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INTRODUCTION

We’ve been making our own jewelry for as long as we can remember. We started with macaroni necklaces, graduated to friendship bracelets, and eventually we moved to New York to design jewelry professionally for companies like Marc Jacobs and Anthropologie. We’ve always loved making pieces that nobody else has, and when asked where we bought our jewelry, we loved telling people that we actually made it. Around 2010, something changed. People started asking how we made the jewelry we were wearing instead of where we purchased it.

We started For the Makers to share everything we had learned from years of designing jewelry. For the Makers is an online destination that makes it easier to craft jewelry and accessories. We sell kits that include all the materials to make each of the projects featured on our website, and we stock our online shop with additional hard-to-find materials and supplies for designing your own projects. We search high and low for materials you can’t find anywhere else, and when we can’t find them, we have them made. We believe in making the things you own—treasured items you’ll love and wear, now and for seasons to come.

People often tell us that they make our projects because it feels like a luxury to spend a few moments of their day creating something. They often send photos of how they’ve put their own twist on our designs to suit their style. Whenever a new For the Makers collection launches, we find that our makers can’t get enough statement jewelry. When they finish a project, they’re often surprised that their piece looks professional and chic yet was easy and fun to make. We wrote this book to share our favorite tips, tricks, and techniques from years of designing for some of your favorite brands, including For the Makers. With the right materials and a little DIY know-how from us, we think you’ll learn just how easy it is to make your own personal statement jewelry.

Whether you’ve never picked up a pair of round-nose pliers, or you’ve been making your own jewelry for years, this book will have you creating and wearing your own statement jewelry in no time. Armed with the helpful information on the tools, components, and beads needed, you’ll be ready to shop your local craft store like a pro. We’ll then walk you through the basic jewelry techniques to give you the knowledge and confidence to dive into any of the projects included in this book. At the back, we’ve also included Sources and Resources, a list of our go-to shops, websites, and publications to make finding your favorite materials and make-worthy styles even easier.

Each of the twenty-five projects at the heart of this book makes a statement. And as a collection, the pieces range in style and complexity from over-the-top necklaces embellished with crystals to elegant geometric hoop earrings. What these pieces do share is a style that feels elevated from the everyday, even when paired with something as simple as a white T-shirt. We chose projects that are updates of favorites from our jewelry boxes, as well as new pieces we were itching to design and wear. Some will only take a few minutes to complete (like the Studded Leather Band on page 64 and the Lost and Found Vintage Ring on page 84), while others might be weekend projects (like the Soft Statement Piece on page 123 and the Woven Collar on page 132). We hope you’ll try them all!

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As you make your way through the book, we encourage you to regard the projects as inspiration and feel free to inject your style and sensibilities into each piece you make. Playing with different materials, scale, and colors will allow you to come up with jewelry that’s uniquely you. And remember, perfection isn’t the goal. The inherent beauty in handmade jewelry resides in its uniqueness—it doesn’t look like you picked it up at a store.

We hope as you read and craft these projects, you will trust your creativity, come up with even more ideas, and develop a love for handmade jewelry. Happy making!