History of Beaded Jewelry
Beads have been used to create jewelry and adorn costumes since the dawn of time. If you were to look back on the Ice Age you would discover small objects crafted of natural "beads" including animal bones and teeth, seashells and colorful stones. These items were usually attached to clothing or plant fibers to form the most primitive forms of beaded jewelry.
Beaded jewelry symbolizes many different things for different people; different cultures have associated beads with varying spiritual beliefs, cultural customs and social traditions. Beads, like many other jewelry items, have been used throughout time to adorn the bodies of men and women alike, signifying power, beauty and the human spirit.
The very first actual "beads" that have been discovered date back to approximately 38,000 BC. Made by cavemen, these beads were crafted from animal parts. In later times, beads were crafted as symbols of fertility and animal spirits.
During the stone age, beads were crafted primarily as a means of adorning the body; they were also used for trading on occasion however. A couple thousand years later, beads were crafted out of coral and other "precious" substances. In ancient Greece there is evidence that carnelian beads and beads made of lapis lazuli were worn by wealthy members of society. The use of semi-precious stone beads began to become more popular about 2800 BC among the Syrians, who fashioned beads of materials like agate and serpentine.
Since that time beaded jewelry has become more and more valuable and popular. Gold and other semi-precious stones are often used to craft beaded jewelry.
Perhaps the most popular form of beaded jewelry is glass jewelry. Evidence of the first glass beads suggests that glassmaking was common in Mesopotamia around 2180 BC. Glass beads were popular then and are popular now in part because of their durability and inexpensive pricing. The Egyptian and Phoenician cultures are well known for their use of glass to make beaded jewelry. Beaded jewelry was commonly found buried with wealthy pharaohs in the ancient tombs of Egypt, though it was not uncommon for glass beads to be buried with poor families as well.
In modern times beaded jewelry is popular because of its versatility and diversity. Beads can be crafted from almost any material including the following:
Coral/seashells
Gemstones
Glass
Rock Crystal
Gold
Silver
Stone
Pearls
Beads can even be crafted out of plastic (though this is of course less lovely than some other more traditional options). Though in times of old beads served as symbols of status, wealth and heritage, today beaded jewelry is more much representative of a persons unique style preferences and personality. Beaded jewelry can be custom made in almost any style, using any type of chain and any type/combination of beads.
Beaded jewelry is just as popular today, if not more popular than it was in ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian times. Buying online is easy, and perhaps the best option for bead savvy and not so savvy consumers alike. Buying online eliminates the hassle of traveling from store to store, which can take days or more to find the right beads or beaded jewelry. By shopping online, you have literally tens of thousands of unique selections to choose from. Though no longer traded for food, modern jewelry enthusiasts often engage in bead trading for fun and camaraderie.
Costume Jewelry
Costume jewelry is sometimes referred to as "fake jewelry" by some well meaning but unknowing individuals. Costume jewelry is crafted from among other items, rhinestones, glass stones and gold plated metal or sterling silver. Costume jewelry first surfaced in the United States around the early twenties; it was very popular among European immigrants that settled into the states during this time. Movie stars and common folk alike wore costume jewelry that was carefully crafted and ornamentally designed.
Costume jewelry, particularly antique pieces, are well worth their weight in gold. Many hand crafted pieces can fetch thousands of dollars on the open market. There are some designers that are more well known than others in the world of costume jewelry:
Napier
Nettie Rosenstein
Ciner
Hattie Carnegie
Miriam Haskell
Even celebrities currently invest thousands of dollars on costume jewelry every year. Because unique pieces are harder to come buy and rarely mass produced anymore, some pieces created in the early 30s to late 40s can be hard to find. More common are pieces that were created in the 1960s or later. Costume jewelry is fun in part because the wearer is at liberty to make a bold statement. Not modest, most costume jewelry shouts out "here I am, look at me!" An excellent choice for the bold and daring, costume jewelry can be a wonderful accessory to just about any wardrobe.
Costume jewelry collecting has even become a favorite pastime among many jewelry enthusiasts, much like beaded jewelry trading and collecting. The appeal of both of these styles is their uniqueness and diversity. Though in some instances hard to find, costume jewelry can be easily explored via online shopping. When buying online, be sure to have in mind a price range and style before shopping. The selection available online might leave you a bit overwhelmed.
If you collect costume jewelry, you might be wondering just how much it is worth. Just as there are popular designers for look and feel, some designers work is more valuable than others, including:
Ciner
Marel Boucher
Eisenberg
Hobe
Kramer
Vogue
Hollycraft
Monet
Coro
Kenneth J. Lane
These precious gems are often marked when crafted.
Cubic Zirconia Jewelry
Cubic zirconia jewelry has to be among the most popular inexpensive "knock off" jewelry items to buy. Part of the appeal of cubic zirconia jewelry is its remarkable ability to look exactly like real diamond jewelry. Most cubic zirconia is hard to distinguish from its natural cousins.
The widespread use of cubic zirconia became popularized around the 1980s, when it first became mass produced. It is created through a chemical process that combines zirconium oxide and yttrium oxide, which when melted together form a radiant and shiny crystal resembling a natural diamond.
Most cubic zirconia jewelry is very durable, brilliant and long lasting. Some people have to look at a cubic zirconia under a powerful magnifying glass to distinguish it from a real diamond, a testament to its quality and aesthetic appeal. If you are looking for a clear, brilliant and inexpensive option to traditional diamond jewelry, don't hesitate to shop a wide selection of cubic zirconia jewelry. Buying online provides the most advantages, because there is a wider selection and you have the ability to customize your pieces with the click of a button.
Further Reading:
=============
For More quality and unique Information on the topic of Beaded Jewellery, please visit the following reference site:
http://www.myjewelersplace.com/categories/Beaded-Jewellery/
Friday, February 6, 2009
Three Great Ways to Promote Your Handcrafted Jewelry Business
Part of the amazing charm about bead jewelry is just how easy it can be for someone to sit down and learn the basic skills of jewelry making in a matter of a few hours. As any bead jeweler will tell you, creating jewelry is one of those skills that only takes a few minutes to learn, but a lifetime to master!
While it's fun to sit around with some friends at a bead shop and all work on jewelry together there is a grim reality: if you're all making jewelry to sell then there's going to be a little competition between you and your friends for customers. In fact, bead jewelry has become so popular in recent years among just about everyone that I've heard some bead jewelry artists actually say they were quitting because there were too many people making jewelry and it was simply too difficult to sell anymore.
And while making jewelry pieces is fun and even easy at times, actually selling the pieces and building a business with clients and customers can be rather difficult, especially if you've never been a salesperson or run a business before.
Here are three ways you can promote your bead jewelry business without coming on too pushy or spending a lot of money on advertising.
Referral Bonus: On all your business cards you simply write the line "Receive $10 credit on any of my jewelry for every customer you refer!" How does this work? Let's say I sold a beautiful glass bead necklace to my child's daycare teacher. A week later the teacher's sister contacts you and has you create a similar necklace for her. You go back to the daycare teacher and say that she now has a $10 credit to use at any time for any other piece of jewelry she wants to purchase from you. Once people get the idea this really catches on! People will be going out of their way to have their friends buy jewelry from you so that they get a credit.
Donate to a Charity Gift Auction: A lot of nonprofit groups, charities, schools and churches have gift auctions where they accept gifts from local vendors and then auction those gifts off to the higher bidder, keeping the money made at the auction. You can donate a collection of bead jewelry like a matching necklace, bracelet and earrings and prominently display your business card in front of your jewelry. For the whole evening people will be looking over gifts and seeing your jewelry and business card. If you can put a stack of business cards in front, do so. You might be surprised how many people contact you after the event and tell you that they didn't win the auction but would love to see what else you have.
Mix Web Sales with Table Sales: Don't try to sell all your bead jewelry at one venue or the other. The people who are really running success bead jewelry businesses are hustling and cross promoting themselves all the time. List your website on the business cards that you give out at craft shows (even if they don't buy anything!) and mention the craft shows you'll be attending on your website!
There you go, three low-pressure way to increase your customer base and get your bead jewelry in front of more people. These things might not generate lots of sales right away, but if you stick with it you'll be amazed at how your bead jewelry business keeps growing and multiplying!
Further Reading:
=============
For More quality and unique Information on the topic of Beaded Jewellery, please visit the following reference site:
http://www.myjewelersplace.com/categories/Beaded-Jewellery/
While it's fun to sit around with some friends at a bead shop and all work on jewelry together there is a grim reality: if you're all making jewelry to sell then there's going to be a little competition between you and your friends for customers. In fact, bead jewelry has become so popular in recent years among just about everyone that I've heard some bead jewelry artists actually say they were quitting because there were too many people making jewelry and it was simply too difficult to sell anymore.
And while making jewelry pieces is fun and even easy at times, actually selling the pieces and building a business with clients and customers can be rather difficult, especially if you've never been a salesperson or run a business before.
Here are three ways you can promote your bead jewelry business without coming on too pushy or spending a lot of money on advertising.
Referral Bonus: On all your business cards you simply write the line "Receive $10 credit on any of my jewelry for every customer you refer!" How does this work? Let's say I sold a beautiful glass bead necklace to my child's daycare teacher. A week later the teacher's sister contacts you and has you create a similar necklace for her. You go back to the daycare teacher and say that she now has a $10 credit to use at any time for any other piece of jewelry she wants to purchase from you. Once people get the idea this really catches on! People will be going out of their way to have their friends buy jewelry from you so that they get a credit.
Donate to a Charity Gift Auction: A lot of nonprofit groups, charities, schools and churches have gift auctions where they accept gifts from local vendors and then auction those gifts off to the higher bidder, keeping the money made at the auction. You can donate a collection of bead jewelry like a matching necklace, bracelet and earrings and prominently display your business card in front of your jewelry. For the whole evening people will be looking over gifts and seeing your jewelry and business card. If you can put a stack of business cards in front, do so. You might be surprised how many people contact you after the event and tell you that they didn't win the auction but would love to see what else you have.
Mix Web Sales with Table Sales: Don't try to sell all your bead jewelry at one venue or the other. The people who are really running success bead jewelry businesses are hustling and cross promoting themselves all the time. List your website on the business cards that you give out at craft shows (even if they don't buy anything!) and mention the craft shows you'll be attending on your website!
There you go, three low-pressure way to increase your customer base and get your bead jewelry in front of more people. These things might not generate lots of sales right away, but if you stick with it you'll be amazed at how your bead jewelry business keeps growing and multiplying!
Further Reading:
=============
For More quality and unique Information on the topic of Beaded Jewellery, please visit the following reference site:
http://www.myjewelersplace.com/categories/Beaded-Jewellery/
How to Make Beaded Jewelry - Upgrade Your Bead Jewelry Making by Trying Bead Weaving
If you are primarily making bead jewelry using bead stringing techniques, I recommend that you give bead weaving a try.
Unlike bead stringing where you run your string or wire through a set of beads in one direction, with bead weaving you will criss-cross both ends of your wire or string within selective beads depending on the jewelry pattern.
There are a huge variety of patterns available from very simple weaves to extremely complex and intricate weaves. The complex ones can be fun to try, but in my opinion the simple weaves using a variety of different colored beads make more attractive jewelry pieces.
If you have gotten used to the simplicity of bead stringing, then when you first look at a piece of jewelry that has been made using bead weaving you may think it is too complicated for you to do. Don't let this stop you from giving it a try because I promise you that it is easier than it looks.
There are a few basic patterns you have to learn but once you have practiced those and have them down, you will be able to weave most anything. I bead weave not only necklaces and bracelets, but even rings as well. A matching set of a weaved necklace, bracelet, and ring makes quite an impression.
And if you are in the business of selling your jewelry, bead weaving gives you an advantage because not many jewelry makers are doing it. This means your jewelry becomes unique in the eyes of your customers.
In addition, bead weaving makes the final jewelry piece look more complex so it has a higher perceived value (meaning you can get a higher price!) than jewelry made with bead stringing.
So if you are looking to kick your jewelry making into a higher gear, give it a shot. Your jewelry portfolio will take on a whole new and exciting look!
Further Reading:
=============
For More quality and unique Information on the topic of Beaded Jewellery, please visit the following reference site:
http://www.myjewelersplace.com/categories/Beaded-Jewellery/
Unlike bead stringing where you run your string or wire through a set of beads in one direction, with bead weaving you will criss-cross both ends of your wire or string within selective beads depending on the jewelry pattern.
There are a huge variety of patterns available from very simple weaves to extremely complex and intricate weaves. The complex ones can be fun to try, but in my opinion the simple weaves using a variety of different colored beads make more attractive jewelry pieces.
If you have gotten used to the simplicity of bead stringing, then when you first look at a piece of jewelry that has been made using bead weaving you may think it is too complicated for you to do. Don't let this stop you from giving it a try because I promise you that it is easier than it looks.
There are a few basic patterns you have to learn but once you have practiced those and have them down, you will be able to weave most anything. I bead weave not only necklaces and bracelets, but even rings as well. A matching set of a weaved necklace, bracelet, and ring makes quite an impression.
And if you are in the business of selling your jewelry, bead weaving gives you an advantage because not many jewelry makers are doing it. This means your jewelry becomes unique in the eyes of your customers.
In addition, bead weaving makes the final jewelry piece look more complex so it has a higher perceived value (meaning you can get a higher price!) than jewelry made with bead stringing.
So if you are looking to kick your jewelry making into a higher gear, give it a shot. Your jewelry portfolio will take on a whole new and exciting look!
Further Reading:
=============
For More quality and unique Information on the topic of Beaded Jewellery, please visit the following reference site:
http://www.myjewelersplace.com/categories/Beaded-Jewellery/
Inspiration For Beaded Jewelry
There is a DIY craze going on in town. Beaded Jewelry Making is not restricted to just making necklaces, bracelets, rings, bag charms and handphone accessories. The list goes on and on while new inspiring ideas are born everyday with a little imagination. Girls are using rhinestones and adhesive crystals to personalize their handphones, laptops, pencil cases, shoes and handbags. At all Beads and Crystals DIY stores, you can get Swarovski crystal hot-fix transfers in very pretty colors and designs to iron-on to your T-shirt, shorts, denims, bra straps and lingerie.
It is a very innovative way of adding value to a simple dress or jacket. This Christmas, a range styled like eveningwear with sewn-on rhinestones. diamantes or crystal chatons flashed the scene. Seeing them in the window dressing really lifted my spirit for the festive season. Since it is a fashion trend, nobody would seem out of place or overdressed even when spotted wearing them as day wear.
Have you watched Moulin Rouge yet? It was a pity I missed the show on wide screen. But I managed to catch this heart-wrenching movie on TV recently. I loved the songs and music in this Broadway styled Musical. I also loved the colorful wardrobe designed for the cast. Must say I am most conservative but I cannot help but admire the art of designing such beautiful costumes. Blended into the natural setting of the story, you get to see beautiful and sexy corsets worn on the stage. Dresses, fancy headgears, gloves and corsets studded with sparkling jewels, crystal stones, rhinestones, sequins, lace, fur and feathers in vivid colors.
I am not surprised that lingerie makers became trendsetters for the new woman and their changing lifestyle after Moulin Rouge. Now bra straps are decorated with adhesive crystals. Interchangeable straps became a very popular trend. Beaded straps are appearing on the scene too. Indeed a very interesting way of accessorizing. Even spaghetti strap tops are now adorned with beaded straps. Beaded Jewelry can be sexy. I believe the trend starters are from US, Europe, Japan, Hong Kong and Korea. Now with China providing a steady source of gems, pearls and beading materials at very competitive prices, it is even more attractive for DIY hobbyists in Singapore.
Further Reading:
=============
For More quality and unique Information on the topic of Beaded Jewellery, please visit the following reference site:
http://www.myjewelersplace.com/categories/Beaded-Jewellery/
It is a very innovative way of adding value to a simple dress or jacket. This Christmas, a range styled like eveningwear with sewn-on rhinestones. diamantes or crystal chatons flashed the scene. Seeing them in the window dressing really lifted my spirit for the festive season. Since it is a fashion trend, nobody would seem out of place or overdressed even when spotted wearing them as day wear.
Have you watched Moulin Rouge yet? It was a pity I missed the show on wide screen. But I managed to catch this heart-wrenching movie on TV recently. I loved the songs and music in this Broadway styled Musical. I also loved the colorful wardrobe designed for the cast. Must say I am most conservative but I cannot help but admire the art of designing such beautiful costumes. Blended into the natural setting of the story, you get to see beautiful and sexy corsets worn on the stage. Dresses, fancy headgears, gloves and corsets studded with sparkling jewels, crystal stones, rhinestones, sequins, lace, fur and feathers in vivid colors.
I am not surprised that lingerie makers became trendsetters for the new woman and their changing lifestyle after Moulin Rouge. Now bra straps are decorated with adhesive crystals. Interchangeable straps became a very popular trend. Beaded straps are appearing on the scene too. Indeed a very interesting way of accessorizing. Even spaghetti strap tops are now adorned with beaded straps. Beaded Jewelry can be sexy. I believe the trend starters are from US, Europe, Japan, Hong Kong and Korea. Now with China providing a steady source of gems, pearls and beading materials at very competitive prices, it is even more attractive for DIY hobbyists in Singapore.
Further Reading:
=============
For More quality and unique Information on the topic of Beaded Jewellery, please visit the following reference site:
http://www.myjewelersplace.com/categories/Beaded-Jewellery/
Beaded Lanyards and Eyeglass Chains in the Style of Coco Chanel
The Fall-Winter collections of 2005 were occupied with a revival of Coco Chanel’s classical styles. This revival included a plethora of Bloomsbury fabrics, tweeds, tartans, and equestrian suits. The classical Chanel look includes simple jersey dresses, box-jacket suits, knit suits, and pullovers with white piqué collars and cuffs. To complement these styles, luxurious pearl accessories were shown as the accent ‘de jour’.
Coco Chanel’s costume jewelry collections were intended to be worn blatantly on tweeds and with feminine day time wear. Coco Chanel originated plain styles worn with several rows of fake pearls. Chanel started the fashion for gold and bead chains, charm bracelets and jeweled belts, often combining junk jewelry with real jewels on plain garments.
The classical Coco Chanel style found in this year’s Fall-Winter collection is best complemented with simple and elegant beads. Pearls and stain finish beads in solid colors will harmonize with the classical look seen on the runways. Feminine sporty beads can also be used to complete a Chanel look, especially if tweed fabrics are in your wardrobe. When selecting beaded jewelry look for classical colors such as black, white or cream. Any beaded jewelry that has a chic, clean, and savvy appearance would balance any classical outfit.
The current Medalye Designs collection offers various pieces which are ideal for classical attire. Forever Classic is an especially appropriate piece and was inspired by the house of Coco Chanel. In this design, satin finished oval black beads offer a clean line and a rich luminescence for a simple yet dynamic pearl piece. For office suits of Coco Channel caliber, the Forever Classic (http://www.medalyedesigns.com/forever_classic_lanyard.htm) beaded lanyard may be your best bet. For the sporty tweed look, matte beads combined with luster beads can offer a sporty yet feminine finish to an outfit.
Innocence is an excellent example of femininity combined with practicality. If you wear an eyeglass chain or eyeglass necklace but want to maintain a classical look, then the Innocence design is an ideal choice. In this design the matte finish of the beads have a sporty appeal, while the round shape of the beads offer a feminine line. As well, the cream crystal and cream luster beads in Innocence offer a final rich feminine touch.
Further Reading:
=============
For More quality and unique Information on the topic of Beaded Jewellery, please visit the following reference site:
http://www.myjewelersplace.com/categories/Beaded-Jewellery/
Coco Chanel’s costume jewelry collections were intended to be worn blatantly on tweeds and with feminine day time wear. Coco Chanel originated plain styles worn with several rows of fake pearls. Chanel started the fashion for gold and bead chains, charm bracelets and jeweled belts, often combining junk jewelry with real jewels on plain garments.
The classical Coco Chanel style found in this year’s Fall-Winter collection is best complemented with simple and elegant beads. Pearls and stain finish beads in solid colors will harmonize with the classical look seen on the runways. Feminine sporty beads can also be used to complete a Chanel look, especially if tweed fabrics are in your wardrobe. When selecting beaded jewelry look for classical colors such as black, white or cream. Any beaded jewelry that has a chic, clean, and savvy appearance would balance any classical outfit.
The current Medalye Designs collection offers various pieces which are ideal for classical attire. Forever Classic is an especially appropriate piece and was inspired by the house of Coco Chanel. In this design, satin finished oval black beads offer a clean line and a rich luminescence for a simple yet dynamic pearl piece. For office suits of Coco Channel caliber, the Forever Classic (http://www.medalyedesigns.com/forever_classic_lanyard.htm) beaded lanyard may be your best bet. For the sporty tweed look, matte beads combined with luster beads can offer a sporty yet feminine finish to an outfit.
Innocence is an excellent example of femininity combined with practicality. If you wear an eyeglass chain or eyeglass necklace but want to maintain a classical look, then the Innocence design is an ideal choice. In this design the matte finish of the beads have a sporty appeal, while the round shape of the beads offer a feminine line. As well, the cream crystal and cream luster beads in Innocence offer a final rich feminine touch.
Further Reading:
=============
For More quality and unique Information on the topic of Beaded Jewellery, please visit the following reference site:
http://www.myjewelersplace.com/categories/Beaded-Jewellery/
Bead Jewelry Idea - Prayer Beads
I was in my local bead shop the other day and browsing through all the new pendendants they had gotten in when I saw a woman on the other side of the table who was piling on pieces like there was no tomorrow. Most of them were cross pendants of one form or another, most were sterling silver but a few were made of jade or some other colored stone. I said hello and we started talking. It turns out she was teaching a class at the local senior center on how to make your own prayer beads just in time for Easter. But then she told me that she normally makes her own Rosaries and regularly sells them at craft shows and church bazaars!
I came home and started looking into this and it turns out the the Rosary is just one of many different types of prayer beads one can use in a variety of different faiths and religions.
In fact, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam many different faiths of Christianity and even some Native American and African faiths and cultures all use different types of prayer beads! And since over 75% of all Americans claim to follow some sort of faith, whether it be an organized church or simply a belief system, it would only make sense that a lot of people would be interested in beads which could help them celebrate their spirituality.
Prayer Bead are not really bead jewelry in the typical fashion sense, but rather the beads are usually used as a counting mechanism where the person says a prayer or thinks about certain things for each bead on the string. Prayer beads can be made out of just about any material, including cheaper material like glass and plastics to more expensive materials like crystal, stone and some unique wood.
There are lots of bead jewelry artisans making prayer beads on the Internet, but not very many are going to craft shows or local artist fairs. This means the market is wide open if you're going to try to expand your jewelry business with prayer beads.
If you're going to make prayer beads then I suggest you pick you craft shows carefully, do your homework and think carefully about packaging. You'll want to make sure you are creating bead pieces that are faithful to whatever faith the beads are used by, and you might want to go to a local house of worship and show your wares to the people in charge there. Some churches and other places of worship will even bless your items for a nominal donation!
Prayer beads in particular often come with sample prayers, instructions on use or even a written history of the prayer bead tradition for a particular faith. I suggest you carefull research this and always include something written with each set of prayer beads you sell. You could even put that information on the back of one of your business cards for repeat business!
Further Reading:
=============
For More quality and unique Information on the topic of Beaded Jewellery, please visit the following reference site:
http://www.myjewelersplace.com/categories/Beaded-Jewellery/
I came home and started looking into this and it turns out the the Rosary is just one of many different types of prayer beads one can use in a variety of different faiths and religions.
In fact, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam many different faiths of Christianity and even some Native American and African faiths and cultures all use different types of prayer beads! And since over 75% of all Americans claim to follow some sort of faith, whether it be an organized church or simply a belief system, it would only make sense that a lot of people would be interested in beads which could help them celebrate their spirituality.
Prayer Bead are not really bead jewelry in the typical fashion sense, but rather the beads are usually used as a counting mechanism where the person says a prayer or thinks about certain things for each bead on the string. Prayer beads can be made out of just about any material, including cheaper material like glass and plastics to more expensive materials like crystal, stone and some unique wood.
There are lots of bead jewelry artisans making prayer beads on the Internet, but not very many are going to craft shows or local artist fairs. This means the market is wide open if you're going to try to expand your jewelry business with prayer beads.
If you're going to make prayer beads then I suggest you pick you craft shows carefully, do your homework and think carefully about packaging. You'll want to make sure you are creating bead pieces that are faithful to whatever faith the beads are used by, and you might want to go to a local house of worship and show your wares to the people in charge there. Some churches and other places of worship will even bless your items for a nominal donation!
Prayer beads in particular often come with sample prayers, instructions on use or even a written history of the prayer bead tradition for a particular faith. I suggest you carefull research this and always include something written with each set of prayer beads you sell. You could even put that information on the back of one of your business cards for repeat business!
Further Reading:
=============
For More quality and unique Information on the topic of Beaded Jewellery, please visit the following reference site:
http://www.myjewelersplace.com/categories/Beaded-Jewellery/
Making Jewelry For Senior Citizens
With America's aging population a lot of towns have not one but many retirement and adult communities in them. Many of these retirement communities hold craft shows, yard sales and other events to promote social activities while generating a little extra money from the surrounding township.
If you are a bead jeweler or jewelry artisan of any sort then you should definitely check out some of these retirement communities to see if you can be a vendor at their next craft show. Not only is their table space often dirt cheap or even free, but you are given the chance to promote your jewelry to a large audience of people who may not otherwise venture out to see you at any other storefront or fair.
However, if you are going to make and sell jewelry for older women, especially senior citizens, then you may need to make some physical changes to your jewelry to make sure it suits them and their needs. Here are a few ways you can modify your bead jewelry to appeal more for your older clients:
Use Easy To Open Clasps: You'll quickly learn that arthritis and reduced hand dexterity makes opening and closing typical small clasps difficult for older people. Some senior citizens avoid wearing jewelry altogether because it is simply too difficult to put on and take off. You'll want to use easy to open larger clasps on your necklaces and bracelets. You may want to consider using magnetic clasps of some sort. These are not as secure as more traditional clasps but they can be opened and closed much more easily by older people.
Consider No Clasps: You may want to skip the entire clasp issue entirely by making over sized necklaces and bracelets that can easily slip over the head and wrist. You will want to bring your jewelry tools with you so that you can shorten pieces for customers right at your table if your bracelets are simply too large for thinner wrists.
Choose Textures Carefully: You may want to try to choose non-allergenic materials and stick with beads that are more rounded than chunky and sharp. A bracelet of sharp square Swarovski beads may look great, but if the rubbing of the bracelet against the wrist all day is going to cause a skin irritation then someone may not want to buy it.
Clip Earrings: Some older people move away from using pierced earrings for the same reason they shun small tight jewelry clasps: earrings are simply too small and difficult to wear and remove. Consider making to clip on earrings that are slightly larger than the norm but don't dangle too much. You may need to test out several clip on kits until you can find one that you think most older people will want to use.
Eyeglass Holders and Bookmarks: Sure, beaded necklaces, bracelets and earrings will still sell, but consider making more non-traditional jewelry items such as jewelry chain bookmarks or beaded eyeglass holders. You'll be amazed at how popular they can be!
Selling jewelry to older people is usually a lot of fun and can be a very rewarding experience. You'll learn a lot about life just by talking and watching your older customers. If you really want to please them then you'll definitely want to take their needs into consideration and offer them something unique and made especially for them.
rther Reading:
=============
For More quality and unique Information on the topic of Beaded Jewellery, please visit the following reference site:
http://www.myjewelersplace.com/categories/Beaded-Jewellery/
If you are a bead jeweler or jewelry artisan of any sort then you should definitely check out some of these retirement communities to see if you can be a vendor at their next craft show. Not only is their table space often dirt cheap or even free, but you are given the chance to promote your jewelry to a large audience of people who may not otherwise venture out to see you at any other storefront or fair.
However, if you are going to make and sell jewelry for older women, especially senior citizens, then you may need to make some physical changes to your jewelry to make sure it suits them and their needs. Here are a few ways you can modify your bead jewelry to appeal more for your older clients:
Use Easy To Open Clasps: You'll quickly learn that arthritis and reduced hand dexterity makes opening and closing typical small clasps difficult for older people. Some senior citizens avoid wearing jewelry altogether because it is simply too difficult to put on and take off. You'll want to use easy to open larger clasps on your necklaces and bracelets. You may want to consider using magnetic clasps of some sort. These are not as secure as more traditional clasps but they can be opened and closed much more easily by older people.
Consider No Clasps: You may want to skip the entire clasp issue entirely by making over sized necklaces and bracelets that can easily slip over the head and wrist. You will want to bring your jewelry tools with you so that you can shorten pieces for customers right at your table if your bracelets are simply too large for thinner wrists.
Choose Textures Carefully: You may want to try to choose non-allergenic materials and stick with beads that are more rounded than chunky and sharp. A bracelet of sharp square Swarovski beads may look great, but if the rubbing of the bracelet against the wrist all day is going to cause a skin irritation then someone may not want to buy it.
Clip Earrings: Some older people move away from using pierced earrings for the same reason they shun small tight jewelry clasps: earrings are simply too small and difficult to wear and remove. Consider making to clip on earrings that are slightly larger than the norm but don't dangle too much. You may need to test out several clip on kits until you can find one that you think most older people will want to use.
Eyeglass Holders and Bookmarks: Sure, beaded necklaces, bracelets and earrings will still sell, but consider making more non-traditional jewelry items such as jewelry chain bookmarks or beaded eyeglass holders. You'll be amazed at how popular they can be!
Selling jewelry to older people is usually a lot of fun and can be a very rewarding experience. You'll learn a lot about life just by talking and watching your older customers. If you really want to please them then you'll definitely want to take their needs into consideration and offer them something unique and made especially for them.
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