Resources for Beginning Jewelers

Beginning jewelers come from all walks of life, but they share an interest in the intricacies and details of creating gorgeous jewelry. When you are just starting out, it can be difficult to know what tools and materials you need. Fortunately, there is a large community of jewelers who have shared their secrets on the web.

A Comprehensive Online Resource

Ganoksin is one of the largest online resources available to modern jewelers. With nearly 20,000 members, thousands of articles and hundreds of videos, you are sure to find something that piques your interest. The project began more than 20 years ago and was recently purchased by the International Gem Society. Today you can visit their learning center to get started or join discussions on their community forum to learn from others who are mastering their craft.

Beadwork

For those who love beadwork jewelry, the Beaducation blog offers a wealth of helpful ideas and tutorials. You can gather inspiration or learn how to design your own pieces from their extensive library. They were kind enough to categorize their posts for easy searching, too!
Jewelry Artist Magazine

If you prefer traditional media and want a resource you can hang onto or make notes in, Jewelry Artist Magazine is the one for you. Published monthly, this magazine offers insight from a variety of contributors who have earned their place in the jewelry-making community over the years.

Classes

Perhaps you are looking for guidance by an experienced teacher. If so, Craftsy is the place to go. While the site actually encompasses a wide variety of arts and crafts, their jewelry-making classes offer focused explanation of beadwork, metalsmithing and metal clay.

Social Communities

Once you've got your start, it's time to join the community in sharing your unique pieces. Facebook is home to the Aspiring Metalsmiths group. This is a private group, but anyone who shows an interest in metalsmithing is welcome to apply. Once inside, you will find a huge selection of pictures and discussions covering all aspects of the art.

Now that you have some ideas and you're ready to begin, it's time to start shopping for your very own kilns for jewelry making. The Tabletop Furnace Company has got you covered with a variety of small kilns perfect for metal melting and metal clay.

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