Keeping a Jewelry Journal

When I create a new jewelry design, I'll often only make one piece. I might wear it to see if there are any problems with it. (Will the clasp hold? does the necklace hang properly? ) Before making multiples of the same item I might show it around to gauge interest or list it on Etsy to see if it sells .

Unfortunately, by the time I get around to making a duplicate, I often forget exactly how I made the original! So I waste a lot of time (and sterling silver, sometimes) trying to recreate it.

This happened too many times to me. So I decided I needed to start a Jewelry Journal.

As I make each piece of jewelry, I jot down the materials I use, the length of wire needed for the components, the number of beads I used, etc etc. on a piece of paper.

When I'm finished I photocopy the jewelry. Unlike a photograph, a photocopy will give you a better idea of dimensions since it's at the same scale as the jewelry.

Then I put the photocopy and the directions in a journal. (It doesn't have to be expensive - it can be a composition book or loose leaf binder or even a photo album. I didn't want to spend any money so I used an old sketch book of mine that had been gathering dust for years.) I might add some other information that could be useful -for example, where I bought the beads and how much they cost, how much it cost me to make the item and how much I listed it for.

I keep my journal in my work room and refer to it all the time. Having it has saved me a lot of time and has cut down on wasted materials. Now that silver prices are so high, I can easily calculate how much a piece will cost and whether or not I will have to raise my selling price. No longer do I worry whether the jewelry I made matches the photo in the listing. I've even laid a new piece on top of a photocopy to see if I got the dimensions right!