Recycling EVERYTHING!

My husband was going through a pile of old childrens hangers that come with the clothes from the store. We were getting ready to recycle them and realized that we would have to take the metal clips off of them because only the plastic is recyclable.

Well, as I picked up the pile of metal clips to throw them away I decided that there had to be good for SOMETHING! Well, they sat in my studio for about a week and then I thought that I would play with them to see what I came up with.

I heated them to anneal the metal and then pounded them out to make them flat. While looking at them I realized that there was a loop already on one end of them so stringing automatically came to mind.

To take a little bit from the "industrial" look of the metal, I paired them with white cat's eye and rose quartz. The result is a funky little fan choker necklace!

Beaded Cabochon

I found this cabochon in the midst of searching my grandmothers jewelry. It was in a silver commemorative bezel celebrating 200 years of America. I kept the bezel, but I wanted something a bit more "glamorous" for the cab.

I combined topaz and burgandy seed beads with Rhondite 4mm rounds to make this bezel. My only problem now is I have no idea what type of stone it is! I would love to find out what it is so that I can purchase beads of the same type to make the actual necklace. Other than that, I think it turned out pretty cool!

Citrine Drop

I ran across some Citrine Quartz that I had stashed and I was loving the yellow color so I decided to pair it with sterling silver, amethyst, and blue lace agate. I used an assortment of tiny gemstones; each individually wire-wrapped and attached to a jump rimg. The briolette was wire wrapped and attached to a 19 inch sterling silver chain. The look is elegant, yet simple. I could see this piece being dressed up or down which is why I like it so much.

Free Time

I took some free time the other day and I decided that I would make a simple necklace for a friend utilizing her birthstone (pearl). I use swarovski pearls (vegan) and amethyst swarovski crystals to make a graduated choker necklace.


I don't know if it is her style, but I figured that it is a fairly classic design. It is 18 inches long and features sterling silver bead caps and an S-clasp.

Go Hedgehogs!

My eldest son just graduated Kindergarten and is moving on to First Grade. On the night prior to the last day of school I sat awake realizing that I had not gotten anything for the teachers in his class. Well, as always, I resorted to what I know... jewelry. I made these bracelets out of Amethyst and Carnelian. The colors happen to be the school colors as well as symbols for knowledge and power so I thought it was quite appropriate.

Each teacher received a double strand bracelet and a thank you card (handmade of course)! The swarovski crystals used were Lt. Peach and Lt. Amethyst.

Christmas In July

I was a part of a project called Christmas in July and the rules were simple. I was to create an ornament using mainly seed beads to trade with a partner in July. Well, July has come and I have sent my ornament. She really enjoyed it and I wanted to share the photo. It is a Russian Leaf technique that drapes over a normal ball ornament.