Looking for a unique gift to give or something special to spice up a favorite outfit? It’s quite easy to make your own jewelry which you can wear yourself or give as gifts. Making jewelry is a great way to express yourself and make for unique gifts that don’t cost a bundle!

In order to make jewelry, however, you will need to invest in some basic tools and of course, the beads and findings. Once you’ve made the initial investment, though, the tools can be used over and over for all your jewelry projects. If you are careful and don’t go overboard with your bead buying, this doesn’t have to be an expensive hobby. On the other hand, you can use expensive components and get a designer necklace for a fraction of the cost.

First off, you need to decide what type of jewelry you want to make. Do you want to use semi precious gems like turquoise, garnet and amethyst? Will you be putting a lot of bali sterling silver beads in your designs? Maybe you love lampwork beads and want to design your own jewelry using beads? How about crystals and pearls? Perhaps you are attracted to the precise methods of working with seed beads? Or maybe you want to include all the above in the jewelry you make!

In addition to the materials you want to use, you also need to narrow down a method of construction. At first, I recommend that you focus on making one style. This will help keep down the cost of the supplies as well as help you to become an expert in that style of jewelry making. Once you have one method down, you can branch out and try some others.

The easiest way to get started is to make your own memory wire jewelry. Memory wire is flexible wire that holds it shape when released. It comes in bracelet, necklace and ring sizes. It’s quite easy to use and you don’t have to worry about sizing. You simply cut a length of wire to suit, close off one end by making a circle with pliers, string the beads on and then close the other end. Add a little garnish by hanging a beaded dangle off the end and you are done! The necklaces made with memory wire are nice because they sit tight against the throat and bracelets can be made with multiple wraps for a thick chic look.

Another method for making your own jewelry include stringing the beads on a flexible coated wire (tiger tail or beadalon) and crimping the ends shut with special beads and a crimp tool This allows for more flexibility in design than a memory wire piece but is a bit harder to make and the crimping does take a bit of practice. With this method, you will most definitely need a beading board to lay out your design on as you want to be sure it is symmetrical.

If you like the look of cascading necklaces and charm bracelets, you can make jewelry using lengths of chain. You can buy the chain in sterling, silver plated or gold filled and cut it to suit. Use headpins to attach the beads and finish off the piece with a clasp.

If you do decide to start making your own jewelry, you might need to rein in your impulse to buy every pretty bead and jewelry making component out there. Make a plan of exactly what you want to make and purchase only those things necessary for that design. If you don’t you might end up with a closet overflowing with excess beads like me!

Lee Dobbins is a jewelry designer and owner of Artisan Jewelry Online where you can learn more about making your own jewelry.

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Making jewelry is a fun hobby and for some can become a full time business. At the very least, you will be able to make gorgeous and unique jewelry to wear and give as gifts. As with any hobby, you need to start with the basics and using memory wire to make jewelry is a method that requires a bit less skill than some of the others. Memory wire jewelry does not need a clasp or fancy crimping and one size fits all.

Memory wire is flexible wire that springs back to it’s original form when not stretched - kind of like a slinky. It comes in necklace, bracelet and ring sizes. You simply cut off a section to the size you want and string on beads!

Of course, the first step (and the most fun) is to decide on the beads! Some people are inspired by artisan made lampwork beads, others by gemstones beads and still others by the vast array of crystal beads. Some like to use all of the above in their beaded jewelry designs! You are only limited by your own imagination and there is no “wrong” combination of beads so choose the beads that “speak” to you and incorporate them into your design.

To make beaded jewelry using memory wire, you will need:

1. A tool that cuts the memory wire (can be found in any bead supply store - don’t use regular wire cutters as you will soon ruin them!)
2. The memory wire (sold in packages where you can get 2 or 3 pieces of jewelry out of each package)
3. Needle nose pliers
4. The beads!

Step 1 - Cut the memory wire to size. For a bracelet or ring, decide how many times you want it to wrap around your wrist or finger - wrap the wire right around your own wrist and cut to size. A necklace can only go around your neck once (well, you could probably make it to wrap around a couple times but I think it would be hard to get on and off). You want to size it so that the ends overlap a bit.

Step 2 - Now you need to close up one end so that the beads don’t slide off. Take the tip of your needle nose pliers and place them right at the very end of the wire. Now take the wire in your other hand and bend it around the pliers. The wire is pretty hard, so this might be difficult and yoy may have a hard time with this at first. Try practicing on some smaller pieces first until you can make a perfect little loop. Make sure the loop is closed off so no beads can escape. Don’t worry - if you screw up you can just cut off the end and try again! You want the loop to be as small as possible so it doesn’t detract from our design

Some people also glue on little silver end cap beads. While this looks a bit better, you run the risk of the glue not holding and all your beads sliding off. This happened to me once and is why I use the loop method. To make the loops look a bit snazzier, I just dangle a bead from them!

Step 3 - String the beads! If you are making a necklace that has a certain design or focal piece in the middle, you will have to be careful to space the beads exactly so that they are symmetrical and the focal piece is in the exact middle.

Step 4 - Close the other end. Using the method in step 2, close up the other end and you are done!

Lee Dobbins is a jewelry designer and owner of Artisan Jewelry Online where you can read more about jewelry making.

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You say you love to make beaded jewelry? Why not? Jewelry making is an ideal home business. It doesn’t take a lot of effort to make your pieces, your raw material costs are not unreasonable and markups are high.

But you already have umpteen necklaces and a gazillion earrings made up. You schlep them to every flea market and craft fair … and then you schlep them back home. You know they’re pretty. Why aren’t they selling and what can you do to correct the problem(s)?

My guess is you haven’t differentiated your product or you aren’t presenting it well. I’m just assuming your beaded work is lovely and of fine quality (or fair value given the price you are asking).

Here are a few suggestions specific to beading and jewelry business that may help.

Present Your Product Well

I’ve read that crafters and artists should be true to their craft. Purists say if your work is good, people will buy. Just stick with it; the market will find you.

On behalf of all artists who love their work but also need to sell it, I say “baloney”.

You’ve been to the craft fairs. You’ve seen the glut of jewelers lined up side by side trying to sell very similar pieces.

How wonderful for the consumer to be able to comparison shop and bargain with the crafters, right? “Well, I love this piece, but the guy right over there has one just like it for $10 less. Can you do any better on the price?”

If your pieces are that similar, you need to present them differently. As far as the inventory you’ve already made up, exhibit it well.

Don’t just lay it on a cloth on a card table like most people do and expect the jewelry to speak for itself!

Just as you create visual appeal in the jewelry you make, do so with your display. Create levels for both horizontal and vertical display. Don’t overload the space. Customers won’t be able to see the trees for the forest.

One friend brings her own halogen lights to shows to really highlight her jewelry which she displays on a black velvet background.

Put your most unique pieces out first.

Have nice art cards describing each piece: type of stones or beads; where they are from; type and grade of metal.

Set out a pretty glass or brass dish with your business cards.

Write up and copy flyers about yourself and your work. People who buy hand made pieces often want to know a bit about the artist.

Where to Sell?

Think of other venues where you can show your work, especially where you will not be one among twenty other jewelers.

If you have a day job and your jewelry is suitable, wear it to work. When anyone compliments it, be sure to let them (and all others in the vicinity - don’t be shy!) know that you made it and would be happy to show them your other pieces during break or after work.

Wear your jewelry when you go out for the evening and respond in the same manner to any compliments. Try a jewelry party in your home.

The steps above should help you work down that huge inventory you started with.

Salvage Work

Now you’re left with pieces that (let’s be honest) are just not going to sell. You can: lower the price; keep them for yourself; or take them apart and reuse whatever you can.

That’s one of the hardest things for a bead artist to do, I know. But it’s also one of the neatest.

As fashions change and you’re stuck with pieces that are very passé, you can recycle the beads and findings and not lose your entire investment. As you go forward with your craft, it’s time to think of how to …

Differentiate Your Product

Part of your earlier problem may have been that you are using kits or free patterns for your jewelry. Though many of them are lovely, they are not unique.

In addition, your costs are higher than if you pick out your own materials and design your own pieces. It’s time to bring out the artist within!

Before you start beading again, really study the market. If you aren’t already doing so, clip and file photos of stylish jewelry from catalogues, ads and magazines.

If available, clip out the item description and price as well. These are for inspiration and to keep you up to date about trends that affect your art.

Be very careful not to copy another artist’s work. Not only will you have the very problem you had before (that your work is not unique); but you could also have big legal problems if you are caught.

Try adding different materials to your repertoire. You can buy them or make them yourself.

Experiment

One of my friends rejuvenated her line by adding dichroic glass beads. She had such tremendous response and was so intrigued by the almost holographic look of the beads, that she took lessons, started making her own and then completely switched.

She began making gorgeous dichroic plates, platters, plaques and vases. Before retirement, she was represented by eleven galleries in Hawaii and several on the U.S. mainland.

Another friend started making bread dough beads. I’m not kidding! She experimented with recipes from the Internet. Her beads look like African trade beads which cost anywhere from 50 cents to $100 each. Her cost is virtually nil - well except for her valuable time. How that for a great home business!

For myself, I try to think of unique ways to employ beads. For example, I don’t just make necklaces, I make eyeglass necklaces. They look pretty whether they are holding your glasses or not. The practicality is what grabs my customers.

Don’t feel locked into the craft specialty stores for your materials.

Sometimes I purchase inexpensive watches with pretty faces for the sole purpose of disassembling them and using the faces with my beadwork. Frequently, I can use other parts as well, like the clasps and links. Waste not; want not!

I’ve also made beaded wine glass charms and beaded glass votive size candle holders.

You can do very interesting things with beads and colored wire: wrap it around vases; form it into inspirational words or people’s names either to be worn or glued to a scrapbook page. You might be able to get custom orders for your craft business for something like this.

For more ideas on making and selling jewelry and other crafts, visit www.theartfulcrafter.com