Hades Necklace

Today is a necklace that I've had pictured in mind for a while, but I wasn't sure exactly how I was going to create it.

It's a collar - almost tribal-style necklace using silver-plated connectors, 6mm & 8mm turquoise/blue glass beads and 6mm & 8mm magnetic hematite.

It's brought together with gunmetal-plated cable chain and a gunmetal-plated lobster clasp.

Looking at the finished article, I'm thinking I may have enough materials to do away with the chain and make it into a full collar, or at least make the chain shorter. It might be very heavy though.

The 8mm blue glass beads that I used were part of a mystery pack of glass bead strands that I had from the U.S.  They're absolutely beautiful up close, with a kind of texturing underlay, almost like foil.

I'll have a go at the full collar and I'll repost it if it works out.

=:x

Sarah Millsop's Crystal Weave Bracelets

This weekend I've been making these bracelets from Beads Direct's Take A Make Break.

 I pretty much had all the components to make the "Blueberry" version - apart from the catseye, but seeing as working with beads with chatoyance gives me a headache - it worked in my favour.  It took me a while to get the hang of it, but once I did, I kind of got excited about seeing what else I could create.  So I did a "Salsa" and a "Punk Princess" version too.

Which version do you like best?

For the Salsa, I used these multicoloured drawbench beads I bought from one of my trips to Beading Amazing.  Instead of the Chinese crystal rondelles, I used 4mm Chinese crystal bicones instead  - Amethyst with an AB coating.  For the seed bead weave, I used matte rainbow siam Tohos, to match the colours in the drawbench beads.

For the Punk Princess version, I used pink drawbench beads, silver Chinese crystal rondelles and the matte jet Tohos I used for the Blueberry bracelet.  Looking at it now, I think maybe silver would have looked better?

I'll definitely be making more of these, I think I want to make a necklace version next time using gemstones.  So look out for that maybe later in the week!

=:x

If you would like to make these yourself the video can be found here: TAMB - Crystal Weave Bracelet
And you can still get the kits from Beads Direct for £14.99 each.  Choose from the Blueberry Ripple or the Raspberry Ripple.

Arabian Nights Bracelet

Our last bracelet of the week.  I've had these packs of really pretty beads mixes from Jilly Beads just sitting in my collection for ages.  I keep saying to myself - one of these days I'll make a quick bracelet or a pretty necklace - and nothing happened.  Well today is one of those days.

I tried picking up random beads, but the OCD part of my brain didn't like that, so it's in a repeating pattern that still manages to look random.  I hung a beaded dangle from each end to give it an extra feature.

The beads are in lovely jewel tones - Jade greens, emerald greens, ruby reds, sapphire blues and amethyst purples - with the occasional flash of copper and bronze, so I can see it being a really good look for the Autumn.

It's on memory wire, so you can just wrap it around your wrist.

=:x

I Heart...Water Necklace

A new addition to the I Heart...Collection this week. The I Heart...Water Necklace.

Mistakes & Work in Progress

Hi everyone, I haven't forgotten to upload but recent projects have been kicking my ass!

I'm trying a Cellini spiral for my next addition to the I Heart...Collection, however I wasn't pleased with my first attempt.

Handmade Christmas Decorations

In the weeks coming up to Christmas, I've been making my own decorations for our little tree.  I hoped it would get me back into the habit of making things for fun, and it's been working!  I've been inspired to make a great many more things, which I'll share soon.
Making my own Christmas decorations isn't a new thing for me, as I always used to make my own decorations when I was little.  It was only things like paper chain rings, or snowflakes that I'd cover in glitter and thread onto string to make curtains that I'd hang from the ceiling or the window frames.  Still, they were pretty, and it made me feel like I had a part to play in the celebrations.  As I say, I've always been a creative person, so this is just the next step.
These are only the first two decorations that I've created, but I do intend to make more and share them with you as soon as I have.  Depending on the reaction they get, I may decide to add handmade decorations to my Etsy shop for next year.

Frozen Necklace & Earrings

Hello, long time no see! *waves*

I've decided I'm going back to what I originally intended my jewellery making to be all about - a distraction from my depression and to increase my self-confidence.  For the past couple of years I've been too focused on sales and it just made me miserable.  Although I like interacting with people to talk about my creations (everyone likes to have their ego stroked!) I'm not a sales person and pretending to be one lowered my self confidence even more and I lost all inspiration/passion to create anything new, as all my focus became fixed on thinking about how I was going to sell it.  Eventually I'll be looking into getting someone else to do the selling for me - because honestly all this business crap is sucking the life out of my creativity.
So I'm just going back to creating jewellery for the heck of it and for my love of being creative.  My Etsy shop will remain open, so if there is anything you want to buy feel free!  I've extended the Sweet September Sale - so you can pick up a bargain gift for Christmas!

Bubble Gum Set

Disclaimer:  No copyright infringement is intended.  These are my own interpretations of various sweets and candy using various beads.  Nothing in the Sweet Tooth collection is edible.  Please try to refrain from eating!

As a child, I loved getting a piece of gum or a gobstopper from gumball machines when I'd finished swimming.  That was what inspired the Bubble Gum set:

Bubble Gum Set

 The necklace is a simple strand of alternating pink and blue acrylic marble beads.  Simple but effective.

The earrings are the beads threaded onto a coil of ring memory wire and connected at the top by the nickel-free silver earwire.

Bubble Gum Earrings

 The bracelet is on memory wire also, so again it should fit any size wrist.

Bubble Gum Bracelet

If you would be interested in this set or would like me to make you something similar, please feel free to contact me at: kymberligee@gmail.com with "Bubble Gum Set" in the subject line.

Americana Set

The 4th of July is almost upon us!  In honour I've made this set based on the American Flag.

The pendant was donated.  I'm not sure whether it's glass crystal or quartz. 

The pendant hangs from multi-layered cobalt seed beads and metalised acrylic star beads.

Next, are two layers of red seed beads, and between them a string of quartz chips.  The rest of the necklace is strung on a single strand of clear silver lined seed beads and connected by lobster clasp.

The earrings are a new design I'm trying out.  I made a square hoop using the cobalt seed beads and hung a star in the middle.  Hanging on the bottom are alternating red and clear seed beads to represent the stars and stripes.  The earwires are nickel free. :)

If you would like more information about this set, please feel free to email me at: kymberligee@gmail.com

Daisy Chain Necklace

I've been working on making more summery looking jewellery.  I hope you like my Daisy necklace!

I made the "daisy pendant" using little glass dagger beads around a round glass bead.  The idea is from one of my beading books, but I didn't like loop hanging from both ends of the daisy.

Interesting note: The glass yellow flower beads, have fleck in them which glow in the dark.  I don't know how many of you go to raves (do people still go to raves?), but I thought that was interesting to note.

As many of the beads I used came from mixed selections, not all necklaces will look the same.  I have just ordered some different "petal" and "pollen" colours, so I'll probably be making some other styles too.

Materials Used: Yellow glass bead selection, Czech glass crystal dagger beads, silver lined yellow and clear seed beads, Light blue fire polished Czech beads, yellow glass flower beads and silver findings.

If you would like me to make something similar to this necklace, please feel free to email me at: kymberligee@gmail.com, with "Daisy Chain Necklace" in the subject line.

Steampunk Junk Necklace

I think the whole Steampunk style is absolutely fascinating and innovative, but it still hasn't captured me completely.  This was my first go at something Steampunk-ish, made from mostly junk and again old necklaces pieces and a few bought items.

Steampunk Junk necklace

 I'm really pleased with how it turned out for my first go.  The cog-wheel pendant I put together myself from an old travel clock belonging to my Gran, strung together with copper-esque wire.  The hands belong to another clock.  They are actually painted black on the side that's supposed to be showing, but I preferred the silver against the brassy colour.

Cogwheel pendant

I'd bought a really cool collection of assorted mint glass beads, with these interesting copper stripes painted on, I hung those from headpins and added some Antique Bronze metal spacer beads to add length.

The "connectors" were part of an old necklace that was given to me from my Grandma.  I wrapped more copper wire around them to keep with the "inner-workings-of-a-clock" theme.

Mint w/ copper stripe glass beads
Copper wire wrapped connectors

The royal blue beads were also a part of the stripped necklace.  I added them to the second strand, with more of the antique bronze spacer beads.  The nut I found lying around the house and I have a terrible feeling I'll be missing it off something, one of these days!  The key charm you can just about see on the right and the padlock charm (which you can't), belonged to an old charm watch bracelet; that I hated.

Nut pendant

This used to be a pendant from a old necklace of my Mom's.  I've always thought it matched my royal blue beads!

Pendant used as a connector

This is an old chain that I hated.  I love putting old things to new uses.  I think the pendant and the chain both make really cool, odd connectors.

Chain used as a connector

The "pendant" on the third strand is a circuit board from an old watch.  The gold and copper lined beads I bought.

Circuit board pendant

Finally is the Antique Silver clasp; which again is from an unwanted necklace.

Antique silver clasp

So, that's my first attempt at "Steampunk" style.  Eventually I plan to mke some earrings to go with it.

Obviously this is a personal item, and there is no way I could recreate it.  I will be making more Steampunk styled jewellery, and probably many more made from "junk".

Tomorrow I'll be showing you the jewellery I have for sale.  See you then...