Why Jewelry-Making?
Trying new things is hard. Moving out of our comfort zone and facing challenges just takes lots of effort. I have heard many people say "I've been meaning to try that," of course, myself included, but if there is an intention, why is there no action? The ironic part is the number one reason that stops people from trying new things is ourselves. Because of our laziness we make millions of excuses to just not try. These excuses could be the cost, the effort, but most notably, the fear. The fear of setting goals and ending up disappointing ourselves is a strong deterrence, usually being the reason we give up before even trying. What we do not realize, is that we are capable of doing so many amazing things. We all have incredible skills, but these skills are often untouched due to apathy or fear. Pushing the fear and laziness aside, I decided to take a chance, and bought pliers and wire, and picked up a hobby that I had always wanted to try, but is often perceived as difficult, jewelry-making!
Prior to this project, I had only worked with jewelry when I had to fix my own, as I am notorious for breaking my jewelry. I would use pliers I found in the garage and fix clasps, findings, and chain links. Despite having no experience, I was often quite successful, making secure links with paper clips. When I started really jewelry-making, I found that having the right tools and materials definitely makes everything so much easier, making creating much easier.
Wiretapping, the form of jewelry making that I started with, is the easiest form of jewelry to get into, as, put simply, you are just bending wire into pretty shapes, and making them into necklaces, bracelets, or earrings. At the enthusiast level, jewelry-making is popular with all demographics all over the world. A statistic done by YouGov claims that jewelry making is the 48th most popular cerebral activity, or activities that promote brain development. Many people do not try new things, scared they will end up disappointing themselves, especially in hobbies or activities that involve challenging oneself, like jewelry-making. Slowly learning how to manipulate wires and beads with pliers, with much patience, I have worked my way up to making complex and detailed jewelry. With enough perseverance, I was able to create jewelry that I am proud enough of to wear and sell. My experience with jewelry-making shows that, with a challenge and patience, you are capable of more than you think.
Jewelry-Making Projects
Crystal Burst Earrings
Kylie Jones's Crystal Burt Earrings, this is my first piece of jewelry.
Gold Chain Bracelet
The design of this bracelet is made entirely by me..
Star Wire Earrings
Wrapping the thin wire around the thick wire was very difficult, as I had to make sure there was tension on the front side, the side I was working on, and the back side. Not only did I have to keep constant tension on the wire, but I also had to straighten it manually. Because of this constant tension I was putting on the wire, on my first attempt, the wire broke, so I had to start over. Unfortunately, this inconsistent tension leads to some inconsistent points of the star, so a few of the tips of the star are crooked or too big or small. Over time though, I got the hang of it, making sure to check the tension of the wire on the front and back side.
Bead Braid Bracelet
Wire Jig Pendant
Gold Crescent Moon Necklace
Crescent Moon Pendant
Inspired by the last crescent moon pendant, I wanted to make another one, this time, with more detail.
Me, The Jewelry-Maker and More!
My name Joshua Pacis, I am a freshman at Foothill College. Most of what I do involves performing and music, musical theater, choir, and band, but I find other mediums of art very interesting! Activities I enjoy include singing, acting, playing instruments, and mountain biking. I always loved to work with my hands, as a kid doing anything craft related. With lots of interest in art and craft, I had always wanted to try jewelry-making, but never got to it until this project. I also do digital art, doing mostly abstract art. The Wire Jig Pendant was actually inspired from a design I drew previously.
After getting my first piercing, I have grown to love earrings. You can tell by how many earrings I have made. I had always worn jewelry, usually necklaces and bracelets, but after I got piercings I went all in. I got rings, more bracelets and necklaces, and more piercings. I always admired the artistry and skill of jewelry, especially ones made by vendors. These particularly caught my interest, as they all looked so handmade, nothing like the jewelry you would find in a department store. Unfortunately because of the work and time, and the fact that these people are freelance selling, the cost of all this jewelry did add up. With my interest in art, my affinity for craft related activities, and needing a more cost effective alternative, I had planned on picking up jewelry-making. This project was a great excuse to get into it. Now, I have the groundwork for a possible side hustle, and lots more jewelry to wear myself.
Bibliography
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Elegance, Fantasia. “How to Make a Wire Wrapped Swirl Ring with Central Bead - Beginner Tutorial.” YouTube, YouTube, 5 Apr. 2019, www.youtube.com/watchv=vvsuQjQJIV8&list=PLYA3YJ06V2e4Qd2K_HCzW5gUdw3ig1_97&index=2.
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“Jewelry Maker Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number of Jewelry Makers in the US.” Jewelry Maker Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Jewelry Makers In The US, Zippia, 21 July 2023, www.zippia.com/jewelry-maker-jobs/demographics/.
“Jewelry-Making Popularity & Fame.” YouGov, Accessed 21 Mar. 2024, today.yougov.com/topics/society/explore/activity/Jewelry_making.
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