Does anyone here make their own jewelry? This is something that I've always been interested in, but have never pursued, because I'm not a crafty person. heck, I can't even sew. DH and I were in the craft store AC Moore last night (I like to go in there just to see what they have) and I was looking through their jewelry making/beading supplies and they have a lot of new stuff. They have some stuff that is made to look like it comes from the Middle East. As a belly dancer, I would like some new jewelry and I'd like it if I was able to make my own.

So is jewelry making difficult if you're not a crafty person? I do have a good eye for color and I'm a very visually-oriented person. I saw that there were a lot of books there as well, but I couldn't tell which ones were better than others. Does anyone have a particular book they could recommend?

Making jewelry isn't hard at all. My most difficult thing is picking from so many beautiful bead and crystal choices. My suggestion is to go to Firemountain.com. They have tutorials on everything from bead choices to actual directions from designs sent in by other beaders. I started by just looking at how store bought jewelry was put together and now I make my own and even give it as gifts. There are people on ebay who sell Goddess pendants etc., too. Jewelry can be spiritual by incorporating the meaning of stones and colors choices to what you need. Have fun! Have a blessed Samhain

There are so many books to choose from its best to find a used book site you like to get your books,you can read about the book before buying, you build your library and it wont cost you alot but in return you have a shelf of valuable information.
When buying your tools, buy quality, which are not always the most expensive ones. I also tear pictures out of magazines for ideas and file em away, I won't copy someone elses work, but that doesn't mean we can't combine ideas for new looks.

I went to a birthday party of one of my boyfriends young cousins..her gift was
different color of embroidery thread..and she showed me how to make bracelet out of the thread. she cut them into long four peices that she attached to her jeans on a safety pin and did the way I used to make jute plant holders.. either looping to make a flat design or looping one way to make a twist. she made me one and it was her birthday![smile]

I have been making and selling jewelry for a while now. What really helped me when I started out was the tips in bead magazines and like spiralowlcat said firemountaingems.com is a great site for tips. Good luck and have fun[grin]

I really love to make jewerly but i don't sell mine maybe i should, i do some beautiful work with beads and wire that's my favorite to work with but i ran across a wonderful book, called The Complete guide to wire and beaded jewelry it teaches the basics. As 4 tools i personally like small plyiers from tool stores cheap very easy 2 use[grin] I even like coated wire too, no need 4 thread or needles.

I make my own jewelry and currently trying to find the perfect gothic looking pendent (Michael's had a few but wasn't sure about them). Once I get better at making jewelry, I am going to start selling. So far I have a few bracelets and a necklace.

I have a small business that I run out of my home. I do a lot of beading, but I am also moving into actual silver/goldsmithing. Fire Mountain Gems is one of my main suppliers, and for pendants I usually go to silverenchantments.com. they make pentacles and such there, and they are a wholesaler(no tax id necessary)so they are really cheap. Have fun with it, and play with ideas before you start stringing.

icetalon, thanks for the site! its what I'm looking for as I want to make pagan/wiccan jewelry to sell.

You're welcome. It's such a bugger to find good sources for pentacles wholesale, so I feel the need to share when I can.