Joyful Jewelry

Ah, the promise of spring! It's that time of year when the dark, heavy winter coats are slowly put away in favor of lighter, more colorful frocks. Add to that, cheerful accessories.

That's why I'm in the mood to make necklaces!

I'm using these as materials. They were blah handles from paper shopping bags. Aren't the colors attractive?

To take them off, just remove the knots and slide them off the shopping bags. The crazy ends have to be tamed, though.

Cut these off and apply some glue to the ends to prevent unraveling.

Line up the cords and trim them to the same length. After choosing this alternating color pattern, I sewed the cords together with a needle and thread.

I sewed them tightly from end to end.

Look! It's shaping up to look like a necklace.

Gather the ends and insert them into these gold caps {add some glue inside the caps beforehand for a sturdy grip}. 

Here is what the ends should look like.

I'm adding a few rhinestones because a little bling is always TADA!

First, I decided where they should go. Once I was happy with the placement, I used some glue to keep the rhinestones in place.

Then I sewed them on with needle and thread to keep them secure.

I finished off with a gold chain that I attached to the caps. The length can be adjusted so the necklace can be worn like a choker or as a bib.

Presenting...a cute necklace that went from blah to TADA!

Using the same technique, you might want to make a knot bracelet, charm bracelet, bead necklace or barrette.

See you back on Wednesday for another necklace idea.

Fabric Face Masks

The year is finally coming to a close. This 2020 was difficult for all of us because of COVID. But I am extra grateful for all that I have NOW and what I've taken for granted before the pandemic. I am still hopeful and look forward to new opportunities to turn blahs to TADAs.  

via Lancaster Online

One of the things that defined this year was the face mask. When there was a shortage of PPE in March, crafters from all over the world sewed face masks from their stash of fabric and patterns they found on-line. Then sent these to hospitals and nursing homes to protect frontliners and patients. Doing what you can to help, I think that's TADA!

Even I have started a small collection of face masks. I prefer these cloth ones because they can be washed and used over and over again. I add a coffee filter in the filter slot for added protection. These ones are from Hedley and Bennett. They're in the business of aprons but they quickly converted their factory to make face masks to fill the need. Their buy one, give one model (buy one for yourself and a mask will be sent to an essential worker) encouraged me even more to support them. 

I also sewed some myself using remnant fabrics and old t-shirts...TADA!

And I received this package for Christmas -- masks and hand sanitizer. So cute and useful!

When walking around New York City, landmarks remind you that you must wear a mask to protect yourself and others:

The sculpture of Atlas across St. Patrick's Cathedral

Atlas wearing a mask 

One of the lions outside the New York Public Library

It's a good thing many locals and visitors are compliant:

A new year is just around the corner but these masks aren't going anywhere.

That's why I made a lanyard for my mask, so it's still on me for the occasions I need to take it off (in the car or while eating).

It's fashioned out of an old necklace.

And the two ends have lobster clasps to easily attach to any mask I own...TADA!

To end this post, here is a photo of one of my plants:

My dear friends gave this to me when my Dad passed away in 2018. While I don't know how to care for orchids, it's still alive to this day with regular watering and sunshine. The buds developed and bloomed in late December. This orchid is always a reminder of a painful season in my life. But every time it blooms, it tells me that life must go on and that there is still beauty on the other side.  

Memories of France

All this week, I'm creating new necklaces out of my

old necklaces and my inspiration: travel.

Blah: a long necklace that I bought from a

street vendor in New York City.

With a pair of pliers, I can reconfigure it

to create a new look.

Tada!: a pearl necklace that's more streamlined & formal.

It reminds me a lot of Marie Antoinette, of stylish

French women and Chanel:

When I get tired of the all-pearl look,

I can add other beads to update the

necklace once again.

Have a great day!

A Bowl of Beads

I hope you liked the necklace I crafted yesterday. Today, I'll tell you about another necklace that reminds me a lot of my travels. Here goes.

It all started with a bunch of beads...

Each bead came from a different city. I purchased them at craft stores or souvenir shops by the piece, by the bag or as a bracelet that I took apart.

Then one day, I went into "jewelry-making mode". With the help of my trusty pliers, a handful of findings and a silver chain, I turned some blah beads into...

...This Tada! necklace!

In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy has a pair of ruby slippers...all she has to do is put them on, click her heels and away she'll go! This is my version of Dorothy's ruby slippers. I simply look at the red bead and I'm off to London. Or I can rub the turquoise bead and I'm transported to the blue beaches of Puerto Rico. The amber bead takes me back to a South African safari and the crystal blue bead reminds me of the mosaics in Morocco.

So if you think it's impossible to wear a vacation around your neck, this necklace shows that you can!

Summer Souvenir

Hello Monday & hello everyone! This week is all about necklaces -- how to make new ones and how to give old ones a make-over.

 Today, I'm carrying over last Friday's blah: an empty nail polish bottle.

You can fill it with anything you want like beads or confetti. Use a paper funnel to make a neat pour.

I'm putting in some sand -- I gathered a small amount from a recent beach trip.

Close the top with a small craft cork {seal with glue to avoid accidents} and add a chain {attach to the bottle with a piece of wire}. Now, it's a necklace...TADA!

 I bumped up the "pretty factor" with a locket {fastened to the bottle with a ribbon}.

 The locket gives this necklace a touch of nostalgia, and is brimming with possibilities:

• For a married couple, put in sand from a beach where you honeymooned, and add your photos in the locket. It works for wedding anniversaries, too.
• For a single gal, sand and photos from your most recent adventure {by yourself or with the besties}.
• For a parent, you can give this to your daughter who's moving away for college or a job abroad. The sand can be from your hometown or from a beach where your family frequented as she was growing up. Mom and Dad's photos make it to the locket, of course. Okay, family pets can be in the running as well. 

 How can you not love this handmade present?

It's filled with meaning, and is as precious as the

most expensive diamond necklace, without

the hefty price tag.

Looks Like Candy

Hooray, we made it to Friday!

 Yesterday, I made this pastel-hued necklace from a

blah necklace of wooden beads. All I did was paint

the beads, and added a few plastic ones to 

create something TADA!

I had a few extra beads left, so here's what I did:

I strung them on a piece of wire, looping the

wire at the ends to prevent the beads from

slipping off and...

 ...to accommodate strips of ribbon that 

will act as the strap.

 TADA! Another necklace!

 They remind me of candy on a string.

The bow at the back adds an 

ultra-feminine touch.

May you have a colorful Labor Day weekend!

A Bit of Blue & Gold

If you're a frequent visitor to my blog {thanks, by the way!}, you know that I like necklaces. Wearing necklaces can give some TADA! to an otherwise blah outfit.

Here's a necklace that I never wore.  

It's made of wooden beads.

I think it was too short and the shade of orange didn't complement the clothes in my closet. And you know what that means -- make-over time!

I'm adding a few more beads, also from another old necklace.

I've chosen to paint the beads in a royal blue, inspired by this, this and this. For easier handling, I used skewers to aid me in painting and drying the beads.

 I put several coats on all sides of the beads and let them dry.

Then, I strung them on invisible string and added 

gold beads as accents. 

 It's a little longer now because of the additional beads.

A whole new necklace, and all I paid for was paint!

TADA!