hi, i am new to jewelry making & i am struggling to find inspiration & the know how at the moment, can anyone help

thanks

I am fairly new to beading as well. Inspiration for me comes from many different souces. Sometimes it comes from the beads themselves, or from nature, or vintage styles. Anything I see that looks pretty, I try to find a way to capture it in beads.

Good Luck!

I get inspiration from many sources, here are a few:

www.Ebay.com Really. Search what you are interested in. I buy alot of vintage components for my pieces. You can good deals. You can also see whats out there as far as designs and such.

www.vintaj.com click on the projects link. I am completley addicted to their products.

Fashion magazines such as Elle, Lucky and Vogue. The color combinations on the clothes and accessories help, and sometimes they have articles pertaining to new jewelry trends.

There are also bead magazines. Beadstyle is the best one out there for beginners. Trust me Ive read them all.

Try the bookstore. Beadstyle has books too. Art books are great for inspiration, as well as Antique and Collectibles books.

You can download free bead patterns at www.beadingdaily.com.

Most local beadstores offer classes for beginners. Try local craft stores too (like JoAnn Fabrics, Michaels...etc.)

Most states and major cities have bead societies. Here in Washington we have the NW bead society.

Go to the hardware store and get those free paint sample thingys.

Go to the Goodwill or Salvation Army and have a bead treasure hunt day.( Antique stores are fun too...but they are more pricey)

Look outside your window.

Listen to your beads, and most of all Have Fun!

To add to my response before, I would say that its really important to be confident and take risks to find your style. And if something doesn't turn out right, you can always undo it. Nothing will be perfect the first time you try it. Have fun!!!!!

You can also download free projects from the BeadStyle site.

I agree, find your own style. This will set you apart and you won't get stuck in a mindset of using patterns someone else created. Experiment with colors, textures and cuts. To me, this is the fun and the whole point of creating jewelry. It may take time to find your own voice, but the evolution process is a great ride!