Confessions of a Crystal Hoarder Blog

Before I get going, I have to gush about the new magnetic clasps. So far I've only gotten the long clasps, but the rose gold is most certainly on my list. It is perfect (of course) with the rose gold Swarovski crystal cup chain.

 made these two bracelets with the sleek clasps. Please excuse the photo quality, it was an impulse photo rather than having the bracelets pose for glamour shots. The one bracelet uses two shades of gunmetal cup chain, palace green opal rondelles (#8845) vintage nail head beads(#20054), and a gunmetal clasp . The other uses the silver version of the clasp with superduos. Hard to believe, I know, but not everything I make uses vintage parts.

I also used the chain mail style clasps for a cuff made from the orange seed bead hank from my treasure box. I guess you could call this 3 drop peyote, but it’s really a combo of 3 and 4 drop peyote reinforces with square stitching. I used nymo. And I had some issues. I was pulling way too hard, and snapped my line more than a few times.

And really everything I made this month was a Frankensteined combination of old and new materials.

I used the orange corrugated drop bead with modern Japanese seed beads and an aluminum jump ring for a quick brick stitch pendant.

This one was a mashup of copper stampings with modern Swarovski crystal for a necklace that has texture and movement. It has visual impact without getting out of control.

Then I played around with the metalized interlocking beads tohlight their pine cone-like texture. Here the modern components are hidden from view. I’m sure you can’t see it (on purpose) but there is a tiny druk bead between each spacer to work as a joint. Without the druks the interlocking beads form a stiff and straight rod. The drucks make it nice and flexible. The chain and saucers are from previous boxes.

And this attempt at a holiday ornament ended up more Monster Mash than mash-up. GRRRR. 

I got a little heavy handed and instead of a gentle dimple in each red melon bead to help them sit nicely, I managed to squish them. I’m going to master these ornaments. I’m not giving up this easily!

Speaking of monsters and mash-ups, I’ll leave you with me looking rather monstrous this past weekend. I’m a steampunk zombie. The costume is all home-sewn, so my bead production was a bit off this month. And in case you ever needed to know it, tomato paste makes awesome fake blo