Tim Holtz Assemblage Jewelry Necklace

Hello Friends,

We are celebrating Assemblage jewelry this week!  Assemblage is an exclusive line to Joann that has a vintage vibe (right up my alley).  You can purchase it in store and online. Tim, Stacy, Suzy and I will be sharing makes all week long, so continue to watch Instagram for posts and stories showing ideas for using Assemblage jewelry to make all kinds of things!  

I'm using a two different chains, connector pieces and a large bee in my necklace today.  You will also need some small jump rings to combine a few of the components.  Please keep in mind that Assemblage is meant to be taken apart and combined, so one strand of beads will be used in small increments.  As you follow along, you will see what I mean.

These are the pieces that I used:

Tim Holtz Assemblage Pendant Honey Bee #16821100
Tim Holtz Assemblage Deco Antique Silver & Brass Links #15507932
Tim Holtz Assemblage 18" Gold Chain Onyx Iridescent Beads #15507759
Tim Holtz Assemblage 18" Small Link Chain Brass #15507668

Use small needle nose pliers to open the bead chain (just twist to the side to open).  To make this necklace, I created 3 strings with 10 beads each but you can use as many beads as you wish to make it the length you want.  Mine necklace is 18" long including the bee.

When you are done separating the beads - you should have 4-5 beads left.  Set those to the side for later. Add a connector to two chains, and leave the clasp on one.

Separate the chain into 3 sections. The length depends on the chosen connector (mine are 10 to 15 links each). To be honest, I never count links.  I just go with what looks good and if I need to take out or add in it's an easy fix.

Now take the six pieces and connect them together alternating, beads and chain.

I added another of the connectors to the bee with an added jump ring at the top.

Then I added the chain from each side of the necklace to the jump ring above the connector.

And just like that the necklace is together!

I wanted to use the remaining 5 bead links to add detail, so I found some TINY pearls in my stash and added them to the loop at the bottom of each bead. This created a more finished look. 

The new drops were added to the jump ring right below the connectors.

And that one last bead... right above the bee connector!

The necklace was easy to put together, right?  And using just needle nose pliers (love when I don't have to buy new tools to make something)!

That bee is so cute hanging at the end!

I hope you like seeing our Assemblage pieces this week. We have lots of ideas to use Assemblage to make more jewelry, add to junk journals and create some special gifts.  Enjoy!

Now carry on,

paula

Salt Water Studio

Last Friday I went to LA with my husband to attend the LA Gift Show (isn't he lucky?).  Part of the gift show is an entire hall called the Global Marketplace where you can purchase items on the spot.  Most of the action was over in the huge jewelry section where women were buying up costume jewelry.  But I wasn't looking for something I could buy at Target.  My friend Stephanie at Ruby Rose mentioned to me when I was in her shop the day before that there was a vintage section in the hall...guess where I headed? (thanks for the tip Stephanie!)

That is where I came across the lovely Georgia Hecht.  Super nice, like someone you would want to have lunch with, nice.  Georgia creates fabulous jewelry from parts and pieces of old jewelry, metals and watches. I will say her displays caught my eye (ever so clever) and the jewelry, well that was what kept me in the booth for more than 30 minutes (and it was a small booth!).  So many pieces to see and try on.  Everything was eye candy.

I better thrown in a disclaimer here...all my photos were taken with my iphone and they do not do the jewelry justice.

Charm Bracelets

This was a long necklace made from a vintage pill case or compact (it was about 1/2" thick).  It would be a lovely gift for someone with the initials MS since they were engraved on the front.

Since Deb and I do the displays for the 7gypsies booth I am always intrigued by how other people display items.  Georgia used books like this fabulous old cover with gold birds.  So beautiful, it really could be hanging on a wall as art.

This necklace was one of my favorite.  It was a long necklace with about 5 or 6 hanging charms including a optical lens and a darling vintage bird button.

 Long necklaces made from vintage buttons and jewelry parts.

Loved the necklace with the round locket with the wishbone on it.

This black necklace was beautiful

Here are two of the unique pieces I purchased:

A long necklace with a little hanging case.  The case is engraved with the initials JRD and is held closed with a little pencil.

When you take the pencil out, the case snaps open to reveal a compartment for paper which I think I will use for pictures. 

 On the back it is engraved with the date 1917, almost 100 years old!

 The second piece is a bracelet made from a vintage shoe buckle.

 The clasp sold me.

At present, Georgia doesn't sell online but you can find her at these two Southern California events which might be fun to visit if you are in the area.  I have never been to either of these shows but the pictures online look like a great mix of handmade items which I always love.

The Vintage Marketplace 
30+ vendors selling vintage home and garden finds and handcrafted items

Sept 9th and 10th
Rainbow, Ca  (south of Temecula)


Glitterfest 
50+ vendors selling all forms of mixed media from handmade jewelry, dolls, paper crafts.
You Tube video showing the 2011 Spring show mix of vendors.
Saturday, Oct 15th
Santa Ana, Ca

And if you are interested in any of the pieces shown in this post.  

Just email me and I will send you Georgia's email address. 

Please know that since these photos were taken at an event some of the jewelry shown may have already found a home.