Handmade, which means handicraft in English, is increasingly popular. What are the possibilities of making jewelry on your own? Is it difficult, pretty and is it even worth making jewelry yourself?
Jewelry making is not a cheap pleasure. Moreover, its style does not suit everyone. Gold, silver, precious stones do not fit into every style of dress or even lifestyle. Self-made jewelry is not only impressive and unique but also much cheaper. It can also be an idea for a gift.
If you are interested in unusual jewelry from the hands of Polish artists, be sure to read our conversation with Natalia, the creator of jewelry made of minerals, known as Dark Crystals
Jewelry made from these materials can be made in several techniques. The most popular are macrame, crochet and wire. Macramé is a technique involving tying (mainly with strings and yarns, but also other materials) and braiding various patterns. Macramé jewelry is often called micromacramé. Thanks to this technique beautiful earrings, necklaces and bracelets are created. You can make beautiful jewelry at a low cost. With a wide range of colors of yarns and cordons you can make very fine decorations.
The name of this technique derives from the viscose or silk strips (called soutache), from which this type of handicraft is made. In addition, this technique uses decorative stones, crystals or glass beads, which must be perfectly flat on one side. The stone is glued on the felt, and then the whole wrapped soutache. This technique is extremely precise and expensive, but the effects can be spectacular.
Wooden jewelry has been known for centuries. Wood is a very graceful, lightweight and versatile material that has many applications. You can make your own earrings from slices of wood: regular rectangles or cross-cut stumps with visible grain. In the role of earrings and necklaces will work sticks of various lengths. If we combine wood with thong or resin, we can achieve a truly luxurious effect.
Ceramic jewelry is a bit heavier so it is better for necklaces, pendants and bracelets than earrings. However, if we do not mind the weight of the earring or we decide to have smaller designs, we can successfully use ceramics for this purpose as well. All you need is clay, a kiln and a little ingenuity. Clay can be formed into three-dimensional shapes or flat patterns. Clay is a very graceful material in which you can imprint your favorite motifs. Ceramic jewelry can be raw or glazed, threaded on a thong or chain. The range of possibilities is really very wide.
Bead means a bead in English. Beading technique involves stringing beads on threads using a needle, crochet, sometimes loom. To make jewelry of this type we need beads of different sizes. Very impressive are bracelets and necklaces made of very fine beads.
Another name derived from English literally means the technique of “wrapping wire”. Jewelry wire – usually silver, copper or brass – is twisted and wrapped to create the desired shape. Wire wrapping can use the wire itself, but the most beautiful jewelry is achieved by adding gemstones and precious stones, beads or amber.
Sinking in resin is a striking way to make beautiful jewelry. What can be preserved this way? Actually everything. Dried flowers e.g. from an engagement or wedding bouquet, seashells, moss… Thanks to this technique we can create both smaller ornaments, such as screw earrings with embedded daisies, and large pendants.
Felt jewelry is another very interesting idea for handmade ornaments. Especially for lovers of larger decorations. Felt is very lightweight, so you can get large decorations that will not weigh us down. Great as earrings, necklaces or brooches. Felt jewelry will find its fans also among people who like bold colors. The spectrum of felt colors and possibilities of combining them makes it possible for the jewelry made of this material to take on rainbow, pastel colors.
