So what do you think?

seriously....in all honesty I truly want to know what you think of this bracelet,
and no fluff either.

I have lots of old mother of pearl buckles and I never quite know what to do with them, this piece just kind of evolved one day. It has been sitting on my photography table for about a week as I am still trying to decide what I think.

So, since we have this great blog platform I figured I would ask you .

This piece is a combination of styles, vintage, modern, eclectic....It actually is so comfortable to wear and very lightweight.

so, sock it to me, I will still like you...no worries.

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.

Pearls from the sea

 How I love mother of pearl... especially buttons! The irregularity and iridescent that makes each one so unique. 

 I think with the addition of the sterling box chain it adds a little modern touch...a kind of balance...the old and the new..

You can find these here.

Gorgeous vintage carved mop that had a former life as clip on earrings...I gave them new life into dangle earrings. 

You can find these here.

I hope everyone is having a great Father's Day, be it with your Dad or remembering special memories.  I know my DH is enjoying time with his dad in Connecticut. 

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!

The things you can do with buttons!

I LOVE old buttons and have been coveting them for many years. I have always enjoyed using  them in different projects and not hiding them away. I do have the most fabulous collection of antique mother of pearl buttons...however I am not going to show you them today as to prevent a stampede to my house. The ones shown above are the very plain ones.

 some old rhinestone and metal buttons

picture button 

I have been working my fingers to the bone....getting ready for a show in a few weeks. I wish it would happen to the body instead, can you image how svelte I would be? Anyway, here are some button bracelets that I made with the buttons shown above.

 The hook works as a simple clasp to the button. A fun simple bracelet in a good price point. 

And now for my favorite pieces...I just LOVE putting these together. 

ooohhh... wait there's another one too! 

 don't you just love the bull dog. You can find him here.

 and lastly...a whimsical button necklace

Fabulous carved mother of pearl button with pinecone bead cap and Czech glass bead, this makes me happy!

I have much to finish up today as we pack our bags once again for another trip. This time to join my hubby in Florida. Taking my 20 year old college baby to Orlando where we can relive the magic of  our family trip 15 years ago. Hey...it could happen. 

Wishing you all a grand ole' day! 

Hand Tailored

 

I LOVE old dress forms! There was a time when I could find them anywhere and I would buy and sell them so quickly. Now that I want one for myself I can't seem to find one! So when I saw that Barbara Lewis of Painting with Fire had made some awesome porcelain pendants with a dress form image I just had to have it!

Vintage mother of pearl buttons are stacked and wire wrapped. Coils of copper along with some wonderful enamel beads Barbara surprised me with  add a bit of whimsy to this funky long necklace. Three different chains are used as well.

 You can find Hand Tailored in my Etsy shop. 

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