Handmade Jewelry Repair Tips
Making jewelry is a creative hobby and it can be very rewarding, but it can also sap your creativity if you're making a lot of jewelry pieces and then spending lots of energy putting together the materials for each piece over and over. One great way to avoid that jewelry making burn out while still using your jewelry design skills is to begin offering jewelry repair services! A lot of beaded jewelry designers work throughout the day putting together new jewelry pieces and hunting for jewelry supplies for that new necklace or pair of earrings.
Instead of making a bracelet from scratch, you generally need to take someone else's jewelry pattern and find pieces to replace missing or broken jewelry pieces that either match the rest of the jewelry piece or at least compliment it. Fixing jewelry requires a slightly different approach to purchasing jewelry supplies because you'll need to have a wide variety of connectors, pendants and wire available. You'll also want think about using a professional jewelry database program to track what jewelry pieces you have on hand, what you'll need to order soon and where you can get them for the cheapest price. Repairing someone else's jewelry uses your jewelry design skills and will often give you some fun challenges. Here are some general tips and tricks to remember when you begin fixing jewelry for customers:
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Don't be afraid to get a little creative, especially if you want to fill in missing pieces, but check with the customer first. Some people demand that their jewelry to be fixed to the exact specifications it had before, some don't mind small bead or clasp changes.
Even though a clasp isn't broken, you may want to suggest replacing it before it does break. Watch out for structural weaknesses in old jewelry pieces.
Remember to price yourself fairly. Many times you will be repairing a piece of jewelry that holds a sentimental meaning or is particularly liked by your customer. You are performing a service of not just fixing a piece of jewelry, but often you're helping restore a memory or feeling!
And really, don't forget to have fun with it! Both fixing custom jewelry and creating your own jewelry are creative ways to make some extra cash, but it's up to you to find the proper balance to keep you happy and profitable at the same time. You can usually charge just as much to fix a jewelry piece as you would to create it. But since are often working with existing jewelry supplies repairing a piece of jewelry may be much more profitable.
Tags: a, arts and crafts, Crafts, e, h, handcrafted jewelry, handmade jewelry, Hobbies, Hobby, home & family, home business, home;business, j, jewelry, Jewelry Making, m, making money, o
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