where do I find a good online beginners beaded jewelry making course?

Question

I want to find a good online course for making beaded jewerly. All I ever find, however, is resources for buying the supplies. If an online course isn't available, I need a good beginners instruction dvd, not book, as I need it to be as user friendly as possible, and books just aren't, or at least I haven't found one. Books just show you patterns and give instructions on how to make them. I know nothing and need to start from scatch. Any help out there would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

I don't know of any on-line courses but if you have access to the DIY network,they have a program called jewelry making that would be helpful. You can also go to their website www.diynetwork.com to see some instructions and possibly videos from the show. If there is a Michael's or Hobby Lobby near you,they may offer a one evening course for beginners. The basic things you need to know: get a pair of round nose jewelry pliers, chain nose jewelry pliers, a crimping tool and a jewelry wire cutter. Other basic supplies are tiger tail ( a stainless steel cable jewelry wire for stringing that is covered with clear vinyl and crimping tubes or beads. These are what holds the ends of the wire on the clasp and prevents your beads from slipping off. It took me awhile to find out about tiger tail and crimp beads so you are that much farther ahead. Once you learn how to crimp the first end of the stringing wire to the clasp,you just string beads on in a pattern you like then repeat the crimping attachment on the other part of the clasp. This is a craft that you learn from doing and the more you do,the better you will get.

Answer 2

Try http://beadwork.about.com/ for online tutorials. This site used to be a lot better with the first person that ran it but this woman still has some good stuff on there. Also, check Barnes & Noble or Borders for beadwork magazines. There are several out there like Bead & Button that are great and although they aren't as pattern heavy (mainly inspiration), there are ideas in there for all skill levels. Also, check out your local bead shops. Most offer classes. This will probably be your best resource if you are just starting out.

One other bit of advise is that if you can afford to, make sure you have quality beads, not the cheap ones they sell at Wal-Mart or Joanne's, especially with seed beads. These are good only if you are not sure you really want to get into beading or are working with kids. The quality is pretty low and the beads are not at all uniform. It will definately show in your work. The best place for purchasing beads is a local bead store.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Look up "Preston Reuther" on Google or Dogpile. I can't recall the address for his site, namely since I generally just click on a link in his newsletter to get there. It's good, though. Have a look. There are free video tutorials available, as well as a course to purchase.

Answer 4

http://www.craftster.org has many tutes and links to tutes for all kinds of beading. Many people on there have designed very easy patterns, and share them freely. Simply scroll down to the beads section, and click on the completed projects link. There are litterally hundreds of ideas and free help there. Every one is very nice there, and will help you if you have any questions.

TDK

Answer 5

Read: Making $700,000 A Year By Letting Customers Design Their Own Jewelry http://www.nichegeek.com/making_700_000_a_year_by_letting_customers_design_their_own_jewelry

There links there that might help.

Answer 6

There is a link on the website www.firemountaingems.com called beading how-to's it has video demos etc. I use it to look for new Ideas. I hope this helps.

Answer 7

Fire Mountain Gems has a lot of good basic tutorials.
http://www.firemountaingems.com/beading_howtos/default.asp