Confessions of a Crystal Hoarder Blog

I’ve grown to love vintage chain. I like its variety and patina. There’s something even in its rarity that makes it feel less precious. I should also admit that I’ve got a soft spot for base metals. I’m just not an Argentium kind of gal. 

So when checking the site’s New Finds, I head to the findings first, to go hunting for more chain, fresh from the Hoard. And I always paw through my treasure box to see what chain’s made its way into this month’s box.

This necklace uses more of the stampings from January’s box, and some copper necklace lengths from the Hoard.

Although that item has since sold out, I’ve been thinking about getting Vintage Copper Plated Steel Twirly Chain #19285 to augment my stash. Copper and copper plated chain is terrific for distressing. This necklace was primed and spray painted, then nail polished and sealed, but torch patinas look great too. I’ve even sealed a bit in plastic bags with eggshells to age it. This necklace also uses my favorite Swarovski crystal shape; aspirin.

The snake chain lengths #21090 that I used for this long necklace also arrived in January’s box. The snake scales made me think of bracelets I’ve seen in the magazines out of long magatamas. I wanted my texture to be more wild, so I made sure to randomize which side was up on my mags. It was a super-quick and easy project finished with a modern antique brass toggle .

Before I started beading, I was loathe to mix metals. Back in high school I wouldn’t wear sterling earrings because my class ring was gold. In college I switched to all white metals, but the beads set me on a new path. This necklace mixes metal finishes with reckless abandon. I combined bits of 6 different modern and vintage (Hoard) chain to form the strands. I keep a chain scrap bag, and whenever I have tiny bits of leftovers they go into the bag rather than into the trash. That’s also why I get excited when I see the suitcase of grab bags at the AGOS booth; even a little chain can go a long way!

A side note here: If you happen to be near Charlotte March 9th or 10th the A Grain of Sand crew will have a booth at the Intergalactic Bead Show, since it’s the closest show to home base the focus is on vintage treasures…loads and loads of vintage treasures…many rare enough that the quantities are too small to make it into our club boxes.

If you can’t be there, you can be like me, and salivate over the choices in the suitcase display at Bead and Button or Bead Fest.

When we received the box of steel necklaces over the summer I (trying to avoid tangles) hung the lot on a nail on my wall. I see the bundle every day, and I admire the cascade of metal. To capture that feeling, I built this fringe necklace. To keep the strands separated, the neckwire is fabricated of bugle beads on beading wire, with the tiny strands of chain strung in between. The chain was cut to roughly the desired lengths before stringing, then trimmed a bit more once in place. I thought about adding tiny silver argent crystals at the bottom of each strand, but for now, I let it be plain.

I hope that this month's little sampling inspires you to join me on the chain gang!