Tiaras - self taught?

[raspberrybloom]

Hi,

As I have mentioned I am launching Raspberry Bloom Bride later in the year. A big part of it will be tiaras.

I am going to teach myself how to make them. I have the book from The Bead Shop in Nottingham and have bought my bases, wire and beads - so I am ready to go!

Does anyone have any other tips for Tiara design and making?

Lou

[beadsbydesign]

The biggest hint I could give is to work each side out from the centre.

Don't be constrained by other peoples designs. Allow your own flair in.

Treat your hand well! they will be mighty sore from all the wire twists!

[Daydream]

Hi, I've recently set up a website selling my handmade tiaras and other wedding accessories. I'm self-taught and I started by also getting the tiara book from the Bead Shop and buying a tiara kit from another website.

As beadsbydesign has already said it takes it toll on your hands!

Good luck!

[euston-74]

Just to second Daydream - a good way to start is with a made up kit - it gives you a good sense of where you are going and proves it's not too difficult - the hard bit is the inspiration!
Mel

[edvige27]

Hi, I've recently set up a website selling my handmade tiaras and other wedding accessories. I'm self-taught and I started by also getting the tiara book from the Bead Shop and buying a tiara kit from another website.

As beadsbydesign has already said it takes it toll on your hands!

Good luck!

Hi my name is jane and I am knew to this website and I have just been looking at your jewellery,really nice. I was hoping you might be able to help me before I go mad. I have been trying to use callottes at the end of my seed bead bracelets but when It comes to finishing them of I can't seem to get the callotte to sit tight against the beads so I am left with beads,some thread in between and a callotte dangling on the end, not very professional looking. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. thankyou . Jane.

[Daydream]

Hi Jane, thanks for your comments about my jewellery! The way I do my callottes is....thread on the callotte, thread on a crimp bead, grip the crimp bead with bent nose pliers, slide the crimp bead down against the callotte (not too tight or the bracelet will go too stiff), crush the crimp bead with the pliers, trim off the excess thread and close the callotte. You can also get side opening callottes which make the job easier but I don't find them as sturdy as the usual ones. Hope this helps!

[edvige27]

Thankyou. i will give it a try and see how it goes.

Jane.

[raspberrybloom]

I made my first tiara yesterday. It was much more fidderly than I thought.

I did try and make one with twisty bits on but the wire kept snapping. I guess I was twisting too much?

I am really pleased with my first one though!!

[Daydream]

Raspberrybloom - you prob were twisting too much, it only takes that one extra twist and SNAP! What gauge wire were you using? I tend to use 0.4mm wire, sometimes 0.6, when I do twisty stems and I normally grip the bead/crystal and then twist about 7 or 8 times depending on the length of the stem. Would love to see a pic of your first attempt!

Your site is fab by the way, I love your jewellery.

[raspberrybloom]

Morning Daydream.

I was using 0.4mm for the twisting. I was getting in a terrible tangle and all sorts!

I will try and take a photo of my tiara tonight.

[Daydream]

It can be very tricky sometimes and you feel like you could do with an extra 5 pairs of hands but you will get the hang of it pretty quickly.

Where was the wire snapping? Were you doing a twisted stem topped with a crystal?

[raspberrybloom]

Yeah, I was doing twisted stems with a 4mm crystal at the top. The wire was snapping at the base of the stems.

[Daydream]

I normally get the snap just under the crystal. It's all a bit trial and error with the twists. The trick is to get the twist close enough to the band to make it sturdy but not so close as the wire has too much pressure on it and breaks. I often put a blob of glue at the base of the stems when I've finished, just to make them a bit more stable. I have a tiara on my site, Phoebe Tiara, which is lots of very close together twisted stems....was a nightmare to do cos I kept getting all tangled up! Let us know how you're getting on. Can't wait to see some pics.

[raspberrybloom]

I was trying to create something similar to your Phoebe Tiara but the wire kept snapping and I was getting frustrated.
Instead I made on like Charlotter Tiara but put crystals all around the base too. Its very sparkly.

I will keep you updated on my tiara adventures!!

Can I ask how much you charge for P&P for yours?

[Daydream]

I charge £5.00 p&p but I'm on the Isle of Man so it costs just that bit extra to get things off island.

The only thing I can suggest is that you get some cheap wire and have a good old practise at the twisting. That's what I do if I have a new idea. I use an old alice band as well because they tend to get scratched.

[Swarovski Chick]

Hi I have been on the tiara making course with The bead shop in Nottingham which is ok if you have never tried tiara making before. The basic principle is to use just a few techniques which are simple to master and the beadshops book is quite good. If you are looking for a course that,s a bit more advanced a lady called Andrea runs a tiara making school which you can attend in london or Dorset and her courses are very good. Hope this helps.

[newcrafter24]

Hi there, could I get the details for this tiara making book that people are talking about - is it available to buy on say Amazon?

Info greatly appreciated!

Thanks

[beadsbydesign]

The best book is written by Hanna (the owner of mail order beads) and is only available through the shop. Mail order beads Nottingham.

[Chris W]

My tips would be, when you have practised and are ready, try using dead soft sterling silver wire, it is very pliable and doesn't hurt your hands. Another tip if you are commissioned by a bride make sure her hairdresser approves the design, I spent ages making a tiara once, the customer was thrilled with it, it matched her outfit and was made to her specifications but the hairdresser insisted it wouldn't go with her hairstyle and I had to change it.

[Silver Butterfly]

Hello,
I made my first tiara about 3 months ago for myself for my wedding. I found I enjoyed it so much that I made about 8 more!!

I've bought the tiara book from The Bead Shop - its great to get started and gives lots of tips.
I also got Claire Yarwood-White's Bridal Jewellery book which gives some tips on making your own tiaras including the tiara base -much more comfortable than manufactured bases, but it took me several attempts and much wasted wire to get it right, a couple I've done aren't particularly sturdy...
does anyone else make their own tiara bases? Any tips?

Sarah x

[silvermaid]

I found it was easier once you have made the branches to put one wire on each side of the band and then wrap one clockwise to the left side and the other anti-clockwise to the right side. I hope that makes sense.
I would have thought that a home-made tiara band would have to be either a thick wire slightly flatted or two wires twisted together, otherwise the branches will spin round as there will be nothing for them to grip.

Melanie

[Dizzydiza]

My tips would be, when you have practised and are ready, try using dead soft sterling silver wire, it is very pliable and doesn't hurt your hands. Another tip if you are commissioned by a bride make sure her hairdresser approves the design, I spent ages making a tiara once, the customer was thrilled with it, it matched her outfit and was made to her specifications but the hairdresser insisted it wouldn't go with her hairstyle and I had to change it.

I think she should have got a new hairdresser!....In my experience hairdressers can do anything with what piece of jewellery they are given.
On saying that one bride brought her hairdresser to me and he designed her tiara....the strangest part of it was that he insisted that it had to be 4inches in height and it is called Arlene after the bride! The original Arlene though was in silver and all clear swarovski. I thought it would be a one off but I have since had 2 other brides making variations of the same height of tiara and I subsequently called them Suzanne and Victoria after them.

Even after 3 years of wire twisting i can still over twist and break my wires so dont get too upset about that....you will get the hang of it before long ;)

[morgan-jonesdesigns]

Hi Ladies just wanted to say that The wire twisting takes some mastering and i still find that some wire types are worse than others (My older wire tends to break easier than the newer stuff even thou from same place i think the air gets to it and weakens it!) And also Keep trying you'll get there and with the blisters so get some good pliers!!

I Just want to give another tip about the Tiara and Hairdresser situ!
Make sure your tiara is secure enough to be moved by the hairdresser! one of my brides had a tiara made for her and came to me after the first one (made by someone else) Broke when the hair dresser was fiddling with it lucky she was a friend and i had just made a similar tiara to hers! Hairdressers tend to move the wires and bend them so have this in mind when attatching your stems HTH

Carly X