With Wimbledon about to start, why not use your jewellery-making skills to make a tennis bracelet.

Modern-day superstars still wear tennis bracelets, and they are an elegant, beautiful way to accessorise your summer look.

Tennis bracelets are essentially thin, in-line diamond bracelets with a symmetrical pattern. They are so-called after an incident at the US Open in 1987, when a former women’s world number 1 wore a diamond bracelet.

The bracelet was so delicate it broke during play, and the umpire allowed the match to be halted so the player could pick up the dropped diamonds.

The term “tennis bracelet” was coined almost immediately, and has been a great trend.

If you’re stuck for inspiration before Wimbledon kicks off, wait to see what superstars are sporting on their wrists.

Using simple metal wire and a series of precious gems you can create your own design to add a touch of Wimbledon glamour to your outfits this summer.

Jewellery making news brought to you by Jewellery Making Blog.

The summer holidays are just around the corner – and the age-old problem of what to do with bored children could rear its head again.

All children love creating things, even if it’s just a mess. And getting your little ones into crafts like jewellery-making could be a great way to help banish the summer holiday boredom blues.

If your children really take to it, you’re also providing a great creative outlet for them.

There’s plenty of easy ways to get kids started in jewellery making. Start simple, with something like a beaded lace necklace or bracelet.

There are lots of eye-catching, brightly-coloured beads available for boys and girls, and if they don’t want to make jewellery for themselves, it could be a great way to add some inspiring pieces to your own collection!

If they are particularly keen to try working with “grown up” jewellery, you could let them try using precious metal clay. Aim for a simple project, perhaps a brooch, and the youngsters are bound to be impressed with the way the clay turns to pure silver once it’s moulded.

Do remember to supervise children at all times if they’re using scissors and small objects.

Jewellery making news brought to you by Jewellery Making Blog.

With Father’s Day around the corner, why not turn your jewellery-making skills into a gift for your dad?

Whilst many dads may not appreciate some new earrings or a necklace, why not try making cufflinks?

If you like using precious metal clay for your jewellery designs, you could try starting from scratch and creating bespoke designs for your dad.

Engraving his initials on the head of the cufflink will truly personalise them – or you could add detail from one of his passions, maybe football or music.

If you’re relatively new to jewellery-making, you may want to create your own cufflinks with ready-made parts. Many craft and hobby stores stock the basic back and front parts of cufflinks, and you can easily place your own design onto the face of the cufflink.

Alternatively, a tie clip could be an easy and sweet present – try using metallic clay to create a long, thin clip, and add whatever details you want.

Jewellery making news brought to you by Jewellery Making Blog.

If you are interested in jewellery making, then you could turn your hand to making personalised presents for your friends.

It doesn’t even need to be for a special occasion – many girls would love to receive a new necklace, bracelet or ring from a cherished friend.

To truly personalise your jewellery design, try reflecting your friend’s interests.

For instance, if they love baking or eating out, you could make a foody necklace, decorated with miniature meals, sweets or fruits.

If your friends are particularly sporty, you could make a great necklace or even earrings featuring something from their favourite sport.

Or if they like music, you could fashion crotchets and quavers on a bracelet, ring or brooch.

Jewellery making news brought to you by Jewellery Making Blog.

For jewellery makers, with the creativity, tools and skill required to make stunning pieces, it is easy to turn your hand to other projects.

One of these is creating a beautiful beaded doily – perfect for placing on a sugar bowl, it adds an embellishment to any table and dinner set.

You can make your own doily or you can embellish a shop-bought cloth doily.  Glass beads and crystals look elegant and beautiful but you can utilize any arrangement of beads you have available to you.

To begin, thread the beads onto a length of strong cotton, fishing line or embroidery thread. Make a length of 5-6 beads and then sew it onto the doily.  Alternate your strands with single beads for a traditional, old-fashioned look.

Jewellery making news brought to you by Jewellery Making Blog.

Girls of all ages love playing with jewellery and beads, so what could be more fun than gathering a group of girls together for some birthday party fun and have a jewellery making party, to get kids creative juices flowing.

At jewellery making parties, youngsters can make charm bracelets or stretch bracelets, or even make their very own princess tiaras to take home with them.

The party idea is ideal for little girls, who learn social skills at the same time as  jewellery making skills, and come away from the party with their own unique piece of jewellery to show off to their family.

With expert tuition available at the parties, parents interested in this hobby might pick up a few tips too.

Jewellery making news brought to you by Jewellery Making Blog.

When faced with illness a lot of people can let their whole world collapse, but this was not the case for one brave survivor, who turned her health misfortunes into a successful family business by starting jewellery making as a hobby when dealing with a serious illness.

Wishaw mum Marion Patterson (53) and her daughter Emily (28), from Bellshill, began making jewellery when Marion was diagnosed with the rare condition dystonia when she was in her 40s.

The hobby allowed Marion to focus on something positive and gave her a creative activity while she rested at home.

The inspirational mother and daughter duo now have a successful business, named Ruby and Rose Jewellery.

Jewellery making news brought to you by Jewellery Making Blog.

Jewellery-makers looking for inspiration this summer need look no further than the Olympic Games.

The event, being held in London next year, is bound to set off a spate of sports-themed fashion and events, and for hobbyists and professional jewellery-makers alike, the Olympics could provide a great theme for new designs.

Precious metal clay could be used to create miniature gold, silver and bronze medals – either as necklaces or brooches – and the distinctive, multi-coloured Olympic logo could form the basis for a handful of five coloured rings, an eye-catching necklace or a talking-point brooch.

The Olympic organising committee has already announced an official jewellery collection for the Games, featuring stunning jewellery and precious metal designs, inspired by images from the Olympics over the years.

Jewellery making news brought to you by Jewellery Making Blog.

For jewellery makers, particularly beginners, one of the most challenging areas is finding places to get inspiration for designs.

Inspiration can come from a number of avenues.  Here are just a few of them:

Other jewellery maker’s designs – be careful not to copy but simply get inspiration from the style of other jewellery makers.

Your previous designs – if you’ve had a creation or range of jewellery which was particularly successful or you were proud of, take inspiration from this and  adapt it for a new creation.

Doodle some designs – keep a pen and pad with you at all times so whenever the creative bug bites you can doodle some artistic designs and draw upon these at a later date.

Jewellery making news brought to you by Jewellery Making Blog.

As London’s Jewellery Week continues, plans are being announced for India International Jewellery Week, which will be held from July 31 to Aug 4.

Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor has been named as the face of the event, she said;

“It’s not only an honour but a privilege to be the face of this magnanimous event. This aims at promoting Indian talent on a global platform. I’m glad that GJEPC has taken the initiative of placing India on the global arena of designer jewellery. I’m looking forward to seeing some exemplary talent at the IIJW this year.”

Last year was the first time India International Jewellery Week was held, and there was no ambassador.  However this year Sonam will open the event by walking the ramp on the inaugural day.

Jewellery making news brought to you by Jewellery Making Blog.