Posts Tagged ‘Flea Market’

I make jewelry and I’m going to sell it at my community center’s flea market. I’m 14, and I don’t use anything expensive when I make my jewelry, no diamonds, real pearls, or anything like that. But, the jewelry does look really nice and I think a lot of people will want to buy it. But I don’t know what to price them at.
Could you tell me how much I should price a…
-necklace
-bracelet
-earrings

Thank you!
Sorry I don’t have pictures but I just need an idea.

Making wire jewelry is a popular and rewarding hobby for many people. It can however be confusing to beginners who are just starting out. This article will introduce you to the various tools and materials you will need to get your jewelry making hobby started.

SETTING UP YOUR JEWELRY WORKSHOP

Whether you are making your own wire wrap jewelry as a hobby or you are starting your own business making wire jewelry, you will need to have an area that will promote creativity and enable you to concentrate. Spend some time planning and organizing your jewelry making workshop now so that you will be more productive when you get started.

Many of us do not have the luxury of a private workshop where we can escape from the noise and interruptions of our busy homes. This doesn’t mean you should lose hope and give up on your wire jewelry making dreams, it just means you will need to be a bit more creative with your space.

Try to find a place that is as private as possible, away from phones, televisions and other interruptions. Perhaps you can clear a space out in your garage or attic. Maybe you have a corner of a guest room or a spot in your basement.

Next you will want to consider lighting. Lighting is very important in jewelry making. Find a room near a window with lots of natural light if you can, but if you cannot find such a location, you will need to invest in a natural lighting alternative. There are special types of lighting and bulbs available that simulate natural sun light. Just do a search online and you will most certainly find something. Full spectrum bulbs are close to natural sunlight.

You will also need a way to organize and store all of your jewelry making tools and supplies as well as a surface or bench to work on. Professional jewelry benches can be expensive, so if you cannot afford one, visit a used furniture outlet, flea market, or good will outlet and purchase a bench there. Look for a sturdy solid wood desk that is wide and deep enough to give you plenty of space to work on. If it doesn’t have drawers, you can purchase an affordable organizer with drawers at any home improvement store. This can be used to store your supplies.

You will also need a chair. You should take your time when shopping for a chair as you will spend a lot of time sitting at your desk. You will want a chair that is comfortable and has wheels so you can conveniently slide around your workspace.

If you are unable to invest any money right now into buying your furniture, don’t let that stop you. Your kitchen table will work as a descent substitute. Many beginners get started that way.

WIRE JEWELRY MAKING SUPPLIES

Pliers

There are a wide assortment of pliers and cutters available for wire jewelry artists and each tool has its own purpose. Most professional and experienced wire jewelry artists will normally have a big collection of these tools on hand, but for a beginner it is not necessary. You will only need a few to get started. Pliers are made with various nose shapes and some are made fitted with springs. Springs enable the artist to control tension on the wire. Pliers are also available with nylon jaws that prevent scratching on the wire.

Flat Nose Pliers

These are excellent for holding, flattening and straightening wire. You can also use these pliers to make angular bends.

Round Nose Pliers

Round nose pliers are great for making bends, curves and for forming loops. They are also great for detailed and delicate work.

Flush Wire Cutter

A good flush wire cutter will cut through gold, silver, brass or copper wire and give you a flush even cut.

WIRE

Wire comes in a variety of different sizes, otherwise known as gages. Smaller wire has a higher gage number. For instance a 28 gage wire has a smaller diameter then a 14 gage wire. For your first wire jewelry pieces, it is probably best to begin with a higher gage wire, which will be easier to work with. Once you become more skilled at this, you can then start working with thicker and stronger wires.

Wire also comes in a variety of different shapes: round, square and half round. Round wire is a more popular choice amongst wire jewelry makers, but the other shapes can give your jewelry pieces a unique and interesting look.

Wire also comes in different degrees of hardness. Obviously softer metals are more pliable and easier to bend where as hard metals are stiffer and more difficult to bend and shape. Wire hardness is available from dead soft to extra hard. Dead soft wire is very soft and easy to work with. It is excellent for sculpting , but be careful with this wire. It is very soft and it can be easily damaged if not handled carefully. Hard wire is the most difficult to work with and manipulate, but it does have an advantage over the others as your jewelry pieces will be more durable and last longer.

Wire is also available in a variety of different metals. You have your choice of copper, silver, gold or brass. Copper and brass are cheaper than gold and silver. It may be best to start out with the cheaper materials until you become more experienced.

CREATING YOUR FIRST PIECE OF WIRE JEWELRY

Once you have found a good work area and have your basic supplies, its time to start practicing and creating your first piece of jewelry. In the beginning it will certainly be challenging to come up with your own designs, but thankfully there are many accomplished wire wrap jewelry makers out there to help you along the way. Go online or to your favorite book store and purchase a beginner book on wire jewelry making or invest in a home study course. There are great courses online that come complete with all the tools and instruction you will need to get started. You can even start your own lucrative home based business making wire jewelry.

I hope this introduction to wire jewelry making has helped and has gotten you excited enough to explore this craft in more detail. Happy jewelry making!

Ralph Serpe is Webmaster and founder of two popular online communities for visual artists: Creative Spotlite – Free art lessons for beginners. ArtInstructionblog.com – Free art instruction for beginners. Both sites offer instruction on a variety of different mediums including oil painting, acrylic painting, watercolor and more!

Author: Ralph Serpe
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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In today’s culture, items such as jewelry are becoming more ornate and expensive. The cost does not necessarily translate to quality. When a man is ready to propose to the love of his life, he wants to give her something special and unique to show just how much he adores her. That is why many couples are turning back time and purchasing a vintage engagement ring.

A true vintage engagement ring is defined as a ring that is between thirty and fifty years old; however, rings older than this, which are technically called antiques, may be sold as vintage. These rings are generally more ornate than newer rings and often contain large stones. The appeal of this type of engagement ring comes from the vastly different styles available. Many women are able to find a vintage engagement ring that fits their personal style more so than the engagement rings that are mass-produced today. The stones are considered to be of higher quality than newer engagement rings. It is necessary to examine a vintage engagement ring thoroughly before choosing to purchase it.

How to Purchase a Vintage Engagement Ring

As with any engagement ring, it is important to look for the “four C’s.” These are clarity, color, cut, and carat. The clarity refers to the visibility of flaws in the stones or in a better clarity, the lack of visible flaws. The color obviously refers to the color of the stone. There are several grades of colors when it comes to a white diamond. The cut of a vintage engagement ring is going to be different than with newer rings because they were cut by hand as opposed to the laser cut rings of today. The carat refers to the size or weight of the stone.

A vintage engagement ring can be purchased from multiple sources. People often sell these rings as part of an estate sale, at a flea market, through an online auction site, a consignment shop, or through a jeweler. Obviously, the best place to purchase a vintage engagement ring is through a reputable jeweler. If the ring is for sale through another dealer, then make sure to have it checked by a certified gemologist before you buy it. If this is not possible then it is probably best to walk away from the ring lest you be disappointed with it in the future.

While the stone is the most important part of the engagement ring, a vintage engagement ring is likely to have a more detailed setting and will be more easily broken, scratched, or tarnished than newer rings. Check the setting thoroughly to make sure the stones are set securely and will not be lost. Be extra careful with a newly purchased vintage engagement ring because it will be delicate and need extra care. Unlike a new engagement ring, a vintage engagement ring can show a lot of thought and effort and is a great way for a bride and groom to start a successful life together.

For more information about Vintage engagement rings check Rings for engagement.com

Author: Brian Welsch
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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