DIY Jewelry Recycle Series : Part 7 - Extender Bracelet Watch

It's been a while since I have gotten a moment like this. In the fast blur that is life sometimes, there is something very rare and precious about the odd moments that come by that one has to do absolutely nothing. It is truly a time of peace watching the shortest day of the year pass by, while listening to the far away sounds of neighborhood kids playing cricket and sipping hot chocolate. 

More on that later - for now let's just ring in the New Year!! What do you do with a beloved watch with worn down straps that just won't get replaced? Well....

What you'll need

• Your favorite watch dial
• The bracelet you never wore
• Elastic beading cord
• A pair of scissors
• Super Glue/E6000

Step 1: Break down the bracelet to its findings. You may also choose to add in findings of your choice.

Step 2:  Take 2 pieces of the stretchy cord about 30 cms in length. Push the cord through the holding wire off one end of the dial and tie into a triple knot. Add in a drop of instant glue to secure.

Step 3: Start putting in the bracelet findings in the reverse order and direction. 

Step 4: Continue beading in reverse while checking for the size that fits your wrists the best. 

Step 5: Tie to secure at the second holding wire or the first wire by going behind the dial. Add in a drop of instant glue at each knot.

Step 6: Flip over the dial and findings and voila! You have yourself a new extender bracelet watch!! Great to bling it up at NYE parties!

Cheers!

- JE

I'm Back!

Dear Readers, after a much needed hiatus, I'm finally back! 

I've been going through what I call a "Rollercoaster Phase". As I mentioned previously, I had been working a few personal commitments since last year. You know the feeling, when you want something so badly and you are ready to shed blood, sweat and tears - and the moment when you suddenly reach the tip of your uphill journey and its finally time to roll!

I thought about writing a million things and a million times during my break - but as expected, the days were long and the moments were short! As I continue to go through this exhausting but beautiful phase of life, I'll be back here intermittently and perhaps with less frequent posts. But come next year, things will be in full swing with a lot more surprises! 'Till then, I hope to share with you a few thought and creations as they come :)

Happy Holiday Cheer, everyone :)

-J

The Bad News: Wake Me Up, When September Ends

I think the title of the post says it all. My life has taken a crazy pace lately - one that I have been struggling hard to manage since the past few months. While I have also been going hyper on the side lane coming up tons of new ideas to share with you, unfortunately things here have just gotten crazier, faster and weirder. 

I have also been grappling with a huge moment of personal growth and a major perspective shift. There is a life goal that I had been putting off since quite a while now - more of a passion actually. The time to just do it has come. When the train starts, you can't be hanging by door! You either gotta get ON it, or OFF it !! 

I will be back by October, dear readers, with my heart into this blog again and a while bunch of news and exciting creations! And at times, when the calling gets too strong, there might be a post or two too ;)

Till then, I'll leave you with this inspiring TED talk by one of my favorite writers, Elizabeth Gilbert, on the creative spirit within. Some words that struck a chord:

13.16: "He just looked up at the sky, and he said, "Excuse me, can you not see that I'm driving?"(Laughter) "Do I look like I can write down a song right now? If you really want to exist, come back at a more opportune moment when I can take care of you."

11.55: "I'm not the pipeline! I'm a mule, and the way that I have to work is that I have to get up at the same time every day, and sweat and labor and barrel through it really awkwardly."

I'll be right back guys!

The Good News: Jade Eclectic @ TheAlternative.In

Hey Guys! Hope you're having a great weekend! I have a good and a not-so-good (:() news to share with you. This time I'll share only the good news. (Personally, I'm a "bad news first"-er!). 

Anyhow, Jade Eclectic is now on TheAlternative.in !! Remember the Case of the Unwanted Studded Clothes and the Lost Earring? They're now here at:
1. A DIY scarf made with recycled skull studs!

2. DIY jewellery: Recycled earring necklace

I'm so happy to tell you guys that they're now posted on The Alternative Magazine as a part of ideas for sustainable living. This just goes to tell me how far your readership has gotten Jade Eclectic. 

The Alternative in an online magazine and community which promotes the idea of a greener way of live "India-style!". In their own words,

"At The Alternative, we strive to make sustainability a way of life through conversations, everyday choices and practices that can lend itself to positive social impact. From food, travel and parenting to social innovation and issues of public interest, we cover everything that it takes to move towards better living, better business and better societies. Not to mention the occasional furry cat video to give the whole thing a shot in the arm."

Given that in 2014, I'd taken a resolution to be meaner, leaner and greener too, it was a calling to collaborate with their wonderful team for getting this across! I can't say how much these guys are needed for India to jump onto the sustainability wagon. I really appreciate the work they do and fun way they do it!

That said and done, The Bad News next time! I won't be so bad, I promise :)

Till then, PEACE

DIY Faux Tribal Disc Bracelets

Its a happy time people - the sale season's here!! Intricate, beautiful items on my wishlist calling out temptingly at half price or lesser! I'm sure many of you do the Cart Dance as I do at this time of the year - add to cart, remove, ummm..NO!.. add to card again, remove again!

Now unless one is super-loaded or the Queen of England, one has to prioritize and decide what it most important/necessary to get this season. You know, to have money left over for food and all. Although, it is a very difficult choice! So kudos, to all of you out there who know what I'm talking about (Self-pat!).

Anyhow, kidding aside, I was doing my usual thing with these pretty bracelets and necklaces that seem to be everywhere now:

I'm so in love with the colors and patterns of these African tribal inspired pieces!

Now here's how can make a similar version of these with sequins you bought for sewing projects that didn't get used up!

What You'll Need:

• Your favorite sequins - I had these iridescent pink ones - about 10 grams or even lesser
• Elastic beading cord 
• A pair of scissors

Step 1: Start by pushing the sequins through the cord.

Step 2: Continue pushing till the length of the stack sits around your writs comfortably.

Step 3: Double knot and seal with a drop of glue.

Step 4: This was the easy version - you can even play with the findings and add seed beads that pop out!

Or make memory wire clasp bracelets!

That's a whole bunch of sequins gone and new set of summer bracelets right there! :)

Enjoy!
-J

And We Have A Winner!!

As you guys know, Jade Eclectic has been hosting a giveaway for a $30 Gift Card for the Jade Eclectic Etsy Shop since a few days. It has been most fun hosting this and watching it grow. Thank you for your immense support and I'm happy to announce that we know have a winner!

Congratulations Jamie-Lynn Madro!

Thank you all for the overwhelming response and encouragement. For those of you who did not get a chance to enter this time or would like to try again, there's a lot more "giving" coming in the near future! 

So be ready :)

- Cheers!

DIY Faux Precious Rock Bangles

I've been swooning over delicate, semi-precious jewelry lately. Its so much fun to see how semi-precious gems can literally make any piece of jewelry look good. Add in a touch of gold to it and I'm hooked! Pretty stuff everywhere and not a thing to buy! (Damn you resolution :( )

And so I went through the usual routine, (You know the one - dig, dig, dig, surprise and AH-HA!) and found these cute rock beads that I had been saving for a while and decided to finally do something with them.Their pastel-y shades made the perfect compliment for delicate gold bangles. It was done a few days ago and has finally made it here.

Here's what you'll need to start with:

• Memory wire - gold
• Beading wire - gold
• Beads of your choice
• Beadcaps - 2 for each bead

Here's how you can do it:

Step 1: Gently press the beadcaps over the ends of the bead and insert a length of wire through it.

Step 2: Now cut a sectional loop of the memory wire and bend it with small loops as shown.

Step 3: Twist the looped ends up and down, in opposite directions, till they lie flat on your wrist.

Step 4: Now there are two ways you can do this step. You can either directly wrap the beading wire into the bangle loops like this.

Or you can twist the wire upon itself and insert via jump rings like this. This method gives more flexibility to change your beads and bangle design later.

And voila, you have your rock bangle!

Do the same for the other beads and you have your stacking set :)

What say?

Free Jewelry Giveaway | Announcing..The Etsy Sweepstakes!

Lately, I have been in a reflective state of mind. I have been trying to count my blessings and focus more on positive aspects of life. Its an intriguing activity to imbibe about in one's thoughts. For example, during this journey, one realizes how much difference a simple viewpoint shift can bring about. Could the advice our parents tried hard to impart, finally make sense? Perhaps the best things in life are simply the ones we are more thankful for?

In the spirit of appreciation, its been a while since we've had a giveaway on this blog folks! This time around, the giveaway is slightly different - Instead of selecting an item and posting it here for the sweeps, I'm gonna let YOU choose :)

Here are some of the pieces you can win (Oh yeah, you can get more than one ;))

All you have to do is enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below - and you stand a chance to win a $30 Gift Certificate from the Jade Eclectic Etsy Shop, for any product(s) of your choice. I'll even throw in Free Shipping!

You can check out the full Etsy shop here @ https://www.etsy.com/shop/JadeEclectic 

Enter away !!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DIY Spiked Bracelets

I've been feeling a little under the weather lately. While I'm not able to work on a latest idea sets, I do have something I made a while ago - thought of sharing it with you all now. As you know, I've been digging the edgy fashion bits now a days, so here goes.

What you'll need:

• Colored beads (I had a bunch of wooden ones that I'd been carrying for years!)
• Some gold spacer beads (optional - see last picture)
• Spike charms (Taken off an old necklace)
• Elastic beading cord - Clear
• Gold jump rings
• Glue

Step 1: Measure a piece of cord around your wrist. Add about 2 inches to this and cut out the cord. Start beading the cord.

Step 2: Fill up the cord about your wrist size with beads.

Step 3: Insert a jump ring through the spike charm and add it to the cord.

Step 4: Tie a double knot and seal with a drop of glue.

And its done! 

You can do multicolored versions...

Or even do with gold spacer beads for an interesting effect!

I So Love Punk!

I've been obsessing over spikes and rivets for no less time now. While I've been known to own a fair share of punk and get a little too lost in Rock, I still can't get enough of it! I couldn't be happier that its O.K to wear the spiky, the studded and the shiny without being feared a bit ;)

Speaking of happy, here's a glimpse of my ever-standing inspiration:

More punk coming soon!