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Giveaway: Triangle and Brass Necklace
This giveaway is for a triangle and brass collar necklace! It’s a part of my latest collar necklace collection, which are designed to be worn close to your neck, underneath the collar of your blouse. The necklace measures 18.5” long, closes in the back with a clasp, and is made out of glass, steel and brass.
Enter the giveaway before Monday, March 25th at midnight EST. Winners will be announced on Wednesday, March 26th by email and here on the blog. Anyone is welcome to enter (US and International).
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A new collection of Collar Necklaces at A Common Thread.
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This jewelry tutorial will show you how to make a gold leaf cat bracelet. I love pretty much anything with cats, and things that glitter, so why not combine the two?
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This pattern shows you how to knit a bow, which can be made into a necklace, headband, pin for your lapel or anything! This is the mini version, which measures 4.5” x 2.25” (11.43cm x 5.72cm). I also have a pattern for the bigger knit bow. Below you’ll find the instructions to knit your own…or if you’re not feeling inspired, you can buy a mini bow necklace from the shop.
Also, each Monday I’m going to post a new pattern, tutorial, or DIY project here on the blog. Until I run out of ideas…or get lazy.
For the Pattern…
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This morning, I was so excited to find this little surprise hiding in my mailbox! Cloth magazine pulled together their favorite boutiques and bloggers and guess who they featured - ME! Also, I’m glad that my sense of style is clearly being observed as quirky.
In other news about me, since that’s what today is obviously about…I’ve added some new brassy jewelry to the shop, made from a mix of vintage and new brass. Simple and minimal pieces.
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This is a tutorial to show you how to make a ring out of a vintage button. I see so many great vintage buttons, either randomly at a yard sale or thrift store or a part of an old sweater or shirt that I don’t want to wear anymore. Buttons are little treasures that are great because they can be so fun, with a lot of detail. There’s a bunch of stuff you can do with them, and I’m sort of button hoarder. If there’s a nice set of them, I like to replace boring buttons on a shirt with fun colored ones. And below, is how to turn a button into a pretty ring.
DIY Button Ring Tutorial
Materials
- big vintage button
- ring blank (proportionate in size to your button)
- heavy duty glue, like E6000
- sandpaper
- disposable pointy thing, like a chopstick
Step 1
Using the sandpaper, gently sand the back of the button, and the flat surface of the ring blank. The flat smooth surface of the button/ring blank doesn’t give the glue enough to really bond to, so by roughening up the texture a bit it will make your glue hold better. Make sure you don’t go crazy here, and try to only sand the button where the ring blank will attach.
Step 2
Apply a small dollop of glue with your chopstick to your ring blank. The key here is not getting too much. You want enough so that when you press the ring on it forms a solid layer, almost forming a suction, and only the tiniest bit peeks out the edges, but not so much that you have to wipe it off.
Step 3
Now press on your ring gently just enough that the glue spreads evenly across and you have a nice layer of glue in between. Don’t press too hard where you squeeze all of the glue out of the sides. Now, set it aside and let it dry for a good 24 hours before you wear it.
Now you have a new ring! You can get pretty creative with these, and soon you’ll be looking for anything with a flat surface to make rings out of. You can also make rings from geode stones with a flat back, vintage pendants, sliced agate, stone chunks like pyrite, or even little knit items like bows or hearts.
You can check out my statement rings in the shop, or have a look at my other DIY patterns.0 Comments -
Recently, I started a Jewel of the Month Club, where I’ll select one item from the jewelry shop which will be on super duper sale for the month. It lets everyone get in on the jewelry fun, and you can build up your jewelry collection, one piece at a time. This month, the arrow earrings are now listed at over 40% off.
It’s free, and no registration required…but if you want a little reminder every month to see what the new jewel will be, sign up below with your email address.
And…now that April is almost here, which would you want see as the next jewel of the month?
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Happy Monday! It was a beautiful weekend, and I tried to spend as much time outside, and stay on the periphery of st. patrick’s day madness. I spent some time lounging in the park, and having delicious dinner and cocktails with friends. And finally made some time to photograph me wearing my latest rope necklace.
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This one is a little bit of yarn, crocheted to a chain with vintage brass fringe. I love the way it looks worn under a buttoned up collar. I think many of the times when I leave the house in the morning, I look a bit school marmish.
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So, what do you guys think. Would you want a crochet tutorial for this necklace?
Outfit details: Madewell jeans; Pretty Penny leopard shoes; A Common Thread rope necklace; vintage silk shirt, blazer and sunglasses; Patricia Nash purse0 Comments -
Here’s a tutorial on how to make a basic chain bracelet, for your very own DIY bracelet arm party. I like the look of colors of the crazy circus arm, with friendship bracelets, chain bracelets, rhinestones and bangles, but sometimes it’s nice to have just a simple, basic bracelet to throw on. The good thing is, this chain bracelet stands alone well, or can serve as a foundation to a crazy arm circus. And, the technique is simple, and you can apply it to any chain you find, so you can make all kinds of different styles.
Pin ItDIY Chain Bracelet Tutorial
Materials
- chain, either online or vintage from thrift stores or ebay; cut to the length of your arm
- 2 jumprings
- 1 clasp
- wire cutters
- 2 sets of pliers: needlenose and round
Step 1: Attach a Jumpring
Attach a jumpring to one of the chain by using your pliers. Make sure you twist the jumpring open; don’t pull the two ends out.
Step 2: Attach the Clasp
On the other end of the chain, attach your clasp with your jumpring.
You’re done!
You can check out my other patterns & tutorials, or a similar chunky chain bracelet in the shop.
Images in collage by: thestylishhousewife | Diane Von Furstenberg | tamsinhowse. All other images are mine.0 Comments -
This weekend, I went to the first of four silversmithing classes at 3rd Ward in my neighborhood. It was pretty spectacular, and in just the first class we learned how to layout our designs, make a paper model, cut sheet metal, and watched our teacher solder some stuff with a torch hooked up to some really scary tanks. Next week, we’re going to get to solder ourselves!
Here’s my progress so far. It helped going into the class with some drawings of what I wanted to make, and even making a rough paper model beforehand. Basically, I’m going to make little half pyramids with all of these shapes. It’s really hard work! We hand sawed each of these down. I got a bit faster over time, but each one took about 10-15 minutes. So much for my grand plans of hand-cutting all of my own jewelry materials. But, the good thing is, a lot of the materials to cut sheet metal (handsaw, files, anvil) are all pretty small, and would even fit in my tiny brooklyn apartment.
Things are looking pretty rough, but hopefully they’ll start shaping up next week when we file, sand, and solder. I’ll let you know how it goes! Also….my new Hansel From Basel socks came. Love!
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