Poke, string, knot, glue = DIY Fabric Beads! PART 2

Last week I blogged about how I painted and made some of my very own fabric beads (and was thrilled with the response the post got, too!). But painting and glueing was only the half of it! Once I started making the beads, I was unstoppable and kept finding new and different ways to use fabric already on hand and unconventional items from the craft store!


After painting my own beads, I started looking through my fabric vault (aka big ole' tupperware storage bin) to see what else I could come up with. Though I had purchased some super rad polka-dot Amy Butler fabric back in LA in order to make a pillow, I figured I could sacrifice a little bit for the cause. After cutting the fabric down to 1x3" strips, I needed a new venue on which to plaster the fabric (in other words - a cheap form of a bead)! After searching up and down the aisles of Michael's, I think I found the perfect (and cheap!) solution: Styrofoam Balls!


So with my styfoam balls in hand and fabric Mod Podge ready to go, I just now needed a way to make the hole and hold the bead while putting on the fabric. Of course - chopsticks!

I first glued a strip around the bead long ways:

Then finished with two more strips that went diagonally along the holes on either side. And Voila! A bead!

After pairing them with some more fabric-wrapped ugly disco ball beads and some brown wooden beads, I topped the necklace off with some pink ribbon and had this:

Amy Butler Fabric and Wooden Beaded necklace with Pink Ribbon, $20 

But what's a necklace without a matching bracelet, no?

Amy Butler "Love" Polka Dot Fabric Bracelet, $10

I might just keep this one. 

And of course I didn't stop there (and in fact, I hope to make many more of these items... I love 'em)! I was also determined to make something with this random piece of scarf-like fabric I bought for $.50 in LA awhile back:

After cutting a piece of fabric that measured about 3"x1", I got my styrofoam balls back out and went at it: 

And knotted and wrapped the fabric around the balls:

And came up with this thing-a-ma-bobber:

I will admit, the turnout of this necklace is now exactly what I had hoped for. It's quite stiff and down's hang all that nicely at the bust. My fabric was too wide and not long enough - I would have liked to make more knots and added more beads but ran out of length, plus I don't like how much fabric hangs from the sides. It's for all these reasons why this item isn't on Etsy yet - I am not 100% behind it. I do, however, plan to show it as an example at my jewelry party in a few weeks and see what kind of feedback I get on it and go from there. Though I love Etsy, using the internet to sell certain kinds of jewelry takes away the touch and feel dimension that is often so crucial to a good purchase!


Then I figured - if I could use fabric, why not use ribbon, too? After looking through my ribbon stash, I found this rad yarn-like stuff and paired it with some wooden-disc beads that I salvaged from an Anthropologie necklace I bought on sale years ago:

(Needless to say, I totally ruined my manicure with all my glue-use!)

Which resulted in these (the one on the right is actually made of fabric I painted blue):

And then this:

Again, I didn't put this item on Etsy yet because I am not totally settled with it. Maybe I am waiting for a perfect component piece to come my way. Maybe I am waiting for a better idea for their final use. Maybe I am just too stubborn to list them yet! This will be another item that will debut at the jewelry party in hopes of some constructive criticism. Ah, and artist's work is never done. 


Next up - how I used random stuff found at Goodwill to create one-of-a-kind jewelry displays for the party! Keep posted :)

Earring :: Ideas :: Inspiration

Poet and feminist Audre Loude once said: "There are no new ideas. There are only new ways of making them felt." I have heard this said before of any art form, that there is no "new" art, only reinterpretations of ideas already established. Think about going to a museum, be it modern or antiquity. Have you ever left feeling a deep impulse to just create? Something, anything -- so long as you get your say in the process of making something out of something else. I guess it's the same for those who watch sports and then feel motivated to go to the gym (said activity does not have an effect on me, unfortunately). 

That said, one of my main source of jewelry ideas is spending time in the jewelry department of stores such as Target and Macy's or browsing them online. I have been known to get lost in the sea of Etsy products and sketch some ideas from there, too. This past week I found some super cute earrings at Target and, with the new stash of jewels from LA's jewelry district, one pair lead to two pairs lead to seven new pairs of earrings:

This is the original from Target, priced at $40:

And here is the Bead Up version, priced at $19:

Amethyst, Agate, Pearl, and Crystal earrings, $19 

But then I figured, why stop at gold? Silver rocks, too!

Pink and Pearl Earrings, $18

Then I saw these earrings, originally from Anthropology but no longer on their site:

Which turned into my interpretation (based on the materials I had on hand, of course):

Pink Crystal Drop earrings, $19

And these Anthropology earrings:

Turned into these Bead Up earrings:

Pink Briolette Earrings, $20

Then I just kept going!

Gold and Leaf Gemstone Earrings, $20

Cerulean Blue and Gold Hammered Hoop Earrings, $16

Bridal Pearl and Crystal Earrings, $17

And while I was at it, I remembered a sketch I had drawn last week based on a design I saw in a bead magazine:

Which turned into this -- a new spin on an old classic!

Brass Birdie Goes to its Nest Necklace - Turquoise

I think this is the most productive jewelry makin' day I have had in awhile! 

Here's to another one!

Fashionably Friday: Statement Necklaces on "Sale"

So in light of last week's post on super chic, yet super pricey, Padma Lakshmi's new jewelry line, I wanted to dedicate this week's post to something a little more affordable. I originally intended on talking about some of the fun finds on Target.com, until I came across this interesting article from "Stylelist.com" --- "Statement Necklaces under $150." "$150?" I thought to myself. These better be some darn niiiiiiiiiice statement necklaces for that amount of money (this is coming from the gal who just "splurged" on a $9.99 purse and a pair of boots for $16.99 at Ross!). So I took a look. What I found? Some Good, some Bad, and some just plain Ugly. I'll tell you my thoughts if you tell me yours! The Good:

Black Chiffon Flower Ribbon Necklace

A garland with a Goth aesthetic, this necklace is made of grosgrain ribbon accented with chiffon flowers. Flowers have raw edges and black gem centers.

$16 on Torrid.com

"OOOooooooooooooh," I literally said when I saw this necklace. Me likie. I can see this as a great accent piece to any simple white t-shirt or even formal dress. And the best part? It's only $16! I have seen similar necklaces for sale at Forever XXI, yet had never heard of this "Torrid" shop. I sent the link to a friend and told her to check it out (since she likes affordable trendy jewelry, too). She later snapped in shock: "Woman! It's a plus size shop!" Woops! Totally didn't mean anything suggestive by it, Nicole!

Ranuncula Necklace Tightly packed cotton voile petals, inset with gilded gems and strung between mixed chains. $42 at Anthropologie

The second necklace that the Stylelist originally listed wasn't available on Anthropologie's website for some reason, so this was the next best thing. And best indeed. I like it - ALOT. I wish I had thought of it - the combination of colors, the chain, and the delicate and beautiful flowers. And for $42, I think it would be an excellent Christmas wish-list item.

Floral Grid Necklace Acrylic, Base Metal setting, silver plated $125 at Banana Republic

Though I don't think I would buy this on a normal day, I certainly wouldn't buy it for $125. Especially since it's made of base metal and acrylic (in other words, fake stuff). Oh, BR, you do know how to over price yo' stuff. Don't think you can fool me for a second. However, that doesn't mean it's not totally cute. Especially in comparison to the following...

The Bad:

Stamped Circles Necklace Gold look stamped circles layered neckwear measuring 66cm in length. 100% Metal. $25 from "TopShop"

Arugh, me hearties. Bin turned me facebook settin's on to scurvy pirate mode this day hearty thanks to 'tis treasure chest 'o a necklace. Never run out 'o doubloons fer th' parkin' meter again! (translation courtesy of this website - hilarious)!

Cluster Necklace A modern cascade of interconnecting golden chain links and smoky lucite hexagons. 17"L with lobster claw clasp. Was $39, now $34 on Spiegel

Makes me want to eat the 80's-tastic Honeycomb cereal. Looks like a bulls eye for stingers!

Carmen Cabochon Necklace Faceted cabochon-style stones with rhinestone accents. Hematite-colored chain. $58 by Guess by Marciano

This isn't a total fail... totally... I feel that it's trying to be statement-y yet is lacking a "ka-pow!" element to it. In fact, it looks a little cheap and tacky, if you ask me. And for $58, well, you probably already know where I stand...!

Antique Gold Manor Necklace A wonderfully lush necklace, dripping with dozens of various-size resin beads hand painted in metallic hues to evoke an antique glass effect. 12K shiny, textured gold-plated double oval ring brass chain. Signature spring clasp closure.

$128 from JCrew

I really, really, really don't like the first necklace. It looks like seaweed or some kind of growth from the underworld. However, when I noticed that they also offer it in a bronze color, my heart softened a bit. Then it went back to cold thanks to the $128 pricetag. Ugh.

And the Ugly:UO Mixed Media Necklace Short bib statement necklace with braided fabric and faceted stud detailing. Finished with a lobster claw clasp. Exclusive to Urban Outfitters. Imported. Wipe clean. Was $34, now $19 from Urban Outfitters

So I went back to the 80's and brought back this poop brown piece of rope from when rope bracelets were cool. Then I added some poop brown beads in between, ya know, to give it an urban flair. Then I used the most plain and boring imitation silver clasp I could find to, ya know, give it some chic. And of course it's exclusive to Urban Outfitters because, well, no one else wanted it. But no worries! We've put you, the customer, in mind and lowered the price to $19! That's $15 in savings - you can buy one for you AND your friend! And all you have to do is "wipe clean!" Makes a great dog leash or boating accessory, too!

Ok, now that I've gotten that outta me, I am off to enjoy the weekend. Hope you have a fabulous one, too!