I've used just about everything - I like chain with some beads in between - liquid silver or gold work well and so do seed beads and 4mm beads. I would stick with a 49 strand wire and just make sure you crimp well. good luck.

Alice, I have used artistic wire and do not have any problems with it - I'm not as big a fan of  the silver and gold - but they do not tarnish and tend to be a little sturdier than sterling and gold filled wire. Krina

bead and button is very good with those patterns - check their archives.

love the bracelet - I was going to suggest the same thing - the other thing you can do is make sets of earrings and have them on hand for gifts - I always try to keep 5 or 10 pairs of earrings on hand for quick gifts. The other thing you can do is make a non symetrical necklace - using various different colors - as long as you some metal in there ...

I always make sets when I make my jewelry - my main thing whenever I make anything is that I make things as though I were making them for myself - one, it makes the designing easier and it always seems to sell better. If it's a piece I really love - I will make myself one as well - but I do always make sets and have very rarely had them ...