You love to make jewelry but don’t like the impersonal process of making it for a retail outlet, ending up in the hands of “random people.”  How about switching gears and put your shingle out as a “Personal Jewelry Artist” with a tag line something like: “Custom-made jewelry you can afford!”  If you do this, you can build your client list of repeat customers, genuinely and uniquely create pieces that are just perfect for the person, and then be there whenever they need a repair or when they have a friend needing a piece or two.

Again, this is just another avenue for you to realize a commercial outlet for your talent and a secure one that will always put orders in your pipeline.  Additionally, when you have many pleased customers they will be your marketing resource, promoting you anytime you ask, including suggesting to their friends and family that you make holiday pieces and/or gifts for yet others.

Approaching jewelry sales this way is just like being commissioned to do a painting.  It is your job to translate what someone is asking for into the piece they desire.  Creating custom pieces like this can also fetch a higher price.  And finally, it fits in the world of fashion as much as a “personal shopper” or a tailor – it’s just that you don’t hear about it that much!  As a result of it not being so common only means you’ll have to be clear when you promote your business in this way and you probably won’t have much competition!

First start off with friends and family to spread the world – creating a nice piece of creative showing off your product – both as pieces and of someone wearing them.  Don’t go “cheap” on this promotional piece since it will be your storefront.  Hire a designer, have the photographs professionally shot, and then get it printed in full color professionally.  The cost of printing is low now-a-days since it has all gone, “digital.”

Be sure to include in your brochure a clear list of what you offer, how it is custom, what wire jewelry supplies/materials you will use and probably most importantly, an “ideas” list to trigger possible order ideas for those who read it.  For example, you might want to list various jewelry pieces you make like “rings” or maybe a baby’s baptismal bracelet, or wine glass jewelry; possibly an anniversary necklace or golden 50 ring.  Consider also listing “costume grade jewelry” since non-experts may automatically think your service is out of their price-range.  Also, list custom one-of-a-kind pieces just so that prospective clients know they can get that from you too – again communicating ideas is what you need to do as quickly as possible in your brochure.

So, if you are so inclined to expand your business or are starting out new, consider promoting yourself as a “Personal Jewelry Artist” and enjoy the great benefits!

Do you love jewelry, especially rings, but you just can’t justify the time to search for what you really love nor want to spend the money for a designer to make you one?  Well, do the next best thing – make it yourself!  This might seem to be a tall order but with some instruction, you will not only create exactly what you want, but discover a new talent and add some new creative enjoyment to your life.

Wire Sculpture provides instructional jewelry making DVDs for you to quickly learn how to make wire jewelry rings, wrapping wire with stones and beads.  You will learn how to mix wire colors for stunning results, how to make tight rosettes, as well as tease and connect methods – all easily with step by step instructions.

The wire jewelry expert presenting on the DVDs is Dale “Cougar” Armstrong, a many-year veteran of creating and teaching wire jewelry techniques.  She teaches systematically, building on learning with the goal of advancing abilities with each step.  She shows easy ways also, to achieve results such as how to create the correct prong lengths and how to make shapes that fit faceted stones.  She also demonstrates how to use tools, offers information on cut stone terminology and provides sizing formulas so you get it right every time.

Included with the instructional DVDs are formula cards and written follow-up directions for each and every project so that you have the confidence to create beautiful, unique wire jewelry rings.  You also get bonus items such as a project photo album that contains pictures of each project, both back and front views, in large detail.

Whether you are a beginner or intermediate wire jewelry designer, the wire jewelry instructional videos are for you.  This is a brand new DVD set, just released and was produced in high definition (HD) quality.

So, whether you are looking to create rings for yourself to match various fashion pieces in your closet, or rings as gift items for the holidays, order your DVD now and get started.  You’ll find that creating rings will be very satisfying to your need to be creative!

Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip
October 29, 2009

Question:

What types of pliers and other materials are needed for a beginner to get started making wire jewelry?

Answer:

The supplies needed to begin making wire jewelry depend on what ‘style’ the student is interested in learning to do. What I call ‘the basic four’ tools include flat-nose, chain-nose and round-nose pliers, and a good pair of wire cutters, are essential for about all styles, with the exception of chain maille where two pair of chain-nose are helpful and flats are optional. A good way to determine what gauges and shapes of wire are needed would be to look at patterns for the style you are interested in learning and follow what the author/designer uses, as each pattern was developed using certain techniques and each choice a designer made is for a specific reason. If you are interested in one particular style you will begin to notice similarities in the materials used. This will give you a good idea of what supplies you would need for whatever style you choose to learn.

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

Have a question? Submit your question here!

New high quality DVD’s have been released with Dale “Cougar” Armstrong as the Instructor – teaching all of us her secrets about wire jewelry making.  Order one by one or by the bundle – you can’t find any wire jewelry making instruction at this level, anywhere!

Why, because I know the producers – they do everything with elegance including the quality of production, picking the right “voice” for the project, and assembling the content into a cohesive and easy-to-learn model.  Learning something new is best taught by those who have the product knowledge and teaching experience – hence why Dale was chosen.

Ms. Armstrong’s new book is out as well – “Wirework: An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Wire Wrapping.”  You may elect to go with the written word but honestly, the ease of learning with a DVD is incomparable – and hence I recommend, if you are a beginner, to start with the entire beginner series (that includes some bonus DVDs).  And of course, buy the book too!

Within this series Dale teaches each project on every DVD exactly as she does in the classroom. Each DVD project teaches the skills and techniques necessary to work from one project into the next, progressing from learning how to straighten, bundle and properly wrap with square wire, to hand shaping and how to properly size and resize pieces.

By purchasing the entire Beginner Series and working through them in order, beginning with Part 1 All Wire Unisex Bracelet and ending with Bonus Part 9 Crystal Finger Bauble, it’s like being in a week long workshop!  This beginner series features 19 different projects, including rings, pendants, bracelets, earrings, and a collar.  Dale also discusses the formulas used and shows project variations so you can incorporate the techniques taught into your own designs.

Dale turns wire “wrappers” into wire “jewelry artists”, encouraging each student to discover and then to develop their own personal style.

So, get yourself lined up with DVDs to learn from, some jewelry making supplies to get started with – winter’s coming and you’ll be glad to indulge yourself in this fun learning experience!

Have fun!

Alexandrea Day

Talent of any kind is not innate but as a result of practicing an aptitude until a level of achievement demonstrates expertise – and hence then, is an artist born.  The same can also be said of becoming a wire jewelry artist – you’re not born one, you develop yourself into being one.

What then are the steps?  First of all, you need to discover if you have an innate talent for creating “things” with your hands that match what you envision in your mind.  Many would love to be an artist, painting murals or figurines, even pottery or designing glass sculpture.  But, if you can not realize through your hands what you see in your mind, you don’t have the artist access required to become that artist.

There is also the requirement, when working with wire jewelry, to be able to think in 3D.  Why?  Because the craft of making wire jewelry requires thinking in dimensions, placement, color and texture.  Without being able to integrate all of these elements, it is difficult to be this kind of artist.

If you have some innate talent as described above, then you are ripe to become an artist at wire jewelry making.  The next step is then to practice it.  Practicing each step then is what is necessary – first practicing the art through another expert’s knowledge either in a course or through reading / video demonstrations.  Follow the instructions and then reach beyond them adding in your innate knowing to improve upon the piece.  Continue to improve upon what you learn.

Finally, after you have repeatedly learned and followed good techniques and expanded upon them to make them your own, you are ready to start designing your own pieces from within yourself.  Start small and build upon it.  Then get feedback from an expert.  Find encouragement.  Learn about yourself and find out exactly where your “sweet spot” is.

At the end of the day and about 10 years later you will be a wire jewelry expert with a reputation and a following.  Experts aren’t born.  They are developed and it does take about 10 years to become one, in any field…most of all enjoy your journey there!