Alternative Jewelry Supplies

Compared to electrical, fabric and food industries, artisan jewellery making is probably a small drain on the world's resources. But hey, we have to do what little we can, right? So here's a few ideas for alternative supplies for jewellery making, as a way of cutting down on animal by-products and less-evironmentally friendly materials.

As well as making your jewellery more 'green', another advantage to using alternative materials is that they can help give your jewellery that extra artisan individuality. By using handmade components especially, you're ensuring that your creations are unique, and you're adding more significance to your own creativity with components that are also born from love and creativity (that sentence was really hard to write because it feels sappy, but I do feel that way *G*)

Put your ideas in the comments (or let me know something I don't know...there is, after all, a lot of scope there *G*)

Stringing materials

Most jewellery has metal components, usually mined from the earth in horrible conditions, but to cut down on the amount used, here are some alternatives.

Unwaxed cotton cord or hemp

 White and Green Hemp Necklace
with Glass Teardrop Pendant by NeicosKnots

Unwaxed cotton cord or hemp- Both materials feel lovely against the skin, and can make up a delicate or casual necklaces depending on how they're used; both knotting and macrame can make the simple cords into something a lot fancier. Perhaps you could also use any scrap wire to wrap the ends and make a small closure or clasp. For a quick course in macrame go here

Seed Bead Necklets

Metallic Blue Necklace with Flower Pendant
by SmadarsTreasure 

Seed beads and thread can make a really pretty chain for a pendant. A simple strung necklace featuring metallic finish Delicas is versatile and delicate, and easy to make, whilst beadweaving, though more time consuming, can be used for a more elaborate effect.

Copper Wire

One of a Kind Metal Pendant, Handcrafted

 From Found Metals by twistedbeading

Old, unloved electrical cables can be mined for copper wire, so you get some cheap supplies while recycling (PLEASE make sure they're not still connected to electrics, or in use, eek!).  Plus, small pieces of wire from old jewellery and short pieces of scrap wire can be used for wiring up beads or charms; even if you're 'only' using plated metals (metal is metal after all), snip the tops off previously-wired beads, collect 'mistake' pieces, and save them. At the very least, they can be used for practicing wirework skills, or making tiny wire charms like coils and scrolls.

Beads

 Artisan Lampwork beads

Piranha Lampwork Bead Set Blue Cobalt Black by helbels



This type of bead makes a gorgeous alternative to gemstones, and when buying handmade, artisan lampwork beads, you can be sure than the person creating them is doing so in better conditions than gemstone miners. Silver glass, like Triton, and dichroic glass can sub for the flashes in labaradoite and other stones, whilst the richness of jewel-coloured transparent glasses match rubies and sapphires. Plus, look out for beads with mica-powder decoration for a shimmery, pearl effect.



Lampwork Glass Beads Purple Sparkles

on Grey Pixiedust Spacers by boga119

 

'Deep Cherry Red Transparent Lampwork
Small Disc Spacer Beads Set of 12 by JSavinaBeads



Glass pearls

Fantasy Fairy Jewelry - The Garden Fae
 by StarrlightJewelry 

There's a wide range of glass pearls out there in beautiful colours, which make great substitutes for those taken out of oysters. Swarovski Elements (TM, et cetera) in particular do high quality glass pearls; in a fit of paranoia about rumours of fish scales being used in the coating of some glass pearls, I e-mailed them about this, and they stated there are no animal by-products involved in theirs, so vegans can rest easy about them!

Amazing Cream Glass Pearl Hand Beaded Necklace

with Sterling Silver by metalclothnwood 

 Cerulean sea necklace by
pinkbubble  

Polymer Clay  

 

Polymer Clay Cabochons Lemon Grass Faux
 Dichroic Set of 3 by Polymerpretties


- with a little bit of polymer clay, and some mica-powders, you make your own pearl-esque beads, and you'll be able to control the size, shape, colour, and texture of them to get a more organic feel. With a few more supplies, you can mimic the look of almost any material with polymer clay, including lots of non-vegan things, making them a lot animal friendlier. If you're not polymer-clay inclined, have a browse on Etsy - there are lots of talented artists there who are open to commissions.



Giant Pink Faux Rock Pendant 

by laurelsteven 



Faux River Stone Necklace
by juliespace

 



Precious Metal Clay (silver)



Sorceress Fine Silver Earrings
in Chocolate Amethyst by CeeGeeJewellery

Making your own fine silver findings and beads from recycled cars? Because it's maleable and pliant, you can mould elaborately curved toggle clasps, shape bead caps directly onto the beads for a perfect fit, and make lightweight hollow beads by connecting two curved circles together with silver clay paste.
I have to admit, I had reservations about what the 'organic binders' were, because this vague and oddly sinister description made me think of a distraught man yelling out 'Organic Binders is people!!!!" (geek) but apparently the binders are plant-based. Phew.

Frank-Fine Silver Owl Handmade Necklace
Pendant Sterling by abbielyn



Christmas Confetti fine silver circle earrings

by BellaTuJewelry