Archive for the 'Jewelry' Category



DIY Swarovski Bracelet

I wanted to share a super easy technique for bead weaving that I used to create an adorable Swarovski crystal bracelet, at less than a tenth the price.

DIY Crystal bracelet

I needed 32 large frosted Swarovski beads, 16 clear ones and 32 small copper beads – you might need more depending on what size you want to make. Play around with different beads – this technique will work with almost anything!

Step 1 – thread a really long piece of beading string with 2 needles – one at each end. Pick up one bead in colour A, one colour B, another colour A and end with one more colour B.

DIY Crystal bracelet

Step 2 – Insert needle B back through the last bead added, so now both ends of your threads are coming out of one colour A bead, like so:

DIY Crystal bracelet

Step 3 – Pick up one colour B bead followed by a colour A bead on needle B . Pick up one colour B bead with needle A.

 DIY Crystal bracelet

Step 4 – Take needle A through the colour A bead.

DIY Bracelet

Repeat steps 3 and 4 until it’s the length you want:

DIY Bracelet

When it’s a good fit, pass both your needles through the base of your clasp and back through the end bead. You are now ready to add the side beads. Make sure they’re small enough to fit comfortably. I recommend doing both sides of the bracelet at the same time. You will pass the needles back though the last colour B bead, pick up one side bead with each needle and go through the next colour B bead, like so:

DIY beaded bracelet

Keep going this way until both sides are done:

DIY beaded bracelet

Tie off the end by passing through the end bead and the other end of your chosen clasp a few times. Weave your ends back through the bracelet after tying them off.

And voila! Your own beaded bracelet!

DIY beaded bracelet

DIY beaded bracelet

Enjoy :) And feel free to write to me with any questions.

Don’t forget about my contest folks – tell me your favourite craft for a chance to win a lovely resin necklace from the Blue Brick! Click here for details.

 

 

 

100,000 folks are interested in stuff I make

The Blue Brick Blog – at a mere 1.5 years old, is about to hit 100,000 hits! I’m so stoked I’ve decided to celebrate.

Firstly, though I’ve never understood the appeal until now, I’ve now got a twitter account. Hook me up, @CraftKninja (kninja, get it? Very clever…) to hear and share even more in the wonderful world of crafting goodness.

Secondly – a contest! At that many folks I’m really feelin’ the love – so I want to give some love right back. One lucky winner will get this lovely resin necklace in the mail:

To enter, leave me a comment telling me what your favourite craft is. If it’s something I don’t know yet, maybe I’ll take it up! Contest closes on Wednesday January 18th. I can’t wait to hear about everything you wonderful folks love to do.

From the bottom of my crafty little heart, thank you :)

 

 

 

Reclaimed Glass Jewellery

I was so inspired by some of the sea glass jewellery I’ve seen that I decided to make my own, but I had to do things a little differently!

Seaglass jewellery

For a start, Toronto is nowhere near the sea, so I had to make do with glass from the Leslie Street Spit. Since the Spit is all made from construction refuse, glass that had been polished by the waves was easy to find.

Seaglass jewellery

The next problem was that I don’t have a glass drill, so I used silver heavy gauge wire to wrap each piece. I think the results are still quite lovely.

Seaglass jewellery

I love the Leslie Street Spit – and I couldn’t stop thinking of the possibilities for jewellery made from it. After working with polished glass I tried an experimental piece with glass that was still rough looking, but smooth enough to wear:

Seaglass jewellery

It looks like rough quartz – I love it!

Seaglass jewellery

Lastly I experimented with what I believe were broken pieces of tile that were also strewn around the beach.

Seaglass jewellery

The tile had been similarly wave polished. To give the ends a more finished look I used silver filigree cones.

Seaglass jewellery

I polished it off with simple magnet clasps. I definitely enjoyed this little exercise, can’t wait to try making more!

 

Presents…

I know, it’s been all jewellery lately, but I do have knitting to share – I’ve just been having so much trouble getting it photographed in these short, dark days!

Today I just wanted to show off 2 necklaces that were worked in sterling silver. I don’t normally work in this medium, but these two ladies were special so I went all out :)

lariat necklace

Both of these are lariat style necklaces with clasps in the back. This one features a 6mm square cut swarovski wrapped in a sterling silver band.

lariat necklace

And this one was a replacement for a friend who’s home was broken into recently. Among the things that were taken was a necklace she had purchased from me. As she pointed out, while the break in was annoying – the theft choices were oddly flattering.

lariat necklace

For this one I used sterling silver elements with brushed silver finishes. The small ring at the bottom contains a circle of maple leaf preserved in resin.

lariat necklace

I’ve already given this one to it’s recipient and she loves it :) Lariat necklaces fall so beautifully when you wear them – such a cute, classy look.

I love gift giving, and gift making – best part of the holidays!

Autumn and silver equal love…

Ah! The last of my leaves. From here on it’s all flowers for me… but in the meantime here are 2 gorgeous new autumn jewellery pieces in silver bezel settings:

Autumn Jewellery

Autumn Jewellery

Autumn Jewellery

Autumn Jewellery

Autumn Jewellery

Autumn Jewellery

 

Resin and flower petals – a new direction.

Both of these lovelies have already sold, but I wanted to share a peek at my new direction now that my autumn leaf period is over – preserved flower petals.

Resin flower petal jewellery

This large pendant contains the petals from a preserved chrysanthemum.

chrysanthemum

And this beauty contains the petals from a geranium:

Resin flower petal jewellery

Resin flower petal jewellery

Stay tuned for more additions to my Etsy store while I explore this new art form!

Romantic Copper jewellery

I can’t get away from the autumn leaves, though my stores of preserved ones are getting woefully low :( However – I had enough for a few last pieces in my autumn leaf series and I think these are my most beautiful and romantic items yet.

This lariat style necklace is made with a copper butterfly charm and a heart shaped pendant. The heart contains real autumn leaves, preserved in jeweller’s grade resin.

This beauty is an antique copper pendant with filigree elements that were hand-shaped around the pendant after the resin was cured. The leaves are from a sumach.

This gorgeous medallion is the same idea as above – though in this case the filigree was adhered directly to the resin.

autumn jewellery ring

I’ve saved the best piece for the last one :) This ring is my absolute favourite, so delicate and detailed with 2 pieces of shaped filigree and textured autumn leaves below the resin. Even the side view is lovely:

autumn jewellery ring

I have discovered that working with natural materials and resin is my favourite medium. No matter what other ideas I have, I always come back around to this one, the possibilities are endless and nature herself has provided me with so much inspiration, and such a beautiful colour palette. I will be making these until the very last leaf of my 2011 storage is gone, but I am already moving into work involving flower petals – more on that tomorrow!

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