Collector Series-Running in Circles

I am deep in a major project that I will be sharing with you soon, but for now, let me show you this fun necklace from the Collector Series.

I added handmade, vintage and purchased components and charms.

Then I filled in the spaces with extra jump rings.

There are some fun goodies on this one.

Hope you are having fun creating as well.

Thanks for stopping by....

Workbench Wednesday...Washing Buttons

How about a quick peek of what I am working on this week...

I dumped a tin of vintage buttons in a hosiery bag and dunked it repeatedly in a bucket of hot water and Dawn dish washing detergent.

Then I rinsed, and rinsed and rinsed...

I dumped them into a strainer purchased just for such purposes (i.e. crafty stuff)...

Then I spread them out on a plastic tray and let them dry....

I ran my hands through them over and over...

I tell myself it is to spread them out to dry better...

Really it is because I have to touch them....

Touching them brings me happiness...

My heart tells stories of each button as my fingers touch them...

Next step is letting them become something new....

Stay tuned....

Thanks for stopping by....

She was a Collector of things

Last year I reorganized my beads and components.

They are sorted by color or material.

I am finding this is opening new doors when I create since so many like things are gathered together.

I have had an idea for a Collector Series.

And this was the very first piece I made for it.

I have to say, I love this one....

All the components and charms came from my metals, vintage and handmade components boxes.

This is the year I start to use those things I love and have been saving...

So you may notice some sweet little vintage wonders among all that goodness...

Like the bottle cap and brass tag...

Components that I bought and hoarded saved like the resin pieces and rhinestone bottle caps now are a piece of something bigger than themselves.

I am still on the fence about whether I keep this one or let it go to someone else...

Tassels and nests and buttons...Oh My!

This piece is called She Was a Collector of Things...

It is a bit of a biography....

Aren't those the very best kinds of pieces?

Something that tells a story?

So I am hoping this makes you want to make something that tells your story....

A charm bracelet or a necklace...

Of course it may only have a few curated charms....

Just a chapter of your story....

What are you waiting for?

Go make something amazing!

Thanks for stopping by....

Mix It Up Challenge for ICE Resin

It has been a little crazy here but I wanted to let you know you can find the directions for this fun mixed media piece over on the ICE Queen E-Zine.

There is also a quick video on how to use ICE Resin as glue there as well.

Be sure to check out the vast video library.

 There of all sorts of interesting things that can be done with ICE Resin.

I know I have watched many of them and picked up tons of ideas for new techniques, inclusions and more there....

Thanks for stopping by....I

The Button Bargain Bonanza...

Well, hello!

It seems like every post I have been doing has been giveaway related.

I love doing that, but I have been crazy trying to do a ton of other things so the blog has taken a hit.

I will try to get back on track. 

At the beginning of September, my husband and I went on our yearly date to a large flea market in the area.

The day was dark and it was raining...a lot.

We put on our raincoats and rubber shoes and put extra garbage bags in the wagon for purchases.

Off we went.

In the 4th booth we looked in, I hit the jackpot.

I found 2 boxes of zinc and glass canning lids, a hardware organizer full of vintage jewelry, a big pile of silver trays, a wooden soda crate filled with vintage bottles and what I about to show you next.

The two guys in the booth pointed out that under the table, there was a basket filled with sewing stuff.

Here is some of what was in the basket...

So, I love little things that tell a story.

Who was Ruth?

Why did she have to write her name on her sewing box?

We will never know, but her little label will stay there as long as I own the tin...

It was filled with mostly thread.

There are some old wooden spools but there are also some modern plastic ones so Ruth was still buying supplies...

This tin is adorable in itself...

Why don't we make such charming packaging anymore?

Another story scratched in the lid...

I.R. + J.B.

Does it make you wonder too?

The mint tin was filled with goodies...

Then there were these 2 Ritz cracker tins....

Are you ready for this?

They were filled with vintage buttons...

Can you see how cool they all are?

You know I LOVE buttons.

Here is the second tin.

More button goodness...

They are pretty grubby...

The dirty stickiness old buttons get...

This basket was piled full...

Here Is another tin.

What is inside?

More vintage buttons...

And here is the last tin.

Can you see the image of the woman?

There was some damage from something that was set on the can at one point.

Maybe a glass of sweet tea in the sewing room....

This one was filled with buttons still on their cards and all sorts of vintage sewing notions.

There was a plastic container of thread on spools too.

All of that and a great basket that they were packed in for....

you are never going to believe this....

my husband could not even say "you already have enough buttons!" for this price...

$3!

Yes.

No joke.

So it was a very good day...

Even though we got soaked to the skin and pretty muddy.

We had fun together too...

What have you found lately?

Thanks for stopping by...

15 Jewelry Projects From Up Cycled Materials

I am always looking for ways to reuse something I have or something someone has discarded.

I also love the challenge of taking something common and doing something uncommon with it.

Take a look at some jewelry projects that started with some very non-jewelry related items.

These bangles got an upgrade with buttons and some earring flowers.

Find the post here.

A vintage spoon and a bullet casing became this fun necklace.

Find the post here.

These fun rose bracelets are actually made from plain white sheets.

See how to make your own here.

And more sheets transformed this bangle to a fun cuff.

Tutorial here.

These plastic bangles got a makeover with some washi tape.

Make your own by following this tutorial.

The following pieces remain among my favorites to this day.

These were made from plastic tubing, shotgun shells and were dressed up with recycled silk strips.

See the full post here.

Some incorporated hardware pieces as well.

Don't throw away that old puzzle because some of the pieces are lost.

Make some earrings instead.

See the post here.

You might want to raid your kids pockets after seeing this post.

A simple glass marble becomes a fun yet sophisticated necklace.

See it here.

The same post shows how to turn a tiny glass Christmas ornament into a tiny time capsule.

A bullet casing can become an amazing jewelry piece.

See the full post here.

These pretty earrings started with some paper flowers from the scrapbooking section of your favorite store.

See the post here.

How about making some very artistic earrings from some beads, yarn and discarded book pages?

See them here.

More buttons...

This time getting a new life as a fashionable choker.

Here is the post.

This bohemian sweetheart stars beads made from felt and discarded book pages.

See the post here.

I promise to bring you more up cycled jewelry pieces soon.  

It is my favorite thing to create.

Thanks for stopping by....

                  Linking up with these great blogs.