How to start?

If you are, the same as me a "jewelry magpie", your collection of earrings, bracelets and pendants is way bigger or equal to your shoes collection ;)
Knowing how to make your own jewelry gives you freedom and chance to wear something special and suitable for every occasion and outfit ;) And this is what every magpie loves ;)

How to start soutache?
First of all you have to love handmade things, if you are looking for perfection better go to jewelry shop.
Handmade jewelry has a soul, heart, beauty and all the passion that artist put in it but usually is not perfect.
Accepting that you are reducing your beginner frustration ;)
Frustration...yes it is a part of handcrafting :D So be patient and don't give up at the beginning, practice makes perfect as they say, and here it's the same ;)

But... soutache.
First of all we need strings and we will say a bit about it here.
Soutache strings are available in almost every haberdashery.
I am using  Czech's PEGA soutache strings. Very good quality and beautiful colours (sample card below).

My strings come from Bukowiec shop, which I highly recommend (very nice owner, always something extra in a package and great prices ;)). Website in English and Polish :)
Bukowiec Shop gives you even more: Soutache  SET- you can find in it everything you need to make your first projects.

Before the first use you have to iron them, so the jewelry making process goes smooth ;)
Then we cut the piece that we gonna use and start to work :)

And this is the result of my first work-"Greetings from Tibet"-key chain with natural stone (seraphinite).

Like I mentioned before: it is not perfect and took me 2 days to finish it but already found a new owner ;)

Next time- how to attach strings to the beads/stones.
Stay tuned!

Safiyyah Jewelry Art
HANDCRAFTED WITH TENDER LOVING CARE