Handmade Jewelry - Choose Handmade Jewelry For Unique, Hands-On Designs

Choose Handmade Jewelry For Unique, Hands-On Designs

Handmade jewelry has been worn by celebrities for decades to express their individuality, enhance a specific outfit and accentuate fine features. At the recent Golden Globes, Angelina Jolie showcased an exquisite, vintage-style uncut diamond necklace, bangle and earring set in 22 karat yellow gold and fashioned after Indian jewelry from centuries past. After her visit to India, Angelina had Bochic artists create these pieces by hand, which was rumored to have taken hundreds of hours. These handmade jewelry pieces worn by Angelina not only offset her charcoal gray gown by St. John perfectly, but have been revered internationally for their unique beauty and glamor.

Other celebrities have discovered the charm and appeal of handmade jewelry. Famous Desperate Housewives, Eva Longoria and Teri Hatcher, frequently sport designs by Adina, as does Demi Moore. All of these famous women have been spotted wearing the signature circle pendant created by Adina that made her designs world renowned. Also, the simple artisan designs of Peggy Li have been featured on television shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and What About Brian, as well as in publications such as Lucky and the Oprah Magazine. There are even extremely unusual handmade jewelry pieces designed in honor of The Lord of the Rings that include fairies, wizards, unicorns, wolves, spiders, mermaids, gargoyles and griffins, all created by Paul Badali.

The best thing about handmade jewelry is that it can be personalized and always elicits immediate oohs and aahs, followed by the inevitable, “Where did you find that gorgeous piece?” The beauty of handmade jewelry is the incredible attention to detail and distinctive combination of colors, textures and shapes used to create a truly different design. You simply won't find these type of unique designs at the jewelry counters in your local department store.

You can purchase handmade jewelry that has already been crafted or have it custom made to your preference. Handmade jewelry gives you the opportunity to select the combination of materials used, as well as the size and length of the piece. You can have handmade jewelry fashioned to match a particular outfit, to accentuate a feature you want to show off or simply to make a fashion statement.

Handmade jewelry is created in a multitude of ways. Goldsmiths and silversmiths pound precious metals to create their masterpieces. Precious and semi-precious gems may be mounted or strung to make glamorous jewelry. A wide variety of beads are used by other jewelry designers to fashion colorful, exciting necklaces, earrings and bracelets. Beads can be made from materials such as glass, crystal and pottery. Other designers weave their jewelry creations from fabrics such as macram and leather. The possibilities are absolutely endless when you select handmade jewelry. These different jewelry crafting techniques can even be combined to create distinctive pieces.

Because handmade jewelry offers so many possibilities, it also makes an outstanding gift. You can select pieces that feature the favorite gems, shapes, colors and materials of your friends or loved ones. The recipient is sure to be surprised and pleased with your one-of-a-kind selection. Unlike baubles picked up at any mass merchant, handmade jewelry is valued for many years by its owner because it is so well-suited to their individual tastes. Another benefit of choosing handmade jewelry as a gift is the unlikelihood that anyone else will purchase the same item! I doubt that you will ever see handmade jewelry sitting around in the gift drawer to be recycled because the recipient owns several other items like it.

You can also create your own handmade jewelry pieces. Craft shops, wholesale gem dealers and online stores feature countless gems, beads and materials used to make your own jewelry. Whether you want to learn how to solder or just intend to string some beads, you will enjoy the designing process almost as much as wearing your carefully crafted creation. Over the years, I have created my own jewelry, as well as designed jewelry for my friends. I have no formal training, but with a bit of creativity and the desire to experiment, I designed some great jewelry. I even managed to sell some of my pieces when I was in college and made a bit of necessary extra cash for my creations!

Now that I am a mother, I teach crafts at our local house of worship. Jewelry making is always a popular activity with both boys and girls. The children love selecting beads in various colors and shapes to create their own jewelry masterpiece. Although my daughter owns a bunch of popular baubles, bangles and beads, she still prefers the handmade jewelry pieces that she designed and created. My son, who isn't much for jewelry, still proudly sports his handmade bracelet in “manly” shades of blue, green and brown. Both children and adults can appreciate the limitless options of handmade jewelry.

For something really special, check out handmade jewelry and have it your way!