Easy Peasy Necklaces: Winning the Challenge, and Making Your Own Chain

Each month at B'sue Boutiques Creative Group  we have a new design challenge.

For May, the challenge was Easy Peasy Necklaces.  The idea was simple, of course---it's Easy Peasy, right?  LOL   But basically you needed to make a fashion forward, easy to wear style that took less than an hour to put together.

I was gratified to see so many responses and if I'd had to pick a favorite,  I truly would NOT be able to.

We choose the winner each month by making a list of all participants in order that they put their photos up, then do the random number generator thing and voila:

MAGGIE AKERSON of 3rd Street Legacy won!  Maggie, get in touch with me on how to use your gift.   The winner gets a 25.00 gift certificate to B'sue Boutiques

Of course you want to see something Maggie submitted to the Group Pool....so here it is!

She makes the polymer clay roses, but she's so good at it, they only take her 17 minutes to make....so long as she doesn't take a minute to drink coffee!

**************************************************************************

For the longest time, I've been ruminating on the chain issue.  At one time there were MANY US chain makers.  US made chain is my chain of choice, I ALWAYS prefer to buy anything made of metal from a US maker.

Sadly, there are very few chainmakers in the US.  One of my faves quit doing business a few years back, their stuff was just awesome.  I could have just BAWLED.  Really!

And, when I see the inexpensive (being kind...if you want to insert the word cheap there, go right ahead) imported chain coming in from the Orient, I also want to bawl.  I will admit:  there are some sources of supply that are coming up in quality.  But the good chain, even the good imported chain, is not bargain-priced.  Much Chinese metal is getting more and more expensive, and you have to develop a taste for it.  I haven't seen much I could palate.

SO....what to do?

I got to thinking:  there are so many beads, bar links, plaques, washers and o rings being made in the USA from the old vintage dies.   Why not explore what could be artfully combined  with *snips* of chain, to cut cost down....or with beaded links, you've made with wire.

Yes!  Back to that 'worked' neckline thing.  In the long run, why couldn't you work the chain, too?   Make that design truly your own.

So many times I see a very artfully collaged centerpiece and then, finished with a skinny, simple chain.  I suppose that's okay, but if you're going over the top with your centerpiece, why stop and just stick any old skinny little chain on there?   Why not work it, baby?  Work that design.

Here is a package lot I am putting on Etsy with some silverware silverplated links and bars that would be PERFECT to *work* into a nifty chain design:

They just arrived.  All you need is some oval silver finish jumps and you're off and going.   I threw in some little hearts and other stuff just to pique your design aesthetic.   Where would you go with this?

I'm off to post this on Etsy.  Meantime, you'll find more material that will work for making your own chain here:

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/new_items_just_arrived.shtml

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/connectors.shtml

The Crazy Eights Connectors are awesome:

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/item/Crazy-Eights-Connectors-9387   This is the link for choxie, but we have them in Old Rose Ox, Green Patina Brass, Brass Ox, and Russian Goldplate, too!

Comments

[Kim]

Really like those twisted round rings - are they on your site?

[B'sue]

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/item/Rope-Hoop-Stamping-9991 They sure are! SKU silwar09086 only 75 cents each!

[rings vintage]

There was a period in my life when I've had much more free time, so I've made lots of jewelry for myself. But sometimes it takes forever to make one necklace, especially from chains. So what I have to do now is to look through greate blogs like yours and be jealous. :)