Ideas for Making a Keepsake Necklace

re: Ideas for Making a Keepsake Necklace

mbsheisey — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 13:13:16 GMT

Jennifer - I love this idea so much! I would really love to see those pearl necklaces you made with the grandmother's and great aunt's necklaces!

Marsha

re: Ideas for Making a Keepsake Necklace

mdrgault — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 20:21:41 GMT

I visited Ireland last year, and was able to buy a couple of beaded bracelets made of Connemara Marble. I re-fashioned them into some chain-maille bracelets, and was able to give all the ladies on my list a 'little bit of Ireland'. I was even able to do a pair of earrings with each bracelet. The response was over whelming. They all loved them, and felt connected with a place we came from,but that most had never seen.

re: Ideas for Making a Keepsake Necklace

bylynette — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:43:42 GMT

My memory necklaces use wire, epoxy, jump rings - whatever works! When combining customers' heirlooms into a piece, I'm pretty careful not to destroy the original piece, but try to use the details of an element. If there are cutouts, they are great to slip wire through. When I'm using found junk jewelry, I'm more fearless about altering pieces. Sometimes drilling holes is necessary, sometimes 2-part epoxy resin is helpful. Basic wire techniques like wrapped loops ensure dangles won't fall off or pull apart. Don't be afraid to combine metal colors, especially in a collection of heirloom or keepsake pieces. A unifying color element can help visually bring disparate "memories" together to make a piece work.