A birthday gift

I love giving gifts.  I love giving gifts that have an emotional significance to the receiver even more.  My dear, dear cousin recently had a birthday and I made her a gift this year that had a family connection.  So, let's back up...several years ago, my mother gave me a book with cute ideas for hand made bags, purses, totes, etc., and I have looked through it over and over again trying to decide which would be the best pattern to make.  This year, I finally concluded that I would make a small zippered wristlet for Sarah's birthday.  I went to my local fabric store and found a deal on some pretty fabric for the exterior of the bag along with the detailing.  When I got home and started cutting the pattern out, I realized that the fabric that I had for the lining and strap was fairly "plain."  I started hunting around in my fabric to see if there was a small scrap of fabric that would work when....out of the blue I remembered that I had a small bag of silk scarves, fabric napkins, and other fabric pieces from our grandmother's estate tucked away.  I pulled it out hoping that there would be something there to work with.  It was magic!  I found the perfect fabric napkin that matched the project and the rest is history.  It turned out so nicely, that I made two wristlets, one for Cousin Sarah and one for me.  Now we can carry a piece of our family inside our wallet, everyday.  There is so much to love about this project, and I love that I was able to share it with someone I love so dearly!

If you post it, they will come.

Is it silly to make a baseball movie reference when talking about recycling and upcycling jewelry? Nah. 

 It has been many moons since I lasted posted and told you about the latest and greatest on my jewelry bench.  Today I am here to tell you that I have had small successes this winter/spring.  I made a bridal necklace for a co-worker of mine using pearls that had once belonged to her mother.  Her mother passed away several years ago, but she asked me if I thought I could recreate a picture of a necklace she had found online using those same pearls and I said, "absolutely."  I was thrilled with how it turned out and I hope she did too.  She looked amazing on her wedding day.

For me, it's the story behind the jewelry (and everything else) that makes it so special.  Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Wright.
RemarydOriginals on Etsy.

 

Time flies by when you are swept up in life.  My mind doesn't tend to do well unless I have some semblance of organization in all aspects of life.  For instance, in high school I found it very difficult to start my homework in the evening until my bed was made and my room was clean and organized.  I still struggle with that discomfort before I can fully engage in a creative project.  So, today, I made sure the dishes were done, the other weekend chores were sufficiently completed, bills were paid, and husband and boy prepared for the week ahead...and only then did I begin my jewelry endeavors in the basement.  Happy Sunday to all! 

Shhh. Don't Tell.

Working hard over the weekend finishing up a new piece that will ultimately be dropped off to my friends at RETRO and putting the finishing touches on a really late Christmas gift.  Although I spend most of my time using gently used findings, beads and miscellaneous parts and pieces to make my jewelry, it is fun to spend time making all NEW stuff.  I am not going to reveal the finished product because the recipient of this gift may be looking at this blog between now and when I am handing it over.  Last year, I made a simple hand-knotted fresh water pearl bracelet for her with the most adorable charm of two peas in a pod.  This year, I did something similar and continued the tradition.  Enjoy SRB!

This might be your jewelry

It's like warming up and stretching out for a big relay race, fortunately though, I will not need to run.  What I mean is all this repair work is getting me back into "shape" for making some original jewelry...some ReMarydOriginals Jewelry.  So, if you see something in this picture that looks familiar, this might be your jewelry and it is wearable again.

If you don't see anything that looks like something you gave to me to fix or change, then you are on my list. THE List.  The list that includes new pieces for my buddies at RETRO, P!CK, and, of course, BOOKENDS.  Motivation and inspiration are blooming in my downstairs jewelry studio....and I am crossing one item off the list at a time.

Reinvent

Friends!  With a burst of energy, I come to you at the beginning of 2017.  In an attempt to really push myself and reach new heights in creativity, I am back to blogging.  This blog will be my "companion" that encourages me to make, create, get involved with jewelry and really breathe new life into, what I consider, my art.

This is a really off-the-wall take on a wrap bracelet made from the parts of a necklace I made several years ago.  It is a completely new look.  I added a bit of thin leather but kept the big chunky chain, one very large effervescent semi-precious blue stone, and sassy glass pearls.                                                                                                    ↦

It is with this post that I set my goal for feeding my creative self and making an effort, everyday, to work.

Signing Off....

Dare to Dream

Sparkler

Sadly, inspiration has been a bit dry this summer when it comes to jewelry creations.  However, now that the seasons are changing and I am having to go inside because it is getting darker earlier, I find myself gravitating to the basement to work.  This was a bracelet that has taken a long road to find it's home in a new necklace.  It was a happy anniversary gift to my boss, celebrating 13 years of working side by side...

BEFORE

After

Romance.  Shape Shifters. Werewolves. More Romance. Mystery. More Romance. and Jewelry.  There is really no better combination!  Author Nancy Gideon has found a way to give her fans a book-souvenir to wear.  She provided me with some gorgeous and meaningful charms to add to this sparkling bracelet.  Handcuffs, a "Romance" Novel, an open book, a howling wolf and a dog footprint charm along with half moon and heart prisms dangle from the bracelet.  A book lovers keepsake!

Crafters Unite!

One of the most fun things in the world is to get mail.  Like, real mail from the United States Postal Service.  It just feels so great!  Anyway, I have connected with a friend of my mom's who is an amazing crafter with a brain full of ideas, inspiration and a lifetime of experience when it comes to crafting, sewing and everything vintage!  Recently, I received a small, flat package in the mail from Ms. Susie.  She had made me the most adorable banner for my jewelry studio.  I love it and wanted to share how great it looks with all of my crafting supplies!

Supporting a Good Cause Through Jewelry

I wanted to post a picture of this special order bracelet I made just before Thanksgiving for a sweet-heart cousin!  She had seen a picture of the bracelet on another site and wanted to have it recreated to give to her mother-in-law.  My cousin's husband was diagnosed with MS a while back and since then they have tried to support MS research and awareness.  This bracelet has the initial blocks "MS" and is made of swarvoski crystal with a sterling silver heart toggle clasp.

Even though there is some visable kitty hair on the black jewelry stand, I think the bracelet turned out lovely!

Ta-Da

It is official!  I have completed the pearl multi-strand necklace for a friend's daughter's wedding shower and delivered it.  It would truly be amazing to have such a creative mother throw you a movie-themed wedding shower.  I hope that it is a wonderful party and that the Breakfast at Tiffany's necklace is spot on!

Frustration-ville

This may not look like much, but it is a project that has really had me tearing my hair out.  I was complaining about it today to one of my co-workers that I had literally had it with this necklace.  I was asked to make it by a wonderful lady for her daughter's bridal shower to re-create a special piece of jewelry from a famous movie (I don't want to give away the surprise, so I need to be a little cagey).  Anyhow, after a few months of putting it together and taking it apart, teaching myself the art of knotting pearls and deep breathing exercises, I think I am officially done.  I hope that it is well received!  I will not reveal the final project until after I have made delivery to it's rightful owner!  Sorry.

Broadening Horizons

You can see ReMarydOriginals Jewelry can be found at BOOKENDS located at 101 N. Riverview in downtown Parchment, Michigan.  https://www.facebook.com/#!/thebarbsbookends

A unique furnishings store for the eclectic and loved home!

Jewelry Resume

Looking through a huge file of old jewelry pictures today, I realized how much I have actually created and accomplished within the last several years.  That is exciting stuff!  Everybody has their favorite personal creations and I am posting a few of mine that continue to give me inspiration.  Enjoy!

 

WINNER ANNOUNCED

I am a day late, but hopefully, not a dollar short.  I have drawn the name of the winner of the earrings from the Halloween Blog Hop.....

JeanMP is the official winner!!!

If you would email me at remarydoriginals@hotmail.com

with your mailing address, I will put those in the mail to you!

CONGRATULATIONS!

HALLOWEEN BLOG HOP AND FREE GIVEAWAY

I am happy to be a part of Nancy Gideon's Halloween Blog tour!  Thank you for the opportunity Miss Nancy! 

First, let me say that this time of year is one of my favorite, not only for the free flowing candy, but the cooling temperatures and colorful trees.  I am also an avid scary movie fan.  Although, that wasn't always the case.  There was a time, from about the time I was 9 years old until my early twenties that I was not in a horror movie state of mind.  In fact, I avoided them at all cost.  My earliest memory of being totally frightened by a scary flick was Michael Jackson's "Thriller".  I am not sure if it was because my mother forbid me to see it then I snuck around behind her back, saw it and had to own up to it when I spent the next three nights crying at the foot of her bed, scared to death! 

Then there were the unavoidable slumber parties and "girl/boy" parties where, like it or not, there was already a threat of an "undesirable" movie being popped into the VCR (sorry folks no DVD's or Blueray players in my teenage years).  I tried to avoid them, but to no avail, there was the sleep over at a friend's house where we watched Creep Show and the high school party where they insisted on watching Pet Cemetary. If only I had just had pretended I had a stomach ache or a massive head injury, I could avoided so much mental trama.  Oh, no, I decided to give it my best shot and watched the movies with my much braver friends.  It was okay while we were there, watching, cringing at the gore and the thrills, but as soon as I was back at home, the lights were off and I was left to my imagination, there was no escaping my thoughts, I was a gonner. Now, I love scary movies. But, don't let me fool you, I still worry that a zombie is lying in wait in the dark just around the corner when I take the trash out.  Enjoy your Halloween and get scared.  BOO!

Now for the fun part, if you have read my blog, I want to say thank you for taking a look and REWARD someone.  I have made these very festive pair of gold tone and black earrings and will be giving them away, if you follow these instructions:

1.  I will throw your name in the hat one time, if you comment on my blog (be nice, please).

2.  A second entry will be made on your behalf if you comment AND follow my blog.

Nancy will announce the winner on October 31, 2013.  Please note, I will not be able to ship internationally. 

Thanks for stopping by and now you can move on to the next blog tour stop....
http://hauntedopenhouse.blogspot.com/2013/09/haunted-open-house-giveaway-blog-hop.html

IF YOU ARE HAVING TROUBLE COMMENTING ON MY BLOG AND WOULD STILL LIKE TO BE IN THE RUNNING FOR THE EARRINGS, PLEASE EMAIL YOUR COMMENT TO ME AT remarydoriginals@hotmail.com

The New Life of a Classic Cameo

One of my favorite moments is setting down with a wonderful friend who has a piece of jewelry that has a significant personal history and hearing the back story!  I was honored to be asked to create something out of the cameo broach that she once wore for her own wedding into a fresh water pearl lariat necklace to wear for her own son's recent wedding.

We only added a few small embellishments, but the cameo sings on it's own!  Thank you for the opportunity Miss Becca!

The Big Reveal

 The day has come for me to let my biggest jewelry project yet go to it’s new home. I feel like I am adopting out a pet...it is difficult. I have spent many hours with each of these pieces of jewelry, admiring, disassembling and re-creating each into their newest form! I think the Big Reveal went well and now I am anxious for another project. However, in my world there is never a need for more projects. I always have plenty and LOVE to take on more!

Yay Me!  It has been brewing for some time now.  The desire to get some jewelry items listed on Etsy again.  It takes a considerable amount of time to get everything up and updated on my site and then to make sure that the pictures are decent and the jewelry is worthy of listing.  But, after all the toiling and working and re-wording and multiple pictures, I have given it another go.  It doesn't hurt to try, right?  I am still working on a large sized set of special pieces for E and J, but this needed to go up on Etsy and then I am back to re-making their mother's costume jewelry into memorable wearable jewelry for the family. http://www.etsy.com/shop/ReMarydOriginals?ref=search_shop_redirect