My Old Bracelet

I got this old bracelet at a craft show one time.  The bracelet was just a simple elastic, strung with aqua coloured semi-precious stones.  I liked the bracelet for its simplicity and the colour of the stones.  However, it sat in my drawer for quite a while, barely being worn.  I decided to take the beautiful beads from the bracelet and create something new.  I decided on a necklace - sort of a French vintage feel.  Below is what I came up with:

The only problem was that I still wasn't happy!  I felt unsure about the three strands so I changed it again:

K.  I think I'm happy now.  

Hair-Brained Idea!

Here's a great way to use those vintage necklaces you may have lying around in your jewelry box.  Or maybe your mother has a few lying around.  Either way, I've found a few great pieces here and there and attached an elastic to create an ultra girly, ultra pretty headband.  Have you found great ways to repurpose old jewelry?  If so, I'd love to see some of your ideas!

 

This hair accessory was made using a really cool pendant that I wasn't sure what to do with.  A necklace design just wasn't coming to mind when I looked at it.  So, I decided it would make a great statement piece in my hair!  Big and bold.

Heavy Metal

Well... not that heavy!  I conjured these metalicious pieces during a bit of a slump in my creative process.  So, I made a feeble attempt at a steampunk-inspired set of earrings, and a "now" set of chain earrings.  I love the look of mixed metals - the antique bronze with the silver.  I was wishing I would have had some gold chain to throw in there too.  Unfortunately, I've never worked with gold (just a personal preference), so I didn't have any in my supply.  I think I'm going to change that, however.  Gold is cool. 

Metal Rocks! Necklace

Chained Up Earrings

Clockwork Earrings

Swarovski Crystal Earrings

Retro Rocks!

Remember the hideous earrings from the 80's?  If you're my age, you probably had a pair or two.  I found these interesting earrings and decided they had some potential.  I'm not 100% sure they are all from the 80's - they could be older.  Nontheless, they're dated and they needed a little sprucing.  Rather than trash them, I thought they'd be awesome as rings.  What do you think?

Spring Fever

The bright hues of these natural seed pods screamed for me to make something with them.  Indigenous to the Phillipines, the Cedrella Calantas Pod seeds are extremely lightweight.  On their own, these pods really didn't excite me.  Put together, however, they created these beautiful, flower-like bracelets.  In fact, the pods look a little like Dahlia petals.  I'd say the bright, bo-ho colours are perfect for this spring.  The bracelets are fun, light, easy and bold; they definitely make me smile.

Mixed Metals

I love the look of mixed up metals.  For the longest time, I thought silver should go with silver and gold with gold.  Recently, though, I started mixing my metals.  Why not mix silver with gold or antique brass?  It lends interest to the pieces and it still goes with just about everything.  Check out the earrings below:

Au Naturel

Most people that know my style know that I love, love, love all (ok, most) natural components.  Nature offers crafters a huge variety of colour, shape and texture for our creative minds.  Personally, I love shell, horn, wood and bone.  I also love seeds and nuts because of their texture, versatility and unique quality.  I created this full, bauble necklace to showcase all of the above elements at work in a natural way.  Of course, I had to add some glass pearls for that feminine touch.  In addition to the natural elements stated above, I've also used some very organic-looking clay and recycled glass beads. 

A Blue V-Day

Who says Valentine's Day has to be all pink and red?  In celebration of this special day, I decided to put together this icy blue pearl and glass bead necklace.  The beautiful blue, faceted glass beads come from The Bead Boutique, a supply store found on King St. in Kitchener, ON.  If you're in the area, you should definitely check it out:  http://www.the-bead-boutique.com/. Or check out their facebook page: The Bead Boutique.



Vintage Bits and Pieces

This bracelet was inspired by another bracelet I had seen that used vintage bits to make a simple, yet beautiful piece.  I had inherited most of the components of this bracelet from family.  However, an number of the pieces came from my own collection, gathered over the years.  I love this bracelet, for its unique, one-of-a-kind and sentimental quality.  I hope you will too!

Lovely Lucite

I haven't done anything with Lucite for a while, but I fell in love with these daffodil beads from JJ Bugs Beads www.jjbugsbeads.etsy.com.  I knew I had to do something with them.  Here's my pink Valentine Bauble necklace, which can be found at Faux Creations & Delectables in Milverton, ON.  Visit http://twitter.com/fauxcreations for information on this beautiful new store!

Vintage Clip-Ons Get a Makeover

Remember those clip-on earrings from the past?  Some of them are super pretty, so I knew they had to be good for something.  (By the way, do they even make clip-ons anymore?)  They conveniently come in pairs, which is why I thought they'd make great bobbies.  Check them out:

I'm always looking for rhinestones for that extra sparkle. If anyone has any old clip-ons they no longer want or need, just contact me at ladyluxedesigns@yahoo.ca.  I'd love to repurpose them into something special!