Made New Upcycled Bracelets for Fall Fair

I signed up for 2 tables at the fall fair of my school and have been making up-cycled bracelets and earrings every single night. There are all very sturdy with triple layer of glossy acrylic medium. Some come from bottles, others from tape rolls. They have been very fun to make.

A new necklace I made this week

I am so into everything natural, from no makeup to natural tones clothes. So when I ran into these shells I had collected at Jones beach in NY I just had to make a necklace with them....I chose water related colors for the beads. the shell is about 2 inches long.

Luke and his BLING!!!

Luke has been begging me to make jewelry for a few days now. About once a month I get out my wire cutters, beads, and pendants and make or repair my jewels. In my box of broken and crazy collection of broken jewels Luke finds this "treasure" and is so in love with it....he believes the bright center is made up tiny diamonds.....it does not even fit him, yet he managed to wear it all day long...

Bought a Drill to make Nature Jewelry

Bought myself a drill today with bits small enough to make small holes in "nature" items such as seeds, nuts, bark and seashells. I've been dying to make nature jewelry for a while now....so for my birthday I treated myself to the ability to explore this new art. I bought a drill, 2 bits 1/16 and 1/32, a vise and tomorrow I will take the kids to Rock Creek to find treasures to make my new jewels.....the kids are also very excited......

Check out this drill. It was $32 on sale at Ace......it's very heavy.....can't wait to learn how to use it......
As all changes in my life...this idea was sparked by a book.....and here it is.....I rented it from the library and it made me feel I might actually be able to do this.....
Here are some of the pages in the book....I LOVE art books....whenever we go to the library that is all I every get......I feel like a hungry child and looking everywhere for inspiration.
other pages in that book....
and some more......will share more as I get going......

UP-Cycled Bracelets I Made This Week.....more to come...

Created some upcycled bracelets this weekend.....LOTS of fun.....Will make tons more in the next few days.....I thought to better fit my style I would make more politically inspired bracelets. Click on the images to go to my store to purchase these.

I think words in bracelets make them much more fun.....

Here's an attempt at a punk rock bracelet......LOL

If you have not discovered ETSY......you are missing something in your life

This necklace can be found at www.Sproutonline.etsy.com

 It was about 4 years ago a friend of mine was surprised I knew nothing of ETSY.com. She told me I'd love it and about it's many ways to search for items and I decided to go and have a look around. I was addicted at hello. Since then most of my holiday and birthday gifts come from ETSY.com.  They are well priced but most importantly, everything is unique and sometimes even one-of-a-kind. Below are just some items I found at etsy.com that I'd love to get if I had the money......(I also have my own store on etsy, www.MiriamsArt.Etsy.com).

For the jewels below just click on the link provided and you'll be taken to the appropriate etsy store. 

 This necklace and the ring below can be found at www.Sproutonline.etsy.com

 This ring and the necklace below can be found at www.jealousydesign.etsy.com

 This amazing bracelet can be found at  www.Jealousydesign.etsy.com