Recreating the Created, Reinventing My Handmade Jewelry

I have just been remaking some of my early, unsold creations... I had nice elements, but tended to make everything too big, too over the top... which was probably more to do with inexperience than taste, since I prefer classically elegant, feminine pieces. You will also be able to see that my photography has improved, though I will always be learning new tips and tricks.

The apple earrings above are remade from the earrings below.... I don't know why I thought these beautiful glass apple charms needed any additional beads, they are just so lovely on their own. Plus the section with the swarovski butterflies are set aside to make a different pair of earrings, so I've turned one creation into two.

These painted shell buttons and blue beads are the new edition of a piece that was one of my first etsy stocked items.... people liked them (or claimed to) but really they were too long and too busy. Much better don't you think?

Now back to my fun, going through my stored items and reclaiming some beautiful beads that might otherwise go to waste.

Breathing New Life - Look How I Converted My Prom Jewelry

Obviously I don't need to tell you that is my before shot! The hair, the make up, it all screams style nightmare.... The earrings were gold discs with black tassels hanging off them. What a hoot!

Well I've recently started a craze of converting the junk jewelry I have lying around and these earrings were one of the first in line. Behold, the 'new' earrings....

So my first job was to remove the tassels, they are not going to be used in jewelry but could suit book marks.

I used wire cutters to remove the surgical steel post from the discs, I then had to use a metal file to smooth down the sharp stump on the back of each disc. This was the most time consuming and painful part - hand cramp!

From my treasure box I found the two ivy leaf charms, and from my bead spice rack (spice rack where all the jars and bottles are full of beads!) I selected the four green cloisonne beads.

Then I simply had to assemble the new jewelry, I used eye pins to connect the leaf to the cloisonne bead and made a loop to hang it from the disc. For the top I used an eye pin to connect the disc to the cloisonne bead, finished off with a loop, and put a small jump ring and french ear wire to complete.

But my favourite converted jewelry is a pair of my dad's vintage cufflinks that I cut and filed the cufflink attachment off to make cabochons which I set into a bracelet settings, I get one, and the other is available in my etsy store www.starzyia.etsy.com