Free Halloween Craft Project Idea Goulie Girl Necklace

I've been waiting for some phone calls this morning and I remembered these great ceramic skulls I got from Jennifer Heynan of Jangles. (It looks like she's out of skulls, but if you scroll down she's got pumpkins, ghosts and cats that'd be great substitutions.) I've been meaning to make something with these skull beads for quite some time and with a few spare moments here, I whipped up this jaunty little Goulie Girl necklace. I used carnelian beads, three strands of fancy gun metal chain I bought from Rings and Things and some dark annealed iron wire I bought from Metalliferous. The wire is cut into short segments and used to create a rosary style chain to connect the beads. Basically I just added a loop on each side and connected them. You could also opt to add jump rings in between. If you use iron wire, cut it with Memory Wire shears and not regular cutters, it'll chew up a regular cutter blade in a flash. I have been mad for bows this season, so I couldn't resist adding one on here.

I love how this is part whimsy, part fashionista...for your inner Goulie Girl.

Until next time....craft on with your bad selves!

xoxo
Madge

For the edification of the FTC, the gun metal chain and skull beads were given to me for use in my design work and I purchased the rest of the materials in the above project.

Mixed Media Jewelry Project Fire and Water for Rings n Things

Fire and Water Mixed Media Necklace Copyright Margot Potter
Fire and Water Mixed Media Necklace Detail
Fire and Water Mixed Media Necklace Copyright Margot Potter

Rings n Things Stash and Crocheted and Beaded Core Strand

This is a design created from items I selected from the delightful folks at Rings n Things for their Blog Partner challenge. I've named it Fire and Water. I absolutely love this 26 gauge gun metal wire! I did a basic crochet chain stitch with just the wire. Provocraft has THE BEST crochet hook set with fabulous ergonomic handles I highly recommend, working with hard wire isn't easy!

When I finished the crocheted core chain off, I used a separate wire to thread crystals and pyrite beads into the chain. In true 'impatient crafter' fashion, I knew I could figure a way around crocheting beads into the core wire, which is futzy and frustrating. I've also done this technique with nylon coated cabled steel wire and I found it a little easier to get fluid stitches, but I love the organic feel of this piece.

I had to create wire wrapped bails for these magma CRYSTALLIZED™-Swarovski Elements coral pendants and I wanted to add more texture so I used some aged brass chain segments. The focal piece is a twist pendant again in this luscious magma color.

I've been playing with wire crochet for a while and I really love the way it looks. It's tough on the fingers, so be prepared, but it's really worth the effort.

I'll be back in the blog saddle on Monday. Until next time...craft on with your bad selves!

xoxo
Madge

Peekaboo...I see you!

Peekaboo Mixed Media Necklace Copyright 2009 Margot Potter

Sometimes the muse is with you 100% and can take you from inspiration to fabulous finished designs in seconds flat! Yay Muse! Yay fabulosity! Yay something else but I’m not sure what so I guess I should stop typing now...

The folks at Rings & Things just keep coming up with wickedly cool products for the jewelry making afficionado. Here’s a design I whipped up super fast using their new hammered oval footage gun metal chain, black rattail #1 weight and some random stuff I had lying around the studio. I have a bead board on the sliding component of my work desk (the one the keyboard should go on...were I even marginally normal) and it’s my catch all for the beads that didn’t quite make it into a design. This bead board is constantly overflowing, but it’s a great one stop shop for accent beads! I rummaged for some beads that matched and added them to the chain and the top of the rusty vintage keyhole I decoupaged with a flapper image peeking through. I have a keyhole collection I’ve been slowly amassing over the past few years...I have plans for them. Yes. Yes I do. I added a gunmetal key and one frayed rattail bow accent and that was all she wrote. The plan is to let that rattail keep unraveling...so this piece gets cooler with age.

Rings & Things also sent me a copy of their extensive and information packed Gemstone Bead Index. I have always felt they have THE best website in the jewelry making biz in terms of information about what you’re actually buying and extensive gem history, lore and fun facts. Love them for that.

They sent me three cell phone lariats and a serpentine necklace in both gold and silver plate. Leave a comment and I select someone to receive these goodies along with a generous mix of beads randomly selected from my Bead Board of Wonders! I’ll announce a winner next week, please check back to see if you won and email me at theimpatientcrafter@gmail.com if you have problems leaving a comment and if you win so you can claim your prize. I can’t hunt you down all over the interwebs...it’s up to you to get that mailing address to me!

xoxo
Madge

New Lava Rock beads from Rings n Things

The folks from Rings‘nThings sent me some samples to peruse for the month of April. I’m a big fan of lava rock. I particularly like it with shiny or sparkly things, because I love the contrast. As soon as I saw these brown puffy pillow beads I immediately wanted to wrap them up in shiny wire, and so I did. Usually I like ordered wire work, but this more organic, chaotic look works well here. I’m a big fan of less is more...when I’m not celebrating more is more. I just don’t like that place in between where it’s just sort of neither more nor less.

This is a less is more idea.

Lava rock and 20 gauge Beadalon German style wire come together to make a striking pair of earrings to complement a funky summer outfit. ‘Boho’ keeps threatening to make a serious come back and these would rock (pardon the pun) with a smock topped maxi dress, some strappy goddess platform sandals and your hair braided and curled in a Botticelli inspired updo.

They also sent some samples of the two newest CRYSTALLIZED™-Swarovski Elements colors Indian Pink and Dark Indigo. Click on the links to go see! Both are quite yummy indeed. I was going to mix it all together and I could have added a crystal or two to the wire, but less was more yesterday.

Tomorrow...all bets are off.

If you’d like a generous sampling of round and rondelle shaped brown lava rock beads and some German style wire to make your own cool jewels, leave a comment below and I’ll announce the winner next Friday. Make sure you check back, I can’t hunt you down all over the vast interwebs. If you win it’s up to you to contact me.

Cheers,
Madge

Product Review Rings & Things Bracelet and Pendant Blanks

Rings 'n Things Bracelet BlankRings 'n Things Raw Brass FrameRings 'n Things Raw Brass Frame

Product Review
Metal Bracelet and Pendant Blanks
Rings ‘n Things

The folks at Rings ‘n Things have one of my favorite websites and catalogs for wholesale findings and chain, they’ve been offering the unique since we bought from them for our bead shop years ago. I often find myself turning to them when I want something different and I don’t have time for a trip to Manhattan. They recently sent me some bracelet and pendant blanks to review and although I’ve not had time to whip up a free project, I’ve had plenty of thoughts running through my brain. My first impression was that the quality on these items was very high, and that even without embellishment these bracelets are appealing.

What I love about this style of bracelet blank is that it’s the perfect foundation for a wide variety of mixed media ideas. You can opt to glue on old buttons and add glitter and crystal accents, you can attach some vintage board game parts and leave them plain or add some bling, you can flip over bottle caps and fill them with 3-d elements and resin (one of my daughter’s favorite activities) or you can attach collaged wooden blanks with paint, images and accents...use one of the frames to create a thematically coordinating charm! I’d recommend a two part epoxy or metal friendly glue for maximum hold.

I’m a big fan of possibilities. I like being able to imprint my work with my own vision. That’s far more interesting to me than putting beads on a string or making something from a kit. Mixed media gives the crafter plenty of room for creative expression. Plus it’s a great way to recycle things you might ordinarily throw out. If you’re trying to save money but keep the creative juices flowing, I highly suggest trying these bracelet and pendant blanks. Before you toss out that wrapper, magazine or box, take a closer look. Maybe there’s a fabulous piece of jewelry waiting to unfold with a little imagination and these bracelet and pendant blanks from the folks at Rings ‘n Things.

If you’d like to win one of these bracelet blanks and a coordinating frame, leave a comment and I’ll announce a winner next Friday. Congratulations to Evie's Ark for winning Kristal Wick’s new book Fabulous Fiber Beads, please email me your snail mail address to: theimpatientcrafter@gmail.com

xoxo
Madge

The Impatient Crafter™
Check out my NEW BOOKS!

Website: www.margotpotter.com
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/margotpotter

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

Illustration by Enoch Bolles

I'm here to announce the winner of last week's Rings 'n Things giveaway! Postal Orphan step up and claim your prize! Email me at theimpatientcrafter@gmail.com with your snail mail address! I've had several winners here never email me with their mailing addresses. I'm not quite sure what's up with that. If I don't hear from you soon, I guess I'll offer the prizes again as one big prize package! I'm unable to use my psychic powers to deduce your mailing address, unfortunately. My Yahoo business email account seems to be riddled with bugs, so perhaps you emailed me and it got lost in the ethers? You can also leave your snail mail addy in a comment here if you feel comfortable doing so.

Oh and please fret not about my post yesterday my pets, I share the good, the bad and the ugly here. I do that because it's my way of inspiring you to risk, dare, dream and make glorious mistakes! If I were really sad, I'd not be blogging. I'd be washing a pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream down my gullet with a dry South African sauvignon blanc while watching Willy Wonka. If you want to create your own reality, you will occasionally fall on your booty and if you want to keep it up you will dust off said booty, flick that gorgeous mane of yours defiantly and get back to the business of making the magic.

Huzzah.

xoxo
Madge