Progress Report

Progress Report

Recent Jewelry Repair Work

     I had a few jobs this past month from friends to do some fixer-uppers on their jewelry.  One was a bracelet I made that was obviously much loved!  The other was a bracelet that wasn't mine but a favorite of another friend.  It flatters me so much when people trust me with their prized possessions!  Hopefully both are pleased with the end results and not just saying that to stroke my ego!

    First up was a repair job of the original USA bracelet I made for a friend in Rhode Island.  She apparently has worn the heck out of this bracelet!  At least I hope that's the case here!

    Yikes, right?  I cut off all of the leather cording and wove the beads back onto new cording with a new stronger thread I found.  Hopefully, this one holds up better!   She also asked for it to be shortened a bit so I took off a repetition of the pattern.  

     Ta-Da!  Good as new!
     Next up was the bracelet I agreed to repair sight unseen from a friend in my old city of Charlotte.   This one was much-loved and worn out also!  The knots were totally falling apart.  I was scared to pick it up!!

     I struggled on this one to make it a bit more visually appealing.  My friend that owns this bracelet had also bought one of my necklaces with a turtle that matched up very closely with the ones on this necklace.  

So I used some leftover beads from the necklace that I still had stashed away (and between my daughter and my niece going through my extras all the time, this was a miracle!) to alternate between the turtles with the same small metal spacers that I had used on the necklace.  End result....

     One of the things I was told about this bracelet is that it is often forgotten to be taken off before getting in the shower.  So even though the metal fittings I've been using seem to have held up well through washing my hands, being caught in the rain, leaving my own things in the bathroom to the elements in there... I was hesitant about having them 100% in the water for an extended time.  I haven't done much testing on showering and swimming with my items and recommend they be taken off before-hand.

     So after doing some research, I decided to use some of my techniques with my latest triple-wrap bracelets and combine that with a simple button.  I picked a nice button that matched up with the colors of the turtles fairly well, but wasn't snazzy enough to distract from the main attraction.  

    I'm pretty darn confident that the knotting and weaving I did to attach the clasp is going to hold up to the water test!!   I used waxed linen cording and it is what actually goes through the turtles and beads so unless something is cut or snaps... it's going to stay put!

     I feel horrible that I took so long working on these!  The USA bracelet going to Rhode Island had a custom request with it, and hunting down the right beads, waiting for them to ship, then just Murphy's law going on in my life put me out several weeks.  Then with the turtles, it just took a while for everything to click-click-click in my head.  Once it did, I had those turtles in place in no time and heading back down to Charlotte!!  

     But I owe those ladies a great deal of thanks for their infinite patience!  Bless you both!



Hugs & Kisses,
Carissa
The Crafty Warrior