Working with Resin

I love encasing items in resin to see what the end result will be.  Here's a few pieces I made by sticking a finding to duct tape, adding a bit of 2 part resident to the openings, and then got creative with seed beads and no hole beads.  The first piece started with this silver metal embossed circle. 

I added a center rhinestone for a bit of sparkle

This is the circle after I added resin, no hole beads and let harden.

Lady K Jewels Corporate Offices and Creative Studio

Today I thought I would share my creative space and what I fondly refer to as Lady K's corporate offices which actually span 2 rooms in my house.  I love collecting old jewelry findings and yes I occasionally do design and create with the findings I collect. 

 

Above is my work table which does get over flowing with work in progress as my muse does go in different directions many times.  Now you can see why sometimes I must work on my lap??

Just a few of the many tools, glues and paints I use and I love my dremel station.

 

One of my favorite places to find cheap tools is Harbor Freight.  I fortunately have a store in my town and I'm there as often as I am at bead shows!! I found this little swivel vice/anvil at HF and use it all the time with my metal work.

 

OK-So I have acquired quite a stash of stuff!!

 

Fondly known as "shipping and receiving" at Lady K Jewels-a digital scale I got for cheap at Harbor Freight and works wonders with counting beads and weighing orders!

New ID for Bracelets

I acquired a box of ID bracelets (remember Speidel?) in one of my many close out jewelry lot purchases.  I've been scratching my head for awhile thinking of SOMETHING to do with them.  I painted one of my brass pieces and glued it to the ID part of the bracelet which made a great surface to decorate.  I got busy gluing my lucite pieces and crystals and a great piece of German glass.  Don't forget to outline your piece with a silver or gold Krylon leafing pen which gives the piece just a bit of extra elegant finish.

Lucite Pieces and Colored Wire

I have a secret dream of wanting to become a wire worker with my jewelry one day.  I've been playing with some of my brass pieces that have been hanging around my studio forever.

I tried experimenting with enamel spray paints on the brass, adding lucite, accenting with glass stones or orphan earrings and finishing with exquisite parawire.  I made a few pendants:

Altered Jewelry with Colors of Lucite

I've discovered the wonderful world of colored vintage lucite and I've listed a few varieties in my shops.  I LOVE working with stuff!!  I have a few of these peacock pendants-kinda cute in a kitschy sort of way.

I gathered my lucite pieces, E6000 glue and started my peacock transformation.  After gluing the lucite pieces I gave this bird some class by accenting with wonderful vintage German glass stones and Swarovski flat back crystals.  Would you agree this bird has new life?

Newtiques Takes Off!

Laurie's Newtiques designs are selling well over at Etsy-see how creative she is in working the pieces into stunning designs!

Newtiques from Cute Things 6

Laurie from Cute Things 6 has introduced a new line to her jewelry designs known as Newtiques. She uses some of my moonglow thermoset pieces in the designs for a wonderfully colorful and retro look.

Please visit Laurie's shops on Etsy: Cute Things 6
and Artfire: Cute Things 6

Alice in Mushroom Land?

With the resurgence of Alice in Wonderland starring Johnny Depp, I thought my mushroom pendants would make a great Alice themed pendant I love encasing things in resin and the mushroom pendants have an outer lip perfect for pouring resin.

Here's a poured resin necklace I made with a pretty Victorian lady print and porcelain flowers added for a lovely double sided necklace.

Three Repurposed Bracelets

I'm having fun with repurposing recently acquired junk jewelry. These are 3 stretch bracelets that were missing stones and falling apart. I tore them apart, got rid of the old decaying stones and gave them new life. Its amazing how the new designs came out. Hope you like!

Repurposed Fire Opal Stretch Bracelet

This stretch bracelet was missing stones and the elastic too was decaying.

I separated the pieces and knew I had the perfect Japanese vintage glass fire opals that would fit perfectly where the missing stones once sat. I soaked the pieces in acetone to loosen the old glue. Some of the stones were pretty stubborn but I got them out with the help of a dental pic. If you are on good terms with your dentist he/she might give you some of their old instruments which are great for glue in jewelry work.

I glued my fire opals with E-6000 and than accented with Zircon Swarovski flat backs. I ththen restrung the components with Precosia crystal beads connecting each piece.

Elegant Egg Bracelet

This stretch bracelet started out in a state of disrepair, missing stones, and decaying elastic.

I separated all of the pieces which by then reminded me of eggs and the elegant designs of Faberge. I added gold tone findings to the front and accented with rhinestones and restrung all of the components for a bold but elegant piece.

Pretty in Pink

I just got a box of good old jewelry junk and repurposed 3 bracelets with new life. The first one had pretty but plain enameling with beautiful spring colors of pink, purple, slate and yellow.


I also acquired a lot of old thermoset moonglow pieces in wonderful colors that I thought would work well with this bracelet building on the enamel base pieces. Coro and Trifari used thermoset a lot back in the 50's and 60's in their jewelry designs. I just love the rich colors and spread the pieces around the bracelet like a paint box and started building the design. I applied E-6000 glue with a craft stick. Use the glue sparingly because we don't want it to show in the design.







I finished off the design by accenting with beautiful fuscia flat back Swarovski crystals.