Pandora’s bead box

[jennylafleur]

I went into Michaels last night to get supplies for a necklace I want to make and walked out empty handed. I started to freak looking at all the beading strings to choose from but I thought I was fine until I started looking at crimping beads and realized I had no idea what type or size I needed. I was way in over my head!

So I’m breaking down and signing up for a basic jewelry making class at the bead shop next month. Last of my Christmas money… It’s funny some things I can teach myself (like crewelwork and corset making) and other things I just need a teacher for (jewelry & tambour).

I’m a little scared to open the Pandora’s box of jewelry making (I really don’t need another crafty hobby!) but I keep looking at jewelry in the stores thinking “I could so make that cheaper” or “I have those exact beads at home!”. We’ll see…

Comments

[trystbat.livejournal.com]

I took 2 jewelry-making classes (1 intro at Costume College, 1 pearl-knotting at another con) & found it was surprisingly easy. Just need to learn how to make the crimp ends so the connectors are secure, then the rest is stringing. Pearl-knotting is a little more tricky, but you embroider, so even that should be simple, if you wanted to take it up.

Of course, having learned this, I've only made 2 very basic necklaces so far. And I've bought a *ton* of fancy beads! Quite the Pandora's box :-)

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

I've been making my own jewelry for literally years, and if you like I'm more than willing to help you!! You don't have to spend your money on classes -- if you just thumb through some of the beading/jewelry making magazines (and there are tons right now) out on the newsstands, they have the basics in a little section in the back. But seriously, if you can make all those fantastic costumes yourself, then you can string a necklace!!

Here are a bunch of related links for you:

This is an article on crimping You can crimp with or without crimping pliers, if you choose. (The size of the crimp depends on the size of the thread or cord that you're using: too small of a crimp won't let the double thickness of the thread fit through, and too big will let the cord slip out.)

Here's an article on using beadtips, which are an alternative to crimps

Article on stringing and knotting (such as for pearls)

Beadaholique
This is a great site for good-quality, affordable materials, and they also have an eBay store. They are very helpful, and they matched a thread color for me, and also chose the proper size, since I couldn't do it myself via the internet.

This is a link to the DIY network, and they have a bunch of do-it-yourself articles, hence the name.

Fire Mountain Gems is another supplier, and they have lots of how-to tutorial type things as well. They sell beads and findings too, and I've heard they are good.

Well, sorry this is so long, but I hope this helps you some! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask me, and I'll do what I can to help.

~Lauren :-)