Handmade Wire Rings: My first attempt at silver & gemstone jewelry

I have finally arrived to my Silver Stage. When I started making jewelry a little bit more than a year ago, I was mostly training to arrive to the real thing. Here are my first attempts.

All my life I have never been a patient person. My first craft attempts were all so ugly because I did them in haste. I have always dreamt of designing/making silver & antique jewelry rings, necklaces & bracelets, but I knew I wasn’t ready. I was basically waiting to reach a stage where I was patient enough to sit & work.

Early last year I bought these amethyst beads, but I knew I wasn’t ready to put them into use. I was still uncertain about the steps I was taking and my style wasn’t mature enough yet. So, I basically opted to learn so many handmade techniques –  including decoupaging, glittering, stationary-making, and packaging – to basically nurture a good artisan in me.

I nagged my mom to give me a few beads from her collection of all the scattered antique silver beads & gemstones she has collected over the years. I nagged and nagged to no avail (I guess she was worried I would create childish stuff with them – like the rest of my past creations). But then a few months ago when I wasn’t nagging at all, she gave me everything!

But I still didn’t feel I was ready. I felt heavy and confused sitting in front of those beads; hoping to come up with something spectacular but unable to quite imagine it. I lacked the self-confidence, and I’m thankful for that: it was a good hunch, because I knew that I lacked the skill & the vision for undertaking authentic jewelry-making.

Yesterday without thinking, and after finishing a few craft projects that had nothing to do with immediate jewelry-making, I grabbed the silver wire mom gave me, my treasured amethyst beads, a few of her antiqued silver beads, turquoise & coral, and I started working on these rings. I followed a strong urge to start making rings.

One of them gave me a hard time since I was totally unclear about the design. I kept twisting and twisting until I snapped the wire. But then I relaxed, stepped back a bit,  thought about what I wanted to do and created a nice ring. It’s the one in the middle (up).

Handmade bohemian bracelets: Hippie Karboojeh

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Hippies, the nature-loving ones (not the self destructive ones), think of themselves as trees, or flower plants. They wear bracelets and accessories that connect them to wood, color and earth. These bracelets are dedicated to all the hippies of the world.

Handmade by Karboojeh, these bracelets are made to celebrate the bohemian spirit. Bohemian is far more expressive than classical trends, although the latter has its beauty spots.

I fluctuate between trends and tastes. I’m sometimes quite boho, but it doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate other styles, like French Romantic, or Shabby Chic. But my starting point, my original love is always boho.

And here’s more color…

With beautiful Italian beads…

Two blue hippie bracelets…

And more navy blue beads…

That’s the hippie post for today,

Have a great day,

Karboojeh

Inspiration Board: DIY Shelves using Baskets & Crates

I just stumbled upon this beautiful photo by IKEA‘s DIY blog. Baskets turned into shelves; what a great idea! So, I thought I might share more DIY shelving ideas using old worn-out crates and such.

Here is a nice arrangement of crates from my Pinterest collection. I love the bohemian way these shelves fall together.

Source: imgspark.com via Karboojeh on Pinterest

 

This one (below) is a basic crate shelving unit. With a bit of DIY skill, this can be pulled off easily.

Source: cgi.ebay.com.au via Karboojeh on Pinterest

 

A simple shelving system in the kitchen can be made using wooden planks from left-over pallets and crates. I did read, however, that pallets are not quite advisable for indoor use, seeing the amount of chemicals used in treating them to withstand humidity and all kinds of harsh shipping conditions.

Source: ahappyhaven.blogspot.com via Karboojeh on Pinterest

 

And here’s another idea I just spotted on Sugar & Cloth. Office clamps are used here to secure the boxes together; brilliant idea!

Source: sugarandcloth.com via Karboojeh on Pinterest

Cheers,

Karboojeh

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Related Articles:

 

• DIY Prettier Magazine Files
• Organizing 101: Ideas for pretty storage

 

DIY Originals: Bohemian blue feather necklace

Feather jewelry is all the rage right now. I love boho jewelry, and so I decided to make a few feathery giveaways for 5 cute teenage girls who volunteered to help out at the Italian Charity event mentioned in a previous post.

I made this Karboojeh Blue Boho Feather Pendant Necklace in honor of my bohemian adolescence… that’s when I was more free to express my boho self. I doubt many people in the country I am in right now appreciate feather jewelry. Bohemian doesn’t seem to strike a chord with a lot of people who would rather wear either tacky plastic jewelry, or diamonds. No bohos in between. Alas!

Handmade DIY Jewelry: Karboojeh Blue Boho Feather Pendant Necklace

DIY Recipe: A few ingredients for a boho necklace

The feather necklaces in the 3 pictures above are pretty DIY, I used the following materials to make them:

• feathers
• craft wire (to wrap the top of the feathers together before inserting them into the bead cap)
• findings: Eye-pin. I wrapped the craft wire around the feathers several times, then wrapped and wrapped around an eye-pin which went through the top of the bead cap. There, I used the round-nose pliers to create a loop, which I then attached to another eye-pin that had several beads on it.
• metallic elongated bead cap
• beads (wooden, ceramic, glass)
• chain
• pliers (round nose, and flat-nose)
• findings: small jump-ring to connect the feather pendant to the chain.

Inspiration: Anthropologie & the feather

Here is an example of a white-feathered necklace that I found at my favorite online-shop, Anthropologie. And of course, I had to pin it on my jewelry-inspiration box on Pinterest.

Source: anthropologie.com via Karboojeh on Pinterest

Pretty neat, right? It’s called the Feather Flight Necklace. I love the rosary-like beads attached to the feathery pendant; they look very nice with the white feathers. The beads are an assortment of ebony, white, turquoise & aquamarine gemstones. And the general feel of the necklace is quite bohemian.

Ciao fo

r n

ow,

 Karboojeh Tutorials & DIY

Handmade Jewelry Fun: Boho adventures from the Levant

UPDATE: Dear all, I am sorry for all the broken links on this post. I will update the photos as soon as possible, thanks!

 

 

Boho Jewelry Fun: Bracelets, rings and earrings from the Levant. This is my new collection of handmade jewelry – by Karboojeh Jewelry. I had great fun working on these, and more, to be revealed soon inshAllah.

The first piece is called the Karboojeh Color Power Boho Bracelet. The three wooden rings above are nicknamed, Karboojeh Wood & Blue Boho Rings. The three earrings below are just a sneak peak into a boho earrings collection I might reveal soon.

 

I made a couple of key-accessories, I am showing one here below. I’m calling it, Karboojeh Blue Levant Key Charm.

I’m particularly in love with seed beads (little glass beads that if stacked together can make a big impact): In this piece, turquoise beads go lovingly well with bronze. This (below) is called, Karboojeh Mixed Brass Levant Pendant Necklace.

And here is its sister, Karboojeh Mixed Levant Pendant Necklace.

That’s it for now. Take care… :)

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This post is is re-posted from my other blog: karboojeh.tumblr.com

When amethyst reminds us of true love: A Karboojeh bracelet’s monologue

Love is the real bond that brings us together. Beads that sit next to each other on a bracelet must love each other (regardless of their differences), or else the bracelet will not feel good on your wrist. Love is the utmost power that can guide us to our real inner Truth.

People act like they love each other, they give each other a lot of compliments, but their hearts are infested with jealousy from each other, and a doze of envy. They do not work hard to clean their hearts from these illnesses, and are content and happy with the false act pf love. I have seen sisters feelings jealous and competitive among each other, and many around them hailing that as “normal.” People on magazines are encouraged to have this and that “envy,” or o feel jealous from celebrities. Jealousy & envy are darkness that enters the heart and pollutes it.

Refuse to be polluted and start cleaning up!

Real love is pure. It has not one shred of illness, mistrust, or inner secretive annoying thoughts and attacks against the ones we claim to love.

Love needs to be tested and re-tsted, and rested, to be purified.

You say you love God, for example, but when He tests you, you go nuts? That’s not love. Love is firm, and when you notice it is swaying, it is weak, you keep at it until you make your love rooted, strong, so no wind can take it away.

Love that comes from hollow sweet talk is just talk. Real love comes from within, has nothing to do with common interest, or benefit, or appearances.

The amethyst bracelet in this post is the original work of Karboojeh Jewelry. Please give credit if you pin on Pinterest or repost. Thanks for visiting.

 

Packaging 101: Handmade jewelry getting ready for a British school bazaar

These guys are going on a trip to a school bazaar in the region.

And I’m so excited for them…

These are all Karboojeh Handmade Jewelry creations, and tags.

After much research & brainstorming, and many many trials, I came up with these ideas to brand my handmade jewelry. Economical, personalized & relatively quick to whip up.

I didn’t want the look to sound too “finished,” I wanted something handmade-ish, and reflective of the fact all jewelry items are handcrafted.

I didn’t use my official logo for this bazaar on tags… to “un-complicate” things. I just used straightforward business-card-like tags with the URL of this blog and my email address on them.

And this is the outcome. I’m happy!

I will post more details about the bazaar, and the lovely lady (my aunt) who came up with the idea of selling there, as soon as it starts – inshAllah.

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Related Articles

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• Handmade Packaging 101: Let’s talk ‘paper’

Handmade rocker leather bracelets on a golden chain

Karboojeh Handmade Leather Bracelets with Chain & Charms

The rocker look often crosses paths with the bohemian. At least that’s how it is with some of the handmade bracelets I make.

ɕ ɕ ɕ ɕ ɕ ɕ ɕ ɕ ɕ ɕ ɕ ɕ ɕ ɕ ɕ ɕ ɕ ɕ ɕ ɕ ɕ ɕ ɕ ɕ ɕ ɕ ɕ ɕ ɕ ɕ ɕ ɕ ɕ ɕ ɕ ɕ

Chain & Charm Karboojeh Handmade Leather Bracelets are always a creation that captures a glimpse of a memory. In a previously-posted cowrie shell bracelet, I recall the beauty of the Mediterranean… and capture visions from the deep consciousness of the Levant.

'The Rocker' handmade leather & chain bracelet by Karboojeh Handmade Jewelry

In this bracelet the rocker meets the bohemian in a bracelet that a young woman can wear everyday… as her most personal piece of jewelery. Leather always likes to be special.

'Heart Charms on a Leather Bracelet' by Karboojeh Handmade Jewelry

Charms bundled against each other on a leather bracelet reiterate the rocker style, but in a feminized version.  A cute heart charm, and blue & gold-hue beads often make it easier to wear this more fondly than a plain rocker bracelet with no charms.

 

 

Originals: Handmade Crystal Jewelry ~ Welcoming winter

Karboojeh Handmade Crystal Combo Bracelet

I’m still in my summer mode to an extent. The colors I’m using for making earrings & bracelets are pretty much ‘somewhat vibrant.’ But I’m also making fall/winter-suitable jewelry, and I guess I’m moving slowly, but reluctantly, into winter mode.

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I love winter, marshmallows and hot chocolate, but I also love color, a lot of it. Not the bright, nor the pastel, but the deep rich colors, especially those that remind us of the sea.

Karboojeh Handemade Light Crystal Earrings

But sometimes, good old plain classical has its place in one’s heart – and jewelry box. The earrings above are made to fit every fall/winter outfit. The earrings below are made of genuine onyx gemstone beads, that came all the way from Italy.

Karboojeh Handmade Onyx Earrings

This year I am discovering the fabulous-ness of crystal jewelry. Before journeying into jewelry-making as a replacement for my old career, I was never a crystal-wearing girl. But I’m changing… and so is the weather! I wish you all a happy winter…