What's in a name...

Work has been progressing slowly on the new, as-yet-unnamed necklace (inspired by this piece). Not necessarily because the work is particularly hard (although it is time-consuming) but because I just haven't had much time available to work on it. I'm thinking hard on a name for this piece - any ideas?

So, I have the first section completely beaded!

First, I covered the entire piece in freeform beadweaving...

 

Then I added a peyote ruffle that runs from top to bottom. It's a little hard to see in 2-D but here are a few shots...

 

Let me know what you think so far! Questions and comments are welcome! :)

...and we're off!

So, work was started in earnest on the new necklace last night starting by salvaging beads from the grouping of vintage jewelry and such that I had gathered to be part of the "bead soup".

Here are photos taken throughout the evening as I worked on the piece - check the captions of each for more info re: what's happening in each step:

The salvaged beads!

A super-duper bead soup made by mixing most of the seed beads together

The sections of the base necklace I plan on using for the piece

First, I trace each piece onto the reclaimed leather backing

Here are all the pieces traced

The pieces cut out and numbered in the order I will bead them - in case I run out of one color of seed beads, I can add in more. This will create an ombre effect in the piece rather than looking like "Hey, she must have run out of that color bead right here!" type of thing. :)

The start of the beading...

First trip around, finished!

Gluing the necklace piece to the leather.

Where I stopped for the night - the edges are worked in peyote up the sides and I've just started adding the "special" beads.

Side view

So, I'm off and running! Let me know what you think so far! :)

New (and Improved!) Bead Soup - Now ALL RECLAIMED!

OK, so... yesterday I shared a new bead soup with you but was being apologetic about the bronze size 15/0 seed beads. You see, I am trying to make all of my jewelry creations using truly second-hand and salvaged beads and components but I had bought those particular beads in a bead shop so they didn't really "count". Then, while cleaning off my studio table, I found a vintage necklace (part of a jewelry lot bought on eBay) made of size 15/0 seed beads in a color so perfect for the bead soup! Yay!

So, it was out with the bronze metallic beads and in with the pretty taupe ones! The only trouble with that is that there was suddenly a real lack of color and contrast so I forged ahead and continued to dig through my stash.... and found another perfect necklace to salvage and add to the mix!

This necklace, from the same lot of jewelry as the taupe necklace, was made from multiple strands of beads: seed beads in several colors, amber glass chips, sage green glass rounds... absolutely perfect for this bead soup! Now the bead soup is made up of entirely reclaimed materials and the variations of color and texture will make for an interesting piece with lots of depth and contrast...

The palette is mostly gold, amber, taupe, and brown with silver, shades of dusty purple, sage green and maybe just a dash of orange thrown in...

The new and IMPROVED bead soup! :)

New Bead Soup - Almost all RECLAIMED!

Here is a new bead soup pulled together expressly to cover the new Lucite necklace base that just arrived on my doorstep a couple days ago. While pulling this soup together, I pulled as much as I could from reclaimed and second-hand sources. Here's a peek:

From left to right are the materials and the source for each:
- The bag of mixed silver metal beads was a thrift store find.
- 4 tubes of seed beads - only one of which was bought in a bead shop. The others were found at thrift stores or garage sales.
- A seed bead necklace and earrings (with the large silver beads) - bought as part of a lot of necklaces from eBay.
- The freshwater pearls (a necklace and stretchy bracelet) were found at a garage sale.
- 2 bags of seed beads, also found at a thrift store.

So, of all the items I intend to use in this piece, only one was purchased by me from an actual bead shop: the bronze metallic size 15/0 seed beads. While you can find tons of jewelry from which to salvage size 6/0 and size 11/0 seed beads and sometimes you can find size 8/0 seed beads, size 15/0 seed beads just don't show up very often, unfortunately.

Here are a few more shots of the bead soup:

I'm looking forward to getting to work on this new piece and super excited to be using mostly reclaimed and second-hand beads. I would love to hear about any projects in which you have used reclaimed materials - and is certainly doesn't have to be beadwork or jewelry. Please share your story in the comments and be sure to include links to photos or blog posts about those creations! I'd love to hear more about them... and you! :)

New Ingredients added to the mix! Yay!

Since I've started brewin' up new jewelry creations from vintage finds, I have been having way too much fun gathering new ingredients (aka. wholesale lots of jewelry!). This bunch of beauties came from KattsLair on Etsy. Here's a big bunch of beauty that arrived on my doorstep a few days ago. Now all I need is some time and space to get cooking! :)

All the new "ingredients"

Hmmm... What to do with these Native-style beaded pieces?

 

Love that dusty pink Lucite next to the sage green glass beads

This necklace is made entirely of antique brass bead caps!

More Lucite... and in such a lovely shade of turquoise.

Two New Necklaces - Panthera Regale and Tropic of Cancer

I made two new necklaces today - the first is called "Panthera Regale"...

"Panthera Regale" is a mixed media statement necklace made using bits of new and vintage jewelry and found objects. It was inspired by the leopard pendant in an antiqued brass finish. I instantly thought of the Indian Subcontinent - leopards, elephants, palaces and the maharaja - and wanted to make something fit for royalty but not necessarily opulent.

With that in mind I chose the sweet elephant charm and a color palette of antiqued brass, gold, red and cerulean blue with some touches of amber tossed in. Other materials used in making "Panthera Regale" include a lovely vintage brass swirl (this is a mystery piece and has been in my stash for a few years. I have no idea what it's supposed to be!), vintage red glass beads, beaded drops and upcycled gold and brass chain. The many drops and fringes of chain give this piece lots of movement - it is fun to wear and will attract lots of admiring attention! The links of the necklace chain easily accommodate the lobster clasp so the necklace length is adjustable up to 18".

The other is called "Tropic of Cancer"...

"Tropic of Cancer" is a mixed media statement necklace made using bits of new and vintage jewelry and found objects. It all started with the green enameled crab charm and went from there. The crab is surrounded by elegant shades of gold and bronze to make "Tropic of Cancer".

Besides the enameled crab pendant, other items (all reclaimed!) used in the making of "Tropic of Cancer" include: vintage chain, vintage filigree and rhinestone drops, a beaded bracelet and tassels fashioned from filigree bead caps and sections of chain. The necklace can be worn in lengths ranging from 16" to 19" but the length can be extended upon request.

Angel Fish Rumba - Even MORE Summery Goodness!

"Angel Fish Rumba" is a mixed media statement necklace made using bits of new and vintage jewelry and found objects. It all started with the pretty angel fish pendant and went from there. The color palette of gold, tangerine orange and lime green brings to mind lounging on a tropical beach - preferably with a fancy cocktail in-hand!

Besides the angel fish pendant, other items (all reclaimed!) used in the making of "Angel Fish Rumba" include: vintage chain, vintage filigree drops, vintage filigree bead caps, vintage acrylic beads in shades of tangerine and lime green, gold tone spacer beads and a necklace centerpiece. The necklace can be worn in lengths ranging from 16" to 19" but the length can be extended upon request.

Also available are these fun, dangle earrings that are a perfect complement to "Angel Fish Rumba"...

Green Gecko Holiday - Summery Goodness!!

"Green Gecko Holiday" is a mixed media statement necklace made using bits of new and vintage jewelry and found objects. It all started with the funny green gecko charm and went from there. The color palette of gold, orange, shades of green and turquoise brings to mind sunny summer days - and there's a cute little gecko along for the ride!

Besides the gecko charm, other items (all reclaimed!) used in the making of "Green Gecko Holiday" include: vintage chain, reclaimed charms and beads, a gold bead necklace and vintage orange Lucite "crystals". The necklace can be worn in lengths ranging from 16" to 19" but the length can be extended upon request.

Also available are these sweet dangle earrings in Teal and Lime Green - a wonderful complement to the "Green Gecko Holiday" necklace!

Sunflower

"Sunflower" is a mixed media statement necklace made using bits of new and vintage jewelry and found objects. The beautiful centerpiece for the pendant started life as a brooch. It came to me missing all but one rhinestone and I thought that was absolutely perfect!

Besides the flower brooch centerpiece, other items (all reclaimed!) used in the making of "Sunflower" include: vintage chain, vintage Lucite acorn drops, links from a vintage bracelet and vintage acrylic beads in swirled shades of amber. The necklace can be worn in lengths ranging from 18" to 20" but the length can be extended upon request. It comes with the matching dangle earrings - they have a drop of 1 3/4".