Creative Beading

Jewelry making?

Okay so after wasting $350.00 on a necklace that wasn’t even real on my birthday, I lost it, and I’m sick of wasting money on jewelry and it breaking, going out of style, or me losing it. So I have come to the desicion that I’m gonna make my own jewelry I do have a couple friends that make jewelry, but I wanna ask what are good websites/stores (preferbly in Virginia) that I can buy on-line or buy at stores for beads (not childish ones) and for chains and all the other equiment required. I also wanna know what are the best kinds of equiments to use, good books that help me out with paterns, and whatever other information you may think is useful.

The easiest of jewelry making to get started with is beading. Many projects can be made from inexpensive glass, ceramics, wood and even cow bone set in fancy colored wires and metal findings. You then will graduate to a little more expensive stone and semi-precious stones, with silver or gold findings. All the tools you will initially need can be purchased for under $75.00.

For the beginner go to www.beadstylemag.com (Bead Style Magazine) or any of the sister publications by Kalmbach Publishing Company. These can be bought at Michael’s or Joann’s Fabrics as well as supplies and tools.In the back of their mags there is a continuing series of tool, bead and finding identification and how to use them.

There is also a calender of events and locations of stores that sell beading supplies. I counted 9 in Virginia alone! There is a myriad of retailers and wholesalers with web sites, There is also schedules of bead shows that have several circuits they follow.

I have been a silver smith for over 30 years as an avocation and have turned my hobby into a minor source of income. These days I have been working in PMC (Precious Metal Clay) that you will read about in the publications.

Arlington VA bead store