If you want to be a jewelry maker, learn as much as you can about jewelry making from books, the Internet, and classes or workshops offered at craft and bead stores or community schools. Some suppliers offer training in the use of their tools or materials. You may be able to gain experience by working as a helper or apprentice to an artisan. Simple, handcrafted bead jewelry—using precious or semiprecious stones, crystal, gold, sterling silver, or clay—can be made from commercial and handmade beads available from a variety of sources and strung on wire or beading thread. Some makers visit antique stores, flea markets, and craft shops in search of unusual components. Advanced work includes use of tiny seed beads. Precious metal clay (PMC) jewelry is a clay substance that becomes a metal like silver or gold material when fired in a kiln. Working in gold, silver, copper, and other metals requires experience with jeweler’s saws, solder, pliers, and other tools.
To start this kind of job, show off some of your handiwork at craft shows and flea markets. Find out whether some specialty stores will stock your products for resale to their customers; you can sell your items to the dealer or place them there on consignment until they are sold and then pay the dealer a commission. Post ads and flyers at community centers, at schools, at senior centers, and in retail stores. Place ads in newspapers and shopping guides, especially around holidays, including Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Mother’s Day. You can also create and maintain a web site to sell your products. Ask satisfied customers to recommend your products; offer a bonus or discount for work they send your way. In other side, price your products based on the cost of the materials plus the amount of time involved in completing each project. Add extra charges for more customization and for shipping if necessary.