craft- inspired jewelry projects: Chances are good that jewelry isnt
your only creative hobby. Blend your other interests with jewelry to
make some amazing creations in Chapter 8. Maybe stamping is your
thing; use your stamps and shrink plastic to create custom jewelry
components (see Project 8-1). Or if youre a knitter, why not try a
Braided Knitted Bracelet (Project 8-4)? If you love sewing, consider
making the Fabric Flower Pin (Project 8-7). All three projects are shown
in Figure 1-8.
Figure 1-8:
Craftinspired
jewelry
projects.
Photographs by Matt Bowen
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Figure 1-9:
Vintage
finds find a
new home.
Photographs by Matt Bowen and Andy Dismore
Dont miss the themed chapters in Part III, where you find, among other
things, a chapter on creating high-end pieces (see Chapter 10). Also check
out Chapter 13, in which you create home dcor accents that utilize
jewelry-making techniques and beading.
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