A Style Altering Moment

Have you ever experienced a moment that changed the way you design?  I had a moment like that in the Spring of 2011 when I discovered Jewelry Affaire magazine.  I hate to really even call it a magazine since it’s much more like a quarterly book.  The photographs overwhelmed me.  The techniques I saw were different from anything I’d ever imagined.  Because of the talented artists featured as well as the efforts of the magazine staff, my mind was opened to a whole new world of jewelry design.

Before picking up this issue (which I’ve probably read dozens of times since) I didn’t realize I was limiting myself by only using new jewelry components.  Once I realized that almost anything could be considered jewelry making media, the possibilities seemed endless.  A large portion of my designs now incorporate vintage jewelry or findings or found objects.  After discovering Jewelry Affaire, I bought both previous back issues (the magazine was new and only published twice a year at that point, but now it’s quarterly) and also bought up the past few years of its sister publication Belle Armoire Jewelry and I’ve bought every issue of both magazine since.

I’m very proud to announce that I will get to join the artists I admire when some of my designs are featured in the next few issues of Jewelry Affaire.  Even if you’ve never made jewelry before, I encourage you to check out the Winter issue on sale January 1st.  Not only will you get to see some of my work, you’re sure to be inspired in your own creative journey.  To see more of my work in the meantime, visit my etsy shop StrandedInTheCity.

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Tassel Necklace Project 2

In my previous post Tassel Necklace Project, I explained how I created my own gold-tone version of a Stella & Dot necklace that I love, and already own, in silver-tone. I also worked on a different Stella & Dot inspired collaboration recently with my BFF Nikki.

We are both head over heels for Stella & Dot’s Windsor Tassel necklace so we decided to make our own version. We started by taking a gold colord eye pin and snipped it to the length we wanted, then cut several pieces of goldtone chain in various lengths and “strung” them on the eye pin. After creating a loop in the cut end, we attached one end of long gunmetal chain to each loop. For the next step, it helps to place the necklace on a dressmaker form (clip it in the back if you have to). We draped a few additional pieces of gold chain over the eye pin and then wrapped Industrial Chic rhinestone trim around the chain a few times (below the eye pin) to create a tassel shape. If you are not familiar with Industrial Chic by Susan Lenart Kazmer, you can check it out here and purchase it at Michael’s. The trim can be secured with wire or glue in the back. Very easy and chic, and a great DIY version of an amazing design by Stella & Dot.

Tassel Necklace Project

So I’m not ashamed to admit that I cannot figure out how to add a photo to a comment I made on Agness Rae’s awesome post Trendy Tassels.  If anyone knows, please share 🙂  Anyway, here’s my comment and the photos of a necklace I made that was inspired by the Stella & Dot Gitane Tassel necklace that I own:

One pic shows my gold-tone version compared to the real thing in silver-tone. The other 2 show me wearing the necklace doubled with the tassel, and then long with the tassel removed (just like the way the Stella necklace works). Basically I just rosary wrapped a TON of 4mm czech beads in various metallic colors on 26g wire (I believe the Stella necklace has mostly 3mm beads but I had to work with what I could get quickly!). About halfway I added a jump ring on each side, then gave up on the rosary wrapping and just added dangles and spaced them out a little bit more (this is where mine really starts to differ from the Stella necklace). For the tassel, I just cut up some old chain, put it on a jump ring, added a larger glass bead and a lobster claw clasp, and voila!  Enjoy 🙂

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