At our school, there are various talented students who put dedication and passion into their craft. Students here are able to express themselves in numerous ways, whether it comes to sports, art, music, and more. One of our students, Senior Madallie Silva, uniquely expresses herself through jewelry making. She creates bracelets, necklaces, and keychains and is currently working on making earrings and phone charms available on her website which can be found on her Instagram: @jeweledbymadallie. With this hobby, she’s decided to create her own small business out of it and has left many customers satisfied and happy!
“I have always been interested in beads as a little girl,” Silva responds when asked how she discovered her love for jewelry making. “It started with stringing beads onto pipe cleaners and making them into rings and bracelets. My mom then noticed my growing interest and bought jewelry-making materials like string, wire, and charms from the local craft store. I then started making more intricate pieces with the help of my mom and my grandma like earrings and wired bracelets which further developed my passion into what it is today!”
Jewelry making is certainly hard work and most likely requires a lot of steps. Interested in her process of creating jewelry, I decided to ask her about it. “I first plan out my designs by creating a layout and alter it as needed until I am satisfied,” she starts. “For wired jewelry, I place the beads onto wire and make loops on both sides of each piece of wire. I then connect the loops of each piece of wire together by linking the loops or by using jump rings. Once all the pieces are connected, I add clasps to the end and measure the piece to make sure it is the right size. For string jewelry, the design layout is pre-measured and all that is needed is to string the beads together and tie them securely. After the finished piece is made, I make sure it comes out to my liking, or if not, I make adjustments before it is put for sale!”
Lastly, when asked about her motivation for creating her jewelry, Silva states, “My passion for making jewelry motivates me as well as the support I receive from my family and friends. Making jewelry is also a way for me to reconnect with my childhood which is very special to me.” It’s clear that Silva adores this hobby of hers, and it’s admirable for her to share her happiness with the people around her.
It is without a doubt that Madallie constantly puts love into every accessory she creates. Again, if you would like to purchase or browse jewelry from her, her Instagram is @jeweledbymadallie! Remember, her jewelry could also make a great Valentine’s Day gift for somebody you love!
