Another Necklace Making Makeover: Tiny Shell Beads Transform a Cabochon

re: Another Necklace Making Makeover: Tiny Shell Beads Transform a Cabochon

JoseyNC — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 01:58:01 GMT

I have a dream! Someday, someone will figure out different ways to use the fabulous clip earrings of yesteryear in today's designs. I have beautiful old crystal earrings that sparkle like the sun but they are too heavy and uncomfortable to wear. There are the wonderful broaches of the same period which lack the safety fastener on the back with allows one to wear them with pride (even on a V-neck T-shirt) without endangering your body and protecting from stab wounds.

Between my shaky hands and vision problems, using a cold connection solution or a torch (even a butane one) would be dangerous to me and the piece I am working on. How about it vintage users? What are your solutions for using this type of jewelry usually available in every garage or estate sale, flea market and consignment store within 20 miles of where you live. :)

- Jo Ann

re: Another Necklace Making Makeover: Tiny Shell Beads Transform a Cabochon

msrhino — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 15:53:42 GMT

I remake from a stash of older jewelry that I accumulated over several years of buying junk jewelry bags at thrift stores and yard sales etc., along with a huge bunch of jewelry given to me by my mother "to do something with". I have to be very careful though when I get into a re-purposing mood...some pieces of jewelry are worth more to sell on e-bay or other venues as vintage or antique, than they are to redo. It would be a shame to take apart a vintage Haskell necklace and use it for other ideas when I can sell it for maybe upwards of $100.00 and use that money to buy more beads or supplies. B'sue has a wonderful tutorial on her website about when to re-purpose and when to not. It is worth your while to go and read it, and while you are there, peruse her other patterns and tutorials! www.bsuesboutique.com, and she carries a lot of great brass items in several different platings also. I happen to be a fan of hers. She will answer any and all questions in a simple email, and she is very personable! I have gone through her gallery many times when I am just out of the brain power to grab another idea, and pretty soon...bang...there it is! I guess I could say I use the jewelry and the online galleries for inspiration, but then I have 4 huge totes full of beading and jewelry magazines (clear back to the first issue of Bead and Button, and other first issues also) that I reread all the time. Someday I will get my library onto discs and have more storage for important things like beads and more beads!

re: Another Necklace Making Makeover: Tiny Shell Beads Transform a Cabochon

Schoder_hawaii — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 19:31:05 GMT

P.S. I love "repurposing" jewelry as well!

re: Another Necklace Making Makeover: Tiny Shell Beads Transform a Cabochon

Schoder_hawaii — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 19:30:14 GMT

Hi Jennifer,

Ask your friend if those shells are from Hawaii. It is hard to tell the size from the picture, but if they are very small, they may be Niihau Shells, and have the potential to be very valuable. They only come from that island, and are hand picked from the beach. Of course as the years go by, they become more and more rare. Your design is lovely. I just wanted you to be aware that they may be more than "just shells." :)

re: Another Necklace Making Makeover: Tiny Shell Beads Transform a Cabochon

deb0221 — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 15:52:55 GMT

I recycle my own projects when they go out of style or I get tired of them & use the beads in another project- sometimes I find things at a thrift store or garage sale & use the beads for a new piece.

re: Another Necklace Making Makeover: Tiny Shell Beads Transform a Cabochon

MaryH@172 — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 17:52:10 GMT

When I'm stuck in a rut I head one of two directions, either I gather up everything to make something gorgeous from Beadwork - no thought, all technique, or I go to my notebook, and make something original that's been simmering but I haven't taken the energy to make. Depends which rut I'm stuck in - low energy from too much family or boredom from too much work.

re: Another Necklace Making Makeover: Tiny Shell Beads Transform a Cabochon

kellysgreen1961 — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:07:43 GMT

I like being able to take apart and start new. Doing this also allows me to see how far I have come as a beader!

re: Another Necklace Making Makeover: Tiny Shell Beads Transform a Cabochon

AmyW@2 — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 17:46:42 GMT

Who is the artist from whom you bought that gorgeous cabochon?

Amy

re: Another Necklace Making Makeover: Tiny Shell Beads Transform a Cabochon

Ricki Ayer — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:41:26 GMT

I have re-purposed several pieces - some from old jewelry that I had, some from yard sales or thrift shops etc. A friend just gave me a bag of jewelry (mostly costume) that she found among her daughter's things after her daughter passed away. I plan to go through them and make my friend a necklace or bracelet from some of the beads. I find it very rewarding to take something old and perhaps broken and re-make it into a new piece while retaining some of it original character. I am always on the lookout for a new "old" treasure.

Ricki

Ayer Baubles

re: Another Necklace Making Makeover: Tiny Shell Beads Transform a Cabochon

vikingfiberandbeads — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 12:37:50 GMT

I love going to Auctions and Estate sales and finding Vintage jewelry! I really enjoy bringing it back to it's original state. Sometime I will take it apart and repurpose the beads :)

re: Another Necklace Making Makeover: Tiny Shell Beads Transform a Cabochon

finewine56 — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 11:59:05 GMT

good morning jennifer-I, too, tear apart old jewelry and reuse almost every part available to make totally different pieces. I started doing this because of the savings I was able to gain re purposing clasps and other findings but then found that not only were they of better quality but the metal color I needed to blend in with the stone settings I used from the piece of course matched perfectly., so it was a win ,win, all around! Also I have found many times in collecting jewelry from yard sales I have, many times, found valuable gold, silver and precious stones, occasionally diamonds. So, yes, I will continue to re purpose necklaces and such. Kathy

re: Another Necklace Making Makeover: Tiny Shell Beads Transform a Cabochon

Ruth Bernstein — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 09:33:29 GMT

Please be sure to show us the completed make-over with the shells.

Thanks!

re: Another Necklace Making Makeover: Tiny Shell Beads Transform a Cabochon

sbursztynski — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 09:30:53 GMT

I haven't recycled a necklace, but some time ago I used to buy bags of mixed beads on the bargain table. One day I found some matte plastic beads which I painted green and glazed with clear nail polish. They came out beautifully, very jade-like, and I made THOSE into a new necklace!

re: Another Necklace Making Makeover: Tiny Shell Beads Transform a Cabochon

kraftymax — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 09:11:34 GMT

Yes, I remake my own creations, but I also take it a step farther. I actually take some of my Grandmothers jewelry and 'pieces' and create new creations from them as well!! ~KM

http://kraftymax.blogspot.com

http://kraftymax.artfire.com