Once upon a time, the same lovely lady that asked me to make the charm bracelet in the last post had the idea to take old brooches of her mother's and make necklaces for her four daughters for Christmas gifts.  Can I tell you how much I love a challenge like this!?  She invited me over and I was so lucky to have the opportunity to search through her collection of whimsies and wearables to pick my focal pieces.  Three jewelry boxes later…this is the first subject-a beautiful brooch from carved jade and brass. 

The challenge was how to keep it a brooch, but stay strong as a pendant–so worried it would come un-latched!  I used a heavy jump ring to connect it to the brass chain at the top.  Then, in order to keep it securely latched, I used a rubber earring back that was snug against the catch.
 

Brass chain by Vintaj which matched the brass on the brooch perfectly, a few Czech glass beads, Swarovski crystals and some faceted pieces of jade left over from a project in my book (and don't you just love it when you can use the beads that you only have 3 of?!?) Voila!

All of my pieces have a clasp embellishment.  I think it's a fun little unexpected surprise….especially if you are standing in line behind me with my short hair—gives you something to look at, right?!?

The End.  
 
 

 
They are on my top ten favorite things to make list, amongst my gram's blueberry muffin recipe, valentines, smoothies and such……  Charm bracelets.  I love them.

 
This was a custom order for a friend's daughter—a surprise birthday gift!  Which makes it that much sweeter.  She collected odds and ends from her jewelry box to incorporate into it.  Old charm bracelets, buttons, beads, photos, clip-on earrings, pendants…  I asked about her hobbies so I knew what extra charms to add.

Photos were reduced on a color copier and then placed in pretty frames.  I used Plaid's, Mod Podge followed with a layer of Dimensional Magic. 

 
I've said it before on this blog….anything goes on a charm bracelet.  Choose your bracelet, and one or two colors that will run through it—this is what makes all those random pieces go together, lay out the pieces and then start linking! 

Last Spring, I taught needle felting at the Ft. Wayne Museum of Art's, Family Day.  Kids of all ages had a blast learning about this neat craft and trying out Clover Needlecraft's tools.  We made little pins and such just like this…

Lay out your wool and yarn scraps on a small little rectangle of craft felt…

Punch, punch, punch…(and keep an eye on those tiny fingers all the while)  After a few punches, sneak a larger piece of colored craft felt underneath and continue punching…

Trim the colored craft felt with scissors or pinking shears, glue a few buttons and you've got a felt dude…or…

Modern Art….or….

A fuzzy lobster (giggles)…or…

A very hip purse embellishment…

It's trying to be Spring here in Indiana, although the cold has caught up to us again.  This is a great way to beat that one last chilly, rainy day.

Warmly,

Candie

I spent a few days teaching kids how to wet felt last week. I’m prepping wool for this week’s session. It is all in part by the Honeywell Foundation’s artist in residency program that services 9 counties. So far, I have taught at least 400 children about felting and each has taken home a fiber collage. It has been awesome! Amazing, the music and art programs that visit the schools because of this program. I’m so lucky to be apart of it.

https://www.candiecooper.com/2010/02/22/i-spent-a-few-days-teaching-kids-how-to-wet-felt-last-week-im-prepping-wool-for-this-weeks-session-it-is-all-in-part-by-t/

My new book, Metalworking 101 for Beaders!!!  This is a book that I am so very proud of it brings tears to my eyes.  In college I discovered my passion for working with metal and we've had a love affair ever since.  This book will show you a very easy approach to metalworking so you can make your own findings to mix with your beads.  I wanted to make projects that look awesome with very little soldering.  

You may have caught me talking about Metalworking 101 on the TV show Beads Baubles and Jewels  (episode 1102) when I showed how to make easy button and hook clasps that blend in with your entire piece.  Like this!

I love good, happy endings in movies and jewelry!

Have a great weekend!

Candie  
 

from cold, slushy Indiana…

Recently I got a letter from a puzzled felter that started like that.  “Hello from dark, wet Paris,” she wrote.  Somehow the Paris part made it seem more enchanting…

Blog, I’ve missed you.  I’m truly sorry for putting you on the back burner while I’ve been piecing and stitching the exciting and dramatic puzzle pieces of life together.  Rearranging, reworking, ok a lot of working…which is wonderful and has made the days FLY by too fast!  Though, it occurred to me one day that I’ve been so focused on paying the bills, I left out a little simple pleasure called You.  Can we still be friends? 

Growing pains aren’t just for children, I’ve determined.  And maybe children have got it all figured out….keep it simple, play fair, create, and learn…from our mistakes and successes.  I haven’t read that Everything I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten book, but maybe I should.  In short, I’ve been busy growing.  I knew you would understand.

Amazingly, we’re still here in Wabash, ol’ Rocker and me, where things are always interesting…madly in love…even though he snores at night and gets in the trash.  He preys on me forgetting to take it out when I leave.  Fifteen minutes and it looks like the big party scene in Sixteen Candles.  How does such a little dog, make such a big mess?!?!?  Coffee grounds and shrimp tails strewn across the floor last week.  Sigh.  But, I can’t get enough of the little guy.  Admittedly, I might be two dog biscuits shy of being the crazy dog lady (giggles)!  Sincerely though, thank you for all the notes checking up on us.  I love you guys. 

What’s new with you?  I wonder.  If you have time, tell me what you’ve been doing, reading, making, teaching, anything…or just how busy you’ve been.  For those of you still out there, I’d love to hear from you.  Thanks for hangin’ on.

XO, Candie

Really.  Is there anything better than sorting through a pile of buttons…finding the perfect ones?  And with friends at that!

Back in the Fall (I'll be catching up blog posts for the rest of my life) I did a program at the local ladies club.  Woo, did we have some fun whippin' up these bookmarks!  I'm certain most of you have the ingredients to make these in your crafty cupboard—ribbons, buttons, and hot glue.  I also had silk leaves, felt flowers and such for layering.  You can click the pic to enlarge it for details.

The green trays had everything needed to make the bookmarks—great because you can prep them with materials before hand and then put them out on demand.  I learned that from my supervising teacher when I did my student teaching.

I also showed how to attach beaded dangles using the ribbon end findings.  The bookmark on the left is my friend Susan's—love how she had beaded dangles and buttons.

You can make 3 or 4 in about 10 minutes (or close to).  This is another dandy Mother's day gift especially to go in a special book.