What supplies are typically needed to make jewelry?

There are all kinds of jewelry you can make. A lot of jewelry is made from beads, so beads are one thing you will need, if that's the type of jewelry you want to make. From there you may need beading needles, thread, wire, crimping pliers, etc. My suggestion would be to pick up a magazine on jewelry making in order to get some ideas on what you'd like to make. Another good place for basic information and help is your local bead store. Jewelry making is a hobby that can be fairly inexpensive or al elaborate as you want it to be. The sky is the limit depending upon the supplies that you want to use.

Q: What are crimping pliers used for?

Crimpling pliers actually crimp off your wire to create a finished edge. After you've finished putting all the beads on your bracelet, you are going to attach the clasp. The first thing you are going to do is put your beading wire through the crimp bead and then through your toggle and back through the crimp bead to create a loop attaching your clasp. Then you take your crimp tool and you crimp the crimp bead, basically what you are doing is putting an indentation in the bead and then you use the other part of your crimping tool to flatten it. This is what secures that wire so that your jewelry does not come apart.

Your tools are very important, so you should invest in a quality set. They can really change the look of a project. If you are not using good precision tools your wire wrap project is not going to come out as clean and finished looking as it will if you use good tools. So it really pays to invest in good tools. You can get a good tool set for under $50.

Q: Does one need to use wire or are there other products to use?

There are several different kinds of beading wire in addition to beading cord and beading silk. If you are working with pearls you are going to use the silk beading threads, so it just depends on the project. You absolutely do want to use beading wire rather than just regular thread. There are many different kinds. Some are meant to be sewn with a needle and others are stiff enough that you can use the wire itself to pick up the beads.

Q: Do you ever use gemstones?

I don't do a lot of gemstone work. I love working with crystals and glass. But it is not difficult at all if you are talking about stringing gems. It's the same as any other type of bead. If you are talking about setting stones like in a ring, it requires a little more skill and a soldering tool. Working with gems is also going to be more expensive

Q: Do you use silver or gold?

I do use silver. I don't do a lot of things in gold, only because it's so expensive.
So I use mostly silver. I also work with a product that's called precious metal clay and it is just like working with clay, but when you fire it in a kiln the binder burns out and it turns to 99.9% pure silver. So you are able to create anything using that - rings, pins, brooches - but you need to a kiln to fire it.

I actually have my own kiln. My husband built me a little studio when I started really getting into it. I started out doing the work in my basement, but when I graduated to a propane and oxygen mix torch it became a safety issue.

Q: Are there catalogues that you buy your beads from?

There is Fire Mountain Gems. Their website is www.firemountaingems.com. There are also catalogs that sell things in wholesale quantities. For the hobby jewelry maker, I would say Fire Mountain Gems is a great place to start.

Q: Do you think that this hobby is costly?

This hobby can be very costly, but it doesn't have to be. Beads can be expensive. It all depends upon the type of beads you chose to use. The gemstones are going to cost more than say a glass bead.