Its show and tell time again, and the subject is a timely one for me. Vintage jewels!
Twinkle has agreed to model this pink jeweled bracelet, and doesn’t seem to be too embarrassed by her choppy haircut, although she isn’t looking at the camera like she usually does.
I have an art show to get ready for and one of the things I take to shows is my redesigned old jewelry.
Thing is, it has been a while since I organized my sparklies and made anything from them, so I had an hour or so of prep work to do to even get started.
Just because I hadn’t been making jewelry, doesn’t mean I wasn’t buying stuff to use as supplies for the last year!
The pieces needed sorted out so I could find what I wanted to put together. I sort by era, style, color and lots of different criteria that mostly boils down to a made up system that doesn’t work anyway. I end up looking through each of the 8 or 9 plastic containers sitting on the desk for that perfect bead that I knew was just there a minute ago…..
So, what did I make today?
A charm bracelet first.
A few necklaces next.
A couple more necklaces, then moved on to earrings. I prefer making earrings, they just fly through my pliers and almost make themselves. Necklaces and bracelets take a lot of time and trying on, measuring the weight of the charms to be sure they hang straight.
Balance is so important when making jewelry. Both visually and weight wise.
I only use sterling or 14kt gf French hooks for the earrings and buy them wholesale through Fire Mountain, for the best prices.
The rest of the pieces are all vintage, including the beads. Sometimes I do use some new semi-precious beads, but I prefer older things.
To tell the truth, it was not a fun transition from my tag marathon to jewels today.
I know I have to make the jewelry for the art show I am going to on May 4th, that is what my clientele expects there (along with hand painted things) and luckily I always sell it well there.
But I am still feeling like making more tags! I did a few this morning and was zipping along, humming to myself and having a great time.
When I got the jewelry out to work on in the afternoon, that is what it felt like- WORK!
Probably, I should shut up and not complain. Poor Karla, had to stop gluing her endless parade of tags and put aside her Vintage Workshop papers to play with sparkly jewels instead.
That isn’t going to get me much sympathy!
So, the papers are on hold, while I put together old jewelry for a few days, then make price tags for it. If you think I am complaining now, wait till you hear me whine about pricing items!
But in the meantime, I will play hooky from all of it and go blog surfing and see what everyone else has for Show and Tell.
Its always a treat to visit other bloggers and see their collections. Hopefully, I won’t run into anyone else who complains and whines about it like I did today.
Before I go, I wanted to announce that "due to popular demand" Beth and I extended the deadline for our swap. So, if you haven’t joined yet, hurry up and come play with paper with us!!
Well Karla lots of pretties in this post. I love all of those beautiful tags you have been making.
It is amazing how a piece of pretty sparkly jewellery takes the emphasis off a ‘girls bad hair day’ Poor Twinkle.
Alison
Karla, what wonderful jewelery and your tags are lovely. I also think Twinks looks so regal.
Karen
The bling is beautiful! I really like the earrings too! The tags are just beautiful! I hope you get lots accomplished between now and May 4th- then you can ENJOY the BIG DAY!
Karla, you have some amazing bling, very pretty:) and how sweet that the doggie agreed to model that pretty bracelet…i wonder if mr madison would have modeled some things for me had i asked him nicely and promised treats when the photo shoot was over? awwwww, who am i kidding? he would have bit me promptly on the arse:)
Okay, I just can’t stand it! I signed up! I hope the downloading process is easy, I am such a dummy about these things. That is what was holding me back but maybe my third grader can help me! Gorgeous jewelry!
I love your repurposed jewels! I have been doing something similar and Love it! Great Bling, Karla!
xo, TIffany
You may feel like making just tags now, but your jewelry is still gorgeous! For some reason I always feel like making something other than the thing I should be making. That’s how I get behind!
Beautiful creations Karla. The tags and the jewelry! I had to laugh at your post below. I try to do everything myself too. I move furniture, etc. My hubby is always yelling at me to just be patient and wait for help, but I never do.
Karla, Karla, Karla -here’s a sympathy raspberry for ya <~ (it's the best I could do)! You've got some yummy's go`in on there with the jewelry and tags. I've got two of my panels complete and the other 6 in various stages of being done. I grabbed a 12 inch pizza box on saturday just before heading out for the day and filled it with my panel stuff to work with while going through the day.
Such awesome goodies you create. You creative juices were really flowing today…Wishing you the start to a beautiful week…Mary
Love the way you re-purposed the vintage jewelry! What a photogenic doggy you have there.
Have a wonderful week.
Sandy
Beautiful photos!
I just found your lovely blog and I’ll be back to read more!
Hey Karla! Just popped over from Kerryanne’s blog at Shabby Art Boutique. Love the dangly silver earrings! And you do get some sypathy from me about HAVING to do something when you really want to be doing something else! With me, I’m usually putting off writing pattern instructions and I go play in the sewing room instead! Oops! I’ll get caught up one day! Have a great time playing with sparklies! Bear Hugs! KRIS (Tag Along Teddies)
Well, if you promise to always show me so many pretties, I promise to never complain about whining.
(But truly, it didn’t seem like whining at all.)
Thanks for the show and tell. Love the jewels and tags. My favorite tag is the one with the bird on the head. Too cute.
Oh your pup.. is such cute model Karla!!!lol love it! you have so many beautiful pretties! I always know I can count on major eye candy over here. Thanks for sharing with us!
Hi Karla, love your vintage jewelery, just beautiful. I am so so sorry I haven’t sent the cards off to you I’ve been sick in bed for the last few days, I’ve had them wrapped ready to go & ready to send them then I came down with high fevers, I’m going to send them off today…. once again I’m really sorry.
Hugs
Kirstie.
Amazing treasures, Karla. But I’m not surprised. You ALWAYS have the best stuff! 🙂
i really love your jewelry, and i just adore your tags!! what beautiful creations. good luck getting ready for your art show.
alissa
Your tags are great!! oh but your jewelery!! Beautiful!! I am so glad I went blog surfing and found out your swap is still open…I got to sign up!! yippe for me. Laurie
Gorgeous jewels, Karla! What a fun post today — it was a joy to see this part of you! I will say that Twinkle looks pretty darned good, all things considered, and makes a splendid model for the jewels!
well i’m sooo out of the loop…and i am sooo good about finding swaps…well danielle got robbed at work…again and then david had hand surgery and wow…time just flew and i haven’t had much time to surf! i had a heart it forward giveaway and goodness…i missed your swap…next time!
hugz
Hi Karla
I had no idea you made jewelry too. What beautiful pieces! I’m on a vintage button, buckle, jewelry trip right now. I’m stalking ebay & flea markets. Thanks for sharing the eye candy! Good luck preping for the show.
Nerissa
PS Twinkle is a cutie!