Warren Feld

5 min read

Where can you learn jewelry making skills?…

It’s important to learn in an organized, developmental way. You want to be always asking how things are interrelated. What depends on what? You want to pose what-if questions so that you can train yourself to anticipate the implications and consequences of making one choice over another. What happens If? What happens When? What enhances? What impedes? What synergizes? What can be leveraged, and toward what objective? You want to reflect on your outcomes.

Some places for learning:

Local craft or bead store
Community college
University (art, fiber arts, metalsmithing,
fashion)
Jewelry design program
Fashion schools
Bead and Jewelry Making Magazines
Social media groups
Self-taught, crafting at home
On-the-job training
Certifications
Art institutes
Art grants
How-to books
Video tutorials
Networking with other craft artists

Types of Beading and Jewelry Making

There is so much to know, and so many types of choices to make. Which clasp? Which stringing material? Which technique? Which beads? Which strategy of construction? What aesthetic you want to achieve? How you want to achieve it? Drape, movement, context, durability.

Sample of Techniques:

Stringing
Assembling
Bead Weaving
Bead Working
Wire Working
Wire Wrapping
Wire Weaving
Silversmithing, Metal Work
Cold Connections
Fabrication
Casting
Fiber Arts, Knitting, Crochet
Micro-Macrame
Bead Embroidery
Kumihimo, Knotting, Braiding
CAD (Computer Aided Design)
Enameling
Lampworking and Glass Blowing
Stamping
Engraving
Polymer Clay, Precious Metal Clay, Sculpting
Lapidary
Woodwork, Carving

Types of Tasks Jewelry Makers and Beaders Do

Adjust, reshape, resize, create and attach clasp assemblies
Cutting stones, setting stones, determining value and authenticity of stones
CAD (Computer Aided Design), 3-D Printing
Fabrication, stamping, engraving, casting, soldering, cold connections, shaping
metal wire and sheet, annealing
Model and mold building, sculpting
Manage thread tension, create self-supporting shapes, manage movement, drape and flow
String, weave, netting, embellish, embroider, knit, crochet, braid, knot, wrap, assemble
Understand jewelry-making as a process, from beginning to end
Select color, proportion, volume, shape, forms, size, silhouettes, themes
Place and Arrange design elements and components
Read patterns, figures, graphs
Select materials and techniques
Determine measurements
Assess stress, strain, strength, suppleness, stability and synergy
Understand and access the creative marketplace, introduce their pieces publicly

Learning Objectives

A. Technical Mechanics

1. Managing tension, whether using thread, cord, string or wire

2. Holding your piece to work it

3. Reading simple patterns, figures, graphs

4. Selecting appropriate materials

5. Identifying areas of potential weakness, and strategies for dealing with these

6. Determining measurements, including width and length of a piece, especially in relationship to bead and other component sizes

7. Extending your piece, such as adding thread or wire

8. Finishing off your piece and adding the clasp assembly

B. Understanding Craft Basis of Technique or Stitch

1. Starting the technique or stitch
2. Implementing the basic technique or stitch

3. Finishing off the basic technique or stitch

4. Learning variations on the technique or stitch

5. Embellishing the Stitch, including fringe, edge, bail, strap, connectors

C. Understanding Art & Design Basis of Technique or Stitch

1. Learning implications when choosing different sizes/shapes of beads or
other components, or using different stringing materials

2. Understanding relationship of the technique or stitch in comparison to
other techniques or stitches

3. Understanding how bead asserts its need for color

4. Creating your own design with this technique or stitch, in reference to
design elements and jewelry design principles of composition

5. Creating shapes, components and forms with this technique or stitch, and
establishing themes

6. Building in structural supports, and other support elements, into the
design

D. Becoming a Bead Weaving or Jewelry Making Designer

1. Developing a personal style

2. Valuing or pricing your work

3. Teaching others the technique or stitch

4. Promoting yourself and your work

5. Advocating for jewelry as “Art” and as “Design”

Types of Tools Needed To Get Started

Scissors
Chain nose pliers (inside of jaws smooth)
Flat Nose Pliers
Side Cutters
Flush Cutters
Tweezers and Awl
Assorted sizes of hard wire, cable wire, bead cord and bead, thread, elastic string
Ruler
Crimping pliers
Hammers and mallets
Steel block plate
Doming block, anvil
Sizing cones
Hand held torch and fire-proof work surface
Bead stoppers / clamps
Color wheel
Work Surface or Pad
Bead board
Round nose pliers
Ring, Jump Ring, and bracelet mandrels
Needles, wax
Jeweler’s saw and blades
Good lighting
Comfortable seating

Finding jobs and pathways utilizing your skills as a jewelry designer…

There are actually many career pathways for people who have backgrounds in jewelry making and bead working. Besides the obvious pathways of making jewelry to sell, or teaching jewelry making, there are still many job and career opportunities for you.

Jewelry maker
Illustrator
Fashion designer
Stylist
Metalsmith
Teacher
Lapidary
Gemologist
Jewelry repair
Wood worker
Fiber artist
Lampworking and glass blowing
Physical and Occupational Therapist
Counseling
Custom designer
Engraver
Sales
Merchandising
Website design
Data analyst
Grants writer/reviewer
Program director
Video instructor or host
Jewelry assessor
Display and Packaging
Influencer
Writer
Business Developer

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I hope you found this article useful. I’d welcome any suggestions for topics (warren@warrenfeldjewelry.com)

Also, check out my website (www.warrenfeldjewelry.com).

Enroll in my jewelry design and business of craft Video Tutorials online. Begin with my ORIENTATION TO BEADS & JEWELRY FINDINGS COURSE.

Follow my articles on Medium.com.

Subscribe to my Learn To Bead blog (https://blog.landofodds.com).

Visit Land of Odds online (https://www.landofodds.com)for all your jewelry making supplies.

Check out my Jewelry Making and Beadwork Kits.

Add your name to my email list.

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CONQUERING THE CREATIVE MARKETPLACE: Between the Fickleness of Business and the Pursuit of Design

Kindle, Print, Epub

SO YOU WANT TO BE A JEWELRY DESIGNER
Merging Your Voice With Form

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The Jewelry Journey Podcast
“Building Jewelry That Works: Why Jewelry Design Is Like Architecture”
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Podcast, Part 2

PEARL KNOTTING…Warren’s Way
Easy. Simple. No tools. Anyone Can Do!

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SO YOU WANT TO DO CRAFT SHOWS: 16 Lessons I Learned Doing Craft Shows

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BASICS OF BEAD STRINGING AND ATTACHING CLASPS

Ebook, Kindle or Print

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