jewelry

This is something new for me.  This spring, I'd been enamoured with the leather cord wrap bracelets,  you can see some here and here.

Then, I read about memory wire bracelets and thought I could get a similar look even quicker.  And they are simple and quick.  But still very beautiful.  Well, I think anything made with these beads can't be anything but beautiful, right?  Even poured into a jar or onto a plate, they are just plain gorgeous.  

Here are the ones I made for myself, the memory wire bracelet looks nice worn with the leather wrap one. These two have aquamarine, pearls, aventurine, moonstone, laborite, and chalcedony.   I seriously splurged on the aquamarine, and went all out with it on these two.  

A family member requested a mermaid themed one, and I made this blue piece.  But thought it needed pearls too, so I experimented with vintage pearl beads on a single wrap, hooked with a silver clasp that could stack with the blue bracelet.

As tempting as it was to immerse myself into weeks of bead heaven like I did last time, I managed to limit my obsession to a couple of days, because I have so much going on with the remodel project.  

Sugarwings joined me for one of those days, she did some beading and spent the rest of the time working with sculpy clay.

Remember that I said I thought memory wire sounded easy to do? It is, she had no trouble whipping up a few herself, with a little help bending the ends and attaching the charms.

She even made a couple for her sisters.

While I had the supplies out, I couldn't resist making a few of the leather wrap style ones for the guys in the family.

For some of the memory wire bracelets, I used vintage buttons as charms on the ends.

This one has 2 laborite and amethyst bead dangles and is made up of all semi precious stones.  Which can get very expensive, a lot of beads quickly go onto the wires and before I know it, my stash from the gem show is dwindling! I do love the look of this style, but it takes more beads and less time than the other type.  I think the leather woven strands are more of a challenge, too.  Going back and forth to make some of each was a nicely balanced way of working.

Sadly, I had to pack it all up, there are too many other projects waiting for my attention right now, and it is hard to justify making bracelet after bracelet to give away. Maybe once the dust settles on the remodel, I can get back to beading and make some to sell.  Because, I certainly enjoy creating them, and I can only wear so many at a time… no matter how tempting it is to fill up both forearms and admire the pretty colors.

My obsession with braided bracelets continues.  This one was for my friend, Jen, who like kitschy, vintagey stuff as much as I do, and I thought these buttons were just meant to be made into a bracelet for her. They are interspersed with vintage crystal beads and mother of pearl.

Here is another that I've made for a friend, with all natural gemstones.  

Planning the color themes is as much fun as weaving the beads.  I usually pull out a handful of things I like to use as inspiration for the rest of the bracelet, but I don't actually lay it all out and plan it ahead.  Instead I use the few inspiration beads as a jumping off point and mix and match from them as I go along.

Often, the piece that forms the design is the button clasp.  Like this one. You just can't go wrong with a vintage rhinestone button, can you?

 

Have you ever made a wrap bracelet? I know the trend has been around for a while. I hope I'm not so late joining in that no one is wearing them anymore… But now that I've found them, I've fallen in love and will probably wear the ones I've made way, way, way past the time of them being in style.  

For one thing, they are comfy to wear, not to mention how easy they are to fasten. Bracelets often get put away in drawers for years if I can't hook them without assistance.

Inspiration hit at the Gem and Mineral show in Kansas City.  I thought I'd try to make a few bracelets, after seeing the beautiful beads there.  

The prices are pretty good there and the dealer was giving me another 20% off the sale price, so I might have gotten a teensy bit carried away…

Trouble is, I'd never attempted to string beads before, but that didn't stop me from spending $250 on semi precious beads to teach myself how to do it.

On second thought, I realized this might not have been my smartest move.  These were harder to make than I had hoped they might be. They look pretty simple.  But when I started in, it felt more like sewing than making jewelry and I'm not much of a sewer. Needles and thread have been my sworn enemies.

Mine started out a little wonky.

After more than a week of obsessing, and having beads spread out on my dining room table, I think I figured out a few tricks. 

The most important thing I discovered was to use a heavier leather cord than the one I started with. The one pictured is ideal. My thinner one broke.

Also, a heavier silk, in 2 meters, not 4 is soooo much easier than the longer pieces. I had no idea which to use when I started, so I went with the one that felt like it was miles and miles of dratted tangles.  

A pair of pliers came in handy for tightening the thread, yet I was still getting some beads that bulged away from the cords. I read that you can use a dot of beading glue on the strings to hold them in place. That helped too.

Mine are far from perfect, but the beads and colors themselves are so pretty, that helps hide my flaws.

One reason why I've so totally immersed myself in making these wraps is that I've been doing it in the kitchen instead of out in the studio.  It has felt like a break from work, I've enjoyed having a home base right there in the house instead of heading next door.  The piles of beads are always right there, tempting me to sit down and dabble with a new design.

Sugarwings had "forgotten" that she had homework until the last two days of spring break, and I sat and made bracelets for hours as she finished up her own work.  She designed a bracelet for me to make for her to wear, although I don't really know if they are kid proof or not.

 I made an onyx one for Ryan and he wore it to work at the warehouse last night. I told him not to be so trusting of my skills, that it might not hold up to loading trucks.

The possibilities are endless with the designs. Especially if you have gone overboard at the bead show.

Each time I finish one, I can't help thinking about who to make one for next and what colors I'll get to use. 

This is one I've made for myself, it has vintage, glass buttons woven into the pattern.  

Of course, it is my fave because it is the one I just finished.  The latest one I make is always the one I love most, until I make another, that is.

For this one, I was able to make it longer, so that I could get three wraparounds instead of just two like the previous ones.

Most have already been given away, some I didn't even get photos of, I was so excited about them as I finished I couldn't wait to take them to their new owner.  Of course, now I'm thinking I shouldn't have given away some wonky ones, I should've remade them.

Well, my pile of beads doesn't really even look like there is much of a dent it in yet.  So, back to work. 

 

After Birdsong, I went on a jewelry making kick, after being inspired by Lori and Andrea and the wonderful pieces they had brought for vendor night.

I had some pieces around that I kept thinking I was going to use for something, and was happy to finally get around to it.

The two that are blue glass with pearls look good worn together.  I hope all that going on around my neck at once deters from my ever growing, saggy, wattle.  I kind of go back and forth on how to deal with that issue. Wear a ton of jewels to distract? Or keep it simple to not draw attention?

See what I mean?  

Oh man, I just showed a close up of my wattle!!!!!!  Oh my gosh, what is wrong with me?  I guess, I know that it is there, and can't be hidden or ignored.  I am what I am and need to accept it. Unless I want to wear turtle neck sweaters year round.  Heck, in a few years, I'll look at this photo and think these were the good ole days, back when my wattle and saggy skin were in the newbie stages of just learning how to sag. I'll probably think this is a great photo. 

This is a necklace I made for the Hippy Chick, it is a happy rainbow of semi precious stones.  My pal, Queen Regina, gave me some beautiful beads to work with a while back and I'm just now using them all up.  

 I always wear any necklace a while before selling or giving it away. They have to be proven comfy, and stay together well before they leave.

It had been a long, long time, since I'd been in a jewelry mood. This has been fun.

I've made a few as gifts too.  This one is for a friend who loves buttons, my BFF, Beth.

This is an old brooch set with amathyst and mother of pearl. I hung ruby and garnets from it, along with a locket that will hold photos of my girls, and a charm that has my name and birthdate on it. I think it was from my grandma's charm bracelet.  Or maybe my mom's?

 

 

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