The Beading Gem

Have you noticed fewer people wear traditional timepieces these days- especially the younger folks?  They opt for activity trackers and smartwatches.  That is a shame as there are many lovely watches out there....probably sitting forlorn in drawers. So why not turn a watch into a necklace?

Crafter Mark Montano's rhinestone cuff video tutorial so reminds me of bead embroidery!  He uses both metal and rhinestone chains to surround cabochons for very eclectic, colorful and easy to make cuffs.  You just need a cuff base and E6000 glue (or use 2 part epoxy).  I also like his tip of using scotch tape to keep the cabochons in place while the glue is setting up otherwise they will just slide off!

This wonderful tutorial was sent to me by Debra Schwartz of DatzKatz Designs so she could share her easy way of adding color and perhaps sparkle.  Just bead up a bangle with some seed beads and you are on your way to customizing simple bangles - new or old.  The tutorial is on Slideshare where you can download and print it out.

Multi chain bracelets can get messy if they are not braided or separated at intervals with special findings. But there is another solution.  Check out Anne Evers multi chain on leather makeover bracelet tutorial on her blog, Plan B.  It is a great solution to recycle old chains, unloved jewelry or leftover materials into something wearable.

Don't get me wrong. I do like rhinestone necklaces.  But as they are rather blingy and may be best for evening wear.  But hack one up and make it a mixed media one, and you'll have a pretty necklace suitable even for casual wear.

There are a number of pretty mixed media chain necklace ideas out there.  But this tutorial by Trinkets in Bloom is unusual in that an old broken crystal necklace is recycled and added to the design.

I think I can be forgiven for being totally ignorant about what spin pins are!  It has been decades since I wore my hair long.  But I have since found out they are great for securing hair buns and eliminating the need for gadzillion hair pins.

I must really dig out some old thin bangles I have.  They are so, meh.  But if I can get hold of some studs in different styles, I might just be able to give them a makeover and create a more trendy look.  The idea comes from Misty Spinney over at Brit + Co.

Got an old chain necklace with simple charms that you don't wear much anymore?  Well, give it a good makeover and convert it into something very trendy these days - a slave bracelet.

We should really save broken jewelry, odd earrings and unloved jewelry to reuse them for a fabulous bib statement necklace.  Stacie over on the Stars for Streetlights blog shared a sparkly statement necklace idea. Her pale color palette certainly added elegance to her final design.

See this gorgeous artistic bangle?  Would you believe it is a makeover project from a plain plastic bangle?  I'll bet wooden bangles will work too if you'd like to tackle the following tutorial.

Have you got old necklaces in your collection which need a design boost?  Then consider mixing and matching 2 different ones with a bit of ribbon for a much more updated look.


Check out Shey's Anthropologie inspired necklace makeover tutorial over at the Refashion Co-op blog.

Much as I like bead work jewelry, it does take up a lot of time. So for those of us with time only for quick beaded bracelets, this tip from Sneezerville is sure to please! Her idea is to turn a beaded bracelet into a necklace!

Tutorial picture by Sneezerville

Finished necklace makeover

Sue bought a necklace with a handmade pink ceramic focal some time ago. Although she liked the focal, the original necklace portion was less appealing.

The all-fiber content did not compliment the ceramic piece.  There was clearly not enough bling for this beader!  So Sue added a triple stranded beaded necklace arrangement which fed through the hollow piece.

   I first got to know of Heather O'Cain of Seattle when she left a comment and followed me on Twitter. I checked out her Etsy store, BluKatDesign and was totally charmed by her upcycled vintage jewelry. She is also on Facebook.


Although she is a trained professional jewelry designer of high end gold and platinum jewelry, what she repurposes for her Etsy store is pure fun for her.

Brooches are back! No wonder as they are such versatile pieces.They can be used as pins for clothes and scarves or to decorate bags. But if you're not a brooch person, consider making them into pendants instead!

This is going to date me for sure. But I do remember the clips available back in the 80`s which were worn at the back to make shirts and blouses more fitted. Well. Carmi`s Art Life World`s Sweater Jewelry idea revamps these clips with beautiful buttons and odd findings. Just the ticket to keep a shrug or cardigan snug!

Johnette bought an awesome turquoise focal pendant in Dubai. This beautiful piece had charms dangling below it including a tear drop turquoise bead. She needed a necklace to go with the pendant.

So she and Debbie (Widgets' Beads) put their heads together and came up with a chain interspersed with turquoise chips and gorgeous mother of pearl disc beads.