DIY Polymer Clay Earrings

I am so excited to share this DIY with y’all. Polymer clay is so much fun and I can’t wait to pass it on. It’s fairly easy and it really allows you to let your creativity lose. You’ll need an assortment of polymer clay, earring posts, small metal loops, and clay tools. It is possible to improvise and create your own clay tools. I’ve found that toothpicks, chop sticks, and knives can come in handy.

Take a close look at the steps below (from left to right). They are a lose guideline for you to create your own earrings. Don’t be afraid to alter any of the stages. Remember to bake your clay at 275 °F for 15 minutes before you put on the hardware.

Once you’ve made a pair or two, start to experiment with color and size. Don’t be afraid to mix it up. It’s a blast! Here are some of the other designs that I’ve come up with.

You can even take your polymer jewelry making skills to a whole new level and give necklaces and beads a go. Take a look at what I came up with using the same techniques above.

 

 

DIY Hardware Chevron Necklace

I love to make patterns out of everyday objects. When I spotted the corner braces at the hardware store stacked one on top of the other, I got excited! What a great way to recreate a chevron pattern! Then take that a step further and make it into a necklace. Hardware to fashion yet again!

You’ll need: leather string, 3 corner braces, some nuts and washers, and a pair of scissors.

1. First, cut a string that’s about 6 inches longer than the length you’d like your necklace to be.
2. Tie two knots about 6 inches from the end of either side of the string.
3. String one of the corner braces onto the ends and tie two knots.
4. Add several nuts and washers onto either side and tie two knots.
5. Repeat steps 2-4 until you’ve used all of the corner braces, tie two final knots, and you’re done!

Carhartt Women’s Milam Shirt pictured above

DIY Infinity Choker

Jewelry made from hardware is a Crafted in Carhartt favorite. This Infinity Necklace is a quick craft for all you hardware lovin’ folks out there.

You’ll need: leather string, an “s” hook, clamp closures, a set of spring clasps, scissors, and needles nose pliers.

• First, cut two pieces of string that are the same size as the circumference of your neck.
• Fold one of the strings in half, loop it through the “s” hook, and tuck the two ends through the folded part of the string.
• Then repeat with the second string on the opposite side of the “s” hook.
• Put a clamp closure on each of the four free ends of string.
• Then hook the clamp closures together on either side with the rings of the spring clasps.
• Last, connect the spring clasp to one side and you’re done!

Michigan Jewelry Designer, Kristine Bolhuis

Michigan Jewelry Designer, Kristine Bolhuis, works out of her home studio. The walls are papered with snippets of inspiration and her children’s hand painted masterpieces. There is a methodical delicateness to her work. These lightweight metal constructions have a flexible nature to them, begging you to try out each moving part. Take a closer look at all of her creations here, each one is a tiny piece of wearble sculpture. They’d make a great last minute Christmas gift, don’t you think?

Kristine’s wearing: Jena Nailhead T-Shirt & Series 1889 Slim Double Front Denim Dungaree

Jewelry Designer Tiff Massey

This past Tuesday we got to talk to Detroit jewelry designer, Tiff Massey, who told us that it takes hard work to make dreams work. Following your passion in life does take a good bit of elbow grease. Behind the scenes, Tiff is sporting the Carhartt Clarksburg Sweatshirt.

This hoodie is one of my personal favorites. It’s comfortable and durable–a great piece for studio-wear. Here’s why.

The Carhartt Women’s Clarksburg Sweatshirt is:

DIY: Copper Pendant Necklace

Regina Pruss of Chain Chain Chained in Detroit is guiding us through a Lapiz Copper Pendant Necklace tutorial:

What you’ll need: about 3 inches of 16 gauge wire, about 2 inches of 22 gauge wire, 18 inches of chain, stones or crystals of your choice, jump rings, one lobster clasp.

Tools: flat nose pliers and cutters, hole punch, ball peen hammer, bench block

1. Start with cutting about 3 inches of wire, in this case I used copper wire.

2. Bend the wire into a half oval shape using your flat nose pliers.

3. Place the wire on the bench block and lightly hammer the ends of the wire until they are flat.

4. Using your hole punch, make holes at the end of each side you just hammered flat.

5. Grab your crystals or stones, in this case I used two lapis stones. Take your 22 gauge brass or copper wire, push through the small holes in the stones and leave about .25 inches on each end.

6. Create small loops on each end using your flat nose pliers.

7. Connect the copper piece to the lapis using your jump rings.

8. Cut about 18 inches of chain, in this case I used brass vintage.

9. Attach jump rings to the ends of the chain as well as your lobster clasp and place it on the copper/lapis pendant.

10. Voila! you just made a lapis and copper pendant necklace!

Jewelry Designer Regina Pruss

It is a widely shared and fond memory— craft time at camp, sitting crosslegged on the floor in a circle of bunkmates, sifting through bright colors of yarn to make your very first friendship bracelet. How can one help but begin a lifelong fascination with handmade adornment after an experience like that? That’s how it started with Regina Pruss of Chain Chain Chained in Detroit.

If she’s not at a thrift store, once again sifting through odds and ends, looking for the perfect vintage pieces to add to her jewelry line, then she’s in the studio hammering copper wire, or gathering inspiration during her travels. Her most recent collection was influenced by a trip through Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.

But Detroit is home. It is the time of the maker in the Motor City.

“Detroit is a great place to be an artist. The city in some sense is a blank canvas, because it’s in the process of trying to rebuild itself. As a creative person we all have a chance to define what this city is. I find that there is a lot of support from the community. The sense is that the rest of the country is rooting for Detroit. I think time and space is essential if you’re trying to be creative and we are lucky to have that in our city.” —Regina Pruss

I asked Regina what advice she’d give to her younger self if she could travel back in time. She said, “Don’t question yourself too much. You love doing this, so just keep at it.” At the end of the day, it’s about finding out what drives you and making it a part of your every day. Be it a hobby or a career, let your passion flow naturally in your life.

Regina is wearing: Carhartt Women’s El Paso Utility Jacket, & Calumet V-Neck T-Shirt, Series 1889 Slim Double Front Denim Dungaree.

Amy Peterson and Diana Russel of Rebel Nell

Amy Peterson and Diana Russel founded Rebel Nell with the desire to dig into their community. They work directly with local shelters and employ disadvantaged women in Detroit. While working at Rebel Nell, the women are strengthened with new skills and knowledge to help as they transition to an independent life.

The crew gets together and gathers chips of graffiti that have fallen off walls around the city. After taking the discarded bits through their top secret process, layers and layers of color and paint being to emerge in beautiful patterns. Then the pieces are turned into wearable art. You can shop the collection here.

Artistic skills aren’t the only thing being taught at Rebel Nell. There are also classes available on empowerment, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and a day to day support system. This self-sustaining social enterprise is a tight-knit group of women. It’s a family where creativity spurs on growth and friendships help establish a new way of life.

Hot and Ready Detroit

Detroit artist, Tiff Massey, is a powerhouse creator. Her ability to hop from one medium to next and absolutely kill it had a profound affect on me as I walked around her studio. Tiff’s work is bold, vibrant, and demands your full attention.

She’s taken her training as a metal worker and expanded her reach into wearable works of art, larger than life wall hangings, and striking sculptures unlike any you’ve ever seen. Tiff’s latest venture is turning half of her studio into a metalsmithing classroom to teach and house workshops specific to jewelry fabrication. She even plans to offer residencies to the most talented new jewelers.

Inspiration runs rampant in her creative space. Strong hints of fashion, African adornment, music, and the all encompassing spirit of Detroit drive her voice and vision. When I asked Tiff to explain the vibe of the city as of late, this was her response,



“HOT AND READY! Detroit is/was amazing! I can say, things are changing and changing at an alarming rate only in specific areas. I mean, don’t blink too long. Or just don’t blink. Good or bad, things are happening. There’s more art programming, resulting in exhibitions and performances taking place every weekend, which is great…Detroit is a gem. A city like no other, from it’s architecture, residents, and style. Preservation is what Detroit needs or it will end up being another basic city, void of culture. Detroit is no longer used as a pejorative. Everybody loves Detroit.”

I’d take it from Tiff Massey, this girl knows her gems.

Advice on Passion Projects

This is Annie Yiling Wang, graphic designer by day and jewelry designer on the side. Jewelry making is a fun hobby that lets her use her hands as she unwinds. Getting crafty can be relaxing, while still putting visual skills into play. Annie approaches her designs as if they were a three dimensional pattern or collage. The different color combinations and materials form a wearable canvas. She even makes a lot of her own beads. Annie has found a way to make her side project profitable. A lot of artistic and crafty people spend much of their downtime making things that could be turned into a lucrative passion project.

Advice from Annie about selling your work:

• Find stores in your area. Don’t be shy about showing them your work.
• Have a type of client in mind and seek out places who may have a similar client base.
• Get creative with places your could sell your wares. Think outside of your market.