Crafts

Put 'em here.

I started making jewelry. I have made 6 pair of earrings so far. I really hope to start making bracelets and ankle bracelets soon. I have developed this love of Swarovski Cyrstals. I have been trying to find the best places/prices for the crystals. Anyone here ever gotten into making jewelry?

About 4 years ago, I started making earrings, braclets, and necklaces. In fact I wore one of my necklaces tonight (we went to a baseball game.)

I really fell in love with Swarovski and actually started selling some bracelets. But then (as usual), I lost confidence and lost patience and stopped. All of my stuff is in boxes in the garage.

I then took a group of silversmithing classes and enjoyed that. (I've NEVER considered myself crafty at all.) I made one piece out of silver (a pendant) and wear it very rarely. It was an interesting experience hanging out in a studio with a real artist. But, again, I had no real confidence in what I was doing.
This is an overriding them of my life.

Frankie is really crafty. She decoupages bracelets and necklaces.

Cool Austin!! Now, you must get them out of the gargage!! I bet they are gorgeous.

Yeah, those crystals are beautiful and I saw many colors and bracelet and earrings that I loved. I knew I couldn't afford to buy them all, so I thought why not try to make them for myself.

I made two pair of earrings with green crystals (one light pair, one dark pair) and now I am getting a FREE peridot crystal bracelet from Amazon! I spend so much money at Amazon (well, my boys spend even more than me) that they sent me a gift card! What a wonderful surprise that was!

firecracker wrote:

I started making jewelry. I have made 6 pair of earrings so far. I really hope to start making bracelets and ankle bracelets soon. I have developed this love of Swarovski Cyrstals. I have been trying to find the best places/prices for the crystals. Anyone here ever gotten into making jewelry?

I have seen a lot of the jewelry supplies sold on eBay. I have never made jewelry but have done some work with mosaic tiles. I got most of my tiles on eBay because there were some great sources with good prices. I recall seeing lots of jewelry supplies sold on eBay so I wonder if that might be a source for you. My crafting is all sewing and needlework oriented. I am a quilter and make clothes and tote bags from vintage fabrics.

Wow Muse, what you do takes a lot of talent! Quilts especially. I bet the ones from vintage material are amazing! You should post pix of your work so I can drool over them. I love quilts. We have a two story entrance way with a large wall so a few years ago we bought a large, gorgeous quilt to hang up there. It looks wonderful! I envy your talent and patience.

I did get my starter jewelry making kit from eBay. I may get beads from there too, but I have found some better deals from wholesalers on the internet. I can get a lot of the wires and earring pins and such really reasonable at Wal-Mart and Hobby Lobby. It is the crystals that get pricey.

firecracker wrote:

Wow Muse, what you do takes a lot of talent! Quilts especially. I bet the ones from vintage material are amazing! You should post pix of your work so I can drool over them. I love quilts. We have a two story entrance way with a large wall so a few years ago we bought a large, gorgeous quilt to hang up there. It looks wonderful! I envy your talent and patience.

I did get my starter jewelry making kit from eBay. I may get beads from there too, but I have found some better deals from wholesalers on the internet. I can get a lot of the wires and earring pins and such really reasonable at Wal-Mart and Hobby Lobby. It is the crystals that get pricey.

Wish I could be of help in finding reasonable sources for supplies. I will take pictures of some of my quilts and upload them next week. Have tons of company coming for the holiday this weekend and I am cooking up a storm at the moment. My quilts tend to be more of the old fashioned 1930s types that I make from vintage fabric. Very expensive hobby but I love it. My pride and joy is a Schoolhouse quilt that I made as my personal commemoration to the victims of 9/11. It is all red, white and blue. For me it symbolizes that knowledge and understanding should transcend violence and war. The son of a very good friend was in the office that took the direct hit from the first plane so it was really a theraputic exercise for me as well as a statement of personal belief.

That's amazing Muse. So sad for your friend's loss. What a wonderful way for you to deal with the whole 9/11 issue. I would LOVE to see that quilt. You are such an amazing person. I have been so lucky to have you for a cyber friend the last two years.

firecracker wrote:

That's amazing Muse. So sad for your friend's loss. What a wonderful way for you to deal with the whole 9/11 issue. I would LOVE to see that quilt. You are such an amazing person. I have been so lucky to have you for a cyber friend the last two years.

If I could find the hugs emoticon over here I would post it. Have enjoyed your cyber friendship for a long time and now it looks like we have a great new place to keep it going--thanks Frazzle!! I will post a picture of my 9/11 quilt---means a lot to me.

ok, this is some of my old stuff, am too lazy to find my camera to get new pics:





Now I'm more into beadwork and making humoungo rings, will try to get some pics tomorrow.

Wish I could figure out how to sew, would love to see pics of your quilting!

OMG, that's effin' HUGE. Frazz, can you fix that?

Very cool Frankie. Yeah, beading is what I am into. I made another pair of earrings tonight.

Is that pic coming from your photobucket? If so you can resize it at photobucket and that would make it smaller.

I should have bought a bracelet or something from you at some time? Oh, you just reminded me of your GIANT rings! Ha.

Austin, you are gorgeous!

I have tiny fingers so I don't wear giant rings. They are all pretty delicate. How fun that you guys can wear them!

That's very sweet of you, but it's not my every day look! Got rid of that avi. It's safely tucked back in my machine. He looked kind of ill that day.

It's weird but my fingers and hands are the only relativelyl small things on me. Big feet, tall, big hair, etc.

Frankie pants, I really like your jewlery! Especially the black and white bracelets and necklace! Very cool!

austin wrote:

I should have bought a bracelet or something from you at some time? Oh, you just reminded me of your GIANT rings! Ha.

Last time Jamie was in town the first thing she said was "bring me a bag of your stuff cause I have 20 bucks burning a hole in my pocket". She was pretty much my first paying customer.

And you know what they say about girls with big fingers.

Big gloves.

ETA: thanks Luca!

I need to pick up something next time. So she did come to Dallas?

Yeah, didn't I tell you? A few weeks ago. Only saw her one night though. She was here on (non GB related) bidness.

Yes, you told me she was probably coming, but I never heard any more. Ya know they come to Dallas, but don't make it to Austin. They just don't know what they're missing.

You should come up to Dallas more often, you don't know what you're missing.

Oh, blah, blah, blah.

"muah"

I won't ask you to move anymore because of your great new job. : (

I won an eBay auction of 100 Swarovski cyrstals! 4 colors (25 each) with shipping $17!! I am really happy about this. That is way better than I could ever do at the crafts stores.

What shape are they? I used to LOVE the cubes, but they were the most expensive. Do you like the AB ones (that's with the kind of color-changing finish)?

They are the bicone, 6mm. I love those! The AB clears are my fave. I have a gorgeous bracelet of all AB clears 6mm, but a mixture of round, bicone and cone. I also have a really gorgeous mixed color of the same type of bracelet. I just added a dangling charm to them.I LOVE the cubes, but sadly they are the most expensive. I do plan on getting some one day though.

I am hoping to make bracelets and anklets this week.