When Melissa Trudinger (https://www.etsy.com/shop/BohoBirdJewellery) offered to host a blog hop focusing on jewelry design using components from the haberdashery department–buttons, ribbons, lace, etc–I jumped at the chance, since I have a plethora of such things just sitting here unused. Apparently, my brain didn’t engage with the fact that I can’t sew. As usual, I got an idea quickly and went with it…until I realized I needed something to sew on, and something to sew with. My husband when out and got me some needles and thread.
It’s a good thing he repairs his own clothes and will be able to make great use of these because I have no idea what to do with them. Wire, however, is my friend. I’m sure there is something you’re supposed to sew beads on, but since I have no idea what that is, I grabbed my wallpaper. I love using wallpaper.
At this point, I should tell you that I am in the process of packing to move. I decided to use things on my table so I wouldn’t have to put them away to pack; I have done this before with mixed results, but I like making myself use what is lying around.
I had my husband drill some holes for me while I cut out my wallpaper. My necklaces tend to be around 16-18 inches but I wanted to make a longer necklace this time. Longer necklaces tend to twist around when I walk, so I wanted the focal to be double-sided. As I was using brass and steel, I decided to paint the back of the wallpaper silver and go for a mixed metal look by adding gunmetal wire.
There was a broken necklace on my table that someone sent me (my friends know I love to recycle and re-purpose so I get some interesting things in the mail on occasion).
There was some silk sari ribbon along with a charm/pendant I had already started as well as some shell buttons from Rita (http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com/) on my desk also.
It’s at this point things went “pear shaped.” The screws I had did not match in size and didn’t fit in the nuts. Then, I had a little melt down when I realized that if I used the screws in the holes my husband drilled, I still had no way to hang the focal. D’oh!
Round two of drilling commenced and I realized that I really wanted to hammer the plates also. Once I looked at the charm I had thought to use to hang on the bottom, I remembered an amazing beaded charm (on the right below) I own made by the talented Karin Grosset Grange (https://www.etsy.com/shop/GinkgoetCoquelicot).
The charm was part of the exchange and fundraiser auction for Beads of Courage that was hosted by Jennifer Cameron (http://www.glassaddictions.com/blog/2013-art-charm-swap-reveal-and-benefit-auction-beads-courage) last year.
This Haby challenge turned out to be more difficult than I envisioned. I’m really pleased with the final product. Here is the “front”:
And here is the “back”:
See that little blue dagger? That bead was in a little bag of mixed beads that Melissa sent me, so she is in my necklace not just in spirit, but literally too!
Please visit the other designers participating in the hop:
Melissa Trudinger http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com
Ann Schroeder http://www.beadlove.wordpress.com
Tammy Adams http://www.paisleylizard.com/blog.html
Amanda Wacasey http://mandyinmystic.blogspot.com
Dolores Raml http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com
Divya N http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com
Michelle McCarthy http://www.fireflydesignstudio.BlogSpot.com
DiYana Brooks http://agapecreationsjewelry.blogspot.com/
Robin Kae Reed http://willowdragon.blogspot.com
Andrea Glick http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/
Karin Grosset Grange http://ginkgoetcoquelicot.blogspot.fr
Mitzie Crider http://needfulluxuries.blogspot.com
Janine Lucas (will post Sunday)
http://www.esfera.me/travel/blog/travel-stories
Rosantia Petkova http://bairozan.blogspot.com/
Susan Kennedy http://www.suebeads.blogspot.com
Leithleach Alainn Seodra http://alainnjewelry.wordpress.com/
Kathleen Breeding http://99bobotw.blogspot.com/
Shiraz Biggie http://secretsongdesigns.blogspot.com
Chris Eisenberg http://www.wanderware.blogspot.com
Heather Richter http://desertjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com/
Lennis Carrier http://www.windbent.net/
Rebecca Anderson http://www.songbeads.blogspot.com
Jenny Kyrlach http://anafiassa.blogspot.com
Rita Toltec Jewels http://www.JewelSchoolFriends.com
Mischelle Fanucci http://www.micheladasmusings.blogspot.com
Karen Mitchell
Carol Briody http://Cbriody.blogspot.com
Karla Morgan http://TexasPepperJams.blogspot.com
Carolyn Lawson http://Carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com
Lori Anderson http://www.prettythingsblog.com/
Jami Shipp http://www.celebratinglifewithdamamashipp.blogspot.com
Lili Krist http://pcbylik.blogspot.com/
Evelyn Shelby http://raindropcreationsbyevelyn.blogspot.com/
Raissa de Guzman
Niky Sayers
http://silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk
Keren Panthaki
Windbent Art 
Love reading about your process and I love your necklace, it’s such an eclectic mix of elements that somehow all go together beautifully! Clever idea using wallpaper too, would never have thought of that myself 😉 Thank you for joining in my blog hop!
Glad to see you over came all the challenges, what a fun necklace! love how you used the buttons and the purple silk is so lovely and that pendent is very cool. I love how you showed the making of your piece!
I am happy you found a way to overcome your challenges as the necklace turned out great. Lots of different elements to add interest. Great idea to make the focal double-sided in case it flips around during wear.
I just bet all the fun you had with this challenge made the rest of your challenges fade for just a bit right??? it is a wonderful necklace and I love the way you explained it all!!! I think it is just gorgeous!!! Have a Blessed Day!
Cool necklace! I often use things that are on my bead table as well AND have haberdashery items with no real sewing skill. It all seems to have worked out for you, though. That’s the fun part!
Love reading your blog post. And that pendant! Wonderful and very clever.
What a process! I was smiling at your ups and downs…….I knew darn well you would overcome all of the challenges. A very clever idea. I really like this piece when finally done!
What an awesome design story! It makes your piece 100 times more special! I think it’s beautiful!
Looks like a lot of work but it certainly paid off! What a unique and creative pendant 🙂
I’m smitten! Wallpaper and washers?! That pendant is unique! Beautiful necklace!
I absolutely love when people show their process. Outstanding work!
What great piece. Reminds me of a port hole on a boat with little fish swimming along. It may not have started out well, but the finish is beautiful.
I hate that you had so much trouble starting off, but it looks like it really all came together in the end. Nicely done! I hope the move is going well too.
I hate packing up my beads! I won’t be able to make anything.