Vintage fun long necklace

This is a beautiful necklace. I chose the vintage oval shaped bead because I love the colors and I love vintage. The rest of the necklace fell into place. I used beads of varying colors that are in the focal bead.  The diamond tangerine beads are crazy lace agate (dyed). The clasp is a toggle.

The necklace is  approximately 24.5 inches long, not including the clasp. This length falls between matinee length and opera length.  Being said, this length is perfect for casual and business dress so you can wear it from work to a nice evening out.  It works well with high or crew neckline.

This necklace can also be found for sale on my online etsy shop.  Just go to etsy.com and look for Mary Janes Just Jewelry store! 

Sea Shell Necklace

Princess length, 17.5 inches long not including the toggle clasps. Toggle clasps, on average, add on another inch. This length works well with crew and high neck lines. It can also be a contrast when wearing a low, plunging neckline.

The shell is made out of Amazonite. Amazonite got its name from the Amazon river. It is most commonly found in Brazil, india, as well as the United States and other places.

The brass spacer beads are vintage Ethiopian 8 mm brass.

As usual with my creations, the clasp is toggle.

If interested in purchasing this beautiful necklace, please go to my etsy.com online store Mary Janes Just Jewelry!

Fun with metal

I recently took a class in introduction to metal work.  I got to play with FIRE!  It was an awesome experience and I had such great fun.  I made this pendant from a piece of metal.  Using a propane tank (since map gas is being recalled), I heated the piece until it was super red and then was able to manipulate moving it.  I more or less crimped it in the middle.  I then punched various holes into it for deco and other purposes. After that I added a liquid base to the piece and used special dry paint to give it so some colors. After each color was added, the piece was heated again. I used three different colors.  The ending piece has the same texture and quality of glass. I love the piece.  It is just so fun to wear and was fun, fun, fun to make!

Amber Remake

I made a necklace using these amber stones (fakes) with a pendant.  I never wore it after I made it because I really did not like the stones with the pendant so I took it all apart and remade the necklace using the stones and gold spacers of different shapes and sizes.  The stones are various shades of yellow, gold, white and bronze.  I like it much better now.  I tend to have a liking for things that are bigger and simple these days. And yes, that is a picture of my wonderful husband sitting on the desk behind the necklace! 

Brick Stitch - Easy

I taught myself how to brick stitch this past week. I have an awesome book on seed beads and the instructions in the book are easy enough for even me to figure out.  I made two necklaces.  One necklace I made is a simple brick stitch.  I made a matching bracelet and used a cute little button as the clasp.  I even learned how to make my own peyote clasp.

The second necklace is what is referred to as twisted brick stitch and you will be able to distingquish the different look of the two. Again I used a button for the clasp. In this one I used different colors throughout.  It makes it very versatile! 

As usual, I love them all!

Green No Rhyme or Reason

I really loved the black/silver No Rhyme or Reason necklace I made so I decided to make a second one using green as the main color.  I made it longer than the first so that the many different beads and findings are prominently displayed and not hidden behind my hair.  Hope you like it to!

No Rhyme or Reason - Necklace

I was inspired by Tammy, owner of Tada Artisan and Bead Shop, for this necklace.  It is made of quite a few different and interesting beads and findings.  As my name of the piece depicts, there is no rhyme or reason for the various mediums used and the placement of them.  I love it and can't wait to wear it!

Agate necklace and matching earrings

I was in a weird place over the weekend (happens quite frequently actually) and made a number of necklaces.  This necklace is made out of three differrent beads. There is the large agate that is a very unusual color.  It borders on green/gray. There is a raised surface in the middle of the bead. The round beads are also agate and about the same strange color.  In between I added greenish/grayish crystals.  I love the look.  While I did take the time to make matching earrings, I failed to take a picture of them!  That should give you an idea of where I my head was at the time!

Red, Black and Bold

I really like wearing bold jewelry!  I think it is because I dress so conservatively for the most part.  I had this necklace along time ago with a pendant but I really did not like it.  I took it apart and just added black crystal beads between the red.  It is strikingly beautiful!

Cobalt Blue Porcelain Necklace

For Christmas, as part of my pollyanna at work, I got the four diamond shaped cobalt blue porcelain beads found in this necklace.  I found the oval ones while at the bead show in Hampton last month.  They were a perfect match.  This necklace, and matching earrings, are made using the porcelain beads, solid blue round beads and silver spacers.  I know the exact sweater that I plan to wear these at for their initial wear.

Fresh Water Pearls

This is a simple but pretty necklace made of fresh water pearls and double sterling silver plated spacers. 

Christmas is coming

and I am beginning to make jewelry for presents.  I always make things that I like.  It makes it easier that way. When I begin a project, and even sometimes after it is complete, I have no idea who I am making it for. That decision comes later.  Here is my first gift set. As you can see, it is a ribbon on a necklace. I used two different size beads and silver double spacers.  The beads have varying colors in them. They blend well to match the ribbon. I always love how I buy different things at different times and they end up working perfectly with something I bought earlier. The ribbon and both sets of stones were bought at different times and different places.