A Love Story Bracelet

I was asked to make this bracelet for a grandmother who has seven grown children. All of their birthstones are included - plus the month of her anniversary. She and grandpa (Jim & Ruby)have been married for lots of years and are still very much in love. I wasn't sure how I was going to incorporate the crystals and the Scrabble tiles - but I think it is charming.

I hope she likes it when she receives it as a gift from her grandson and his family. (And I sure hope she doesn't read this blog!) I love it when there is significant meaning and/or stories with the custom pieces I design for people.

Bloggers - please help!

Do you know why some photos open up larger when clicked on and some don't? I can't seem to find the answer to this question. I post them all the same, but they are not all the same when they show up in the blog post!

Thanks so much in advance for your helpful hints!

Here are the bracelets.....

Didn't have enough room in the post below for all the pictures. Here is just a sample of the bracelets.

Re-designed Blessings!

Wow, it has been a while since I've posted. It has been a busy season. I am finished with jewelry shows for this holiday season. Today I just finished a project for a lady who wanted to share her jewelry with her family. She asked for 30 bracelets and I was able to make 56 for her to choose from. I'm posting them here for your enjoyment.

I love to do this for families. It is such a blessing for me to see families pass items down through the generations that are treasured (and used, not stuck in a box or a drawer). So much of the jewelry from years ago is something that people love to look at -- but will rarely wear. It is fun to re-design it into bracelets that even today's teens will wear.

I generally get these projects after a family member has died. I am so excited to do this one while the owner is alive and well. She will be so blessed - as will her family - by the gift she is giving. Lillian, I pray you have a richly blessed Christmas with your family:)

Enjoy the pictures! I've included some of the original pieces of jewelry.

Cherry Quartz and Shell

Mahogany Obsidian, Sardonyx, Copper, Jet Swarvoski Crystal (and some other black)

This is a very bold set. Very striking!

A pretty mix of beads

This set has four different kinds of turquiose gems, round turquoise shell type beads, milk glass flowers and vintage crystal. Also a silver/marcasite/turquoise cross pendant. I love it. It just makes me happy to look at it!

Scrabble & Vintage

I made these Scrabble necklaces this weekend. I used some vintage beads on some. I think R, J and L are my favorite. Oh, that's funny. Those are my daughter's initials!

Hazel

Something about this one reminds me of one of my very best friends - my Grandma Hazel. I think it is the combination of the vintage beads and the freshness of the copper and the Botswana Agate gemstones. Grandma Hazel was a sweet Christian lady who was full of grace and unconditional love. She also had a lot of creativity and a quiet sense of humor. That little bit of spunk would just come out when least expected. She began to get forgetful her last several years in her home and one year at Christmas when we all got there she wasn't wearing her wig. I didn't think much of it because she often peeled that thing off when it was just us two anyway. But, as we gathered around the Christmas tree, one of the great grandkids spied her wig tucked inside the Christmas tree like a decoration. I don't think anyone pointed it out because no one wanted to embarrass her (but there was lots of stifled giggles). I can't even remember how she found it and what took place - knowing her she just brushed if off with an "oh, there's that thing" and put it back on her head (maybe even a little lopsided) and went on like it was nothing out of the ordinary. I never did know if she had lost the wig or if she was playing a joke on us. Grandma Hazel has been gone now for more than three years but her legacy lives on. What a wonderful gift from God she was to me!

Brazilian Rose Quartz & Sun Quartz

This necklace, bracelet and earrings set is just plain fun. It combines the rougher sun quartz stones, mauvish purple glass beads and the vintage glass white cubes with mauve accents.

Tonight is high school football which means I will have the house to myself. I think it is a good night to do some organizing/labeling in the studio so I can spend a good part of tomorrow designing while Karl is in Manhattan at the K-State football game.

I had orders for 5 of the Scrabble necklaces at my last show and discovered how unprepared I was to make those on-site! We improvised though and got them done. Karl drilled the tiles for me - using the broken bit in the Dremel. I had a spare but didn't think about taking the little tool that opens the Dremel to change the bit! I am so power tool challenged! Sad, huh? So, this weekend I am going to spend some time getting ready -- pre-drilling several tiles of each letter, cutting the cord to length and finishing one end with the clasp, making up coordinating sets of beaded dangles so I don't have to do the wire wrapping on-site except for the actual tile and beads that go with it. All some of that prep work that takes a lot less time when you do it in batches than one at a time!

I also did not think about taking the pony beads that work great as spacers because I do not use them in anything (left overs from Girl Scouts!). I didn't have any beads with me with holes large enough for the cord - so I had to get creative (good thing we do that well isn't it??) and make some wire wrapped spiral spacers. They turned out pretty cute!

Have a great Friday - the weekend is coming!

Egyptian Lapis Lazuli & Copper

So, what do you think about the copper?

Red & Brown Amazonite with Copper

Another pretty set that reflects the beautiful colors of fall.

African Jade, Russian Japer, Botswana Red Carnelian

This necklace drapes beautifully when worn. I really like this design too. It is more light and airy than most of the gemstone sets.

I had someone ask me the other night if I got my ideas off the Internet or if I came up with the designs on my own. Just in case you are curious about that too, each design is my own. (I love to look at magazines and catalogs and fellow designers' websites because I pick up bits of inspiration from all kinds of places.) I'm never quite sure what I will come up with when I sit down at the bead board in my studio. In fact, I am unable to go shopping for beads to make a specific design. It would take me hours just to pick out the beads and then when I got them home, I probably would not even use them for the intended project (unless of course, you have commissioned me to custom design something for you and that is what you picked out!). So, I am always searching out beautiful or unique beads. If I love the bead, I know I will eventually use it. Sometimes I have an idea when I choose the bead, and sometimes I don't. I am usually surprised and delighted at what takes form when I sit down to design -- hence the name of my business -- Delightful Treasures.

I rarely ever produce any two pieces alike. When that does happen it is usually because someone has asked for matching pieces. When you purchase jewelry from Delightful Treasures you can be assured that you have a one-of-a-kind piece. I always tell the customer up front if that is not the case.

Botswana Agate & Vintage Pink Givre Beads

(Click on picture to enlarge it.)

And, here is another. I really must get off the computer and get ready to go!

African Turquoise Nuggets & German Silver Beads

Couldn't resist posting another picture before I get ready to load the car!

Copper Dream

That's not really the name of this set - but I don't have one for it yet! Karl strongly urged me to invest in copper while in California and I am glad he did. Isn't it lovely?

I'm working feverishly tonight to finish getting everything together for the show in Ellsworth tomorrow. The first show of the season is always the hardest - after that the list is made and it is just a matter of checking things off.

If you're in Ellsworth tomorrow for the Great American Cattle Drive, be sure to stop by and see us.

"Lynda"

This beautiful necklace, bracelet and earring set is named "Lynda" and has been sold. I just had to post a photo here though - it is one of my favorites. Of course, any of you who know me know that I love the pinks/mauves! I've been trying to figure out the best way to take a photo. Jewelry is HARD! If you have any tips, please pass them along! I have a show in Ellsworth this Saturday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. It is part of the Great American Cattle Drive. We will be in the Ellsworth City Hall, 121 West First.

Purple Crazy Lace Agate & Amethyst

Here is a picture of a jewelry set I made with some of the treasures I found in California. Watch for more designs in the next several days -- I'm spending more time designing than on the computer these days -- getting ready for upcoming fall shows.

Stay tuned -- when I get my camera figured out again I'll take some more pictures. I had worked to find the perfect settings and just thought I'd remember what I did -- Ha Ha! Now I get to figure it out all over again!

Be Blessed!

Scrabble Charm Bracelet

Here is a picture of a Scrabble charm bracelet that I made for a friend. The turquoise and brown beads are recycled vintage beads.

Happy 1st Birthday Gabe!

We celebrated our great nephew's 1st birthday last night. His big sister is 2 and his big brother is 7. They ALL loved his new toys! There was plenty to go around but they all wanted to play with the same toy at the same time. Ever wonder why that is? Must be something about this human nature of ours that doesn't want to miss out on what someone else is doing!

Anyone Have Any San Diego Travel Tips?

We're planning a trip later this month to San Diego to go to our nephew's graduation from Marine Corps boot camp and are a taking several extra days "just for us." We're not that interested in the big attractions -- Sea World, San Diego Zoo, Lego-land, etc. - but are rather looking for the more out of the way things that are unique to San Diego. We may even drive up the coast or into the mountains.

If you have been there and have some hints or suggestions, please post them.

Magnets and Watches - Warning!

I have been making quite a few bracelets with magnetic clasps. I love them and so do my customers. But, I have also been having trouble for the past year or so with any wristwatch I wear losing time. I can lay them on the dresser and leave them for a week and they will keep perfect time. Within several hours of wearing one, it will lost 15-20 minutes. I was talking to a jeweler tonight and he was telling me about his dad who seemed to have more of a magnetic field around him and couldn't wear a watch at all. I looked down and saw the bracelet I always wear on the wrist with my watch and it has a magnetic clasp on it. (I immediately moved the bracelet to the other wrist.) He seemed to think that often times the damage to the watch is permanent. I think I'll test my watches and see what happens when I wear them without the bracelet on that wrist. He suggested that I take my watch off whenever I am working with magnets.

In addition, he also told me that the people at the jewelry counters in discount stores ruin a lot of watches because they are not properly trained to replace watch batteries. He said it doesn't take much to touch the insides of a watch wrong and mess it all up -- they don't always stop running altogether, they just do things like lose time, etc.

Thought I'd just pass that information on. I'm hoping it solves my problem with wrist watches! I suppose a little time will tell.

Christopher is home - for a little bit!

For those of you who know Christopher, I thought you might like to see some pictures.

Chris got home on a Saturday night and we were at the dealership in Junction City first thing Monday morning to pick up his new car.

This past Sunday evening we had a gathering in our backyard for food and fellowship with family and some of his friends. His girlfriend, Susan, provided the banner. Karl set up the tents in case of rain and we had a good time. It was pretty humid and damp but didn't rain until everything was put away.

When you get the Leech kids together, there are always games. Bowling and Dutch Blitz (I think that is the name of the card game) were hits.

That's Gavin and Audra (our great nephew and neice.)

Chris will be home a few more days before he heads back across the ocean.

Scrabble anyone?

A co-worker asked me if I could make her a Scrabble tile bracelet. I took on the challenge and here is what I created. There are 5 tiles and that is really all that will fit on this style of bracelet due to the width of the tiles (which are now beads because of the drilled holes). More could be put on a bracelet if they were charms instead of beads. Bracelets like this one (custom tiles and color choices) will sell for $15.

I also made a Scrabble tile necklace. This one has a vertical hole drilled through it. These necklaces will also be custom orders - choose the tile and the colors and the number of dangles. The cost is $5 for one tile and $1.25 for each side dangle. So, the one shown in the picture would cost $10. The cords are adjustable. I will also have different colored cords.

Wouldn't this be a fun back-to-school gift for your favorite girl?

I do wish there were tiles with numbers on them. How fun would it be to spell out phrases like the personalized license plate tags? You can do it with just letters but the options are a bit more limited - you have to get really creative!

If you are a beader and want to design your own jewlery but don't want to invest in the Dremel and the drill stand, I will sell drilled tiles to you (and direction holes you want). Just contact me.

I'm anxious to hear what you think about the Scrabble tile jewelry.

Testimonials

If you have something to say about Delightful Treasures - this would be the place. Boy, I'm leaving that wide open - hope you have something good to say!

Getting Started

This is a test.