Thursday, April 18, 2013

Goodies from the Bead Show!


 This past weekend was the Intergalactic Bead Show in Cincinnati and since my birthday was this past Wednesday, well let's just say it was good timing for me. Birthday money spent. Well spent. 

That gorgeous starfish bead is made by Nikki Thornburg of Thornburg Bead Studio and of course I am keeping that one for myself. I bought a cute crab bead from her last year that I treasure!
This yummy stash is made by Jennifer Pottner of Rock Candy Beads. They're all such lovely pieces that I have no idea which one to use first...I will try not to hoard them. 
The components above were purchased at the Ad Adornments booth. I always spend most of my money at this particular booth. I bought most of these crosses there as well.
This last pic is a mixture of things but I do know that I am keeping that turquoise and silver pendant for myself and it will be hard to part with the labradorite links as well. 
What a fun birthday shopping day! 


 
 

Friday, March 22, 2013

Making it your own...

I've been making these sideways cross bracelets for a few months now using copper and brass sheets and I would love to make a silver one but I'm not going to shell out $300 for a 6X6 sheet of sterling silver right now so...what's a girl to do? Well, my mom purchased a sterling silver cross bracelet for herself (on QVC) around Christmas and I kept telling her that I would love to get my hands on it and hammer it and then patina it, etc. Well, she surprised me with one of my own the other day!

















To see my ^ Gypsy Faith bracelet click here

Here it is before...

 And then here it is after I decided to redo it to make it my own...


I hammered it and then dipped it in liver of sulphur, took some steel wool to it, added another sterling chain that I had patina-ted and then changed the clasp to a toggle clasp (MUCH easier to fasten yourself). I am really pleased with the way it turned out. I often shop for jewelry to redo or up-cycle to fit my style.  It can be a lot of fun!