Shourouk inspired rhinestone necklace

Remember when I said that rhinestones are the next craze? I meant it. From trench coats to clutches, from necklaces to ear cuffs, they are everywhere making our world sparkling with every step. Of course I couldn't let the season pass by without a rhinestone jewelry and inspired by Shourouk and the pantone spring 2014 color, dazzling blue, I created this gorgeous necklace.

And because I'm a nice gal, I did a DIY for you guys. So get your tools and supplies:

1. pvc foil; 2. rhinestones; 3. medium thick cord; 4. two large jump rings; 5. two grommets; 6. two end caps for the cord; 7. one large lobster clasp; 8. wire; 9. pliers; 10. grommets pliers; 11. puncher; 12. scissors; 13. glue

And let's get started. Don't be afraid of the many steps illustrated, it's actually much easier than it seems:

1. take the rhinestones and lay them out as you wish your final piece to look, on a flat surface
2. put a generous amount of glue on a sheet of paper and using a toothpick, start applying glue on the back of a rhinestone
3. than place it on the PVC foil in the same place
4. repeat that for every rhinestone, recreating the same layout on the PVC foil, than let dry over night
5. take the scissor and cut the PVC around your rhinestones leaving a 3-5mm edge; at both ends leave an extra 1-2 cm
6. punch a hole in the PVC on both extra ends
7. add a grommet in each hole
8. add the jump rings
* if your end caps already have a hoop you can skip steps 9-10
9. wrap some wire around one end of the cord, leaving a 2 cm tail
10. put some glue in the end cap and insert the cord wrapped in wire in the cap
11. with the extra wire, create a hoop and attach the cord to the jump ring
12. repeat the steps for the other end of the cord, but this time attach the lobster clasp to the hoop to make the closure

Isn't it fabulous? I just love it and I want to wear it with everything. So if you want to look glamorous and trendy without spending a few hundreds dollars, than go get your supplies and make it for yourself.

Love,
L.

Woven Chain Necklace

I know this trend started more a year ago when Aurelie Bidermann introduced them and I know everybody did a DIY about it, but I still see it around so I had to make my DIY version as well. These woven chunky chain necklaces/bracelets are very versatile and they fit a casual look as much as a more elegant, evening one. But my version has some punk accents because...well, it's made by me :) So here it is:

You are going to need:

1. chunky chain 45cm/18in; 2. six strands of t-shirt yarn 85cm/35in; 3. a lobster claps; 4. large jump ring
*some extra embellishments(spikes, charms, chain)

1. attach the lobster clasp to the chain using the jump ring, than tie the six strands of t-shirt yarn with a simple knot, separate them in three sections and place them next to the chain on a flat surface
2. start braiding the t-shirt yarn, always passing the left section through each chain link; use a bobby pin to pass the yarn through the link
3. continue braiding along the whole chain
4. tie another knot at the end of the chain and you're done

This is the simple version.
You can keep it like this or you can go further and attach more stuff:

This was pretty easy, right? I like to wear it with a t-shirt and a blazer, but I bet it looks great with an evening dress too. Give it a try and let my know how it turned out and how would you style it!
Love,
L.

Aztec Necklace

Aztec patterns were and still are such a big trend. They are usually very geometric and colorful and they look good on almost everything, from phone cases to leggings. Jewelry is not an exception, so what do you think about an aztec necklace? The technique used is also very easy, it's a simple embroidery and you can recycle your embroidery thread leftovers, if you have some. Every time I make a friendship bracelet I end up with a fist full of short to medium threads and never had the heart to throw them because they are so cute and colorful. So here it is my recycled embroidered aztec necklace.

And to make it yourself you'll need:

1. embroidery thread; 2. canvas or any fabric you can use as a base, I actually used fusible interfacing; 3. needle; 4. two jump rings; 5. chain, 6. not in the picture, but also a sheet of felt

Find a pattern online, draw your own or you can obviously use mine, just scale the picture as much as you want, I made it about 10 cm:

The steps are as follows:

1.print the pattern and trace it on your fabric base; using the interfacing made this step very easy because its netting is very loose and you can clearly see the pattern underneath
2. start filling the shapes with thread, using as many colors as possible for an authentic result
3. on starting and ending a color don't tie a knot on the loose end of the thread as you would usually do, instead hide the tail under the back of the embroidery; this way you will avoid clumps and your design will lay flat
4. when you're done with the embroidery cut around the pattern leaving a 1.5mm allowance
5. cut a piece of felt the same size and shape as your embroidered piece
6. sew them together creating a border around your design
7. iron the piece using a cloth to protect it
8. attach a jump ring on the two corners
9. now attach the chain to the jump rings
10. and wear it!

Looks pretty cool, ha? I actually loved making this so much and the result is so great that I will post more of these in my shop soon. In case you don't have the time and patience to make your own, you will be able to buy them there.

Love,
L.

Double Chain

Weekend is almost here and it's time to glam up for the parties you're going to attend. If you liked winter's baroque trend you can still rock it with some hints of black and gold, maybe in the form of this chunky necklace/choker. It is way too easy to make and it will be ready just in time for a girls night out or a gallery opening.
Se apropie weekendul si este timpul sa va pregatiti pentru petrecere. Daca v-a placut trendul baroc din aceasta iarna, inca il mai puteti purta apeland la mici accente negre si aurii, poate in forma acestui colier masiv. Este foarte usor de facut si va fi gata la timp pentru o iesire cu fetele sau un vernisaj.

Here is what you'll need:
Iata de ce veti avea nevoie:

1. two chains, black and gold, as long as your neck circumference; 2. white or black embroidery thread; 3. a large jump ring; 4. large lobster clasp
1. doua lanturi, nagru si auriu, de lungimea circumferintei gatului; 2. ata mouline alba sau neagra; 3. o za mare; 4. o inchizatoare lobster mare


And now follow these steps to create it:
Si acum urmati acesti pasi pentru a-l crea:

1. you will need a few or more white threads which are six times the length of the chain
2. fold the threads in half and attach the clasp at the folding point, securing it with a knot
3. align the two chains parallel in front of you and insert each side of the threads through the first chain mail
4. start crisscrossing the white threads jumping from the gold chain to the black one, just like shoe laces
5. when you reach the end of the chains, attach a jump ring and secure it with a knot
6. add a little clear nail polish on the knot to seal it

1. veti avea nevoie de mai multe bucati de ata, de sase ori mai lungi decat bucatile de lant
2. indoiti atele la jumatate si atasati inchizatoare in punctul de mijloc, fixand-o cu un nod
3. asezati lanturile paralele in fata voastra si treceti atele de fecare parte prin zale
4. continuati sa treceti cu atele prin fiecare za, mergand in zigzag si sarind de pe lantul negru pe cel auriu
5. cand ajungeti la capat atasati zaua de inchidere, fixand-o cu un nod
6. aplicati un strop de lac de unghii transparent pe nod pentru a-l sigila

That's it! A little rock'n'roll glam accent for your black dress or leather jacket.
Si gata! Un accent glam si rock'n'roll pentru rochia neagra sau geaca de piele.

Have a great weekend!
Sa aveti un weekend minunat!
Love, 
L.  

Best Mom in the World...

...este mama mea. Si probabil acum veti sari "ba a mea". Cand eram mica eram in stare sa o tin asa ore in sir pana cand adversarul meu era convins ca mama mea e cea mai tare. Si tot cand eram mica in fiecare 7 martie pregateam la gradi sau la scoala tot felul de cadouri pentru ziua mamei: desene cu boabe de fasole, felicitari pictate, flori din hartie, ghirlande colorate. Cred ca multe din ele inca mai sunt prin sertarele mamei pe undeva. Acum, chiar daca am crescut, tot nu renunt la cadourile lucrate de mana pentru ca stiu ca acestea o incanta cel mai mult pe mama mea, doar ca acum sunt un pic mai rafinate si mai bine lucrate si chiar le poate purta.
...is my mom. And now you'll say "nay, mine". When I was little I could go on with this for hours until my opponent would agree with me. Also back then, in kindergarten or middle school, every 7th of March was the day when we would make crafty presents for our mothers: beans drawings, hand painted cards, paper flowers, colorful garlands. I think my mom still keeps many of them somewhere in her drawers. Now, even as an adult, I'm not giving up on handmade presents because I know these are the ones she loves most. Only now they are more refined and better crafted and she can actually wear them.

Suntem deja in intarziere asa ca sa trecem la treaba
We run a little late so let's get started:

1.sarma aurie sau colorata de 1mm grosime; 2. cleste de taiat si indoit; 3. lant; 4. zale; 5. inchizatoare; 6. o margea sau stras
1. golden or colored 1mm wire; 2. bender and clipper; 3. chain; 4. chain mail; 5. clasp; 6. one bead or rhinestone

1. incepeti prin a schita pe hartie ceea ce vreti sa scrieti. Incercati sa nu ridicati creionul de e hartie si sa nu treceti de mai multe ori prin acelasi loc. Acest lucru va va ajuta foarte mult in momentul in care veti lucra cu sarma
2. introduceti pe sarma margeaua sau strasul pe care l-ati ales; desi el va fi intre cuvinte e bine sa-l aveti deja pe sarma ca sa nu fiti nevoiti sa taiati sarma pe parcurs
3. indoiti sarma cu clestele de indoit formand literele
4. atasati zalele, lantul si inchizatoarea
1. start by sketching on paper what you want to write. Try not to lift the pencil off the paper and not to pass more than twice over the same spot. This will be very helpful when you'll actually start bending the wire.
2. put the bead or the rhinestone on the wire; it will stay between the words but it's better to already have it on the wire so you won't have to cut it later
3. bend the wire shaping the letters
4. when you're done attach the chain mail, the chain and the clasp

Si cand il veti oferi mamei nu uitati sa-i spuneti cand mult o iubiti si sa ii multumiti pentru tot ce a facut pentru voi.
And when you'll give it to your mother don't forget to tell her how much you love her and to thank her for everything she has done for you.

Te iubesc, mami!
Love you mom!