A firm believer in all things do-it-youself, I was excited by the notion of a club that lets you make your own jewelry. And the fact that it's named Bling makes it that much better.The club meets on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. upstairs in the Green Room of Goldfarb Library. When I first entered this room, three members sat at a table which were strewn with four boxes of brilliantly colored beads and various tools and metal parts. Founded last semester by Lara Gordon '07, Bling is a club where students can go and, for a small materials fee, make their own jewelry. For free you can go and watch the artists at work.

Chartered but not funded, co-president Caitlin Holden '08 says Bling is always open to new members. At this meeting there were three, but attendance gets up to around seven. Holden said they plan to become more proactive, and try harder to receive funding in the upcoming semester.

At the moment, members are responsible for buying their own materials. Holden said that you can buy a decent amount for $20 to $25.

"It would be nice to have club funding, but we understand it's a long process," club member Laura Wolf '08 said, "so we'll just have to buy our own supplies for now."

In addition to making jewelry, the club also makes outings to craft stores and bead shows.

Immediately upon sitting down next to Holden, who was working with needle-nosed pliers on a pair of pretty blue dangle earrings, I was offered lightly seasoned honey mustard and onion Nibbler pretzels. Not being one to refuse pretzels in any situation, no matter the degree of seasoning, I graciously accepted and took a handful. The club may have a focus on making jewelry, but I spent as much time eating as I did working.

While I munched and stared in awe at the bright and shiny beads in clear plastic boxes, members shared techniques, such as how to integrate sea shells a friend had collected in Florida into a pair of precious earrings.

They showed me how to bend the headpins and construct simple earrings.

"It's really nice to have a time each week to get together with your friends, be creative and make cool jewelry," Holden said as she secured a deep blue bead to her earrings-in-progress

Bling has the potential to be more than just a way to relax; it can also be a source of a little spending cash. Though members have yet to turn a profit, they have held four jewelry sales in Usdan and Shapiro Campus Center last semester, and plan to do more in the future. They will also be participating in the Festival of the Arts in April, where they will be selling their products and teaching a jewelry workshop.

I kept resisting the urge to just stick my fingers into the wells of seed beads and swish them around. The vibrant pinks, luscious blues, mossy greens and fiery oranges were all colors that made me want to write poetry. Or eat a rainbow. I was suddenly in the mood for Skittles.

For absolutely nothing, you too can watch as these colors are crafted into jewelry and experience these sensations. And for a fee, you can even make your own beautiful baubles, show off your creative side, and chat about life's little foibles. Either way, whether a spectator or an artist it's a win-win situation. Or shall I say, a bling-bling situation!