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Bridal Jewelry Business How-To's

Book Review

By Tammy Powley, About.com

bridal jewelry bookClare Yarwood-White
Clare Yarwood-White started her bridal jewelry business (or jewellery as she spells it since she's from the UK), Yarwood-White, in 2003. And, to say that she has made a success of it is putting it mildly. You have probably seen her jewelry all over numerous hardcopy wedding-related publications. You may have even stumbled upon her web site. Now, Clare has taken on a new approach to her business model by teaching others the bridal jewelry ropes, both making the jewelry and also starting a bridal jewelry business, through her book Bridal Jewellery (14.99 GBP), available on her web site as well as Amazon.com ($20 US).

This slim book, 96 pages, is packed full of information. The topics she covers includes working with brides; jewelry materials and tools; engagement and wedding rings; tiaras and head-dresses (which also includes instructions for various designs); necklaces, bracelets, and earrings; other wedding accessories; and finally, she discusses building a bridal jewelry business.

Though the hair accessory projects may not be something you'd wear every day, the other jewelry designs she includes can be worn just about any time, not just for weddings. There are basic techniques covered such as wrapped loops and knotting between beads. Three basic projects are provided, and then variations and suggestions are included to give you an idea of how you can transform these into other jewelry designs.

For those interested in the business side of bridal jewelry, the last chapter gives you a lot to think about. Since this book was written in the UK, some areas, like legal information, may not be applicable to all readers. However, she also covers marketing, photography, public relations, and so on. Granted, due to the size of the book, this all can't be covered in minute detail; however, some of her tips here and there are really helpful. For example, one brilliant suggestion is to ask brides for a wedding photo that shows off their jewelry because more than likely it was taken by a professional photographer.

If you've never bent a wire or strung a bead, then I would not expect to come away with vast jewelry making knowledge from this book. But, if you have some experience and have wondered about venturing into the bridal market, Bridal Jewellery is a good place to begin your exploration.

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