Unique Jewelry - How to Make Your Designs Stand Out in a Crowd

What makes a piece of jewelry unique? Of course, if you know how to make tiny line drawings out of human hair and turn that into a ring or a brooch, it will be unique. But you won't have to go that far to make a design that will be your very own.

Think outside the round-bead box

If you take a look around the internet at some of the artistic jewelry designs, you will discover that many different materials are used to make them. Designers often include ribbon, lace and fabric and found objects to make a one--of--a--kind statement. Items to think about adding into your own design:

    fabric, lace and ribbon
    vintage and antique buttons
    broken jewelry pieces (garage sales are great for this, just remove unusable parts)
    beach pebbles or small river stones
    agate slices
    rolled paper beads (think foreign newspaper, seal to protect)
    twine and cording give it an organic look

To bead or not to bead?

It's not necessary to use any beads to create a unique accessory. One of my wish list items is a gorgeous, yet fun cuff bracelet made of flexible pvc. If you know how to felt, try making a felted choker. Memory wire wrapped in colorful threads and cords will give any outfit a boost.

The most playful pieces I've seen uses micro mini figurines in everyday poses, encased in glass. I also love the simple elegance of the necklaces made of plastic factory shavings turned into flowers. Let your imagination go and explore the possibilities. But wait, before you go off...

Let's go 'round, again

A piece made with all round beads can be just as extraordinary as one using unusual elements. Consider using several different kinds of round beads in one project. They should have something in common like the size, color scheme, a certain theme but more importantly, they should feel like they belong together.

Mixing different round beads tied together by color can add excitement by bringing texture to an otherwise ordinary piece.

What's your sign? Give the piece your signature

Even the simplest of necklaces can make people take notice by adding your own distinctive signature to each piece. A jewelry artist I admire incorporates some form of a bird element to most of her work; an intricately carved netsuke bird bead, a hand painted blue bird on an onyx bead. Another favorite weaves wonderful abstracts into her peyote stitched bracelets.