Making Jewelry for Guys

Jake asked me to make him a necklace last Christmas.  I wanted to do something more than string a pendant on a piece of leather, especially because he goes for "shiny" things more than "rustic things".  I made the necklace below from 6 mm hematite beads strung with tiny black seed beads and a single nugget of pyrite. 

He wears it everyday so it was definately a hit!

Bead Soup has Arrived!

My partner, Cheryl McCloud, sent me a generous helping of

Bead Soup. 

Everything was neatly organized and labeled.  I emptied all the ingredients into a bowl and gave them a stir!

It looks like a great recipe and I'm anxious to try it!

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Cheryl sent some filigree beads that she enameled herself which are very pretty!  I love the pink accents.  She also made the

curvy copper clasp. 

Among my favorites are the sari silk,

the green ceramic house bead, and the tiny polka-dotted teapots!

Cheryl's blog is at www.cherylmccloud.blogspot.com. 

Be sure to check it out!

And its Orange!

I was anxious to make something from the beaded necklace I bought at Goodwill earlier this week (See my last post).  I took it apart, washed the beads, and then sorted them, taking out first the fleshy color beads I didn't like.  Then I kept playing with the mix of beads until I ended up with just the orange!  I made the necklace below thinking of my sister who is going to Cancun over Easter Break.  We had been shopping together and she bought two dresses for her trip, both with orange in them.  She said "I guess I like orange!"  I added some tiny sea shells, a sea shell pewter clasp, and a glass bead with waves and bubble-like splashes of color. 

Thrift Store Finds

Stopped at Goodwill today and looked through their $2.99 bags of jewelry.  I bought two.  One with "silver" pendants and dangles, and the other with a  long necklace. 

Turned out the round pendant in the picture below is silver, stamped 925.  The filigree flower is cool also but not silver.  Can't read what is stamped on the back other than the year 2009. 

Not sure why the necklace attracted me.  I do like most of the colors but not necessarily all together!  The beads that look white in the photo are actually lavendar.  Can't wait to make something out of it.

Bead Soup Blog Party

Signed up for Lori Anderson's 7th Annual Bead Soup Blog Party!  I am very excited!


www.beadsoupblogparty.com

Disc Cutter

My husband gave me a disc cutter for Christmas and I have been playing around with it a bit.  Here are a few samples.

Bead caps and a connector from a BoyScout popcorn tin   (sure am having a hard time with putting text where I want it today)                                 

These earrings are from a Christmas tin

and

The Leinie's were actually cut by hand before I got the disc cutter...

I just love those round bottle cap beads you see at bead shows.  I'm going to buy one soon.

Progress

I've added off-white Howlite beads to the Vintaj flower I had altered with patinas, added a Vintaj chain and wire wrapped beads in the colors of the patina.  I like how it looks but think it needs something else to be finished...