I actually have some work in progress this Friday! I am trying to use up some of the many vintage rosary and bracelet parts from Belgium and the Netherlands that I bought off eBay last year. (Truthfully, because money is exceptionally tight right now I'm in "use-what-I-have" mode for nearly everything, which always takes some creative thinking!) One idea that has been cooking in my brain for a while now, are the nifty bracelets that you see above. (Sorry about the cruddy picture.) There is just something about these old pieces that makes me long to see them cherished once again. I wonder repeatedly just how many praying fingers passed over the visibly worn rosary centers and medals.
While I was trying to figure out what to do with my 200+ old rosary centers, bracelet links and medals, I stumbled across a couple of really neat books. The first one, Vintage Style Beaded Jewelry, had some pretty good ideas for re-using vintage components. But I actually found the second one, Beautiful Button Jewelry
new to me! This book has some really beautiful projects if you like playing with old buttons, but it is also filled with great how-to's and ideas applicable to other jewelry making areas. The book was written by Susan Davis, the owner of this fantastic shop down here in Louisiana.
I am hoping to upload the bracelets and maybe a few tenners, possibly next week sometime, in the Gardens of Grace shop.
Have a beautiful day!
***UPDATE: If you would like to see some of the finished bracelets, take a look over at Gardens of Grace!
