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Work at Home Jewelry Business

How to Get Your Jewelry Business Started

I would like to start making jewelry, but don't really know how. I made a bracelet at a group I go to, just as a craft project, but I really enjoyed doing it.

I am a single mother of five. My husband passed away in Dec. 2005. I am not working outside the home. My two youngest children are 18 months and 4 months old.

This is something that I could possibly start to do just to earn a little extra money. If you could give me some ideas to get started I would really appreciate it.

Thank you.

Karen

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First of all, my heart goes out to you for your loss and the struggle you face raising five children on your own. I truly hope I can help.

Since you enjoy it, jewelry making is an ideal way to start earning a little extra money from home. You don’t need to spend a lot to get going.

Initially your circle of friends will be your customers. Your friends will tell their friends, who will tell their friends, and so on and so on.

Though you may start with a kit or two for the learning experience, you can’t rely on kits if you want to make money selling your work.

People will pay more for one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces. Plus, the mark-up on kits is quite high because another artist has done the design work for you.

In other words, you can both charge more and keep your costs lower if you design your work yourself. This is how to maximize your profit.

Start right away flipping through magazines and catalogs. Clip jewelry photos that appeal to you, along with price information if available.

Get a notebook and fill it with the pictures. You’re not going to copy them. This is just to give you ideas and get your creative juices flowing. The pictures will also come in handy when you can’t quite figure out how to do something you have in mind – kind of like your own illustrated how-to book.

You might also subscribe to the bi-monthly beading magazine Simply Beads. Not only does every issue have great new designs, but also an illustrated “Bead Basics” section at the back.

Jewelry Making Tools and Materials

Here’s a list of tools you will need to start:

• 1. Jewelers’ wire cutters - If you can only afford one pair, get memory wire shears. These are designed to make clean cuts on tough memory wire, so can also be used for softer wires.
• 2. Chain-nose pliers (sometimes called needle-nose pliers) – Very versatile for picking up and grasping small items, bending eye pins, closing jumps rings, even closing crimp beads.
• 3. Round-nose pliers – Used for creating loops on beaded head and eye pins. Can also be used for winding your own jump rings and as the second pliers you’ll need for closing jump rings.
• 4. Optional pliers – Wire-looping pliers which have several graduated circumferences to allow you to form perfectly uniform jump rings and loops (in place of the round-nose pliers mentioned above). Crimping pliers which have little notches to allow you to both flatten a crimp bead and then bend it to form a rounded finished look (instead of the flat crimp you get using the chain-nose pliers).

As for materials, I recommend some assortment packs of beads in coordinating colors, some decorative metal spacers, seed beads in both silver and gold (These can serve as spacers and beautifully set off your other beads.), tube-shaped crimp beads (Buy the best you can find – these are what hold it all together!), head and eye pins.

Other than that, let your choice of project be your guide. You might want some silver or pewter charms. For earrings, you would need ear posts or wires or clip-on bases. For bracelets, you need memory wire or stretchy cord or beading wire and clasps. For necklaces, memory wire or beading wire, clasps and perhaps pendants.

A good source for tools and beads is Artbeads ,a one-stop source for exceptional beads and jewelry making supplies. Free shipping in the USA with no minimum order.

Organize and Kid-Proof Your Work Area

With young children in the house, take extra precautions to keep tiny beads and findings away from curious little hands and mouths. Ears and noses too, I guess. One of my nieces had to be taken to the emergency room to remove a pea lodged in her nose. She wanted to see if she could eat it that way!

Buy a couple of empty partitioned plastic boxes with sturdy closures to organize your beads and findings such as crimp beads, spacers, clasps and earring wires.

The divided sections help to organize your things and find what you are looking for at a glance. When you are done for the day, close the boxes tightly and put them up out of reach.

I’ve also found those vertical plastic storage systems designed for nails and screws very useful for organizing my beads.

A bead board is a good idea too. Its ruled tracks help you measure and lay out designs for bracelets and necklaces; as well as to corral the beads you are working with at a given time.

Should you lose a few beads onto the floor or rug, get out the vacuum cleaner. Stretch a piece of old pantyhose over the mouth of the wand and hold it securely while you vacuum around your work area. When the beads have been sucked onto the pantyhose, carefully pull the nylon around the beads and turn off the vacuum.

Jewelry Making Projects to Get You Started

As for projects to get you started, I’ve had a lot of success with earrings and they are a great project for beginners. Here are some ideas for easy earrings to make and sell. I made these ten pair in less than two hours on Saturday and took them into my little store Monday morning. By 2:00 closing, eight had already sold!

Also read my article on the common mistakes beginning jewelry crafters make.

Here’s another idea that might fit in very well with your lifestyle. Once you have a design you like, make your own kits and hold a beading party. It’s a lot of fun, as you know from your first beading experience. You can do them at your own home, as well as offer to do them for others – kids and adults alike. Learn more about beading parties.

If you find you enjoy making and selling your jewelry and want to grow your business, be sure to read the For Profit section of The Artful Crafter.

Good luck in your new venture.

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