Questionable Earrings

I sometimes like to put a little humor into the things I make. Then I always second guess myself and wonder if I have simply slipped into poor taste.  Either way, this is one of those occasions.  Perfect for a luau or perfectly awful.  These are hula girl earrings.

Summer Necklace

I've had this nice turquoise wood focal for awhile. I wanted to put a red bead on it, but there just wasn't anything right in my stash. So instead it got a purple bead and a tassel.  The purple bead is "Mountain Jade" and the little turquoise ones are magnesite.

Bud Ice Earrings

Just a tiny step aside to a beer can from a pop can.  This was easy as pie.  Just punch the circles, punch holes, and link together with an ear wire.  Just the thing for a trip to the bar.

Arizona Green Tea Necklace

This is the can that started me on the pop can series.  I love the graphics on it. The little blossoms against the blue-green background would make lovely art or a great wall paper.

This time I mounted the pop can pieces in bezels.  They look much more finished that way.
I got stuck on the larger bezels. The outside dimension is 3/4 inch. I thought 5/8 inches would work as the inner dimension. Nope. I had to cut them down by hand to make them fit.  I still have enough left from one can to make some more stuff.

Bamboo Tile Necklaces

You can find these bamboo tiles here and there. Mine are from a place mat where they were all strung together.  The tiles are about the same size as a domino and have two holes drilled top to bottom.
I decorated the tiles with paper or stickers and ran a narrow cord through the holes to make a pendant.  The only jewelry findings I needed were jump rings to hang the dangles.  Easy Peasy !

Matchbox Necklaces

I got this idea from a book quite awhile ago. Enhance a matchbox and wear it as a pendant.  An advantage is that a matchbox is soft cardboard that is easily manipulated with a paper punch or even a sewing needle.  To me, the most intriguing question is : what is in the matchbox ?  You can put in a special keepsake, image, or even a tiny booklet. Naturally, you don't wear it open, but the item is there, close to your heart.  I made one for myself with my Father's picture inside.

 

Vernors Earrings

This is the second entry in the pop can series.  In case you are not from Detroit, Vernors is our native ginger ale. That is soda or pop, no kick except the ginger.  This little guy and the green and gold signs have been around town forever.

 

Orange Soda Necklace

This piece marks the start of a series for me. I have always been impressed when artists say something like that.  Now I got to say it. What a series means in this case is that I haven't done all the stuff I want to yet.


This is the pop can series.  I have been wanting to try metal work for awhile, but I'm reluctant to mess up the expensive  bits of metal that I bought. Instead I am going to experiment on the humble aluminum can and see what I can do.  It is also *way* more crafty to make something out of a pop can.

Cool, refreshing, bright, bubbly  and very very summer.

Spiky Necklace

Sometimes a project comes from within. Other times it is the material that calls out to me.   This is not my style at all, but these acrylic spikes just called my name.  I can see someone wearing these with a hot black dress while they are out clubbing.


The materials all come from Fire Mountain .

Simple Flower Necklace

I bought the focal flower for this so long ago I don't even remember what it is made from.
Anyway I strung it up for my Mom and here it is.

Leather and Bead Bracelets

Oh, my goodness !  Its been two months since I've posted.   I have been making a few things, just not taking pictures. No pictures, nothing to post.  We'll see if I can do a little better for awhile.


The first one is another wrap bracelet.  I made this one for myself.  I just love the mix of seed beads that seem to be made to wear with denim.

This one is a few beads on a bolo cord.  You can just see at the right where I wrapped a little leather cord to stop the beads from sliding.  The multi colored beads are wooden and hand painted. ( No, not by me.)

The last one is an interesting metal focal on narrow leather that has been doubled.  This time I used wooden beads to keep the lacing together.  The copper cord ends add to the look.                                      

St Patrick's Day

St Patrick's Day usually sneaks up on me. One day I'm out and oops !  I am not wearing my green.   I seem to remember from childhood that some people would pinch you if you weren't wearing green.

Here is a bunch of easy St Patrick's Day jewelry that will keep you out of trouble.


First, an emerald green bracelet.

Next, a charm on a green ribbon.

Last, little charms on a bit of chain.

Wooden Bead Necklace

This necklace has ethnic wooden beads and a few antiqued metal beads  strung on a leather cord.
It is in the casual jewelry category.  You can't see it in this picture, but the necklace is adjustable. I found a wooden bead that the two strands of leather fit just perfectly. Just pull on the bead to lengthen or shorten your necklace.

Red Leather Bracelet

This is another type of bracelet blank.  The leather bracelet is made like a belt and has holes pre-punched for adding beads.   Just sew on whatever beads you like.  How easy is that ?

Cross Bracelet

I love this curved cross focal and knew I had to have it.  I put it with a very simple strand of black leather.
It would also look stunning with black beads - especially faceted crystal.   I think my friend is going to love it.

Big Blingy Hoops

The one thing that was most requested in jewelry is big hoop earrings.  I had a pair of the hoops left from a previous project (I always buy extra, don't you ?) so I finished these up with small Swarovski crystals and blue pearlies.  I'm getting my practise in on loop making and its getting easier, if not as high quality as I would like.

Swarovski Rivoli Set

Swarovski has a whole line of crystal jewels and matching settings that make jewlery making very easy. .  You just glue the jewel into the setting and use it in your design.  I'm not usually one to wear big blingy things, but I love looking at them.  I made this bracelet and ring set for my nephew's girlfriend..  She's got kind of a punk edge to her so I used gunmetal settings instead of bright silver or gold.  I'm very pleased with how it turned out, but the picture is awful.  The rivolis are a great emerald green, not the dark shade you see here.

Leather Bracelets

I've been wanting to get into leather crafting for a long time.  It involves learning some new skills and rather a lot of tools and materials. This is my first attempt. There remains lots of room for improvements.

First up a couple of bracelet blanks painted and blinged up with rhinestones.

Next a successful experiment. I have some scrap leather in brown. I found that my rotary cutter goes through it like butter.  Then I attached  these domed brass dots.  You need to poke a hole in the leather with a knife, then insert the little pointy legs and bend them over.  I used the side of the  head of my hammer to roll down the points.  Leather snaps go on just as easily as on fabric, but you use a hammer and setting tool instead of setting pliers. Piece of cake.  I liked this piece so well that I kept it for myself.

So, look for more and better leather stuff to come.  I'm thinking beaucoup bracelets, checkbook covers, small bags and eventually, purses.

Cute Christmas Necklaces

I've been saying Christmas is coming and I'm not prepared.  Plan A seems to be too much to get done, so I'm going with plan B.  The pendants on these necklaces are from  Artchix.  All I had to do is hang them on a ball chain.  Done !

More Wrap Bracelets

I've tried some new things with this batch of wrap bracelets. One bracelet is two colors and others are three colors. Hopefully that gives the look of three bracelets together. I'm liking the bright springy colors here.  I will make more when the shipment of leather arrives.