For those of you who make jewelry, how did you get started?  Did you take a class or workshop?  Read a book?  Find an online tutorial?  I am thinking of giving it a try and am wondering how to get started.  I don't want to make a huge investment in tools and materials until I know if I like it or not, so I'm looking for some ideas on how to test out the art form. 

I think it depends a lot on what you want to make...

Way-way back in the day, I used to make a lot of glass bead jewelry, to sell at Grateful Dead concerts. I learned by using some instruction pamphlet books that I bought at Michaels and Joannes. I bought most of my supplies, and a really great, inexpensive bead loom at a really great jewelry supply store in the city. Then, I took a 2 hour class there and learned how to make clay beads with designs in them too.

A few years ago I started making some sterling wire type jewelry. I bought a really cool, inexpensive jig (around $25), an instruction book, and the supplies at a local store. If you want to make that kind of jewelry I would suggest getting the jig, an instruction book, and a bunch of the cheaper practice wire to start with. Then, be patient and persistent! It takes awhile to get down how to properly bend the wire, but once you learn how to use the jig, you will learn how to form the wire freehand too.

Making Jewelry can be a nice relaxing thing after a stressful day!
Good luck! Let us know how it goes for you.

Back in middle school I remember checking out a book from the library about making wire jewelry, mostly using various types of coiling methods. I still deal mostly with beads and wire and that I've either learned through trial and error or from various books. Picking up a jewelry craft magazine and trying some of the beginner projects is a good way to get used to the materials and see a lot of different forms that are out there.