amazon_syren (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
amazon_syren) wrote2005-07-22 07:35 am
amazon_syren) wrote2005-07-22 07:35 am
Jewellery Making...
So... I've been thinking of trying to make my own necklaces.
I bring this up because I can get amethyst beads and grey-tinted pearls at Michael's for not horribly high prices -- I figure about $15-$20 worth of materials (including wire and possibly pliers, which I can use for more than one necklace) to get a necklace that would cost me $30-$40+ in a shop somewhere -- and I could make jewellery to go with specific outfits, or with specific colours in mind, or what-have-you.
[What is it with me and wanting to make my own stuff? Is it just some part of my creative drive kicking into over-time, or is it a desire for self-sufficiency, or what? Possibly both...?]
But, of course, I don't actually know what I'm doing, so I've decided to ask some questions.
1) Where is the cheapest place to get semi-precious stone beads (like those mentioned above) in Ottawa? And is it easy to get to by Bus or Foot (preferably) from either South Keys or Down Town?
2) How do I get the clasps to stay on the wires/fishing-line-lengths while still making things look professional? And which is better to use? Or is there something else that works even better than either of them (but is still inexpensive)?
3) How do I get the wires/fishing-line to lie flat against my skin rather than popping up and looking silly (in the case of a layered necklace, for example)?
4) How do I use cheap-metal-spacers? do I just pinch them where I want them to stay put? (So that they don't just space things by their own width but could act as "stoppers" so that beads on a "floating necklace" (which is what I'd like to try first) stay where they're supposed to stay -- e.g. an inch apart from each other -- rather than sliding together and looking wrong).
5) Is there anything else that I've missed or overlooked that will make my life as an attempting jewellery-maker that much easier?
Torrain, Shifter-Cat (anyone else who does beading), I'm looking to you folks for advice. :-) Help me please! :-) <*looks hopeful*>
- Nam'ara,
- Amazon. :-)
I bring this up because I can get amethyst beads and grey-tinted pearls at Michael's for not horribly high prices -- I figure about $15-$20 worth of materials (including wire and possibly pliers, which I can use for more than one necklace) to get a necklace that would cost me $30-$40+ in a shop somewhere -- and I could make jewellery to go with specific outfits, or with specific colours in mind, or what-have-you.
[What is it with me and wanting to make my own stuff? Is it just some part of my creative drive kicking into over-time, or is it a desire for self-sufficiency, or what? Possibly both...?]
But, of course, I don't actually know what I'm doing, so I've decided to ask some questions.
1) Where is the cheapest place to get semi-precious stone beads (like those mentioned above) in Ottawa? And is it easy to get to by Bus or Foot (preferably) from either South Keys or Down Town?
2) How do I get the clasps to stay on the wires/fishing-line-lengths while still making things look professional? And which is better to use? Or is there something else that works even better than either of them (but is still inexpensive)?
3) How do I get the wires/fishing-line to lie flat against my skin rather than popping up and looking silly (in the case of a layered necklace, for example)?
4) How do I use cheap-metal-spacers? do I just pinch them where I want them to stay put? (So that they don't just space things by their own width but could act as "stoppers" so that beads on a "floating necklace" (which is what I'd like to try first) stay where they're supposed to stay -- e.g. an inch apart from each other -- rather than sliding together and looking wrong).
5) Is there anything else that I've missed or overlooked that will make my life as an attempting jewellery-maker that much easier?
Torrain, Shifter-Cat (anyone else who does beading), I'm looking to you folks for advice. :-) Help me please! :-) <*looks hopeful*>
- Nam'ara,
- Amazon. :-)