How Did I Start Making Jewelry?
April 25, 2005 by Tammy Powley
Filed under Basics - Getting Started
Sometimes the path in life we take just sort of pops up in front of us one day. I stumbled into the world of jewelry and beads. In high school, I was the macramé queen. Heres a choker I still have from way back then. I also remember making earrings with cool mother-of-pearl fetish bird beads. Remember those?
Many years later, I happened to be at a rock show when I got the urge to make jewelry for holiday gifts. I saw all this beautiful gemstone jewelry at the show, and my husband suggested we buy some of it. In the typical crafter’s mantra, I replied: Hey, I can make that!
And I did.
How I got started in jewelry making. During the war years of the early 40s (yes, I am 75 yrs young) I made acorn necklaces to sell by the side of the road for 5 cents each.
I would have to scoop the innerds from the acorn, make a hole for stringing, and shellac each one and string on embroidery thread. Had no clue what crimping was, so just tied a bow on the end.
I remember sitting for hours by the roadside where traffic was limited to one or two cars in an hour and an occasional bicycle.
That was the very beginning of my jewelry making experience.