Bead Chat

Re: Recycling Beads And Findings

Summer152 — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 08:46:56 GMT

So beautiful the bracelets are. Hope you can post more bracelets. And i will try to make it with old beads.

Re: Recycling Beads And Findings

abby_p — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 17:00:28 GMT

That sounds great!

My friend picked up a chandalier in a yard sale for only $12. $12!! That's a sign on the current times!
Only a few bits missing and she's making a TON of projects out of that.

There are great bargains to be had.

Abby x

Re: Recycling Beads And Findings

blueelephantart — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 01:30:10 GMT

I have gotten many nice glass pendants from those china traders that sell the $5.00 jewelry, at the stall in my local shopping centre.

Re: Recycling Beads And Findings

SCB1 — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 19:09:54 GMT

Oh Abby, that sounds like fun.

Re: Recycling Beads And Findings

abby_p — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 10:21:04 GMT

I took part in a local 'bead swap' session this weekend. We brought along our old and broken stuff and .. well ..swapped!! Along with cakes and drinks (of course).

I also got to know who's doing what to whom and on which night's of the week behind closed doors from our little meetup!

Who says beading isn't 'educational'? LOL Trust me though, some things you just DON'T want to know.

Abby x

Re: Recycling Beads And Findings

bjlewis84 — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 11:15:45 GMT

recycling and changing my jewelry to how i wanted it is what got me into the beading frenzy I have started last few months-- All my friends give me their broken stuff and I have gotten some beautiful beads and clasps and such-- Alot of it was trash but with money tight those extra goodies and what I can buy makes me have some interesting stuff to put to gether--

Re: Recycling Beads And Findings

Caroline king — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:56:59 GMT

Thanks Abby for your waste not, want not!

I love the idea! Indeed I did have the experience to make the used jewelry into whole new items. I change one of my mom's broken brooch into a long pendant necklace, it looks awesome! Well, I'd like to insist it as well, thanks for the share!

Re: Recycling Beads And Findings

abby_p — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 16:05:10 GMT

Looking forward to seeing your 'before'and 'after piccys Val. That's an awesome idea.

Abby x

Re: Recycling Beads And Findings

Valbeads — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 19:42:10 GMT

Sue,

Awesome explanation! I don't know about you, but for me I get a lot of satisfaction out of turning something that was once old, ugly and cheap looking into something pretty and new. It's a fun process because sometimes I'm not even sure myself how it's going to turn out. I think what I'm going to do from now on is take before and after pictures of these projects, so people can see the difference.

Oh, btw, can you tell me what the heck upcyclying is? I can't seem to figure it out!

Re: Recycling Beads And Findings

D.M.Z — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 19:06:03 GMT

I have old jewelry too, but most of what I have now is too valuable to tear apart. A friend just called me to say she pulled apart a Bogoff necklace for the short extender piece.............. just like tossing a couple of hundred bucks out the window, which she could have used to buy lots of old strung jewels. Anyway, I do however keep buttons and especially belt and cape clasps to use in new jewelry. Right now I don't have any pieces to show off, but using buttons and clasps means no "fatal" mangling of the items. If they turn into something valuable, they can be detached from the new jewelry and sold.

Anyway, Abby and Sue you both did very good on recycling. I love the concept of it all. Donna

Re: Recycling Beads And Findings

abby_p — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:51:18 GMT

Awww thanks. The hardest bit was arranging it around a small bowl, and then taking it away without disturbing the beads for the photo. Could I get that right? No! Several tries later ...

Re: Recycling Beads And Findings

SCB1 — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:40:17 GMT

Abby, I just returned from a trip to the galleries and I love the necklace you post a picture of. Great job of beading green.

Re: Recycling Beads And Findings

abby_p — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 17:53:46 GMT

Just popped a recycled beads piccy into the user gallery for grins. Nothing as nice as Sue's though.

Abby x

Re: Recycling Beads And Findings

SCB1 — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 14:30:10 GMT

When we say recycle, it usually pertains to strung pieces. We take the piece apart and use the components. Although the piece is outdated and ugly, the beads are good and can be used in another project that is modern and pretty. An orphan earring that is a pretty piece can be used for a pendent on a new piece, hence recycling it instead of throwing it away. In other words, reuse and don't throw out, where things go to a land fill. You could even sell your orphan earrings to someone that also has the an orphan of the same one. Or maybe sell it to a guy that only wheres one earring. But I find recycling green and good for the world.

Hope this helps you understand the idea of recycling.

Re: Recycling Beads And Findings

Valbeads — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 23:10:34 GMT

Sure do, Abby! I can't wait till garage sale season kicks off in May. I love to find all this old, kitschy 60's and 70's style jewelry, pull it apart and create someting completely new and beautifuly different with it. I've taken a pair of gaudy old clip-on earrings, removed the clips, and made lovely necklace focals out of them. Just recently, one of my nieces sent me an orphaned earring and I designed a new necklace for her with the old earring as a focal. It's a great way to save money and utilize your creative skills.