I have become fascinated with Steampunk Style Jewelry. For a long time, I have loved doing mixed media with my jewelry designs, adding things that would not be considered a "normal" bead. I made this bracelet Friday night, and it is one of my first pieces of 2011.
Chris and I take a break from the jewelry business demands this time of year because, WE ARE EXHAUSTED! We counted and last year we did 14 shows plus the Highland Park Farmers Market every Saturday from 4th of July until the middle of October. Makes me tired to think about it! This year is looking good show wise too, we just got info today for a new show coming to Grand Island. I haven't really beaded since the week of Christmas when we did about 15 special orders in the space of 2 days, and I ended up with tendinitis in my left hand! So I have been on anti inflammatory pills and wearing a wrist brace. Thankfully the treatment worked.
In November, I was inspired by this edition of BeadStyle Magazine. Loved the projects, adapted one for Julie's C-Koop trunk show, which also was in November. I really loved the bracelet Monica Han designed using Tim Holtz Idea-ology Scrapbooking Sprocket gears.
I set about looking for these at the best price and found them at Scrapbook.com. I ordered them, and played with them for 2 months before making my bracelet! I used Monica's idea as my inspiration, but went with a single strand bracelet and added embellishments to the gears.
I used Tim's Game Spinners as the hand in the center gear, and mixed the metals so they weren't beside the same metal I used silver plate jump rings to hook them together. The clasp was an issue.
I didn't like the looks of a standard lobster style clasp, but wasn't sure what to use that would stick with the theme. I ended up using an open gear and another game spinner wire wrapped with a crystal for the toggle bar. I need to adjust it a bit as the round end of the bar slips through and then it falls off. So back to the design table on that, but it is the first toggle I have designed myself! Really loving the Steampunk style, so much so I ordered more gears and bobbles from the Idea-ology line! Stay tuned!
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