Deer Queen Tassel Necklace

Tassel jewelry is quite the trend these days. Starting last year they made a come back in fashion. This year they are setting an even bigger trend. With top fashion chains incorporating more handmade couture and animal themes, I'm excited to start doing the same. Last night I decided to create a tassel necklace using a discarded necklace, charms, rhinestones and a tassel. But the tassel was creamy white. No need to fear with a mix of pearl grey and left over aquamarine Rit Dye I had, the tassel would be dyed and a necklace would be made.

Here is the material list and directions so that you can create your own hand dyed tassel necklace.
To view my original post visit Rit Dye at: www.ritstudio.com

Materials:
For Dyeing The Tassel: 

• Liquid Rit Dye: Aquamarine, Pearl Grey
• White tassel
• Measuring cup
• Measuring spoons
• 2 medium sized bowls (for dying and rinsing),
• Paper towels
• Plastic table cover
• Rubber gloves
• Tongs
• Foil pan
• Plastic spoon

For the Jewelry Making:

• Jewelry chain
• Deer pendant
• Crown charm
• Jump rings
• Needle nose plier
• 2 part epoxy glue

Directions:
Directions To Dye The Tassels:

1. Prep your surface. Lay plastic table cover on the surface you will working over. Put on your rubber or latex gloves.
2. Mix 2 tablespoons Rit liquid dye in pearl grey and 1/2 tablespoon aquamarine with 1 1/2 cups hot water in a plastic, or metal bowl and stir. Let steep for 20 minutes. For good hot water, heat some in the microwave in a glass bowl for 2 minutes.
3. Place tassel in the greyish green tinted dye solution, let set for 5 minutes stirring occasionally. Remove the dyed tassel when desired color is achieved and place onto a foil pan. Let dry. Reserve your remaining mixture for more dying by pouring into a glass jar or container, keep sealed.

 Directions To make Necklace:

1. Prepare 2 part epoxy according to package directions. Coat the back of the deer pendant or pendant of choice with the epoxy and attach to the top of the dyed tassel. Let set for a few minutes.
2. With a needle nose plier open a jump ring by slowing twisting one end away from you. Insert into the opening of the deer pendant, attach to the center of the jewelry chain. Close the jump ring.
3. Cut a strip of rhinestone attach to the tassel just under the bottom of the pendant with more epoxy glue. Layer with a crown charm using more epoxy glue or a jump ring.

 Tips/Tricks: 

• Try layering 3 tassels for a fuller necklace.
• Mix and match Rit Dyes for more color possibilities.
• Dip the end of the tassel into more dye for an ombre look. 
• Use a store bought necklace that already has a pendant attached, add the tassel and additional findings.

Hope you enjoyed the project. For more of my projects using Rit Dye, visit www.ritstudio.com 

xoxo
Lisa
 

Wearing your creations

As an artist, I love to create my own jewelry, accessories and clothes, looking through fashion mags and blogs for inspiration, once I get on a creative kick, there is no stopping me, especially with several ideas in mind that are waiting to come to life, when this occurs I run straight to my studio and start scavenging through boxes and boxes of supplies, if I'm no satisfied I head out thrifting or to the craft store, I can even hit three different in a day, living near Hobby Lobby, Michaels, AcMoore and JoAnne's is the greatest thing, lol, going loaded with coupons even better.

Last week I headed out to Hobby Lobby and picked up some of their brand jewels that were 50% off, headed over to Michaels and picked up some components from the Amy Labbe Art-i-cake line and finally back home to pick through my vintage stash. After a few tries, I came up with this necklace:

                                                       

This necklace was made with 2 strands of jewelry pearl chains from Art-i-cake, and a large pendant from art-i-cake, both available at Michaels Craft Store. The 4 center rhinestones are from the Hobby Lobby line of jewelry, at Hobby Lobby, I added some extra pearling, art nouveau clasp and findings from my vintage stash, the result this necklace, in the pictures below, I wore it with a navy tank top, navy and white seer sucker sailor cardigan, pearl bracelet and skinny jeans.

In the following pictures I wore the necklace w/a yellow tank top, skinny black jacket, skinny jeans, and my handmade black bow tie leather cuff. A trip to the craft store can help create the fashion accessories for your next outfit, for the experienced artisan, a trip to the thrift store or a rummage sale can bring about incredible accessories, mix, match, try something new and different, you'll be surprised at the results.

Turn Your Artwork Into Jewelry!
Sometimes you look at your illustrations and think what else can I do with them, you can photocopy them and mount on chipboard or turn into ATC's (Artist Trading Cards), have them printed onto greeting cards, postcards or turn into prints. But why not try something different, what about making jewelry with your illustrations, simply photocopy your artwork to fit the size of the piece you are working on, trim and insert into open cab pieces, jewelry casings, watch casings, into bottle caps, jewelry frames, or transfer to fabric and stitch onto the images, so many possibilities.

Here is a piece of jewelry I made using one of my illustrations:
Lacy's Halloween Party
This is a preview of my new illustration's I created for product licensing!

This piece is called: Lacy's Halloween Party!

Lacy is a young wizard who lives the town of Agatha Mews just 40 miles south of Boston and loves to sprinkle magic everywhere she goes......

This original piece was made on Strathmore Bristol Board, Oil Pencils, Markers and Acrylics!

I then photocopied it and turned it into a necklace called:

Enchanted Soiree!
Using my illustration, rhinestones, vintage pearls, metal roses, aurora beads, clasps, and glass covering!
Hope this inspired you to turn your illustrations into some jewelry or accessories.
Magic and Joy,
Lisa

Jewelry Boudoire!
When asked the question: "What is your fave art medium or technique?" I can't truly answer that with one specific thing, everything inspires me and I love working in every medium, it all comes down to my mood, if I'm in a sewing phase I'll sew everything from aprons to tea cozies to dolls or quilts. If I'm in a illustrative phase, I'll draw, if its mixed medium illustration, I'll draw and paint on everything for that time. My dollies, get made all the time as do class projects and instant inspired pieces which I have to get down on paper and create.

For the past few days I have been in a jewelry phase, it started after I started finishing up the studio organization, that I began to find places for all my jewelry findings. I came across old stuff and new stuff that I recently bought and decided to make some jewelry.My earlier jewelry consisted of alot of seed beading and beading weaving, I could never find a beading loom large enough and cheap enough, so I picked one up at Toys R US about 12 years ago for $15.00 and it works perfectly for small beading weaving works, they are still available in toy stores and crafts stores in the children's craft set section. From these I have made bracelets, belts, beaded purses and amulet bags and its so easy.Seaside Soiree BraceletFor the past 2 years I have been focused on salvage style jewelry, but it wasn't until my first meeting with Terri Ventura (Dimestore Daze) http://www.dimestoredaze.com/default4.asp That I began to dive deeper into salvaged jewelry. Terri and I met at Tinsel Trading and have been friends ever since, her jewelry is gorgeous and so inspiring, now to top it off Terri also sells the most amazing supplies, such as my fave: Marie Antoinette Brass Charms, in many finishes, they are essential to Marie style projects: http://www.dimestoreemporium.etsy.com/ Recently Terri surprised me with a huge package of charms and wares, I nearly fainted when I opened it, she is just incredible. Some other inspirational jewelry atists/books are: Charming Exchange by Ruth Rae and Kelly Snelling http://ruthrae.blogspot.com/ Semiprecious Salvage by Stephanie Lee http://www.stephanielee.typepad.com/ and Rejuvenated Jewels by Amy Hanna http://amyhanna.typepad.com/ These books by these fab artists are filled with wonderful inspiration and project to begin or enhance your salvaged jewelry journey.The pieces that you see are my newest creations, the bracelet is called: Seaside Soiree, the necklace is called: Midsummer Nights Dream and the beaded one is called: Lady Chantilly's Tea! All are made from vintage and new findings, the beaded one is a refurbished necklace I made from one I already had, just switched around the beads and handmade beaded balls, which are extremely easy to make.For the Midsummer Nights Dream Necklace I used a vintage bracelet, Vintage gilded back crystals which are similar to mercury glass, blue moon jewelry pieces and findings, a vintage Austrian rhinestone button, and vintage art nouveau style brass pendant, I've decided to keep this piece for myself, and wore it for the first time yesterday.The Bracelet: Seaside Soiree is made from vintage and new findings, blue moon findings and funky clasp. I have made three of these bracelet styles and will be offering two of them in my etsy store today: http://moonfaires.etsy.com/ Lady Chantilly's Tea Necklace is also staying in my jewelry collection, I love how it looks with a white linen shirt or button down, so vintage tea chic.
To Make the seed bead balls:
Materials:
-Seed beads
-Wooden ball bead or jewelry ball or small styrophome ball w/whole in center
-Fabric tac or no sew glue
-Quilting thread (color of choice)
-Beading needle

Directions:
1. Thread needle with 2 feet of thread, tie knot at end, insert needle through ball hole, twice, loop needle through the 2 strands of thread, and knot.
2. Now slip seed beads onto needle to the thread. The amount of beads on the thread should cover the two hole areas, end to end.
3. Once beads are threaded onto thread strand, insert needle into ball hole, come out the other end, repeat, until the whole ball bead is covered with beaded strands, at the last strand, tie a knot, twice, dab with fabric tac glue or no sew glue, and that's it, you have a beaded ball.

-Refer to the last picture for example of the ball bead.

I hope you have enjoyed this post and get inspired to make some salvaged jewelry of your own.