Acorn Earrings -the story of their birth

So I was at my favorite store, Goodwill, last week and I saw this most excellent necklace. Unfortunately, a couple of stones were missing. I was undaunted and bought my newly prized item. The first thing I did was break apart the components. There was a total of five. Three looked great so I remade them into a bracelet that is now on sale at Etsy.

The other two were the ones with missing stones. After shuffing through a few different stones and talking with my DTeam on Etsy, I decided to go with a couple of faceted glass beads.  They were a bit translucent and needed a punch up.  I glued them into place and waited for them to dry. Then flipping over to the back, which was open, I painted a dark grey blue over the crystal. Once that was dry, I used Diamond Glaze over the paint to seal it all in.

By now, most if it looked good. The only part of the pieces that didn't fit well was the area where once there was a connector. So, I used 20 guage wire and wrapped that area to build it up to the same thickness as the rest.

This is the final piece.

These will be on sale on Etsy real soon!

Bracelets OMG!

I have forgotten how fun and easy it is to make a bracelet or six.
Here's what I've come up with so far.

Faceted agate with red dyed quartz. This picture doesn't do it justice.

Found the great neckace with missing stones. Repurposed it in to this fabulous bracelet.

Lightweight and fun. This plastic necklace is ready for fall!

The colors of this reminds me of indian corn. Or maybe I just have fall on the brain. Is made of moukaite and red dyed quartz.

Lightweight plastic faceted beads in a great alternating pattern.

Imitation red coral. Who said that coral was just for summer? This one is ready to rock Halloween.

Recent Dallyings

Wooden Necklace with Pearl Accents

And matching earrings.

I love this one. Might just have to keep it!

Jasper, dyed quartz, and pearls with antiqued brass.

This one is really pretty on. Antique brass scarab with real turquoise and dyed quartz.

Rocking heavy metal on this one. It was lots of fun to make.

I've got a silver one just about done, too.

Now should this be named "The Eyes Have It", "I Have My Eye on You", or "Eye'm Scared"?

Dyed quartz, black glass and brown crackle glass with antiqued brass.

A side of cranberries, anyone?

Dyed calcite (?) and dyed quartz.

Real turquoise and copper.

Blue Batik Flowers Crochet Necklace

I had so much fun with the first batik necklace I made another. This one had more jewel-tones.

I really should sit down and write a tutorial on this. I'll put that on my list of things to do once my daughter returns to school and I can have a thought process longer than 3 minutes.

You can find this on Artfire, the link is to the left.  Tell others if you like. I'd appreciate it.

Jasper Bib Necklace

Remember these stones? They have a new and happier home with ocean jasper in this choker bib necklace.

It's so nice to be able to repurpose stones into something like this. Will be available soon on Etsy with better pictures. (I've got beach on the brain.)

Single Stone on a Chain Dangle Earrings

I had matching stones that just begged to be made into beautiful jewelry that you can enjoy soon on Etsy.

What gemstone is this?

I love going to thrift stores. There's no other way I'd get a Lilly dress for my daughter for $2.59. Well, today I came across this necklace. I know it's something nice or will be once the worn metal beads are replaced but, what is it? I have a hard time discerning between agate and jasper.

I'm already thinking about what to do. I'm silly with excitement!

Batik Crochet Necklace

With crafting, I've got to try everything at least once. This is my first attempt to made a crocheted necklace using strips of batik fabric. It was fun. I think I'll do it again.

Crochet Brooches

Recently I was at a friend's house and she had these straw made shapes that she didn't know how to use. Instantly, I thought they looked like leaves so I had to get some myself.

Once I started, I couldn't stop. Now I'm at the point of having too many flowers with no leaves so I'm playing with different ideas of how to make leaves. I just finished these last night. The "official" pics will come later. I just HAD to show you.

Hemp and other tie-worthy cords

I've been using a lot of old knowledge this past week. Macrame, or as it's being called now, hemp jewelry. Ha! I've been having fun with it too. Just wish these old hands could use the 4-8mm cord I used back in the day.

Does turquoise every go out of style? Nah! Here it is paired with royal blue.

Red is good anytime. This time with yellow agate and fire polished Czech beads.

Crystal chips, frosted fire polished Czech beads and glass bead accents.

Can anyone say, "hand cramp!?"

I love these flower beads. And they look so good with the antique brass.

I love amethyst.

Vintage bracelet design and background

I was the 4th child and the 3rd daughter in my family. As a result I got a lot of hand me downs over the years. Some of them I wish I had like the original Barbie in the black and white stripe bandeau bathingsuit. Some of them I don't understand how I kept like my wrought iron cobbler stand. And some of them I cherish like the jewelry pieces.

Mom still has her nice jewelry. What I got were the dimestore items and trinkets from vacations long past. The elastic in the bracelet broke as the bead string on the necklaces and I kept what beads I could. Years passed and during them, I would find something at a yard sale or Goodwill that would remind me of the original jewelry piece now broken. I started collecting them and soon I had quite a collection.

I've sorted through and made several pieces. This is one of them. I've had lots of fun making this bracelet and might find myself just keeping it.