Think a beading project for slow days at the office or a good recycled materials project. It is fun and drapes in a pretty cool way.

I’d like to see this project taken even further with some creative wire work or a bit of beading.  Could be a fun task.

There are funky large beaded necklaces, one of a kind pieces and my favorites, these up-cycled chunky necklaces, like this “tangled up in gold” necklace, assembled from chains, earrings and a brooch.

Definitely a fun way to revive old pieces and good project if you want to set yourself a treasure hunt at local yard sales and flea markets.

It seems like a fun idea to troll through flea markets and yard sales looking for color combinations or specific styles for this necklace.

I have also found that when looking for strands of colored pearls or big glass beads, or whatever really, eBay can be a good place to look.  You can often find deals, especially on the cultured and dyed pearls, that are much less than at traditional bead stores.

The possibilities are truly endless with this project

Here on instructables.com you will find instructions for making chainmaille out of the pull tabs on soda cans.   I like the look that this creates and think that you could use strips of maile for necklaces etc.

In their two locations they hold many classes for all ages in Clay, Metal, Glass and Fiber.  This season hold in store very interesting classes and workshops in metal topics such as: Structural Bead Weaving, Fold Forming and Natural Forms in Metal, Colors on Metal, Handmade Felt and Metal in Jewelry and Alternative Materials in Jewelry to name a few, aside from more basics such as Beginning Metal Design and Enameling.

So I was very glad to run across this tutorial on My Mama Made It.  There are easy to follow instructions and good photos as well. Who knew that getting this look could be so easy. Plus My Mama Made It also includes styling ideas as well for how to wear this corsage.   So eat your heart out pricey London Designers!

She plans to post tutorials twice a week.   Check out this post for the first of these planned tutorials.  This one is on zipper hoop earrings.  It is simple and fun.  All you will need is a metal zipper, and old pair of hoop earrings, glue and a pair of scissors.

I love the dramatic look of these brooches and find it fascinating that they are made out of pistachio shells.  What a innovative idea!

You can also find Reloved Design’s work on Etsy.  So take a look and see what she does with other materials which are generally destined to be thrown away.

The piece pictured here is made of recycled sterling silver, including bench scraps as well as repurposed rubber and counter tops.

I loved the draped necklaces, but there are styles for lots of tastes.

They have an entire page full of great jewelrymaking tips lfrom making interesting findings like the Clover leaf Toggle to how to make your own flex shaft stand to resin jewelry ring to fused glass and SO much more!

• How did you start doing jewelry (or bead making) as a business? 
  After creating a sculpture of a woman bound by forks, University of South Carolina’s art professor Fran Gardner (Perry) suggested during a critique that I incorporate this sculpture into a shrine in order to make it more special.  The gallery owner and director, Christina Chastain agreed and pointed me in the direction of personal shrines.  My shrines became smaller and smaller until they were almost wearable.  I started putting chains and beads on the shrines in order to create necklaces so people could carry their personal shrines with them.  My style has evolved into incorporating found objects, vintage items and artistic elements as well as creating the shrines.  I find that each object that I come across has a supernatural energy within it that is secretly telling a story that only I can hear.

• Do you remember the first piece of jewelry you ever made?
  My first piece of jewelry was created out of a fork and art glass.  I bent and twisted the fork.  Then, I added the art glass using a two-part epoxy.  The final touch to my project were chains and beads so it could be worn. 
• You are stuck on a desert island for a year and can only take 5 things to make jewelry with-what would you take?
  Wire, dremel with a really small drill bit, steel block, pliers set, dremel reinforced cutting wheel – I could use the other stuff on the island to help me make jewelry.
• What would you like to work with/or what skill would you like to learn that you haven’t yet?
  Wow.  There is so much that I need to learn!  I would like to learn more about etching metal.  I’m afraid of chemicals because I have a toddler around so I’ve not dabbled in the etching yet. I would also like to learn how to fuse glass.

• What do you do when you aren’t making jewelry?
  I am a freelance graphic designer.  I also paint and create mixed media art pieces.  I’m a board member for the Artisan’s Center and Galleries in Lancaster, South Carolina.

More about Madame Teasley:
I am from Savannah, Georgia, which has allowed me to grow up exposed to all areas of the arts.  My husband Michael and children, Erin – 12 and Joel 4 – are the most wonderful inspirations that a gal can have.  I live in the Metrolina region outside of Charlotte, North Carolina.  My formal education is in Computer Information Systems and Computer Science.  Art has always been a solace for me in order to escape from the hectic world of IT.  I can be found on Etsy at http://madameteasley.etsy.com and my constantly under construction web site is http://www.oncepossessedstudios.com.  You can also keep up with my ramblings at http://madameteasley.blogspot.com.

Today’s Artist Mini-Interview is wth my new friend Deryn Mentock.  Deryn is an extremely talented mixed media artist and her work is outstanding, as you can tell by the teaser photo.

How did you start doing jewelry (or bead making) as a business? 
I finally decided that I needed to find a way to pay for my passion!  Much more than that though, I found a personal, spiritual voice, expressed through my jewelry.  It’s important to me to share that.

Do you remember the first piece of jewelry you ever made?
Probably, the first piece of jewelry I ever attempted to make was a beaded headband, created on a beading loom when I was in Camp Fire girls.  I think I got about one inch completed.  Needless to say, that type of beading isn’t my thing!  I also remember a lovely, colorful telephone wire ring made in CFG.  I wish I had that ring today!
 
You are stuck on a desert island for a year and can only take 5 things to make jewelry with-what would you take?
Well, I’d have to have an endless supply of wire, of course.  Also, pliers, nippers, a hammer and…sheesh, I can’t decide on the fifth thing…can I have a laptop with internet? One of my favorite tv shows is Gilligan’s Island so I know a lot about island survival.  I could probably use a rock as a bench block, make  beading thread from palm fibers and beads from rocks and shells then I’d…oh, do I have to be stuck on a desert island???
 
What would you like to work with/or what skill would you like to learn that you haven’t yet?
I’d like to learn lampwork bead making.  That would open up a whole world of new supplies, equipment, tools…possibilities.
 
What do you do when you aren’t making jewelry?
I love creating collage, artist’s books and artist trading cards.  But, when I’m not doing any of that, my favorite thing is camping with my guys.
 
All about Deryn:

Deryn Mentock has been passionate about art, especially jewelry design, for as long as she can remember.  Her designs mingle unique, worn and well-loved finds, religious pieces and faceted, semi-precious stones as well as one-of-a-kind handmade elements, combined in unexpected ways. She prefers the look and feel of vintage, unusual and found objects and delights in blending these treasures into her work.  Each composition, infused with color and texture, reveals an intuitive message of faith conveyed through the artist’s hands.
 
She enjoys teaching nationally and is a design team member for Susan Lenart Kazmer’s “Objects and Elements.”  Her artwork has been featured in several books including “Mixed Emulsions” by Angela Cartwright, “Exhibition 36” by Susan Tuttle  and, most recently, “Collaborative Art Journals and Shared Visions in Mixed Media” by LK Ludwig.  You can also find her work in many articles and publications, including Step by Step Wire Jewelry, Belle Armoire Jewelry, Belle Armoire, Art Doll Quarterly, Stampington’s Gallery, Correspondence Art and Stampington’s book Artist Trading Cards. 

You can see more of  Deryn’s work at her blog; http://somethingsublime.typepad.com and her online store; http://mocknet.etsy.com.   She can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and Creative Souls.

Thank you so much Deryn for the interview!

He’s included the tutorial in the newsletter link. Be sure to sign up for the newsletter so you don’t miss out any more wonderful projects!!!!!!