BUSY AT THE DESIGN TABLE

 Did you think I had just dropped off the face of the earth? I realize I haven't had a blog in months. Well,  I had a problem with uploading my pictures, so I paid to add more space for photo storage on my blog. Several months have gone by and I couldn't upload anything. I got desperate and decided to delete some blogs and photos to see if that would help and NO it didn't.

Anyway, I am here to share some of my newest designs. The first one is a bracelet made with glass beads. The square beads are from red to brown in color and my accent beads are red. I used a toggle closure and made a dangle to the bracelet. All the jewelry here is available at JansCollections at etsy.com.

 My friends, Jessica and Cindy, took me shopping and I ran across the beads for the bracelet on the left. I added some vintage black crystal beads at the end on each side. Used a toggle closure for this bracelet also. I love the red and black. This would work for daytime and out for the evening.

 This necklace on the left I made several months ago and didn't have earrings for it. I found a bracelet piece that you would use for a 5 strand and used that as my earring base. I love the way this looks. In fact, if you didn't want to have earrings, you could take them off their ear wire and use a jump ring to add one to your necklace.

This is my very latest bracelet design. I used a bright silvertone chain bracelet and got busy putting glass beads on headpins, so I would have 'charms.' The beads are a yellow green and the larger beads are a medium brown. Then, I got my heart charms and put them on the bracelet. I may go back and add a few more beads. I like lots of beads.

 OK, you can tell, I love dangle and chandelier earrings. These are silvertone and the pearl beads are a light lavendar color. The crystal beads are an irredescent color. They are a 2" dangle not counting the piece they are connected to. The irredescent beads are from broken jewelry pieces that mom saved. I look at the jewelry I have made and know that she would wear each piece proudly. Wish I had been doing this while she was alive.

 The chandelier earrings on the right were so much fun to make. I special ordered the silvertone piece and then started adding the glass beads. They are aqua square beads with clear crystal beads.

By the way, I make almost all of my earring cards. They may not be as heavy as the ones you buy, but I like them better.

 MEMORY WIRE BRACELET:
You know how crazy I am about memory wire bracelets. Why? Because I have a big wrist and they fit perfectly. Then, if someone with a smaller wrist wants to wear it, they can.

Notice the turquoise cross I added to the end. Some of these beads are vintage.

 Check out this 24" necklace. The beads are acrylic and are connected together with jump rings. I used small glass beads on each end of the larger beads. Notice the silvertone toggle closure.

 Heart Chandelier Earrings:
All glass beads. Some are vintage and the others are new. The colors are: yellow, orange, red, and gold. Love them with the silver heart connector. They are a five dangle and are 2" not counting the heart connector piece.

This last memory wire bracelet is made from vintage beads that belonged to my mom. My daughter, Sheri, asked that I design a bracelet with matching earrings from these beads. Well, since I don't make anything alike (thus, they are one of a kind), I had to design the jewelry for 5 women and my great granddaughter. I got the job done and I think they were pleased with their jewelry.

 

For family, I only do this if I am sure they wear jewelry. Even though I don't wear it every day, I love making it. Since I am home most of the time, it helps keep me busy.

 

Hope you enjoy the post. Feel free to leave me suggestions and comments. I post to Facebook and welcome you to share my blog with your friends. You can also find me on Pinterest.

 

Until next time, be safe and don't text and drive! Jan Hickman