How I got in to Jewellery Making - A Trip to Amsterdam

JUNE 2014 - Just found this post in my drafts from over a year ago!!  Can't believe I forgot to post it.  Well, better late than never!!

MAY 2013 -  Again, some terrible blogging from me.  So much for keeping on top of it, but in my defense I do have three posts planned, so hopefully I'll get better.

I thought with this post I'd tell you a little bit about how I got into jewellery making, rather than showcase my items.

Now I know what you're thinking, "What's a trip to Amsterdam got to do with starting to make jewellery?".  

Well 3 years ago I visited Amsterdam with friends and I found, in my guide book, details of a shop, called Beadies, where you could make your own jewellery. It enticed me with promises of thousands upon thousands of beautiful beads, charms and chains.  Instantly it was on my wishlist of things to see and do while in Amsterdam.  When I finally made it there after a lot of walking and getting lost I was not disappointed.  I was however overwhelmed and I just could not decide what to make.  After filling my bead board multiple times I decided it was obviously something I wanted to try out on a bigger scale, so I put everything back and promised myself I would hit ebay for supplies when I got home.  It took me a year after that to actually get around to buying supplies and it all started with a few simple pendants and waxed black cotton cord, but quite quickly progressed to the studio full of beads, charms, cords, findings, gems, resin, clay, etc I have now.

On a second trip to Amsterdam I went back to the little store to purchase something and take this picture.  It was still as amazing as the first time.  Colour coordinated draws of beads, bowls upon bowls of charms and yards upon yards of stringing materials.  It is a jewellery makers dream.  I only wish my crafting room looked like the inside of this shop.  I hope one day it will.

Thanks for inspiring me, Beadies.

Hiatus

Well 2013 was a bit of a dry year on my blogging front, but to be honest it was a bit of a dry year on my jewellery making front too, since I was busy planning for and moving too Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam!!

However, now the adventure is coming to an end and I will be home in two months, so I decided this was a good time to start getting my blog up and running again.

Over the past year I've had a lot of time to think about my jewellery making and my business.  Since arriving in HCMC I haven't made a single piece of jewellery, but I haven't stopped thinking about it or having ideas and this has taught me that it isn't a fad.  I thought by now I would have long forgotten about jewellery making but despite not making a single piece I have still spent a number of hours each week in that world. I've either been browsing pinterest, watching Jewellery Maker, reading jewellery related articles, designing pieces or thinking how I can improve on my business.  Jewellery making has clearly become a steady part of my life.

So, over the next few weeks (while I prepare to return to the UK) I plan to write a few posts to share what I love about jewellery making.  I'm also planning on discussing some of my business ideas.  I'd also love to hear some hints and tips from other people who also own small online business.  It would be great to find out what works well for other sellers and combine a list to help other business grow too.

CRAFTfest Take 2

CRAFTfest is back again and it reminded me that I have a blog.  It's not that I'd forgotten about it I have just been so busy I haven't had time to keep things up-to-date and to be honest I haven't really got the time now but in the spirit of CRAFTfest I thought I'd post a little one just to showcase some of my new items and advertise my stall.

Since I last blogged I've made quite a few items using genuine gemstones from Jewellery Maker and I must say I love working with them.  The beauty of gemstones (other than being precious stones) is that they are all so different which makes each piece of jewellery so unique.

Here's a beautiful bracelet made with faceted black agate beads and rose quartz beads on bright pink beading thread. I also made matching earrings.

And here's another matching bracelet and earring set I made.  This time I used faceted red agate rice beads, red quartzite roundelles and gold plated jumprings on black beading thread.

Who am I?

Hi all,

Welcome to my very first blog.  My name is Kate and I create jewellery under the name CassiaCreations.  I love making jewellery and have been doing so for just over a year.  I have sold many of my items through folksy.com and also at craft fairs, but the time has come to up my game and publicise my products more to hopefully improve on sales.  Jewellery making is addictive and I need to fund my addiction.  

I am taking part in CRAFTfest this November, which is an online craft fair. A community of crafty people get together and help publicise each others companies in the hope of getting more views and subsequently more sales.  

Below I have included a sample of my pieces and hopefully as things progress with CRAFTfest I will upload more and more. My pieces are available at www.folsy.com/shops/CassiaCreations

Beautiful Blue and Purple Charm Bracelet - £6.00

Chunky Silver Plated Coiled Necklace - £12.00

Blue and White Beaded Pendant Necklace - £6.00

Extravagant Black and Silver Beaded Necklace - £8.00

I love hearing from customers and fellow creators so comments are greatly appreciated, especially if you lend me a helping hand.  I am a novice at blogging after all.