For the Bead Hoarders Blog Hop at Pretty Things we have to create jewelry using our own stash – our hoarded beads without buying anything new. If you ask me, this was one God sent opportunity to clear out my stash before buying new beads.
The thing with working with old hoarded beads is that – they are boring. Mainly because they are “Old” or already “Seen”. Also they might not be full strands but mostly leftover – again something that doesnt really let you picture a new fabulous design.That is why its a challenge to create something pretty out of them. I too have some pretties I hoard, as I think I wont do justice to them but for this particular hop I decided to go the bead soup way and create pieces that take up lots of old beads but are very quick to do and easy for everyday wear.
The first one is a double strand bead and chain necklace that has been inspired by Neena Shivlock’s Isabella. I followed the concept of using chunky crystals but replaced the normal beads with chains and limited the strand to two. Neena makes fabulous bead and wire jewelry incorporating supplies from all over the world and blogs about them at Caprilicious Jewellery
I named it “Lights” as today is Karthigai the Tamil festival of lights, where we light earthen lamps and place them all around our houses to dispel darkness and these blingy crystals remind me of the different color effects created by the flicker of wick flames
I am a big fan of messy wrap when it comes to wire and have done many variations of birds nests and messy wraps over the years. I decided to do it once again with these dark sea green stones I have been hoarding for a couple of years. They are glass but have a lot of glitter and shine in them. I paired them with yellow brass wire and left them in the open to oxidize and they have a lovely patina now.
Then I have my Wire Paisley earrings. The design came to me in a workshop after I was bored of teaching the same pattern of earrings in wire wrapping. I used these pink stone beads ( left over from the Bead soup blog party) for the demo along with some crystal beads and my student made a stunning pair in green. I think that I’ll be making more of these as they are so quick to do and look big and fabulous when worn
So those are the three designs that I made, how do you like them? I Thank Lori for challenging us to use up our old and hoarded beads, it was great fun. Maybe Someday, I use use up the “expensive pretties“ that I hoard. There are nearly a hundred bloggers participating in this blog hop, so do visit their blogs and enjoy all the beady goodness. I will try and visit a few this weekend as I’ll be very busy monday onwards as its exam month at college and I am on 15 different Jury panels 🙁
Find the full list of participating blogs here
38 responses to “Bead Hoarders Blog Hop”
I love all three but the necklace is my favourite! This is a great inspiration for me to go through my stash of left-over supplies and beads and create something new!
Ntina @happy girly crafty
Lovely designs those earrings are beautiful Divya.. i too have leftovers of those chunky crystals i liked your idea of using those crystals for making 2 strand chain 🙂 i will try this ..Thanks for sharing 🙂
Beautiful creations. The necklace is bold and bright and happy. I love the wraps on the birds nest earrings but those paisley earrings are my favorite. So many color possibilities with that design.
Thanks, I do hope that you'll make a great necklace
The paisley earrings are my favourite too
Ohhh , I love these stunning pieces that you`ve made with your bead stash! The paisley earring are my favourite . Love the colors in that one 🙂
Great designs! I love the necklace especially…great way to use up bits of this and that from left over strands.
What fabulous sparkle and shine! That necklace is perfect for these short winter days. Paisley is one of my favorite designs and your earrings capture the flow and the color choices are spot on.
Everything you made is beautiful, and I would never think that you had been bored with any of the components you used (being older beads). Your interpretation of the Isabella necklace – thanks for the link – is perfectly done. Very feminine. The earrings are lovely too. I would wear them all the time!
I am laughing…your post reminds me of a movie I saw starring Ashley Judd (old movie!); the premise was that men are like bulls, and after a short period of time, no matter how much they were attracted in the beginning, every woman becomes an "old cow" and they must move on to a "new cow"!!! I'm that way with my beads, too! But you really did your old cows justice…they are all new cows now!
Love the necklaces with the chains.. very sparkly
What a lovely, colourful collection, Divya. That crystal and chain necklace is great with all the different crystals and both pairs of earrings are special in their own way but always colour is what stands out in this reveal!
Best wishes for your exams! Your designs are all lovely. I wish I could wire wrap beads on earrings. I just can't do it. I love your earrings.
Beautiful and brilliant designs! Love the color palates for each of them too.
WOOOOW. I have to say Lights would be my favorite. It caught my eye right away !
gorgeous! the first one just gleams like jewels – very pretty!
Those double strand necklaces are beautiful Divya!
The blog hop is a great idea – I have hundreds of beads that are just sitting in their boxes as I don't make much bead jewellery these days. Must have a sort out 😀
Those blue and white "light" earrings are exquisite! Beautiful pieces.
Oh I remember that dialogue from the movie – 'Someone like you' and I am glad that you got the humour in my post 😀
Thanks Fay
Blog hops, contests, giveaways and stash buster sales are all great ways to clear one's stash. I keep doing one thing or the other as I dont have enough space in my house 🙂
thanks, I had fun making them
Haaa… Thats how I felt when I saw Neena's isabella and had to make something like it
Thanks Terri, I am color person and new palettes are my strength
Thanks, The paisley was a spur of the moment design at a workshop and I am glad it turned out well
Kathy, Thankfully I am not writing the exams, I teach so I should just evaluate which is a lot tougher. so thanks for your wishes. Wire wrapping is not hard as it sounds, start with birds nest and messy wraps, they are pretty easy
Unlike a lot of beaders who things because they are pretty, I dont use things as I am bored of them, I think I should buy only a very few beads/findings at a time
I love all of your pieces. They are bright and creative.
Hi Divya,m Your designs are gorgeous. The pink paisley earrings are my favorite. Besides being pink they are simple and attractive.
I first saw your necklace on pinterest and the colors really caught my eye. How beautiful. The designs for your earrings are fantastic. The sparkly glass in the first set really stands out and the design in the second set is superb. Such beautiful jewelry!
Wow, what beautiful creations. I couldn't pick a favorite but those earrings (both pairs)-wow!
thanks for visiting from Pinterest, you could follow the Jewelsofsayuri board of mine for more original designs from me
I love that necklace! And that it is quite different from the inspiration piece 🙂 And messy wire wrapping is my thing, too! Truly creative designs!
Lovely makes. I especially love the earrings you made.
Love your designs! That necklace is such a great idea for using up some of my bead soup that I have sitting around.
Adore those paisley earrings. The necklace with all that sparkle. All lovely piece!
These are all really, really lovely! I like the earring wrap you did especially.
Thanks Lori, for hosting the hop