Handcrafted Jewelry

Making jewelry has become a fascinating hobby for many.  Providing you have an artistic eye, you can turn many common items into stunning jewels you can wear or sell for a profit.  Handcrafted jewelry is not only a fun hobby, but many people are taking their talent and turning it into a thriving home business.

If you are interested in making jewelry, start by deciding what you want to work with.  Jewelry comes in all shapes and sizes from beaded necklaces or bracelets to handcrafted metal earrings.  You may decide to weave beads into intricate necklaces or use soldering tools to shape metal into elaborate earrings, rings or more.

Beaded necklaces are the easiest form of jewelry making.  You basically take your beads and string them onto jewelry wire in the pattern of your choice.  When you have the necklace at the desired length, clip the ends, tie on your clasp and you're done.  Weaving with beads is a little harder.  You will need a needle to string the beads into position.  Basically, you are sewing the beads onto a cloth or fabric item like a velvet choker or headband.

Shaping wires into jewelry requires a few more supplies.  You will need wire cutters, a variety of pliers, a wire twister, and a small hammer to get started.  It will take time to get used to shaping the metal to suit your needs, but in the end you can turn out some impressive earrings, rings and necklaces.

Another easy option is macramé jewelry.  In this case you learn to weave or tie knots into a dense, twine like material.  Hemp is a popular item for those learning macramé.  The material used in macramé is thick and can withstand plenty of force, so you needed worry about being delicate.  It can take a few tries to get the knotting process down, but in the end, you'll wind up with some incredibly trendy jewelry.