When we moved into the house on Literary Lane five years ago I had envisioned storing my jewelry on top of my dresser in open displays and on cute, quirky dishes and bowls. Everything in front of me. So boho, so freeform! Something like this but without the chippy looking dresser: And after 5 days my lovely display looked like this, which is how it pretty much remained until last month. For Christmas I pinned a modular jewelry box system to my wishlist -- by the way if your people ...
Anniversary gifts
Today is our fifth wedding anniversary! Who knows where the time goes... To celebrate our 10 years living together and 5(!!) years married, we bought some gifts. The the modern gift for the fifth anniversary is silverware. It just so happened that WM bought me a silver locket! It's a lovely piece and when I wear it, it's difficult not to open it and say "SEE HOW CUTE WE ARE?!?!?" to everyone around me. I resist, though. I'll leave the weird, gloaty stuff to another embarrassing ...
Beach bum necklace
The older I get, the more Jersey pride I have. Maybe I'm trying to compensate for our size, our reputation, or our Governor. (Whom I voted for. Twice. Yeah.) In any case, I love my little Garden State. I even have a NJ Pinterest board! Two weeks ago, WM and I were at the Collingswood Mayfair and I saw the most creative jewelry idea! You might remember that I used to make jewelry as a hobby. I'll get back to it someday, I suppose. But I've seen so many copycat products that I got a little ...
Bead Fest 2014
I'm pretty lucky that Bead Fest, "the largest bead and jewelry-making event on the east coast" is about an hour and ten minutes away from where I live. Mom and I head out every year and I spend too much money. I don't take any classes, because they are so very pricey. I can't fathom spending over around $200 for a class and still having to bring my own supplies. I know the classes are hours long and the instructors are top-notch and there is a kit included. But that money hurdle seems really ...
Stupid beading tricks: more earrings
Inspired by Pinterest, I headed back to the bead table to crank out some earrings. I really like orange, turquoise and brass together. The bee earrings are adorable and even though I gifted them already, I have materials to make my own pair so I jusssssssssst might do that. The purple earrings were a *#^@!! to make. I know what I wanted them to look like, and I see earrings in just that design in every store, but actually getting the crimps in the right place was an exercise in frustration. ...
Stupid beading tricks: Sprite bracelet
A few years ago at Bead Fest Philadelphia* I bought two bottle cap beads because I thought they were the most unique and happy beads ever. And they are! But I had no idea what to use them for. I finally forced myself to use one in a bracelet. I used gray waxed Irish linen to tie two strands of green beads and one string of clear glass rounds together. I still don't know if I like it or not. *Bead Fest is amazing. Just amazing. I can't wait. I don't even take classes. I just walk up and down ...
Stupid beading tricks: Orange flower
I bought this enameled pendant from Jade Scott back in 2012, and of course all of the ideas I had for it disappeared as soon as I received it. So I saved it. And waited. And waited. One night, the little orange seed beads in one of my bead boxes grabbed my attention. I used some antique brass half-hard wire to create a chain, and then I added the pendant. But it didn't look right. I let it sit some more, and realized I had teal round beads (probably dyed glass) that matched the flower petals. ...
Stupid beading tricks: Bridal set
A month or so back, one of my coworkers asked if I could make her a bracelet and a set of earrings for her upcoming beach wedding in Mexico. I said sure, no big. Okay. I said, "OMG SERIOUSLY ARE YOU CRAZY? ME? OKAY!!??!?!" She wanted something dainty and beachy. OKAY!! I created five sample earrings and two small lengths of bracelets for her, and let her choose what she wanted. This is the finished product: The pearls are crystal pearls, because real pearls are wickedly expensive and I am ...
Stupid beading tricks: blue bracelet
Another of my dorking-at-the-bead-table creations. It's pretty, if a bit heavy. I have no plans for it at the moment. Maybe it'll go toward stock for the someday-store. ...
Stupid beading tricks: Dangly earrings
I'm doing really well at hitting my bead table (not with my head) every weekend and working with the stash I have. Coworker D is headed to Florida for vacation, so I whipped up these beachy earrings that match one of her dresses. And these I kept for myself. I was afraid they'd be heavy, but either they are light or my ears don't care anymore. I received compliments all day on them, which made me happy. Now I'm fretting, as another coworker asked me to make her a bracelet and earrings for ...
Stupid beading tricks: Teal Statement Necklace
No teal beads? No problem. I picked up a package of Jesse James Design Elements beads in "Mystere." For only $5.99 you get a packet of gorgeous and chunky beads all in the same color family. It's a very cost-effective way to build a nice statement necklace. I strung them on heavyweight beading wire along with pewter spacers that I've had for years and attached it to some teal sari silk. It ties closed behind the neck. Now I just need something to wear it with! ...
Stupid beading tricks – Save a horse, wear a necklace
I know, that makes no sense. I had a horse pendant sitting in my brown bead box for almost two years. I'm not a horse person, but I know someone who is. What's funny is that I look at the finished project and it just looks like a bunch of beads strung on beading wire. But oh my gosh I spent so much freaking time finding the 'right' beads to string. I guess that's a byproduct of having a bead box filled entirely with only brown beads. This is how bad my bead addiction is at the moment - I ...
