Monthly Archives: November 2012

Whimsical Bohemian Rose Necklace

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It’s been awhile since I made a piece that was reflective of the whimsical bohemian style that I started with when I first began making jewelry- so I thought it was time to get back to my roots. I started making this necklace with no particular design in mind- I just knew that I wanted to make something whimsical, bohemian- maybe even incorporate a woodlands theme. The green and peach beads definitely came together with the rose, the swallow, charm, the antique brass branch/leaf connectors, and the filigree pendant on which I mounted the rose. I kept the necklace short, because I envisioned it work with a v-neck or resting just on the collarbone. My lovely roommate graciously lent me her collarbone to gauge the length, and after seeing it on her, I think that I accomplished my goal of going back to my bohemian roots- and, also, I reallllyyyy loved the way it looked on her:

To access the listing for this whimsical bohemian rose necklace in the lakeshore lavaliere online store, just click the pictures!

OR

go to etsy.com/shop/lakeshorelavaliere & shop and browse the other listings

For Inquiries/Requests/Custom Orders, Contact: lakeshorelavaliere@gmail.com

OR Etsy Convo me by clicking ‘Contact’ in the toolbar on the left side of my shop page.

Thanks for reading!

Hand Stamped Brass Family Name Necklace

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I have been thinking about what I wanted to give my mom this Christmas, and I knew I wanted it to be something personal. Since her favorite thing in the world is our family, I thought I would make a necklace for her that incorporated the names of our family. (Even though I am posting it here, I know it will still be a surprise because she would never have any idea how to get to this blog ). This brass necklace is stamped with all of our names, and is like a little family tree; my parents’ initials are stamped in the middle on the brass blank, and my name and my sister’s name are stamped around the outside of the washer:

These make great holiday gifts for a mother or a grandmother!

To access this listing in the lakeshore lavaliere online store, just click the pictures!

OR

go to etsy.com/shop/lakeshorelavaliere & shop and browse the other listings

For Inquiries/Requests/Custom Orders, Contact: lakeshorelavaliere@gmail.com

OR Etsy Convo me by clicking ‘Contact’ in the toolbar on the left side of my shop page.

Thanks for reading!

Burnt Orange Filigree Pendant Knit Headband

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So the time is coming (not here yet technically, at least in Chicago considering it is supposed to be 65 on Thanksgiving) soon where, if you haven’t already, we are going to have to dig out our hats/headbands and gloves and add them to our winter daily wardrobes. I really have always been  more of a fan of winter knit headbands than hats- they don’t mess up my hair if they have a button in the back so I can take them off and put them on without rubbing them against my hair, and they totally create less static. But, I have always had a hard time finding a knit headband that can double as an accessory, instead of looking like a unisex ugly fleece ski headband. So, after spending the last few winters trying to find a knit headband that could double as a cute accessory to my winter outerwear, I decided to start knitting my own. Yep, I knit. I’ve been thinking about buying a rocking chair and a cat to bat the yarn ball around but I’m allergic to cats and I hate rocking chairs so… that’s out. Anyways, a few years ago I finally started knitting my own headbands, and then began to make some for friends and relatives upon request.  They shared my problems of not being able to find a cute headband, and also not wanting to see a 10 year old boy wearing the exact same one once they settled on the generic unisex fleece headband that we all know we have owned at some point. Now that the weather is getting cold enough to wear these knit headbands, I thought that I’d add them to the lakeshore lavaliere winter line. Here is a burnt orange knit headband with a filigree & stone pendant that I made the other day:

 

The filigree layers come together to make a flower pendant, and I added an orange/copper patina to the second filigree layer to make it flow with the burnt orange color of the yarn. There is a wooden button closure in the back to put the headband on and take it off without creating a major hair static disaster. The yarn is thick and extremely warm- I have worn my other ones skiing and running in the dead of winter and my ears stayed nice and toasty.

Later today I’m going to add photos of the other colors of yarn available for this headband– I’ve been growing my yarn collection for about 5 years, so there are probably 50 other colors this headband can come in.

To access this listing in the lakeshore lavaliere online store, just click the pictures!

OR

go to etsy.com/shop/lakeshorelavaliere & shop and browse the other listings 

For Inquiries/Requests/Custom Orders, Contact: lakeshorelavaliere@gmail.com

OR Etsy Convo me by clicking ‘Contact’ in the toolbar on the left side of my shop page.

Thanks for reading!

Tree of Life Green Cuff Bracelet

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This two toned green tree of life cuff bracelet is a fun addition to my own jewelry collection. These earth tones go with almost everything in my fall wardrobe- and I’m sure with most other peoples’ fall clothing as well. The lighter, more lime green beads will add a pop of color to my darker fall wardrobe without causing this bracelet to clash.

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I just got in these new tree of life buttons, and I love how they look with the greens and browns in this bracelet- I will definitely be ordering more.

Replicas of this bracelet will be available in the lakeshore lavaliere online store at etsy.com/shop/lakeshorelavaliere by the end of tonight.
If you have any questions, or would like to make a request for a custom order while browsing the lakeshore lavaliere online shop, feel free to Etsy convo me by clicking ‘contact’ on the left hand side of the page.
OR
Send an email to: lakeshorelavaliere@gmail.com

Get your custom or personalized gift orders in ASAP to have them by the holidays!

Purple Turquoise Cube Bead Wrap Bracelet

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This is going to be a reallllly quick post as I am out of town, but I felt like I was neglecting my site, and I don’t like to do that! This purple turquoise cube bead wrap bracelet was a custom order for a tube bead bracelet similar to the turquoise triple wrap tube bead bracelet- but with purple beads. (I also was given some creative license to experiment, thank God, because the hunt for the materials for this bracelet, and then making it, definitely required some creativity.) Purple tube beads are literally IMPOSSIBLE to find, and after searching every place and website I could think of, I came across these purple turquoise cube beads, and fell in love. The seller had only one 15 inch strand in stock, so there weren’t enough beads to complete the third wrap around. Since the request was for a silver button closure, I thought I would use the silver cube beads that I thankfully had to finish the third wrap around and frame the silver button closure. This bracelet was the result (and I think that despite the adjustments I had to make, it came out pretty well if I do say so myself!):

 

 

I am happy to accommodate any and all custom requests, and don’t mind hunting down different materials if I don’t already have them.

Thanks for reading and have a great Saturday!

 

Hand Stamped Brass Washer Name Necklace

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This raw brass hand stamped necklace was made by hand stamping the letters into a brass washer. I punched a hole through the washer and through the domed, dapped (dapping is when you use a hammer, here I used the reverse side of a ball peen hammer, to texture a piece of metal) brass blank that I place behind the washer. Adding the blank behind the washer created the contrast that I was looking for to offset the brushed matte finish of the washer. I used an oxidation process to darken the letters so that they really stand out against the gold tone of the brass. I wanted a necklace that was only gold toned so that it would go with any color combination I decide to wear. I didn’t want the necklace to be too plain, so I thought I would play around with the washers and blanks I just got in, the dapping hammer, and my alphabet metal hand stamps, and this necklace was the result:

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These necklaces make a great gift for the upcoming holidays. Hand stamped jewelry leaves a deep impression and is made to last, unlike the shallow impressions of engravings. Hand stamped jewelry also has character, as no two pieces can ever be exactly the same— and I’m obsessed with making it!

To access the listing in the lakeshore lavaliere online shop, just click the pictures!

OR

Go to etsy.com/shop/lakeshorelavaliere and click on the metal stamped jewelry section, or browse around!

For Inquiries/Requests/Custom Orders, Contact: lakeshorelavaliere@gmail.com OR go to my shop page, and click the contact button on the left side of the page to etsy convo me.

Thanks for reading!

More hand stamped pieces will be available this week- tie clips included!

Turquoise and Jasper Turtle Cuff Bracelet & Soldering

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This turquoise and jasper turtle cuff bracelet was a custom order for a friend who liked the look of my other turtle cuff bracelet (the one with jasper and green tube beads), but wanted to switch the green tube beads to turquoise ones. I love these turquoise tube beads so I was excited to incorporate them into this project. While making this particular bracelet, I had an advantage- SOLDERING. Last time I had trouble securing the turtle to the bracelet because it only had a loop behind its head, and to make it stay without flopping around, it really needed to have a ring in its belly as well.  I’ve been wanting to learn how to solder for some time; I wanted to learn how to fuse the backs of bracelets, rings, etc., to make sure that they really last. I bought a soldering iron last week, and after much practice, I finally learned. The turtle is really a pendant made for a necklace, and with this particular bracelet, I was able to solder on a ring to create a button-like appearance on the back of the turtle. Knowing how to solder is a great way to transform a piece of metal jewelry/jewelry supply and make it stronger, or obviously, held together better. After soldering the ring to the turtle’s belly, I had the 2nd loop or anchor I needed to solidly attach the turtle to the bracelet.  I loved making this item, learning new techniques, anddddd I love how these cuff bracelets look when used to accent an outfit!

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Update: To access the listing in the lakeshore lavaliere online store, just click the pictures!

For Inquiries/Requests/Custom Orders, Contact lakeshorelavaliere@gmail.com 

OR

go to etsy.com/shop/lakeshorelavaliere 

Thanks for reading!

Homemade Gift Box Tutorial

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I know I haven’t posted new pieces in a few days, but, aside from being extremely sick and recovering at my parents’ house, I have been filling orders! One thing I really like to do when I send out an order, is send it in a nice little jewelry gift box. However, these little boxes can get really pricy, and that’s just another area where expenses can really add up.  So, I decided to start making my own and repurpose old gift boxes that I’ve received and accumulated over the years. (My parents’ house is a gold mine for these little guys.)  It’s a super easy project; making these boxes is quick, fast, and they are much cuter than the standard white/grey/brown gift boxes that still can run up to $3.00 a pop. Also, if you want to keep your creations, you can match these boxes to a room in your house, and use them as cute little storage containers. You can find any of the materials in your own home– and there is a lot of leeway with what you can use to make these boxes. I also think it adds a nice personal touch for customers,or for whomever is going to be the recipient of the gift, but maybe that’s just me!

What You Need:

1. Old Gift Box: (or even just a small box that held really anything you bought at the store, depending on how you want the box to open/look when you are finished.)

***For bigger boxes for displayed storage, you could definitely use a shoe box or an old packing box.

2. Glue: Elmer’s Rubber Cement is GREAT, but you can use Mod Podge (a favorite of mine), or even any old glue stick (as long as you make sure the paper is secured to the box well enough so that it won’t peel off).

3. Paper: I used scrapbook paper that I found at the bottom of my closet at my parents’ house, but you can get creative and use anything (newspaper, old destroyed book pages, magazine pages- get creative!)

4. Scissors

5. Pencil

Okay, the instructions are SUPER easy, but I’ll be as detailed as possible, just in case you reallllly like details!

Instructions:

1. Remove the lid of the gift box, and place the box on its side on the side of the paper that won’t be showing. Line up the top edge of the box with the edge of the paper, and trace along the top edge of bottom of the box where it meets the bottom edge of the first side of the box. Trace the two remaining edges of Side #1.

2. Flip the box right side up, and trace along the bottom’s 3 remaining edges.

3. Now, with the box resting right side up, flip it forward, so that it is again on its side (Side #2) and trace that side.

**Recap so far: So up until this point from the left: you traced the left side, rolled the box to the right and traced the bottom, and then rolled the box forward and traced Side #2.

4. Flip the box back so that its bottom rests on the paper inside the lines that you traced. Repeat step 3, BUT this time, roll the box back toward you to trace Side #3 (opposite from side #2)

5. Flip the box back to the center, so that it is in the position from step 2. Roll it to the right so that it is on its 4th and final side, and trace around that.

Here is a pictures of how it should look when you are done tracing:

6. If the box has a removable lid, repeat steps 1-4 above for the lid.

7. Cut along the outer lines that you traced.

8. Bend each of the 4 side pieces, (they stick out from the center piece) toward you along the lines that make up the outer lines that you traced around the bottom. The paper, in 3-D now that it is folded, should fit around the bottom of the box and its 4 sides perfectly.

9. Cover the bottom of the box, and the 4 sides- or cover the side of the paper where you have traced around the box in glue(they will have the same result) and place the box inside the little shell you have made, and press the paper against all the sides of the box, making sure it sticks around all of the edges.

10. If the box has a lid, Repeat steps 7-9 for the lid.

Let it dry.

Anndddd you’re done. You now have a cute little box that you can use as storage, or to hold a gift.

         

Looking at the steps, this project may seem time consuming, but I just got a little wordy… definitely more than necessary. It took me all of 3 minutes from start to finish to create the box shown above. I made it while watching tv- my pencil broke and I had to locate a pen, and I dropped the glue under the bed (I’m sick so I’m operating out of my bed. So, I’m being lazy, sue me.) Anyways, in short, this is an incredibly fast, cute, and most importantly, money saving project. It may even be time saving if, like me, you spent several hours trolling the internet looking for a deal on gift boxes to order in bulk, or have to run to the store to buy a gift box every time you give a present.

Hope you like this tutorial!

Marisa On Accessorizing Your Look With Bracelets

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I wanted to branch out with the subjects of these blog posts, and when my roommate suggested doing a post on different ways to accessorize your look with jewelry, I was all over it. Before I buy any piece of jewelry, clothing, purse, accessory, etc., I like to try to visualize how it fits with the items that I already own, but sometimes this can be hard.

(if only we all had a computerized rotating closet like Cher’s in Clueless…)

(buttttt…..maybe not with the styles of the mid-90s)

Since we don’t, sometimes it’s nice to see how other people put together their outfits and how they accessorize them. For this blog’s first foray into the style advisory world, Marisa is going to talk about accessorizing with bracelets by stacking them:

Stacking by Marisa 

M: I love my two watches, but I hate wearing the same accessories every day. Stacking different bracelets against my watches has been a great way to switch up my look without spending a ton of money on trendy or junky watches. By stacking a variety of bracelets around my watches, I am able to continually wear the watches as staple pieces and still give my look a fun and trendy edge.

M: Here, I used to just wear my watch and the two bangles. But I love the addition of the gold chain & black string bracelet (courtesy of me, courtesy of my dad, courtesy of Brooks Bros. ). The charms on the bracelet give it depth and the string adds texture to the combination it was lacking. I also think the chain helps to even out the structure of the red bangle. My preppy side loves the red kate spade bangle, but the Brooks Bros. chain bracelet gives it a little boho streak. (gotta love boho jewelry!) 

M: Having a roommate who makes jewelry has also given me so many new options to wear with my existing jewelry and watches.

  • This is true, Marisa is my own personal model and guinea pig for all my new pieces, not to mention one of my best customers. 

M: This look I like a lot for going to class. It’s interesting, but not overpowering.

M: So the bracelet pictured is actually a lakeshore lavaliere necklace! I wrapped the necklace and draped it around my watch to fit as a bracelet. Tip: If you try this with a necklace and it doesn’t fit perfectly, try playing around with the strands over your watch, it helps even it out if a little big. I love how this one piece of jewelry looks like 4 next to my watch.

  • Love the creativity here. Here’s the necklace that she used:                                                                            An alternative to using this necklace as a bracelet is: 

M: Finally, sometimes I like a minimalistic look with my silver watch. This watch is so prominent on its own, I didn’t know what to wear with it at first. I’ve added my own bangle and a lakeshore lavaliere bangle. I love that these two bracelets are so delicate, but still are individually intricate. The pearls on this bracelet are unexpected, and I think that’s what this look accomplishes. It takes a classic style and makes it interesting. Perfect for a situation where you need to be polished, but still want some style.

M: That’s my take on stacking bracelets and integrating new and different types of jewelry with your existing jewelry and watches. Thanks for reading!

  • One final lakeshore lavaliere style tip: Go out and get this accessory that will beautifully accent any of these looks-and any others- today:

lakeshore lavaliere thanks you, Marisa, for sharing your fun style tips and information! We will soon continue this foray into the world of style advice, so look for new posts, tweets, pins, etc., and follow this blog to let you know when we post the new style advice column.

Thanks for reading! For any Questions,Comments, Inquiries , Requests, contact lakeshorelavaliere@gmail.com

OR

etsy convo me at etsy.com/shop/lakeshorelavaliere

Let It Be Hand Stamped Necklace

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After making the Que Será, Será hand stamped necklace that I recently posted about, I decided that I’d like to continue in that vein and create another piece with the title of one of my favorite songs, Let It Be. I could- and do- listen to The Beatles alll day long. Let It Be, like Que Será, Será, is a song that offers comfort to its listeners, advising them that everything will work itself out if they  relax and let whatever is going to happen play itself out.  Paul McCartney, in an interview with Reader’s Digest, once explained where he got the inspiration for Let It Be  and its significance,

“So in this dream twelve years [after she passed away], my mother appeared, and there was her face, completely clear, particularly her eyes, and she said to me very gently, very reassuringly: “Let it be.”

It was lovely. I woke up with a great feeling. It was really like she had visited me at this very difficult point in my life and gave me this message: Be gentle, don’t fight things, just try and go with the flow and it will all work out….

I thought it was special, so I played it to the guys and ’round a lot of people, and later it also became the title of the album, because it had so much value to me, and because it just seemed definitive, those three little syllables. Plus, when something happens like that, as if by magic, I think it has a resonance that other people notice too.

So those words are really very special to me, because not only did my mum come to me in a dream and reassure me with them at a very difficult time in my life – and sure enough, things did get better after that – but also, in putting them into a song, and recording it with the Beatles, it became a comforting, healing statement for other people too.”

I think that Let It Be is an incredibly beautiful song, and I thought that incorporating it into this necklace would be a great reminder of this inspirational mantra:

The antique gold doves and green verdite beads accent the song title and lyrics and give the necklace a hippie/bohemian vibe (my favorite style!) Hope you like it!

To view this item the lakeshore lavaliere online shop, just click the pictures!

OR

Go to etsy.com/shop/lakeshorelavaliere to browse this and other listings.

For Inquiries/Requests/Custom Orders, Contact lakeshorelavaliere@gmail.com or Etsy convo me by going to my online shop and clicking contact seller on the lefthand column of the page.

Thanks for reading!