Victorian cuff bracelets

 Here are two gorgeous Victorian brooches I picked up at the antique shop last week. I knew instantly they would make perfect bracelets. 

 I used an antique steel cut button as a connector and made  a hand forged brass clasp.

The ruffle on this brooch is just darling and I love the set in stone.

I added some antique connectors that I curved just slightly to form the wrist, vintage chain is used as a clasp along with an antique picture button. 

These  bracelets will be packed for the show this weekend. If interested just let me know.

My Two Favorite Things

I love working with vintage and antique elements almost as much as I love shopping for them. It is all about the hunt and the treasures you can find. I know y'all know what I am talking about..... that awesome feeling you get when you see a really cool piece and you are able to claim it as yours. My jewelry design allows me to enjoy my two most favorite things...hunt and create. I am extremely fortunate as lots of my findings come from the antique shop where I have a antique booth and where I work 3 days a month. There are several ladies who keep me in mind when they go to auctions and sales they always have great things for me to pick from. 

This antique button necklace has lots of old elements in it. Mother of pearl button from my stash, old watch fob chains and antique glass cube beads. Etsy is also another great source for vintage finds and I am addicted to searching for them. The vintage raw brass figaro chain comes from LuxeOrnaments and the rhinestone beads are from EightJewelry also on Etsy. This necklace is available at Bright's Antique World in booth #158.

Perseverance

I wonder if somethings are even worth doing....as in this bracelet. It took me FOREVER! I kept changing this or that to get it to drape correctly, I think having a degree in engineering would sometimes be helpful. However I am not one to abandon a project so I persevered and finally completed it this afternoon. In the long run I am happy with it.

You can find Back Spacer in my Etsy shop.

...and then on to something nice, pretty and easier.

Bottle Green  on Etsy

 Love...love this color! It is so energizing, fresh and soothing. It reminds me of old chunky bottles.

Bud's a new man!

I started this post three days ago and my hard drive died...I am back in business thanks to my son Nick. Luckily I was able to salvage the most important things but did loose the rest.

I have been busy getting my display props ready for my first show of the season.  I had purchased this vintage store display I call "Bud" about a month ago. You may remember him from this post. Well Bud finally got his makeover.

 I started with decoupaging vintage sheet music to his fiberglass form,

and then put a white wash of acrylic paint all over the paper. Thanks so much Renate for that suggestion. I am very pleased with the simple look.

Although Bud is still a little "manly" I think he will work great displaying my long necklaces. 

Prior to the demise of my hard drive I posted about a giveaway I am having. I am extending the giveaway until Tuesday May 24th. Y'all still have plenty of time to enter to win these fabulous antique mother of pearl buttons.

Hop on over HERE to enter!

Friendship and a MOP Button Giveaway

I teased y'all about my button stash a few posts backed, but since have decided to share a few pictures of the gargantuan carved mother of pearl buttons I have. These beauties measure a whopping 2 inches across, surely the largest I have ever seen! 

These are sure nice to look at and hold in your hand. Each one is unique with its carvings and irregularity that only mother of pearl can have. 

"BEE A GOOD FRIEND"

Was created from some small mother of pearl buttons, used as dangles on a vintage chain along with old glass beads.  I also used a brass medallion that was once used on an old dresser, this piece is the platform for another button and silver bee. A vintage dictionary definition is forever preserved in resin dangles below and gently reminds us what a friend is.  

When you move this piece the sound is like seashells rolling in with the tide...so fitting for the old shell buttons. 

You can find Bee a good friend here.   

 So tell me what does it mean to be a good friend? Has someone been a really good friend to you? Or have you been a true friend to someone...pat yourself on the back and tell us about it. Good friendships are inspirational. Share!

By sharing your story your name will be entered to win some of my fabulous buttons....post to Facebook and tell me about it and you get another entry, the same with Twitter and so on. Share the love and so will I!! 

Giveaway will end  on May 25th and the lucky winner will be posted on Wednesday May 26th.
(I changed the original end date,due to computer issues)

Here's the loot you can win!!

The largest button measures 1 1/2" across.

Share your stories with us!

Where thou art

I can not tell you how good it feels to be home after a months absence. My bed, my shower...spring, green grass and my three loving purring kitties. It feels like a vacation!

 In the past month I have made a whole pile of jewelry..lots of necklaces and earrings and a few bracelets. I also acquired loads of antique brass stampings for jewelry making, some will be available in my etsy shop later this week 

. Here is a bracelet I call Cliff Walk. This was my first time using waxed cord. I knotted some fabulous Czech glass beads and used copper wire to wrap the strand.

I made a coil loop for a closure and added a antique mother of pearl button. I love this design and will surely be making a few more.

My concerns are with the waxed cord...how does the cord hold up over time? I am sure lots of you have used it before and if you have any suggestions as to a good quality cord, I would so appreciate it. 

Where thou art, that is home.
Emily Dickinson