A Garden Memory Necklace

First up, our Vintaj Arte Metal and Brass charm winner is Kade. Please email Heather (me) your address and I will send this awesome prize pack out to you!

I created another gift for my daughter that she wore to her holiday concert this year. It's a lovely garden inspired piece layered with charms and pendants. I will walk you through my design tips for this necklace. Again, the Arte Metal from Vintaj can be find exclusively at Hobby Lobby and they do have an online shop.

The first part of the pendant starts with a patina pendant from Miss Fickle Media. Use a large jump ring on the disk pendant to attach the smaller jump rings. Using jump rings I attached a Vintaj Skeleton Key and a dangle of a Czech glass flower.

Next up, to relate to the patina pendant I took a two leaf dangle and used an acrylic paint dabber in a light green to give it a faux patina. After it dried I put a protective layer of Renaissance wax. This pendant and a bird were also attached on jump rings.

Another glass flower was added to the charm cluster.

To accent the pendant component of the necklace I used gunmetal chain, job's tear seed beads in light white/pink hue, polymer clay disk beads, rhinestone rondelles and fire-polished glass. I choose the job's tear beads for frosty hue and that they relate to the garden being seeds themselves.

The complete necklace with asymmetrical placement of the seeds and polymer clay links. A simple lobster claw clasp ends the design.

PMC Button Bracelet Project

I was tickled to death when the PMC button post for my July 31st Studio Saturday had such a warm reception!

Several friends emailed me and asked about the bracelet using the Sea Urchin button with patina-ted brass chain and suede strapping.

Well, here it is! Stepped out with photos so you can create your own version! Think of the variety you can achieve with this simple pattern; different chain, several chains, different colors of suede and leathers and so many different buttons to make comfortable, durable hand crafted jewelry with.

What you need;
1 Shank button
1 Shell bead (the one I used is widely available from retail craft and bead shops)
7 to 8 inches 5mm Brown Suede leather strapping from Lilysoffering.etsy.com
4 to 5 inches 6mm Weathered Patina brass chain from moi
8 to 10 inches 22 gauge dead soft antiqued sterling silver wire
Scissors
Chain nose pliers
Round nose pliers
Flush cutters

 Step 1 - Decide on the measurement for the completed bracelet. The bracelet shown is 7.5".
Cut 4" of the 22 gauge antiqued sterling silver wire and create a wire-wrapped loop on the button shank.

Step 2 - Slide on the shell bead and wire-wrap the opposite side of the wire to the 4" piece of patina-ted chain.

Step 3 - To create a nice fit of looped suede over the button, I test before knotting by holding the suede over the button. Keeping your fingers where the button measured on the suede, tie an overhand knot and pull the knot towards the open ends of the suede to tighten it. 

Step 4 - Once the suede loop is formed and slides easily over the button, place the two lose ends of suede into the last link of the patina-ted chain and fold them over. Hold out your bracelet to make sure the folded section of suede is on the inside of the bracelet.

Step 5 - Cut another 4" piece of the sterling silver wire and wrap it tightly over the folded suede. To do this evenly, I start with the middle of the wire and wrap both ends simultaneously until I come to the ends of the wire. Tuck the sharp ends of the wire into the wire-wrapping with your chain nose pliers to prevent the wearer from being scratched.

You're done! Add dangling beads from the chain and the suede for a fancier version or just enjoy the simpler version as I am. You could also add large holed beads to the doubled section of the suede before wire-wrapping the ends to the chain or weave a thin silk ribbon into the chain links for an added punch of color!

Have a great time creating!

Much Love & Respect,
Shannon

missficklemedia.com

Book Review -- Living the Creative Life

I just finished reading the book "Living the Creative Life" by Rice Freeman-Zachery.


When I first opened the book, I felt immediately intimidated by the artists featured. THESE are ARTISTS, I thought. What the heck am I?

First, their art is fantabulous. Exquisite, unique, and ground-breaking. Second, their studios are divine. Beautiful fabulous places that are portals to creative energy.

Then I started reading. In addition to information about the specific artists and what make them tick, the book offers little vignettes of wisdom that can actually be used -- things like immersing yourself in color by picking up paint samples of every color at the hardware store, or making a list for a day of all the things you saw, smelled, or heard.

(An abandoned bee hive I found... what will it trigger?)

This is the sort of book that you can pick up and put down as needed just as easily as you can read it cover to cover. It's a great book for any artist to have on hand to refer back to when they're having a stagnant time (that would be me right now!), and the visuals are just excellent.

Highly recommended! Click here to buy it on Amazon.com.