Sunday, August 12, 2012

It's Jewelry Making Time

Got up feeling good, so have worked all day in my office making jewelry. I am behind on the designs I want to get done. I do write them all down and sketch them out in my Idea Book, but if I don't get on them right away, I seem to let other things get in my way - like husband, housework, animals. Normal every day stuff!!


This bracelet is made with glass beads. They are brown with a splash of green, blue, black, tan, lavender and yellow running through the beads. I really like these beads, so decided a bracelet was in order. The small glass beads in between look brown and when the light hits them, they look somewhat purple. They were perfect for this bracelet. Normally I would put a gold toggle closure on here and not the silver. However, silver is such a great color with everything and I am seeing more silver closures than ever before. The bracelet is strung on tiger tail wire and crimped.


This is another glass bead bracelet. Some of these beads are vintage and were part of broken pieces that I kept after my mom died. It is strung on elastic that is just for jewelry. You will notice the two odd beads showing in the front - those are there to show you the back of the bracelet. That is where they bracelet is tied and glued. I put this there on several bracelets I made for a lady so she never had to worry about the bracelet 'breaking'. If it is in this location, it doesn't get as much pull on it, if it is elsewhere on the bracelet. It's just a matter of preference. Some ladies do not care anything about where it is put together.

Another one of those bracelets with the silver closure. The beads are glass. They are brown and the spacer beads I used are light amber. When the light hits those beads just right, they sparkle. This bracelet is put together like the first one.

Well, isn't this unusual?? I had a piece of cool looking lace that I use to glue on to glass bowls and jars and decided to try to make a bracelet with it. I cut a piece of memory wire and thread it through this lace. I made my 2 loops at the end of the memory wire and put a crystal bead on each loop. My plan is to make crystal bead dangles and hang throughout this bracelet. Tell me what you think of this design. I have never found anything like it anywhere. It is one that I would definitely wear.

This picture doesn't give this necklace a great look. Sorry about that. It is made with heavy glass beads. I put each bead on a eye pin and cut the end and looped it. Did this for all the beads. Then I got small gold jump rings and put all the pieces together. The four round beads in the front are totally different from the other beads. I used them as the focal. The closure is a gold grape leaf and the long piece that hooks into it, has a bunch of grapes stamped in the metal. If you wanted to, you can move this necklace some to get the closure showing on the side, then your four round beads would be on the side of the necklace. Just a different way to wear it.

You talk about unusual beads and color! These beads look pale pale pink with purple in them. Then, depending on the light, they look white and black. That's why I bought them! The bracelet is strung on stretchy elastic, is tied with a surgeon knot, glued and the ends are cut and pushed back through some beads. I plan to glue the beads together where it is tied.  Had just enough beads left to make a pair of earrings. They have a seed bead on the very end to keep the larger beads from coming off the wire.
How about this bracelet holder? Last year I bought some tulle to make tutus for some stuffed animals. Well, that didn't happen. So, I have recycled it today to help with my beads. These are two memory wire bracelets. They are singles because the tear drop beads couldn't take the pressure of the wrapping of the bracelet. It is a clear glass tear drop with a black glass bead and a lavender glass bead. The back almost comes together and it has the black and lavender beads off the bracelet loops. I may have to keep these. Don't know yet.
Isn't this neat looking? I made this using a large oval memory wire. I have a large wrist and this is perfect for me. It could also be used as an ankle bracelet. The 'pearls' are inexpensive so I used a dark brown and gold flower bead that's glass to give it an even better look. Each loop has a glass flower bead as a dangle. I had to take it apart 3 or 4 times before I got a pattern that I liked, then when I was on my last round, I realized I messed up on the pattern almost to the other end. So, I had to take it all apart and start over.
This bracelet is made from a broken vintage necklace. The stones and chain are over 35 years old.The stones are turquoise chips and the chains are a wonderful silver color. No tarnish. It is 3 strands linked with a silver toggle closure. I really like this bracelet. Just recycling more of mom's broken jewelry pieces.

I leave you with this 3D picture. My friend, Jim Bradshaw, and I loved this kind of art and was always sharing it when we found it online. Jim passed away several years ago and when I found this, I decided to post it for him.
Isn't this great? The bike is not balancing on the board. It is an illusion. People that saw this on FB thought she was crazy to be looking into that hole. That's what makes this art super! Several artist do this type of sidewalk art all over the world. Soon as I find some more, I will share with you.

Well, I will close for today and go feed the horses and goats. They are calling my name. Hope everyone has a great week!
In answer to some questions: Yes, I do sell some of my jewelry. Prices are very reasonable. You can email me at jghickman60@yahoo.com, find me on etsy.com at JansCollections, or I am on Pinterest at Jan Hickman.
 Until next time - Be Safe! Don't text and drive!

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