Every week I take a little walk to Trader Joe's on my lunch break and splurge on a $5.99 bouquet of flowers. When I bring them back into the office, people ask, "Oh, did your husband get those for you?" I laugh, "No! I wanted them so I bought them for myself!" It seems that flowers are so naturally associated with "gift" that it seems odd that someone would buy them for themselves. But why not? Why is it that we rarely every buy flowers for ourselves? Because they die? Because we could grow them on our own but don't have the time? It is for these reasons that the flower IS beautiful! I have become so used to having flowers on my desk that I can see a severe change in my attitude when I finally have to throw them away and am stuck on a flower-less desk for another day. Something about looking at these flowers throughout the day helps keep me balanced. (This flower is one of the few that actually bloomed in our garden this summer - the heat took the rest of them too quickly. RIP, little guys).
Ralph Waldo Emerson famously said, "The Earth Laughs in Flowers." It goes without saying that, when talking about inspiration, flowers are a no-duh kind of a subject. I have literally typed and re-typed this entry over and over trying to achieve something witty to say about flowers that has not been said before. I guess it's cyclical - flowers do all the talking for us, it seems. And even more so, a picture of a flower is worth a thousand words. I find a lot of inspiration from photos of flowers, since they offer us a closer glimpse into lives cut too short. I usually use my weekly bouquet of flowers in my product photography of jewelry, and it's not ironic that often the products go so well with the flowers - they are often the muse behind many of my color pallet choices :) (pictured: purple Amethyst earrings, $14)
Last weekend I went to a wedding in Minnesota and was thrilled to see the bride having chosen one of the most beautiful, and temperate, of all flowers as her theme: the hydrangea. The pom of a flower was everywhere, even in the bride's hair, and really made alive all that was the wedding and reception. I took a stalk home with me after the wedding to attempt to press some of the petals for the bride, and they turned out surprisingly well, considering how very delicate its many petals are.
JMcGuinness, saranorris, kathelesage, flandersfield
One day I was looking at all the beads that were accumulating in my craft room and noticed that I had ALOT of lime green beads. I originally bought them for this project, but never really sold enough of the item to justify having as many green beads as I (optimistically) purchased! Looking at my massive supply, I got an idea for a bracelet that would not only look fun, but also help me use up the daunting supply of beads!
The result: my Green with Envy Cluster Bracelet. Though I was happy with the end product, I was even more happy with it's reception! The item sold right away, and soon thereafter people were asking me to post it again! I was hesitant at first since it took me 2 full nights to make the cluster bracelet, but, seeing how many of these beads I still had laying around, I caved and listed it again. And again. And again. This time around, I figured it would be a good opportunity to show the steps behind the bracelet, since I think it looks more complicated than it really it! Hopefully this can inspire you to make something new with materials laying around your craft space, too!
First I had to empty out my Beadsmith design board (it's amazing how I allow stray beads to accumulate on this thing!). I really like this extra long felted workspace as it allows me to see all my supplies for any given project while keeping them organized. It also works as a tape measure and ruler, which I will admit I don't use as often as I just eye things :) I bought all these green beads from a variety of sources, including a flea market in Beijing, Michael's, Beadnicks, and Ritual Adornments in Santa Monica... 5 types of seed beads, several shell beads, glass beads, and even some green pearl beads. I wired each bead on bright silver Beadalion stringing wire. All each of these tools (crimp tool, nose pliers, cutting pliers, bent chain nose pliers, flat nose pliers) came in handy, too, as you will see below!
I first cut a 7" piece of Beadalion wire. To secure its end, I put a 2mm crimp bead (image 1) on one end and looped in through itself (image 2). Then I took my crimp pliers (image 3) and flattened the crimp bead until it was secure and tight on the wire. The loop will later serve as a means to connect the strand to the ending clasp.
(sorry about the blurry images - I was working on my ottoman in my poorly-lit living room!)
Next was the most tedious part - beading (image 5) 15 of these strands! Thankfully my husband was close at hand to help me pick up many of the beads I accidentally dropped - those little seed beeds can be frisky! I ended each strand the same way I started them with a loop and a crimp bead (image 6).
Next I needed to create a means to hold all the strands together. Since I was going to use a long bead cap at the end, I couldn't just end with a standard jump ring. I therefore decided to make my own jump ring with some 22 gauge silver wire. I started by taking my nose pliers and clasping the wire toward the bottom of the head.
Next I turned the pliers 360 degrees until I had a bit of a circle at the end of the wire.
Nice, smooth end - but I needed to even the remaining wire out.
I took the same pliers and forced the remaining wire to turn 90 degrees. The result: a perfect eyepin (these things can sell for $.25 each - how much more fun to just make them yourself!
Next I took the 15 strands of green assorted beads and strategically (in terms of texture and color) ordered and strung them on the headpin.
I took my nose pliers and smushed the end of the eye pin together so the strands can't go anywhere. Stay put, little guys!
After repeating the process on the other end, I was ready to attach the bead caps and toggle clasp.
I got these filigree bead caps at Michael's for $.50 each.
Bead Caps are great for covering up ugly finishings and ends!
I cut off the extra wire I didn't need, leaving about 3/4 an inch of wire in which I would create my end loop.
My nose pliers finished the eye loop.
After making the eye loop, I opened it up with my flat nose pliers in order to get the toggle clasp on.
I used the same flat nose pliers to smush both sides of the eye loop back together and thus secure the toggle clasp.
Repeat on the other end.
Viola! The super fun finished product! I might just have to wear it for the day before I send it to it's buyer, my buddy Nilsa! (Thanks again for your patience with this product, friend, you're the best!)
One Sunday, while we were visiting a church in Vientian, Laos, I met a local gal who spoke perfect English (a rarity). Her name was Sophia. We asked each other questions as little Lao children watched the foreigners interact with one of their own. She finally noticed that none of us had joined the large crowd for lunch and arranged us a table. No utensils this time, just plates of meat with vegetables through the catalyst of sticky rice balled up in ones hand. Of course the only thing on the table that was vegetarian friendly was sticky rice, and I ate as much as I could stomach to suppress my hunger. Sophia noticed that I was helpless and walked me down the street to find some food. A woman bent over a rusty cart making some kind of fried coconut milk with corn and green onion ensemble. Her skillet was similar to one we use for Danish breakfast at home, with a dozen circular inlets which produce a round shaped fried food. Sophia purchased four for me and then some friend banana from another shop across the street, and refused my money when I offered.
She explained to us that her father was a pastor and thus she had always grown us Christian, though had a hard time at school as others did not understand her cultural choices. All this time, I could not keep my eyes off her beautiful earrings, made of Tibetian silver and a kidney wire. When I mentioned that I liked her earrings, she immediately took them off and put them on my ears. She said she was just happy to help me find food and that the earrings were the least she could give me. I didn't deserve anything from this gal, nor did I have anything to give her in return but humility and thanks.
(You can see Sophia and the kids of the church in the top picture, as well as me wearing the earrings later that day below).
While shopping at Beadazzled in Baltimore, guess what I found? The silver tribal beads! I of course bought them right up and put them on some kidney wires. They are available on my Etsy shop here.
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Also found some great inspiration in LA. For whatever reason (other than the fact that LA is rad?), I have spotted a bunch of these little tweet-like birds hanging from cables, mostly in the Hollywood area. I dig it and just had to buy these precious bird charms as a reaction (they are 12 x 17 mm and 14k gold plated with matt finish). Of course no bird necklace is complete without a Swarovski crystal and cute little bat-like charm to top it off. (Bird picture by my friend Josh).
My friend Roni and I both spend our days working desk jobs, so naturally we chat it up on Facebook chat when we get the chance. A few months ago she asked me to make a bracelet for her to wear in her wedding. Not only was I thrilled, but equally excited about the artistic freedom Roni allowed me in the process.
First Roni sent me a picture of her wedding dress and informed me that it had Swarovski crystals in the detail work. Furthermore, her bridesmaids were going to wear Tiffany Blue dresses with white orchids as the main flower.
Roni next sent me a picture of a necklace her fiance gave her which she hoped could match with the bracelet.
I'll admit, I at first didn't know where to go with this necklace. But then I found these Sterling Silver Swarovski Crystal Navettes at Auntie Beads:
When Roni said "YES, please!," I next copied and pasted the image on the old-school "PAINT" PC program to give Roni an idea of what it could look like with her wedding colors, Tiffany blue and cream:
Roni loved it. So I ordered the supplies (in addition to some 5mm freshwater pearls and 2mm Swarovski crystal bicones in Aqua blue) and went to work, sending her this picture of my first draft of the components:
After throwing around some additional ideas, Roni and I had decided on a final design, and I sent her pictures of my progress along the way to make sure we were on the same page:
Roni was thrilled, so I went to work, using sterling silver beading wire, sterling silver crimp beads, and a beautiful antique sterling silver round filigree clasp to top it off. I was so thrilled with the result, I had my friend Alison model it for me:
I had a fun time dressing the bracelet up in a super nice box and ribbon - you know I sent this one insured!
Now all that is left is Roni's wedding - pictures to come!
I grew up in a small
After seeing such inspiring places, I wasn’t looking forward to going back to
Here are some examples of photos I have taken of the beauty I have found in both the “gray” and also the glamorous, and how I have transformed their inspirations into jewelry:
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Chengde, China
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Lexington, KY
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Berkeley, CA
Countryside of
Mosaic Teardrop Stone and Beaded Earrings
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Red and Black Crystal Illusion Necklace
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Green with Envy Cluster Bracelet
It doesn’t matter where we are or what resources we do or do not have around us. What matters, and what makes a difference, is the lenses of the eyes of which we look at the world around us.
Where do you find your inspiration? Look around! It’s everywhere!
Thanks for reading,
~Christyn of
