Jewelry making began exploding as a hobby about ten years ago, largely because the flush economy gave individuals more leisure time and disposable income. Jewelry classes, bead stores, and special events have multiplied like craft shows at Christmas time. While the recent economic downturn has slowed the growth of the hobby, it is still as popular as ever. Basic jewelry making techniques, such as bead stringing, wire wrapping, and metalsmithing, have not changed much over the years, but the applications of those techniques fluctuate with trends in jewelry styles. A selection of titles that focus on techniques is as important to one's collection as good project books. The handbooks and guides suggested in this article represent standard practice and should remain current for quite some time. Project books, on the other hand, generally reflect current styles and trends and will need to be replaced as these change and as new methods and materials are developed. Magazines that cover several aspects of jewelry making in one title give one the best bang for one's buck. They have the advantage of being able to update their content as trends change. A list of periodicals and useful websites are included in the bibliography.