The Dangling Journey

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Wedding Blues

Wedding Blues for me, great designs for you!

So we have had a major setback in our wedding planning. We gave notice two weeks ago and last week we were informed that the Home Office would conduct an investigation into whether our relationship is genuine. So we may have to postpone our wedding until the investigation is finished. This is especially frustrating for Neil and I because we just went through a Tribunal with the Home Office in December. They would not grant me a Visa because they didn’t believe our relationship was genuine. At the tribunal once the Home Office representative saw our evidence he conceded that our relationship was genuine. Also the judge stated in his decision that our relationship was genuine thus awarded me the visa. Now the Home Office wants to investigate us again.

We were in the process of booking the reception when we got the news, we’d actually just gone to see the venue and were talking out whether it was feasible (there are some complications). Before we got the letter last week I was making earrings for myself to wear to the wedding. I took a look online to see what was out there and find some inspiration.

I’ve made two of the pairs based on what I saw online; using them as guidance to create my own. I’ve also started working with some new materials and it’s so exciting! These are the first two pairs I made. I made them two weeks ago but after making them felt that I needed larger beads.

Design 1

Both of these pairs contain shell pearls and crystal rondelles. However this pair also contains Swarovski crystal peardrops and small Czech crystal Shamballa beads. I really love these two!

Design 2

After I made them I ordered more materials and larger beads but received them after we got the bad news. So I really didn’t feel like making anything for a few days and I was trying to get in touch with someone who could help me. But yesterday I needed to blow off some steam so I made several more designs.

The rest of them I’ve only made one earring so far. I only bought enough supplies to make something for myself so I didn’t intend to post and offer them for sale. I saw this design online a few weeks ago and made it yesterday. This may be my favorite! These are made using crafting wire. I’m so happy I found this material, I’m trying a lot of new designs using it. This pair has a larger Czech crystal shamballa bead, two shell pearls and a crystal rondelle.

Design 3

This design has a Swarovski peardrop crystal, a Czech crystal shamballa bead and a shell pearl bead.

Design 4

This design is very simple. It contains two glass beads, one smooth and one cut, and two pearl beads. The beads are in ascending order. It is the only design featuring repurposed beads.

Design 5

This design I tried something different. There is a cut glass bead on top, with a crystal rondelle separating it from a sideways square glass pearl bead. But if you prefer I can switch the order and put the glass bead on the bottom.

Design 6

Finally this design I also made using craft wire. There is a Swarovski peardrop crystal dangling from the end, with a wire spiral separating the peardrop from a long twisted glass pearl bead, then a rondelle and topped by a shell pearl bead.

Design 7

As I said I had no intention of offering these for sale, but why not? What’s good enough for me is good enough for you. There may be some other brides out there looking for the perfect earrings to wear for their special day. Or you may need earrings for your flower girl, bridesmaids or mother-of-the-bride. Or maybe you just like the idea of crystals and pearls.

Now, because I had to purchase the materials from a retailer instead of using the repurposed or recycled materials I usually use, these designs will be pricier. Also because of customs I will not ship any of these outside of the UK. Since supplies are limited act fast, I only have enough Swarovski peardrops for two pairs of earring so if you'd like one of the designs that feature them you should let me know ASAP. Once supplies run out I will be able to make more as long as I can get the materials from the retailer, but that will add about a week. So if you like any of these bridal beauties act fast.

All other designs made to order.
Design 1 in stock £8.00 including shipping or $12.75 including US shipping
Design 2 made to order £12 including shipping or $16.29 including US shipping
Design 3 made to order £9.00 including UK shipping or $13.85 including US shipping
Design 4 made to order £12 including UK shipping or $16.29 including US shipping
Design 5 in stock £6.00 including UK shipping or $10.10 including US shipping
Design 6 in stock £6.00 including UK shipping or $10.10 including US shipping
Design 7 no longer available
Design 8 (my wedding earrings) made to order (see Wedding pictures) £16.00 including UK shipping or $22.50 including US shipping

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Monday, April 11, 2016

Something old, Something new, Something borrowed…

Something Blue!

I’m getting married in June! I don’t think I’ve mentioned it on here before. I’ve been trying to get the things mentioned above for the wedding. I’ve got something new – the dress. Something borrowed - I’m getting married on my grandparents’ wedding anniversary and I’m going to borrow a ring my grandfather wore on their wedding day. I've even been given a six pence for my shoe by my lovely fiancée.

My cousin gave me a set of champagne colored pearls for Christmas when I was 18, and I always thought that would be my something old. I told her when she gave them to me that I would wear them when I got married. But last month I bought my wedding dress and guess what? It doesn’t match the jewelry. So now I have no something old. I also have no jewelry! Fortunately the neckline of my dress is jeweled so I really don’t need a necklace. I do however need earrings!

I thought since I’ve been making earrings for the past 8 months I should make my own. We saw a broken chandelier available on a giveaway site but by time we saw it someone had already claimed it, too bad it would have been perfect for making the earrings. So I’ve been on the lookout for beautiful crystals and beads. The other day we came across packets of blue beads for sale. I thought I’d try to find some to match the wedding. After all our wedding color is blue, Celeste or Sky Blue.

So yesterday I sat down and made these three pairs. At first I thought maybe I’d make earrings as part of the favors for our guests, but not all of our guests are women and what would I make for the men (Yes, I know men wear earrings too but not dangly ones like I make, this is after all the Dangling Journey).

All of the beads in these earrings are glass. Some are frosted, some have a marbled effect and one of the pairs has a faux pearl.

SOLD

I also tried something I’ve never done before. I made three “strands“ of beads to go on each earring. Each strand is different in color combinations, the types of beads in that color and length.

I may make a pair for my mother to wear once she gets her dress if it matches any of the beads I found.

SOLD

Since these designs have taken more materials, more time and more effort they will be a little more expensive than my usual offers. But they are after all worth it! These are handmade earring made of glass beads and they are beautiful!

With all the preparations for the wedding coming I may not get around to posting earrings every week. But stay tuned! I still have some designs in the backlog waiting for their time to shine. So if I get a moment I’ll post them. And of course after the wedding I’ll post pics as well.

Dark Blue left only.
Light and Medium Blue Sold

£4.95 or $8.00

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For purchase leave a comment or send an email payments are made through PayPal. Items will be shipped once payment is confirmed.

Monday, April 4, 2016

Black & White Teardrops

I made these months ago, but they’ve been sitting in my little caddy waiting for the spotlight. I’m really into the black and white combo; it is classic after all.

This pair is a combination of recycled materials and repurposed beads. The upcycled plastic has been shaped into a teardrop or pear-shaped hoop.

They’re light to wear. They’re also unique. I’ve only made one pair so get them while you can.

£3.95 or $8.18

Friday, March 25, 2016

Miss Match

Easter Eggs

Neil and I went out a few weeks ago to a small town in West Sussex called Steyning. We went to a charity shop (of course) and they were selling a jewelry kit with very nice green glass beads. There are different types; some clear, some frosted, some green and white swirled and some that were a darker shade of green. I thought ‘This is amazing!’ and it wasn’t a lot so we bought it. I start trying to make earrings, and guess what? There aren’t two of everything! There are some beads that there are several of. They featured in last week’s spicy numbers.

So this week I decided to make a miss match pair. These earrings are made of the same two beads, only I didn’t have two of the same shape and shine of each. So each pair contains one matte and one shiny bead. In one pair the shiny one maybe the round bead, while in the other the oval shaped bead is shiny.

I really love these beautiful green glass beads. I am going to have loads of fun making earrings with them. I just hope you all have just as much fun reading about them and coordinating how to add them to your jewelry box.

£3.95 or $8.18

Friday, March 18, 2016

Muy Caliente

As soon as I saw these glass beads in the shop I had to have them. To me they look like little jalapeño peppers, which seemed like the perfect thing to dangle off the end of a pair (or two) of earrings.

The same place I got the pepper beads I got the red beads. I’m excited about these beads too. These are the first real red beads I’ve gotten.

Relleno

I know, maybe I should have saved this design for Cinco de Mayo, but I just couldn’t wait. But publishing them now means that YOU can have them in time for the celebration.

Johnny Mañana

Just in case you were wondering I named these two after my favorite Mexican Restaurant at home and my favorite Mexican dish.

Rellano Sold

£3.95 or $8.18

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For purchase leave a comment or send an email payments are made through PayPal. Items will be shipped once payment is confirmed.

Monday, March 7, 2016

MS Awareness Month

Get Your Orange Out!

It’s MS Awareness week! I’ve been supporting MS charities since my mother was diagnosed with MS seven years ago. But I also had three aunts, a cousin and a good friend who have (or had) MS.

The color for MS awareness is orange. So for years I’ve been wearing orange this for this week in March. The other year I got a wristband, so I wear my orange every day. But last week when I posted the new colors I’d done in my favorite style my mom “I need some orange ones!”

Now I didn’t really have any orange beads. I did have some stones but I went to another charity shop and picked up some beads which just happened to be orange. I made two different styles of earrings.

This first one I’ll call Cathy since it’s the one my mom likes and I’ll be sending to her. They are bright orange beads that look like natural stone (but I don’t think they are), and they are accompanied by three small stones “stacked” – as my mom said, on top of the large stone. I believe the small stones are actually real natural stones. They are textures and unevenly colored, if they are fake they are very good fakes.

The second pair I’ll call Samentha after my good friend from college. We lost touch after our first year when we both transferred to new schools and we just got back in touch through Facebook a few years ago. This pair is a deeper amber-orange, it has a large stone-like bead at the base and is topped with alternating beads; gold-plated, natural and gem beads.

Now while one pair of Cathy is spoken for I do have enough to make another pair. I have one pair of Samentha made and I also have enough to make another. So get in touch soon to make sure you get these natural beauties.

£3.95 or $8.18

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Prices include shipping. Shipping available to US and UK.
For purchase leave a comment or send an email payments are made through PayPal. Items will be shipped once payment is confirmed.

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

More of the Same

Last week I showed you my favorite pair of earrings. I have a lot of repurposed beads in several colors and quite a few bibs and bobs. So I decided to make more earrings in that same style but in different colors.

Here is a pair in Marble, I love these (I love marble!).

These beads I got at end of last year. I wanted to make something sparkly for the New Year, but my case of jewelers block prevented me from making anything in time.

Finally these retro beads I got a few weeks ago. They are a funky shade of green, I hope to use them in other creations soon.

I have a lot of other beads I could use to make more earrings in this style but the ends have been hard for me to find. I’ll keep an eye out though! The most frustrating part is that many times I do not have enough beads to make more than one pair. I have enough to make a couple of silver and green pairs, but the marble, and the two previous ones I published (purple and black/white) they are the only ones I can make.

So when I say your earrings are one of a kind I mean it!

£3.95 or $8.18