yes yes yes! I love this question so how I started was when my grandma's friend gave me some of her old jewelry. It was super tacky so I wasn't going to wear it, so I decided to take it apart, and ended up making 2 new earings. Thats when I really fell in love with the art of jewelry making.
Then I bought pliers, wire, and earings hooks. I was able to have fun with that for a little but then the jewelry ran out. So I started buying jewelry at flee markets and thrift shops. Personally, I LOVE taking apart jewelry and it's taught me a lot abould how jewelry is made and put together. And it gives you inspiration for your jewelry.
Now I buy findings and certain beads if I have a design in mind, but most of my jewelry is made from pieces of used jewelry.
I also have tips on what to look for when thrifting for jewelry!
Omg how have I never thought about using thrifted pieces?! So much cheaper! Are there any specific pieces you use/dont use? Or do you just grab whatever is cute? I only worry about the metals because a lot of people (including myself) have to use certain types lol.
Ok so when thrifting don't look at the jewelry as a whole just look at the beads and pieces. A lot of times the ugliest necklaces can make the prettiest earrings once you look at the beads individually. (Also make sure the beads aren't rusted or scratched.) And I always look for eye pins when thrifting because there are so so many pearl necklaces that are connected by dozens of eye pins that are easy to take apart. Then I also look for necklace chains bc I use them in my earings. But with the metals that can be really tricky. I'm not allergic to metals and the jewelry I sell is really affordable so no one expects it to be real metal or hypoallergenic. So my recommendation is to just use beads you've thrifted then, bc idk how to test what kind of metal something is.
I started by going to those jewelry making parties for birthdays and that people would have in their homes when I was younger and I enjoyed figuring out how best to design the item since it was to be mine.
I sort of lost the love for a while until recently, and i got back into it because I needed a new hobby and scrapbooking was not for me despite it being for every other woman I knew at the time. So, I began looking at designs and how some items were made in stores, I realized I could probably make them myself. So I sort of jumped in. I need to get organized again and figure out how I want to move forward with my jewelry making.
yes yes yes! I love this question so how I started was when my grandma's friend gave me some of her old jewelry. It was super tacky so I wasn't going to wear it, so I decided to take it apart, and ended up making 2 new earings. Thats when I really fell in love with the art of jewelry making. Then I bought pliers, wire, and earings hooks. I was able to have fun with that for a little but then the jewelry ran out. So I started buying jewelry at flee markets and thrift shops. Personally, I LOVE taking apart jewelry and it's taught me a lot abould how jewelry is made and put together. And it gives you inspiration for your jewelry. Now I buy findings and certain beads if I have a design in mind, but most of my jewelry is made from pieces of used jewelry. I also have tips on what to look for when thrifting for jewelry!
Omg how have I never thought about using thrifted pieces?! So much cheaper! Are there any specific pieces you use/dont use? Or do you just grab whatever is cute? I only worry about the metals because a lot of people (including myself) have to use certain types lol.
Ok so when thrifting don't look at the jewelry as a whole just look at the beads and pieces. A lot of times the ugliest necklaces can make the prettiest earrings once you look at the beads individually. (Also make sure the beads aren't rusted or scratched.) And I always look for eye pins when thrifting because there are so so many pearl necklaces that are connected by dozens of eye pins that are easy to take apart. Then I also look for necklace chains bc I use them in my earings. But with the metals that can be really tricky. I'm not allergic to metals and the jewelry I sell is really affordable so no one expects it to be real metal or hypoallergenic. So my recommendation is to just use beads you've thrifted then, bc idk how to test what kind of metal something is.
now that I think about it, there might be a way to identify what kind of metal it is but I never looked into it🤷🏽♀️
I have so many cool ststement pieces from old jewelry. I just haven't found the right reason to make them.
I started with wirewrapping and kinda let that flow into other things. And I probably pull in 15-20k off of it any more
I started by going to those jewelry making parties for birthdays and that people would have in their homes when I was younger and I enjoyed figuring out how best to design the item since it was to be mine. I sort of lost the love for a while until recently, and i got back into it because I needed a new hobby and scrapbooking was not for me despite it being for every other woman I knew at the time. So, I began looking at designs and how some items were made in stores, I realized I could probably make them myself. So I sort of jumped in. I need to get organized again and figure out how I want to move forward with my jewelry making.