To usher in the Spring season, I decided to start a new craft: jewelry making. For the last few months, I’ve been slowly collecting an assortment of unique charms and beads, either from broken jewelry I already owned or from pre-loved pieces at thrift stores, in the hopes of adding them to a charm necklace someday.
One thing holding me back from pursuing my dreams of making a one-of-a-kind necklace was the tools. Strolling through the aisles at Michael’s, I was overwhelmed by the number of different tools on their shelves and equally discouraged by the price of all these items, especially when I didn’t even know if I liked making jewelry yet. What was a jump ring opener tool? Was it necessary to start my journey?
This dilemma is what eventually led to the creation of Corte Madera Library’s Crafting Tool Kits, a collection of five kits each containing the essential tools for a variety of crafts, including one for jewelry making.
Armed with my newly checked out kit and, of course, a handful of helpful introductory books, I set off for a weekend of necklace making, and the results turned out better than expected!
Crafting Tool Kit - Jewelry Making, available for check out at the Corte Madera Library
A pair of pliers and a jump ring opener tool (included in kit) opening jump rings to attach charms to the necklace.
A pair of round nose pliers (included in kit) creating a loop in a headpin to turn beads into charms.
Finished spring-themed charm necklace and matching earrings. Chain and findings purchased at Michael’s, beads found at local thrift store and nonprofit, ARTT.
Finished summer-themed charm necklace with matching earrings. Chain, findings, and fish beads purchased at Michael’s. All other beads found at local thrift store and non-profit, ARTT.
Chain and findings purchased at Michael’s. Cat, moth, and tiny butterfly charms taken from jewelry I already owned. All other beads/gems found at local thrift store and nonprofit, ARTT.
If you’re interested in checking out a Crafting Tool Kit for yourself, whether it’s for jewelry making or one of the other five crafts we offer, call the Corte Madera Library at 415-924-3515 to see if it’s in stock. The kits are first come first served, check out for two weeks, and require a signed waiver.
Books that helped me get started, found through this list Jewelry Making Book List:
Bead Jewelry Making for Beginners
Wire Wrap Jewelry Making for Beginners
Looking for materials or trying to get rid of your own?
The Corte Madera Library is hosting a Craft Supply Swap on June 3rd. We can’t promise beads or charms will be among the selection of available materials, but it’s highly possible!
If you have your own usable craft materials you’d like to re-home, we’ll be open for donations from May 25th - May 29th.
Contributed by Emma Thompson
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