Oh I felt the same way too, which is why I have a bunch of copper wire (well for practice and because I like copper). But with wire sculpture at least, no two pieces ever turn out the same. So if I did a pendant in copper to try a design and it turned out really nice, then got out the gold or silver it would not look the same and the time spent making the practice piece would be wasted. Now if I do something in copper, it because I liked the looks of copper with that stone. Same with silver and gold-fill wire. And I don't worry so much about screwing it up, because most things are salvageable. I don't come up with something in advance, or try to work from a sketch. I take the wire and the stone and just start bending and see where it leads me. So working in the precious metals off the bat means I have a possibly saleable item when the dust settles. Either that or the scrap wire goes in the baggie to be sold back. :)
Well, here's what my opinion is. I think the videos are a wonderful teaching tool, especially if you are a visual "show-me" learner like I am. Ignore the hype of "make $40k per year making jewelry" that is all over the site. Also, find alternative suppliers for all your wire and stone needs because there are places with much better prices and service than his.
Can you make a living making jewelry by learning his techniques? Yes, I think you can if you work at it, and pay attention to your local market and what is selling elsewhere. PR tends to push shell cameos for some reason. I have only seen probably 5 people ever wearing traditional cameo jewelry. Figure out your style and your niche and run with it. I am still in the beginning stages of getting a business started based on jewelry making but I think I will be able to get out of it whatever I put in.
Was it worth what I paid? To me, absolutely! I would never have learned without the videos. I bought the whole set and so far have only really watched one or two. If I had stuck with trying to learn from books, I doubt I would have gotten the hang of any wirework and would likely have given up. Knowing that I have a "knack" for wire gives me the confidence to try other techniques from books and the internet. I know I can do the stuff, I just have to be patient with my learning curve from these sources.
Also if you buy any of the videos and they don't work for you or you learn all you can and don't want to keep them, there is a ready market on eBay. PR's videos typically fetch about half the retail price at auction. I think if you buy the beginner kit it comes with a 90 day guarantee. One caveat to the kit: The brass wire is worthless and a PITA to boot. Copper is so much easier to practice with and behaves more like dead soft sterling.
]I take the wire and the stone and just start bending and see ]where it leads me. So working in the precious metals off the bat means I ]have a possibly saleable item when the dust settles.
i understand that thought. really, i do. and having had two kids snap up the first two wire bracelets i made this weekend before i could even photograph them, i probably should have made them out of silver instead of copper. luckily, they seemed to like them in copper.
**sigh** it's just so freakin' expensive. i have FINALLY almost gotten down how to "bind" several strands of wire together properly. it's been driving me totally insane. but until i can get a few more things down pat, it's scary.
i'm working on it.
Johnny and Cate were drooling all over your pages this morning, btw!
----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)
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----------- The measure of the menace of a man is not what hardware he carries, but what ideas he believes.-- Jeff Jordan
]Also if you buy any of the videos and they don't work for you or you learn ]all you can and don't want to keep them, there is a ready market on eBay. ]PR's videos typically fetch about half the retail price at auction. I think ]if you buy the beginner kit it comes with a 90 day guarantee. One caveat to ]the kit: The brass wire is worthless and a PITA to boot. Copper is so much ]easier to practice with and behaves more like dead soft sterling.
thanks! i should have read farther before asking!
----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)
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----------- The measure of the menace of a man is not what hardware he carries, but what ideas he believes.-- Jeff Jordan
Oh, I so understand. I did several pendants in brass and copper before trying silver. I was SO nervous the first time I used the gold-fill wire. Unfortunately, the GF wire is so much easier to work with than sterling. If it weren't twice as expensive, I wouldn't say unfortunately! :)
Hope you were able to get the computer mopped up after the drool fest!
You know it is unfortunate that the site is written like one of those get-rich-quick schemes. The "Make 40 grand a year" spiel just creates unrealistic expectations. Not that you can't start making sales fairly quickly after learning the techniques, but it is going to take a lot of work to get to that income level. I have other opinions on the subject of him that I best keep to myself.
The videos are great so long as you look at them for what they really are, which are great tools for learning new techniques, not as a road to riches.
]Hope you were able to get the computer mopped up after the drool fest!
well, the keyboard was still having a bit of a problem. and my ego, when they wanted to know if i was going to do things like that. the problem is, i'm trying to do it with beads. and beads are round, slippery beggars!
----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)
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(Jewelry)
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newest creations:
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----------- The measure of the menace of a man is not what hardware he carries, but what ideas he believes.-- Jeff Jordan
]You know it is unfortunate that the site is written like one of those ]get-rich-quick schemes. The "Make 40 grand a year" spiel just creates ]unrealistic expectations. Not that you can't start making sales fairly ]quickly after learning the techniques, but it is going to take a lot of work ]to get to that income level. I have other opinions on the subject of him ]that I best keep to myself. ] ]The videos are great so long as you look at them for what they really are, ]which are great tools for learning new techniques, not as a road to riches.
thanks, Tanya!
----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)
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(Jewelry)
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newest creations:
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----------- The measure of the menace of a man is not what hardware he carries, but what ideas he believes.-- Jeff Jordan
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