"Reminisce"

rem·i·nisce

Verb: Indulge in enjoyable recollection of past events

 

Obviously I haven't been in the mood to make jewelry for awhile since my last post was more than a month ago!  I was thinking about the wire crochet and what got me started in the beginning.  Some of my original inspiration was the wire crochet I saw on the  Galena Beads website.   In their words, "The combination of our designs has vintage charm with a contemporary spirit".   They offer workshops, but they're in Illinois, so there was no way I could attend one.  I was so interested in this technique that I contacted them and asked about the possibility of offering an online class.  They responded that it just wasn't possible at that time, but were kind enough to mail me one of their class handouts! 

 

With that in mind, I went back to the beginning and created this necklace with open chains and random groups of beads.  I used dark rose glass pearls and an antique rose seed bead mix on Vintaj bronze wire.

 

 

The pendant is a re-purposed item.  My Mom picked these up at Ace Hardware.  An inexpensive little item and the original purpose is to replace the knob on a lamp.  You unscrew the one that came on the lamp and screw this one on in it's place.  Much prettier and easier to grasp!  I thought it would also make a neat pendant, considering my attraction to keys!  I'm not much of a wire wrapper, but I did manage to accomplish wrapping a few beads around it to give it some extra interest and match the necklace.

 

I can't believe Summer is almost over.  We've had record heat, but are currently enjoying cooler temperatures and some much needed rain!  I hope all is well in your world!

 

~{Funny}Thought for Today~

 

‎5 DEADLY TERMS USED BY A WOMAN:

 

 (1) FINE: This is the word women use to end an argument when she knows she is RIGHT & YOU need to SHUT UP.

(2) NOTHING: Means SOMETHING & you need to be WORRIED.

(3) GO AHEAD: This is a dare, not permission, do NOT do it.

(4) WHATEVER: A woman's way of saying SCREW YOU.

(5) THAT'S OK: She is thinking long & hard on HOW & WHEN you will pay for your mistake.

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.

"Back to Nature" Wood Beads & Leather Necklace

For some reason lately I'm attracted to leather in jewelry.  Maybe it's the changing seasons.  I've never done much with it until lately.  I guess I'm going through  a leather phase!  I have a few other ideas I'd like to try, too.

  I crocheted this necklace with wood beads on bronze wire and attached a piece of brown leather on each side.   Matching earrings were made by adding a round wood bead and wood donuts to large bronze jumprings. 

~Today's Quote~

Stop every now and then.  Just stop and enjoy.  Take a deep breath.  Relax and take in the abundance of life.

~Unknown

"Au Naturale" Wood Necklace

This necklace is made with wood beads in assorted shapes and sizes and crocheted on bronze wire.  I finished it by stringing a row of beads on each side and attaching a wooden focal. 

I'm trying to get more creative with my photos because I just keep reading how important that is.  Ugh!  I take about a jillion pictures to get a few good ones!  My sister is the photographer in the family.  I wish I had her talent! 

I would love to know what works for you when it comes to taking pictures of your jewelry. 

Inside, Outside, Light box???  Any tips would be appreciated!

~Today's Quote~

The moment you stop saying "if" and start saying "when" is the moment your dreams start becoming a reality.

Short and Simple Autumn Jasper Necklace

Autumn Jasper makes you think of fall, but I also think the colors are "earthy" which makes it work any time of year.  There are three graduated strands of Autumn Jasper chips crocheted on Vintaj bronze wire.  It's simple but still one of my favorite styles.

  I didn't have a chance to make anything new this week and I plan to be gone for the rest of the week. (Yay! Get to make it a long weekend and take a little trip!)  I've gotten into the habit of posting once a week so I thought I'd share this one that I made awhile back. 

~Today's Quote~

It's true that we don't know what we've got until we lose it, it's also true that we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives.

Dragonflies for Mom

Wednesday was my Mom's birthday.  We celebrated with Dairy Queen ice cream cake, gifts, and lots of giggles!  Hope your day was happy, Mom!  We love you!!!

 I made this necklace & earrings especially for her because she likes Dragonflies. A "fried marble" is attached to the tail.  My granddaughter{Delaney} & I like to do crafty things together.  One day we fried marbles.  They turned out quite pretty & sparkly!  Delaney gave one of the marbles to Mom and she has saved it so I knew it would have special meaning on the necklace. 

I used Czech Fire Polished beads in "Moonlight Mist".  These are so pretty, aqua with bronze-y accents, which went perfectly with the Vintaj bronze wire.  I used a Vintaj Scrolled Filigree Ring & Art Deco Dragonfly, and used a Vintaj bead cap to attach the marble.  The earrings are Dragonfly Connectors with a "Moonlight Mist" dangle.

~Today's Quote is in Honor of my Mom~

"All that I am or hope to be I owe to my Mother."

~Abraham Lincoln

~♥~

"Penny"

This one is called "Penny" for obvious reasons! 

I used small seed beads, two cut 6/0 seed beads, and Czech Fire Polished beads, all in shades of copper on dark copper wire and added a small copper pendant.  I'm always drawn to copper.  It's just one of my favorites!

~Today's Quote~

If you don't like something, change it.

If you can't change it, change the way you think about it!

"Chelsea" Wire Crochet Necklace & Giveaway Winner

First, Congratulations to Amanda.  Your name was drawn for the bracelet giveaway!

This is a different style using the Autumn Jasper chips

and bronze wire.  When I added the bead cap to the bead

on the pendant I thought it looked like a little acorn!

~Today's Quote~

These words of wisdom come from my future son-in-law:

Tough times don't last, tough people do.

Smart guy, huh?

"Kyra" Autumn Jasper Wire Crochet Necklace

I wish it was April instead of October, but I do love the colors of fall!  Autumn Jasper is so pretty.

This is a nice chunky necklace.  It's heavily beaded with Autumn Jasper chips crocheted on bronze wire and loosely braided.  The large oval pendant is adorned with a little accent made from a Vintaj brass piece.

~Today's Quote~

"The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs."

~Charles de Gaulle

"Josie"

"Josie" is a mix of amber, bronze and antique gold. Glass seed beads and bugle beads are crocheted on bronze wire. I added a Vintaj natural brass filigree ring and a Czech fire polished bead attached with a large brass jumpring. This is one of my all time favorites!

~Today's Quote~

"A successful marriage requires falling in love many times

always with the same person."

~Mignon McLaughlin

"Autumn" Necklace

(Sigh) ... Summer is ending and we're beginning to feel fall in the air.

This necklace symbolizes the transition from summer to fall. It includes the bright green of summer and the colors of autumn- yellow, orange, red & bronze. There are six strands crocheted with glass beads on non-tarnish bronze wire. I used a brass leaf and a glass leaf shaped bead for the pendant.

~Today's Quote~

"Try to remember the kind of September

When life was slow and oh so mellow

Try to remember the kind of September

When grass was green and grain so yellow"

Do you remember this song? We used to sing it in chorus and I always loved it.