Jewellery Making
“A diamond is a chunk of coal that did well under pressure” Henry Kissinger
Resources
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Petra Jewellery have created an 'After School Jewellery Design Club'; a series of short tutorial videos walking through the process of designing jewellery. The videos are aimed at young learners and cover topics such as what type of jewellery, how to start drawing, sizing, colours, gemstones and engraving.
Amy Surman has a series of free tutorial videos on jewellery making. They include making jingle bracelets, tassel jewellery, metal clay, pom pom jewellery and beaded hair combs. Kits and supplies can also be bought on her website to make you own jewellery.
Jewellers Academy have a popular YouTube channel with lots of jewellery making tutorials. Including a 4 part 'How to Make Jewellery; Tutorial for Beginners' which provides a really clear introduction to the craft.
Instructables is a library of tutorials for anything you can think of. A search for jewellery making found hundreds of projects to have a go at. This is a website you can get lost in with so much inspiration.
The Goldsmiths' Centre has a skills hub containing resources and a career profiles. There is a lot to explore to learn not just about designing jewellery but also the manufacturing process. There are tutorials, videos, articles and interviews covering a wide range of jewellery topics.
Domestika offers a catalogue of creative courses including a large number on jewellery making. These include resin and clay designs, using beads and metalwork, using patinas and pigments, ceramic jewellery, silver and brass jewellery as well as making designs from natural materials.
PlanBee offers a series of 6 lessons on Jewellery Designers. The lessons cover the history of jewellery, gemstones and luxury jewellery companies Tiffany & Co., Bulgari and Van Cleef & Arpels. Aimed at KS2.
Voice Magazine has an interview with jewellery designer and maker, Thea Schultheiss. They asked her all about what it's like to be a jewellery designer and her path into it.
Here is an article about jewellery designer ChloBo 'How to become a jewellery designer: Chloe's story'. Read about what inspired her to start and the challenges she's had to overcome.
The National Careers service have information on how to become a jewellery designer/maker and what is involved.
Outschool offers a wide selection of classes on jewellery making. It is American based and some classes are one offs whereas others are a course. The classes are aimed at different age bands from 5-18.
Products
Bead Jewelry 101 by Karen Mitchell and Ann Mitchell - This is a beginners guide to making bead jewellery. It clearly explains what all the tools and materials are using good photography. Also included are step by step instructions to make a variety of projects such as drop earrings, beaded cluster bracelet, woven bracelet with pearls, draped chain earrings and a beaded memory wire bracelet.
Totally Beads is a supplier of jewellery making items, Besides beads, they also sell findings, chain, tools, clasps and stringing material. They also have video tutorials that are worth exploring.