Here are our 5 Tips for designing your own jewellery
1. Decide what you want to make?
Pendant – is it solid or kinetic
Cuff – hollow or solid
Bracelet – whole or hinged
Bangle – whole or hinged
Earrings – post, hook or clip-on
2. Do research and gather ideas
Pinterest is a great place to gather ideas and organise them into groups or themes. What is motivating the making? Are there any inspirational ideas that can come from that?
Look at nature, shapes of flowers or seeds, tree bark, sweeps in river bends, patterns on stones
Use your phone to record ideas
Save them to your PC or gallery and study them for inspiration
3. Sketch it out
These can be as rough as you like but they aim to give your brain a bit to think about, to get the creative juices flowing.
Cuttings from magazines can be useful
4. Refine it
Work out your sizes
What thickness will it be
Check your materials
5. Mock it up
Make a paper version: this can be handing for checking sizes and the overall impression
Use Fimo or Blu Tack to get shapes right and even a feel for sizes
Use cheaper materials of a similar thickness to work out the steps and processes.