timekeeper necklace diy

Tick, tock, never run out of time with these insanely chic vintage-inspired necklaces! Antique watch faces star here as focal pendants, complimenting drippy metallic chain and faceted crystals.



These watch faces were all found at an estate sale -- I spotted that middle one in a jar of buttons and  baubles, and just knew it had to be mine. A combination of the weathered finish, Art Deco design and muted olive color stood out in a sea of bygone sparkle.

It looked like something straight from the German movie Metropolis, making me believe it was a 20s era design. I took it to an expert and found it was a Speidel, but not worth mega bucks…$$$…

So, instead of re-selling it, why not re-make something with it? Hence, these DIY watch necklaces! Upcycling / recycling is always in style -- don't let anyone tell you otherwise.



More lightweight, and with an etherealness to them, these are great everyday pieces. Chic enough for work, yet still fun enough to mix and match with maxi dresses or a tee and jeans for play. Plus, you'll never be late …. or so we all hope….



I've complied all my (easy!) steps to make this in my usual tutorial format for you guys. Have fun!



Step 1: Gather materials. Needed are watch faces, eyepins, headpins, a toggle clasp, cable chain, 4mm jumprings, 4mm bicone crystals and a larger 8mm-10mm crystal.



Step 2: Cut 5 pieces of cable chain, one longest, two medium, and two shorter. You can choose your lengths, I kept my longest about 2".

Cut an 18" piece of chain, and attach toggle ends to each side. Attach the top of the watch with a jumpring to the center of the chain. Set aside until last step.

On an eyepin, thread a crystal, then alternate between chain pieces and crystals. Loop the other end to finish. Bend into a V shape



Step 3: Cut two more medium pieces of chain, and attach to either side of the beaded link. Attach at top with jumpring. Add your crystal focal bead drop to this jumpring. Add the bottom loop of the watch to the top of the jumpring to finish.



Be sure to play around with crystal colors. Obviously, clear crystals match most outfits, but a pop of color with these blue or purple crystals doesn't ever hurt.

I'll leave you with more inspo pics to follow, as usual!


"There can be no understanding between the hand and the brain unless the heart acts as mediator."

-Metropolis, 1927

 

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COPYRIGHT

Because I take all photos for my blog, the images within this post are all copyright Allison Beth Cooling for Quiet Lion Creations. If you'd like permission to use a photo, email me at allison@quietlioncreations.com

Cheyenne Feather Necklaces

I'm lovin' the mix of bohemian and glamour that these necklaces bring!

This is a simple tutorial which allows for a lot of customization. I also will show you a quick way to "dust" these feathers with a bit of metallic nail polish for a subtle shimmer. What's great about these is that they can be as simple or as complicated as you'd like. I'll teach you how to chain-wrap those gemstones, but if you're a beginner, you could create a simple drop at top and these necklaces would still look chic! 

These look awesome with a flowy top, skinny denim, some cowboy boots and of COURSE a cool hat. 

I've got two versions here, both with a distinct style. My turquoise one has a more Southwestern vibe, while the peacock feather one has a chic look. All the beads I've used are from Cousin Corporation, which you can buy at any craft store: Michaels, JoAnn, Meijer, Walmart and AC Moore. Follow Cousin on Facebook for giveaways and more!

Ready to learn? Let's go.

Step 1: Paint your feathers. I have an assortment of cruelty-free feathers I got from a no-kill farm in Iowa run by a Rabbi (who knew?!). I took metallic nail polish and used a nail sponge to dab a light dusting of the metallic paint at the bottom of the feathers. I left the peacock feathers I had plain because they already had a beautiful sheen (and I used these for the crystal necklace). I used a mix of plain and metallic-dipped feathers for the turquoise necklace. Pair your feathers up by crimping at the top with a ribbon end. There are no right or wrong ways; play with your beads and types of feathers to create a cool combination!

I took a Cousin Coropration large gemstone pendant (you can find similar ones here) and thread an eye pin through, looping the other end to create a link. I took a Cousin large crystal (or you could layer with another gemstone, like my turquoise necklace), inserted a 5" piece of 26 gauge gold wire (match all your metals here for a clean look) and threaded back through the larger gemstone's hole, then wrapped around the top and bottom link to hold. Wrap tight and it will stay put. Now, take a long length of chain and open the last link. Close it after hooking through the gold wire (that's threaded through the crystal), either at the top or bottom of your pendant. Start wrapping around the crystal, making sure to open and close the links around the gold wire (at top and bottom) to make sure it won't unravel. I tried to just wrap but it DID unravel. Wrap as many times as you want, then clip off the excess. Wrap tight.

With a long piece of nylon cord or faux leather, take a headpin and wrap a couple times around the center of the length, creating a little loop where you should attach the pendant with a jumpring. I just knotted the top of the leather to create the necklace; if it's long enough, you can just pull on over your head. No fuss! 

These are great layering necklaces, which just will add to that total boho look. I like to mix different lengths of necklaces together and different materials- find combinations that work for you!

I could also see this technique, on a smaller scale, working for pretty earrings. Use one metallic-dipped feather earring and pair with a simple crystal at top. Cool, right?

I'd really love to do a black version with black cord, gold-dipped feathers and a black crystal. Just my style!

All photos copyright Allison Beth Cooling. DO NOT post/use images without linking to me!