This is a design I love – and my customers have been pretty happy with it too 🙂 These crystal (glass) octagons are pointed back cabochons, glass jewels that measure 14mm x 10mm (approx. 5/8″ x 3/8″). They’re well faceted, sparkly, and feminine.
And here’s the even-cooler part. Take this same basic design, and instead of adding silver(y) chain, attach a clasp.
And presto, you’ve got a gorgeous bracelet! Hint: try this. When you’re making the necklace, instead of adding the chain to the octagons with a jump ring – use spring rings instead. Made that way, you can attach the chain to the jump rings anytime you want to wear your necklace. Or you can leave the chain off, clasp the spring rings *to each other*, and wear your octagons as a bracelet! (I’ll do up a pic soon and add it here.)
Double sparkly goodness for your prom, your Saturday night date… or your wedding. Win!
You know Mother’s Day is coming up – and I just lucked into finding these totally adorable, matching mother’s and daughter’s dresses at NaforA on Etsy.
The thing is, they are not only cute, and handmade, but they are versatile and actually wearable. They can be summer dresses “as is”. They can be winter tunics, with leggings and maybe long-sleeve tees underneath. The mom’s dress is not tight – you can use it as a maternity dress! Or a great-looking “I’m not feeling skinny today” dress. And be cute at the same time!
The shop owners, Halyna and Natalia, are a mother/daughter team themselves. They’re doing a bit of an update on their shop – and I think we’re going to love what they come up with. Go see for yourself!
And remember your mom this Mother’s Day. Really. It’s important 🙂
I haven’t done an “Etsy Mini” in a while – that’s sort of a snapshot, of some of the items currently available in my Etsy jewelry supplies shop. Here, take a peek!
That’s just a few of the 300 items I’ve got in my shop right now. And also – if there’s a glass jewel, maybe a color or shape you’re looking for and can’t find – just drop me a note. I might have some, or know where to find them.
Loving these videos on YouTube that show some great ideas for how to make jewelry displays and stands on the cheap 🙂
I’m specially interested in the hanging displays. You could use those on your dresser – or adapt them for craft shows. Versatile and cheap and could be very cool!
Kudos to Karen’s Thrift Store Challenge and HGTV Handmade for these ideas! And a special thank-you for the idea of getting your supplies from thrift shops, so you’re inventing cool jewelry displays – and recycling and reusing – at the same time!
As much as I love color, crystal jewels are always in style – and they always look good! Year round, day or night, a subtle small jewel or a bold chandelier or, well, you name it. Crystal is faceted glass and those facets reflect light, bringing sparkle and light to the person who’s wearing it.
Brides love them because they add a glow and touch of luxury to that very special day. Prom queens love them. I love them. You love them. Let’s get real – sparkle is fun. It looks good.
And in honor of April’s birthstone, these “glass diamond” crystal jewels have an added bonus – buy three pairs of crystal (white, clear, “diamond”) glass jewels in my Etsy jewelry supplies shop – any size or style – and you get a free gift. All you have to do is mention this blog post. The offer’s good all month, till midnight April 30, 2016.
We love lobster clasps for the way they make our bracelet secure – even though they drive us nuts, trying to attach them. But not any more! I found this super fun “how to” video from Cleverly on Youtube – and it’s such a great idea!
See what I mean? Easy peasy – now you can wear all your fun bracelets. And if you make bracelets to sell, show your customers this simple trick – they’ll thank you – and love your bracelets!
I was playing with glass gems again, trying unusual color combinations to see how they’d look together. Sometimes that doesn’t work, of course – but sometimes we learn stuff and find very cool combos. I think this are kinda cool together 🙂
I think those jewels, linked with small jumprings or hand wired, would make fabulous dangling earrings. Or use them for one end of a lariat necklace!
Have fun with colors. Life is too short to always do the same old same old, yknow what I mean?
Yes I have spring on my mind – around here it’s been cold, then warm, then 70, then snowing. I’m ready for spring and sunshine! And then I saw this adorable dress and it is just what I had in mind 🙂
The color is great – prettier than lime green, not as dark as kelly. Very flattering and easy to wear. And the A-line cut is classic and new at the same time. I’d wear this with a fabulous pair of earrings (wouldn’t even have to be made with stones from my shop, like these peridot sparklies although of course they’d be wonderful) – but anyway, something big and sassy. And a great pair of strappy high heel sandals – or, well, flipflops! This dress is not Fancy – it’s just got good detailing. You don’t need to do a lot of Stuff to wear it.
Bright red lipstick, though.
I found this darling garment at Life on Mars Vintage which, BTW, the name is so great you should go there just because. But DB, the shop owner, really has such terrific items there, you need to go see, like, right away. Trust me.
(And another thing – the sky blue drapey dress? If it was near my size I would grab it – and maybe would take the sleeves off – but then it would be an absolute STAR. Just sayin!)
These pretty oval jewels are crystal pointed back cabochon stones and they are probably the most popular oval jewel I’ve ever found. Such pretty gems! The size is perfect when you don’t want gaudy but you do want sparkly 🙂
They’re about 1/2″ long. Demure and girly. Also sparkling and sexy. Kind of the perfect stone. Think how pretty these would be for your wedding earrings, or a tiny lovely pendant on a delicate silver chain.
And if you want something a bit more complex, but still not huge, and still sparkly?You can choose the two-jewel setting. Pair your crystal ovals with a tiny rhinestone (and you choose the color!) Wonderful for wedding jewels – and bridesmaids.
Or prom. Or Friday night. Or Sunday. Or, well, you get the idea 🙂
I love trying new combinations of colorful glass jewels – especially those that aren’t “supposed to” go together. Says who?
You see what I mean? Aqua (almost turquoise) blue. Peridot green. And orange. I mean, orange! We don’t put these colors together in jewelry very often, do we.
And I really like them. And I’ve had a few other people say to me, hey, very cool. So: try new combos. That don’t go together. Just because.
