The Rise of Homemade Jewellery
We’re starting to realise the importance of having a creative output in our busy modern lives. There have been recent booms in many crafting industries, with people finding time to relax and take pleasure in anything from crochet to woodwork. While many people are adjusting to working from home, they realise that the time they would previously have spent commuting or rushing from one place to the next can be channelled into creating items for their own use, homes or giving as gifts to others.
These creative endeavours have worked out so well for some that there has been a rise in independent businesses of homemade goods. One of these crafts has a long and beautiful history and a modern twist - jewellery making. The beauty of producing jewellery, whether for yourself or to sell, is the variety of materials you can use. With enough creative input, anything can become a piece of wearable art.
You can stick with the classic gold, silver, and platinum materials, which will require some more sophisticated and complex tools to keep the precious metals in good condition when adjusting to your design. Alternatively, you can go for a more rustic feel and use a wide range of elastics and cords to string beads, shells, and much more to create necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.
Many artists build their creations from recycled materials salvaged from beaches or scrap yards. Jewellery making can breathe new life into something unloved or unusable. Sometimes an item needs a gentle clean with suitable materials, and the process of restoring something can be therapeutic.
You don’t even need to build your jewellery from scratch; try thrifting in charity shops and car boot sales for pieces that you can adjust to suit your desired aesthetic. Pre-owned jewellery can create romantic ideas of its previous life and ownership, granting a mysterious history to a beautiful item.
Another great idea is to use materials that work with the theme of your collection. For example, if you want a spring-themed collection of designs, you can use real dried flowers and seal them in resin to create a ring and pendant. Items you can find on the beach are a great way to incorporate sunny holiday memories into something your recipient or customer will want to wear every day.
How Should I Store and Present My Jewellery?
All jewellery suits the classic boxes and sleeves. Jewellery boxes are ideal for adding branding and keeping postage safe and straightforward. An earring box is a perfect way to ensure that something smaller and more delicate is protected but also exciting to open. Necklaces with an insert to keep the shape of the contents show how the item will look when put on. Displaying your work is just as important as the item itself. You only need to go to a local artisan market to see how creative other jewellers can be.
If you have a collection with a specific theme, try to incorporate that into your display; a piece of driftwood to show your seaside themed delights or a branch of a blossom tree for your spring selection. The more creative, the better and the display element will vary depending on your overall branding, designs, and whether you want to sell your pieces or just display them in your home.
If you are looking to sell your creations, you need to consider having a solid brand and social media presence. People will search for jewellery based on their general style approach, whether chic and minimal or bohemian and alternative. You need to make sure that your products are reaching your intended audience. An excellent way to start is by building up your product portfolio and using hashtags on your posts to attract the type of people you would be looking to reach.
If you have some exciting processes and stories about your products and materials, it is always good to have as much video content as possible. Video content is something that everyone can engage with and see that there is a person behind the brand. If you are working with restoring jewellery, before and after pictures and videos are a great way to appeal to everyone. The process can be very satisfying to watch and shows the love and care that goes into the project.