Vintage Sewing Spool Necklace

A Rolling Blog Hop by One Kiss Creations Jewelry

 

This wonderful blog hop hosted by Christine at One Kiss Creations is running along throughout the month of November. Christine sent each participant some lovely vintage wooden sewing spools and beads to use in this very fun no stress of a deadline hop. About half of the participants have posted and you can find more information about their work at links listed at the bottom of this post. And after a few tries, here is what I finally came up with:

 

 

I thought it would be fun to research the history of the wooden spools I had received including Lily, Vera, Star, Coats, Coats & Clark sewing threads. Coats & Clark celebrated it's 200 year anniversary last year and has published a lovely historic timeline on their website which is really worth the visit. I don't feel I can be 100% accurate just by looking at pictures on the Internet but would not be surprised if some of these spools go back to the early 1900's. Aw, now why did I have to go on and cover them up?

 

 

I love the flowing look of all the ribbons and used two different kinds. I started here with a few reclaimed sari ribbons from Darn Good Yarn in peach and blue for a wonderful vintage distressed look. Then I added a few fairy and silky ribbons to soften things up bit, these were purchased at Marsha Neal Studio. The lace ribbon used here was actually dyed by me and if you would like to learn more about my first adventure into the world of natural dyes click here. The faux antique porcelain roses and smoky AB crystals came from Cousin which can be ordered in small quantities at Prima Bead.

 



Everyone has been so creative in the use of their spools! Be sure to check out all the participants, the names highlighted in blue have already posted their designs. The rest will display their work some time later this November, following the date of this post. On with the hop!

 

Janet

Cynthia

Kim

Therese

Tanya

Bobbie

Liz

Maryanne

Karin

Lisa

Hope

Erin

Christine

 

 

 

 



Holiday Boot Bracelets

Are you thinking about the holidays yet? New boot bracelets using "Tis the Season" Cousin beads and jewelry findings are looking good on these western boots from Saba's.

You can find "Tis the Season" beads and components at A.C. Moore on the east coast

and Beverly's out west.

Getting Crafty for the Holidays!

O.K., yes I know it seems like we just made it through the Labor Day weekend...but it's never too early to plan for snow and holidays!  Here are a few fun and easy projects I put together with "Tis the Season" products from Cousin that will soon be available at A.C. Moore.

Let's start with some cute little zipper pulls for the kiddo's* winter jackets and snowsuits. Cousin's new "Tis the Season" products include a great selection of charms that you can check out here. For my project, I used the gingerbread house and holiday glazed donuts. I connected each charm to a metal lanyard using bright silver split jump rings. Then topped it off with a little red bow. Hint, hint: These zipper pulls also make great embellishments with ribbons and bows on gift wrap.

Next I made tree topper ornaments using Cousin's "Tis the Season" wine charm rings. It was easy adding acrylic bicones onto the rings and accenting them with some of the new beads and charms. Easy as connecting jump rings to jump rings with needle nose pliers - and finishing it off with 3/16 wide ribbon.

 

Here is a red one too!

 

 

 

 

Hope you like my frosty window affects on the photos. Can you tell I am getting excited for cooler temperatures?

 

 

More crafts to come later this month.

 

 

*For children over age 3.

Inspiration Updates From Florida

Florida is fabulous. It's fun exploring new places with lots of interesting things to do. From vibrant coastal cities like Miami with exciting night life to the quite slow moving rivers and bays where manatees can be found. Florida can be seen as a place of many contrasts and great beauty. The name Florida, actually means "feast of flowers" from Spanish and their lushness can be found everywhere. It is also the water; the beaches, oceans, hurricane clouds and everglades that make this place awesome, unique and so visually appealing.

Are you ready for some scuba diving down by the Keys? Check out this YouTube video by

Ryan Lawrence who  kindly agreed to let me post it on my blog:

(Turn on the volume for this one!)





 

Such beautiful underwater video photography and what a fantastic source of inspiration for making jewelry. Our friends over at Cousin asked me and the rest of the new Creative Circle Ambassadors to design a piece of jewelry around the theme of Florida.  Here is the necklace I made with all glass beads, gemstone bead components and findings available at Prima Bead, the online retailer for Cousin. I think I am going to call this necklace:

 

Diving Off the Keys.

 

Jellyfish Beaded End Caps

Do you want to know how I made them? A simple variation of circular peyote stitch.

For more details, drop me a note.

 

 

 

And this is how it sits. Beautiful treasure from under the sea!

 

 

 

 

 

By the Way, Did You Know?

Moonstones are the Official State Gem of Florida.

 

Cousin Corporation is headquartered in Largo FL, not too far from Tampa.

 

Ten Pulitzer Prizes have been awarded to writers who lived on Key West, including

Ernest Hemingway.

The U.S. city with the highest rate of lightning strikes per capita is Clearwater FL.

 

Taxes are relatively low here, the state constitution prohibits income tax.

Additional Sources:

http://www.whitesandsbeachresort.com/node/85

http://www.business2community.com/travel-leisure/50-insane-facts-about-florida-infographic-0589271

http://www.pinnacleadvisory.com/2012/07/five-ways-you-could-benefit-from-becoming-a-florida-resident/