Fun Necklace from an Antique Watch Fob

I can't believe it's been nearly two months since my last post.  I've been crocheting a lot and had a booth at the Pecanfest last month.  I did really well selling my jewelry and scarves.  My sister took what I had left to work with her and sold every one of my scarves!  Thanks, Ladies!

My sister has this really neat antique watch fob from the Hamilton Brown Shoe Co. It belonged to her father-in-law and she wanted to put it on a necklace.  It has a compass on it.  How cool is that?

The back says "Always in the right direction with TWINKIES. Happy shoes for busy feet."  Cute!

We went shopping and picked out the supplies to make it.  I love shopping with my sister and that we like the same things!  We got brass chain, a Vintaj key charm, small Vintaj word charms and a "hook clasp" to hang the "fob".  I had already looked and thought that would be a neat way to hang it.  She walked over and picked out the same thing!

"A sister can be seen as someone who is both ourselves and very much not ourselves - a special kind of double."

 ~Toni Morrison

Here's to a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!

Jewelry making with my Granddaughter

I've seen a few things about making "fingerprint" jewelry with clay.  My granddaughter and I love to craft together and I thought this would be a fun project for us.  She was here yesterday and we made this necklace for her Mama.

We pressed black clay into a metal frame and she inked her thumb with silver pigment ink and pressed it into the clay.  She used letter stamps on the back to personalize it with her initials and the date and added a bedazzler jewel.  Much to our surprise, everything worked perfectly the first time....no redos!  We baked it and sealed it, then added it to a chain.  She picked out a peace sign charm and a crystal to add.  She's really into peace signs so I think it will be a special reminder of this time in her life.  We had a good time making it together and her Mom loved it!

~Today's Quote~

HAPPINESS is when you've gotten really good at being you.

Blogging with Artbeads ~ What's Old is New Again!

"Who will hold the key?"

Artbeads' blogging challenge this time was "What's Old is New Again".  For this theme we were asked to "seek inspiration from the past by incorporating old, vintage or antique items into your designs and combine them with modern elements."  I love this theme and you would think with all the junk good stuff I've got around here I would have thought of something right away.  I thought and thought and couldn't come up with anything that I wanted to use.  On a flea market trip with a friend, I found these chandelier prisms.  The design fell into place when Artbeads featured the little heart and key charms on their blog.
I ♥ them!

I was able to make a matching necklace, bracelet and earrings from the supplies I received.  I used Vintaj bronze wire and antique brass findings.

The necklace is long, about 28".  The shorter strand is crocheted with a small hook and the 5mm crystals, then pulled tight to resemble an old chain.  I added the smaller prism from the chandelier crystals and dangled the charms from it.  The longer strand is spool knitted with the 6mm crystals so it would be a little heavier for the large prism which is connected with an "intricate scroll" bail.  The "round glass box clasp" has a sparkly glass center and is a perfectly "antique" finish! 

For the bracelet, I used the 5mm and 6mm crystals and added a crocheted loop closure.  It fastens around another of the small prisms.

For the earrings, I used "curly triangle" chandeliers and added simple crystal drops.

These next two pictures show a little more of the details including the clasp, the bail, and the words on the charm.

You can find all of these components at Artbeads in the following sections:

Swarovski crystal beads:  5mm & 6mm Swarovski crystals

 Charms:  Heart Quote Charm and Key

Findings:  box clasp, bail, chandelier earring findings, earwires, jump rings

I give a big "thumbs up" to all of the things I received! 

Thank you, Artbeads!

Disclosure: I am a Blogging for Beaders partner with Artbeads. The above noted items were provided to me free of charge, to be used for design purposes, or for my honest review of them. I have not been paid for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received.

Giveaway Winner & Spring Celebration Bracelet

It's time to announce the winner of the giveaway.  I'd like to thank everyone who bared their soul so we could get to know you a little better!  I was touched & inspired by your comments and even giggled at some of them! 

And the Winner is.....Tish! 

 Send me an e-mail with your address and I'll get the necklace in the mail to you!

I think Spring may have finally arrived! 

 The grass is green and daffodils are blooming!

This bracelet celebrates spring with it's green and yellow theme and little bird charm. 

Have a Happy Easter!

~Today's Quote~

"Daffodils"

I WANDER'D lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the Milky Way,

They stretch'd in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed -- and gazed -- but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

By William Wordsworth (1770-1850).

A Charm for Vila

I was so touched when I read the post written by Christine Damm on her blog, "Stories They Tell".  Her sister-in-law has leukemia.  She is creating a charm bracelet to send to her to let her know that they are thinking of her every day and to send her positive energy, something to make her smile.  She is asking for handmade charms to add to the bracelet. 

This is an excerpt from her blog post:

"Here's what I would like: Contribute a charm that is handmade by you-- that's the only stipulation. The charms can be anything, any theme, any color, any material, any technique but about 1” X 1/2” would be ideal. Send your creation to me and then I'll attach it to a nice chain that will become a charm bracelet with everybody's charm on it. The energy created in making the charm is what I'm after-- it doesn't have to be perfect, or expensive or elaborate. It could be resin, or metal or polymer clay or fiber or layered paper."

The blogging community is a wonderful community!  She says she has already been blown away by the response.  If you would like to send a charm or just read the full post, you can find it here.

That being said, I wanted to send a charm.  I don't make a lot of  components, but I do some metal stamping.  I'm sending this textured metal washer stamped with the word "Faith".  I hope that it will in a small way help her through this tough time.