Any jewellery makers out there?

Sharon · Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 1 Location: Brisbane

Hello,

I have recently started making jewellery out of silver. It's great fun and some of the results are very encouraging. I hope to make jewellery out of gold once I win lotto.

If there are any other jewellery makers out there, especially those of you who use silver or gold, I'd love to see some of your work to help inspire me. I will post some images in the near future.

See you on the forum.

Sharon

Brad Buchel · Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 9:26 pm Post subject:

Hi Sharon,

I just added this forum for jewellery yesterday, so thanks for posting and getting it started.... Hopefully we'll have a few more jewellery designers in here soon! Smile

There is a great magazine that often features contemporary jewellery design:
Craft Arts International Magazine

All the best, and welcome again!
Kind Regards,
Brad Buchel
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ART-SEARCH - ART-SEARCH FACEBOOK |Australian Art Education

amandajewls · Guest

Hi Sharon,

Yea, there's a few of us at a different forum run by Brad but we're here!

I mainly do bead stringing and have only very recently started doing bead crochet - oh boy is THAT a bunch of work!

Cheers!
Amanda

Brad Buchel

Hi there, yes, all things creative! if you like check out:

Craft Forum - http://www.craftforum.com.au

BB
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ART-SEARCH - ART-SEARCH FACEBOOK |Australian Art Education

Liza Paizis · Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Posts: 2 Location: Katoomba, NSW

hi Sharon -
a bit late, but I have recently been exploring casting as a form of creating jewellery. this means that I have been carving quite intricate designs out of wax, and then casting them in metal -namely pewter at the moment.
I am a painter/printmaker, but have found exploring 3 dimensions and sculpting detail very challenging and rewarding! check out my website for some of my original designs.(mermaid, pixie & cat!) They are basic -I hope to get better with practice! good luck with your work....

Liza Paizis

Omphaloskeptic · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 855 Location: Merimbula

Aquarius · Joined: 29 Aug 2006 Posts: 10 Location: Melbourne

*Waves* Over here! Over here! Wink

Kelley · Joined: 18 Jan 2007 Posts: 12 Location: Sydney

Hi Sharon,

I am a jewellery designer. I don't do silver smithing or setting in silver or gold, but I create some amazing things with creative wire including stirling silver. I use semi precious gem stones, pearls, crystals, feathers etc.
I am currently a finalist in the Designer of the year competition through Beads etc magazine. I have a website - www.dalliancedesigns.com which i am currently working on.

I am looking forward to having this space to share ideas and conversations with other creative designers.

I am interested to hear about marketing ideas as well. I have sold my pieces in retail outlets and this year am looking at doing the Markets thing on weekends.

Thanks for this opportunity

Ta Kelley

odd · Joined: 09 Apr 2007 Posts: 1 Location: Adelaide

Hi there everybody,

I am currently undertaking an informal apprenticeship in clarinet making which requires a fair bit of filing(metal shaping) for the keywork. It has sparked my interest in jewellery making. I would be especially interested in hearing from other jewellery makers who use files a fair bit.

63ll3 · Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 5

I am interested to hear about marketing ideas as well. I have sold my pieces in retail outlets and this year am looking at doing the Markets thing on weekends.

Hi Kelly,

Just wondering...you said that you sold your pieces in retails outlets...how do you do it? you come and introduce yourself to the owner of the shop or is there something else you do?

Ta
63ll3

Kelley · Joined: 18 Jan 2007 Posts: 12 Location: Sydney

Yes, I have sold in retail outlets in the past.
I am not doing it anymore at the moment.

Yes you just treat it like a sales rep job job.
Take your pieces, presented as best you can. I suggest naming the range, or making it an autumn /winter release for example. Have your pricing completely set, and take into consideration that the retail store will mark up at least 100%.

They may offer to take your goods on consignment, which means they only pay for what they sell. This is completely up to you. I choose not to do this very often as their is no commitment to sell your range, the commitment is wiith the stock that is paid for already. Knowing that if your stock does not sell, they just give it back to you.

Do your research on the store you go to, know what they sell and what works etc.

good luck with it

Kelley

Geronimo · Joined: 30 Dec 2008 Posts: 1

Hi Everyone
I am new to this forum and also new to jewellery making. I have wanted to learn silversmithing for so long but due to lack of funds have been unable to do a course. I have decided in the meantime to make some jewellery using beads as a starter.
Where does everyone get their inspiration, there are so many styles of jewellery out there!
I look forward to keeping in touch on this forum and gaining ideas and inspiration.
Anyone know where to find sterling silver pandora style beads in Australia? I have found a lot of US sites but nothing in Australia that sells sterling silver.
Cheers
Geronimo

CrystalKeeper · Joined: 10 Jan 2009 Posts: 6 Location: Newcastle

Hi Geronimo, and hi to everyone else as well,
I am also new to this forum and wish I'd come across it ages ago.
My jewellery making started about 10 years ago once I joined a lapidary club and found them teaching silver/gold making techniques of all levels and inspirations.
Since then I've concentrated on incorporating semi precious gem stones into the chain sequences, using non-porus beads, chips and nuggets....anything the silver wire will fit through...and have a bout 15 different combinations of chain patterns to use. Once I got through the soldering lessons everything was easy and, as always, spending money is my only limit.
I look forward to posts in this forum with great expectations.

Cheers,
CrystalKeeper