Finding Resources For Your Jewelry Making

By Author: Jaimes Watts
Total Articles: 38
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There are several places you can find the resources you need to design jewelry and develop your jewelry making skills. Local stores, crafting classes, and the Internet are the most popular and easily accessed sources. Let’s look at several resources to better understand how they can help you out.

Local Stores

Just about any town has a bead store. Whether it is the franchise based craft store or a boutique specializing in jewelry making, the store should have at least one individual who can help you out. Your chances are better to find someone truly proficient at a specialty store, by the way.

Stores offer classes, supplies, and assistance; if you are fortunate. Depending upon the store, prices can be reasonable or exorbitant. Perhaps the biggest advantage is that if you need a tool or material immediately, as long as the store is open, you can get what you need right away.

Crafting Classes and Courses

No one is born knowing how to make jewelry. Granted, the artistic knack required to create things of beauty seems to be inherent, but the skills needed must be learned. The first dozen ...
... or more times you try to make the perfect loop at the end of a head pin may be a disaster, but with proper instruction and practice, you will become skilled.

Classes are also great ways to become introduced to new techniques, concepts, and materials. If you choose to work with beads, the basic skills don’t change much from piece to piece. If you want to expand to making your own Murano-styled glass beads, you have a whole new set of techniques to learn. Some folks can learn what they need online, while others prefer hands on instruction.

Complete Kits

Kits have the advantage of providing you with the instructions, supplies, and often tools you need to complete specific projects. Kits are available in a variety or formats, as well as a number of quality levels. The best ones are bound to be more expensive, but you get more as well.

Even specialty stores make up kits. These are often more customized than those you can pick up at regular craft stores or online. In fact, if you find the right store, they will create a kit just for you so you can make a piece which you designed at home.

Internet Options

Perhaps the best place to find resources for your Jewelry making endeavors is online. This takes into account that you already have the basic skills necessary to design and create jewelry. If you want to learn a new technique, online videos provide instruction and the opportunity to watch things over and over until you understand.

The primary advantage is that you can find every jewelry making material under the sun, and you will probably pay less online then you would anywhere else. Any store will have to pay rent, utilities, and employees and many are part of a franchise. This means prices are set by a number of factors which are beyond their control.

Online, you will find stores which specialize in specific materials, others which form their reputation by having a bit of everything in one place. The selection is nearly endless.

In addition to supplies and videos, you will find one of the most valuable resources available; fellow jewelry makers. It is inevitable that you will have questions about your new pursuit. Those more experienced can be found on forums, in blogs, and chat rooms.

Connect to these people and share your interest in jewelry making. Learn which stores provide the best service, prices, and so forth. Make friends who help and support your growing involvement in the wonderful world of jewelry design and crafting.

It doesn’t matter if you choose one of these resources, a few, or all. The more you learn, the better your end product will be.

Jewelry making can be customized in so many ways. Whether you are searching for kits, supplies or assistance in creating the perfect piece, you can find everything you need at design jewelry.