Jewelry - Crafts

Jewelry of many kinds for personal adornment has been with us since the beginning of time. Africans of a certain tribe have long been accustomed to wearing rings in their noses or bones in their ears, and almost endless sets of metal loops adorn their wives' necks. We, of course, like to think that our tastes are more refined, yet we wear many gewgaws that are a great source of amusement to the people of other nations. But whatever the gimcrack, it is jewelry; man's artifice to minimize his physical imperfections by distracting attention from them.

Making jewelry is a hobby that requires little space in the home. It can cost as little or as much as you wish, depending entirely upon the materials you choose to work with.

Before you attempt to make any jewelry, it is advisable that you have some instruction. After you have learned the techniques of working with metals, it is pleasant and relatively easy, but without some basic training, you might possibly ruin much valuable material through unnecessary mistakes.

Your telephone book's Yellow Pages should probably list some arts and crafts schools near you. If not, someone in your hobby shop may know a jewelry-making teacher or a jewelry-maker who can get you started. How much training you need will depend upon what you plan to do. A few sessions should give you some proficiency in working with silver. Stone-cutting and polishing requires considerable know-how and manual skill, and you will need more time to master this.

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