Vintage glam inspirations

An antique buckle that I found in Grandma Kathy’s bead collection has intrigued me for the past four years. I’ve imagined different necklace designs using the buckle…thought about using the buckle as a necklace clasp…even thought about trying to make a belt and use the buckle. But last week when I got the items I ordered from Fire Mountain Gems & Beads (Grandma Kathy’s favorite beading source), I had an inspiration. I paired the chunky aluminum gunmetal 15mmx11mm chain (item #H201802CH) and antique silver 5mmx3.5mm cable chain (item #H201720CH) with vintage clear faceted crystals with an AB (aurora borealis) finish and lilac bicone crystals from Grandma Kathy’s bead collection. The chains meet up at a ceramic computer hard drive ring repurposed from an old computer. The necklace is finished off with a vintage hook and eye clasp from Grandma Kathy’s “Gerber Baby Food” jar of clasps.

I have the necklace listed in my Etsy shop…check it out at www.kathyoinspirations.etsy.com.

Peacock shell coin inspirations

I love the colors in the shell coin beads from JoAnn’s…that iridescent purple color in a peacock plume. I combined the shell coins with freshwater rice pearls from Grandma Kathy’s bead collection to make this jewelry set including the necklace, bracelet, and earrings. To set off the shine in each piece, I used grey luster delicas, and finished off the necklace and bracelet with silver-plated metal toggle clasps. The earrings are simple…a shell coin and one pearl on a head pin with a wrapped loop dangling from a French ear wire.

To view more photos of the pieces (and to purchase), please check out my shop at www.kathyoinspirations.etsy.com.

Rings and briolettes inspirations

Jennifer, my brother-in-law’s sister, approached me about donating a necklace to a friend’s charity auction for the Refugee & Immigrant Family Center in Seattle. How can I say ‘no’? I made her choose the necklace…and she picked the Computer Hard Drive Rings & Aquamarine Briolettes Necklace. What inspired me to make this necklace? I can’t remember where or when I saw a similar necklace with a briolette hanging inside a hammered ring. When I saw briolettes on sale at Artbeads.com, I purchased three. Knowing that I didn’t want to copy the inspiration piece, I hung the briolettes from the bottom of the rings. I wrapped each briolette using the technique I learned on the Fire Mountain Gems & Beads website (see link on right). Sticking with my goal of using repurposed items for each piece of jewelry I make, I used three computer hard drive platter spacer rings from an old computer hard drive. The rings are connected together with 9mm jump rings. I completed the necklace with a sterling silver drawn cable chain and sterling silver lobster clasp.

Now, I’ll just keep my fingers crossed that someone bids on the necklace at the auction…

Vintage sweater clip inspirations

Grandma Kathy owned some beautiful costume jewelry – one of them being a rhinestone sweater clip in shape of fancy ribbon bows. I took apart the sweater clip and repurposed one of the clips in this vintage chunky black bead choker. I think the beads are lucite, but I’m not sure how to tell them apart from other plastic beads. I used a lobster clasp and added extra silver chain with a rhinestone tear drop bead, so the necklace accommodates a variety of neck sizes.

I was inspired to make this choker after seeing some fabulous necklaces by Elva Fields (http://shop.elvafields.com). I found Elva Fields through my Daily Candy subscription (http://www.dailycandy.com). Check ‘em out…

Goodwill jewelry inspirations

The Bellevue Goodwill Store is a great place to find fun, vintage jewelry pieces…like this vintage yellow flower with orange crystal earring!  Yes, it’s an old clip-on earring that I took apart, then glued and wire-wrapped on a gold filigree. I connected two gold chains and links of green crystals (from Grandma Kathy’s bead collection) to the filigree.

Now I need to figure out what to do with the other flower earring…

Crystal ring inspirations

The focal point of this asymmetrical necklace is a crystal from a costume jewelry ring of Grandma Kathy’s. The actual ring was not sturdy, so I removed the ring and repurposed the crystal which is a little larger (and heavier!) than a quarter. I decided to make an asymmetrical, multi-strand necklace using mostly repurposed beads and chains. The green crystals, linked together with gold-filled eye pins, are from a necklace that Grandma Kathy made for my mom (the only reason I took it apart was that the necklace’s thread was stretched out). The gold chain in the second and third strands are from old necklaces. In the second strand, I interspersed vintage purple crystals (circa 1910-1930) from Grandma Kathy’s bead collection.

Around the neck, the crystal doesn’t seem so heavy…

Vintage button inspirations

I love digging through Grandma Kathy’s vintage button collection. In fact, I organized them by color, and in doing so, realized she had quite a collection of dreamy mauve buttons all with metal loop shanks. I combined the mauve buttons with antique brass filigree and crystal buttons, along with rose quartz beads from one of Grandma Kathy’s necklaces that I took apart and repurposed. Each bead is attached to the antique brass bracelet (purchased at JoAnn’s) on an antique brass head pin. The focal point of the bracelet is the large brass flower button also from Grandma Kathy’s vintage button collection.

Oh, the jingly jangly sounds of those vintage buttons…

Paris inspirations

My husband’s stepmother loves Paris, so what better way to celebrate that love by making her a necklace! Luckily, Artbeads.com had what I needed before the holidays: sterling silver ball chain (I used two feet), sterling silver Eiffel Tower charm, and sterling silver fleur de lis charm. And, to finish it off, I used a faceted crystal heart in purple from Grandma Kathy’s bead collection. I call this necklace J’aime Paris.

P.S. I am testing out my photography and Photoshop skills, so bear with me!

U.S. Virgin Islands inspirations

Let your imagination go with me to St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands…white sand beaches under your toes, turquoise ocean lapping the shore, silver fish darting around your legs. Inspired by this memory of colors, I created a multi-strand pearl, turquoise shell, and seed bead necklace. I used some of Grandma Kathy’s freshwater rice pearls and turquoise delica and crystal 2-cut seed beads, combining them with turquoise shell beads purchased at JoAnn’s.

Even on a grey winter day in the Pacific Northwest, I can feel the golden yellow sun.

Sister-in-law inspirations

Usually, I try to incorporate beads or chain from Grandma Kathy’s bead collection, but the only items used in this 22″ Rings & Stones Necklace are her jump rings and eye pins. This necklace inspiration came from my sister-in-law who “made me” purchase the large, square, brown gemstones at The Bead Shoppe in Eureka, CA (see link under Blogroll). Additional materials for this necklace include metal rings from a “secret source” and metal chain and a simple metal toggle clasp from JoAnn’s.

Another sister-in-law inspiration…maybe I’ll start a new blog about those inspirations!