Sunday, July 15, 2012

Ooooh. The Claw.

Here's a new and strange design, whipped up today as a satisfying Sunday project.  An antique clawfoot of cast bronze, used as a very ornate, bizarrely cool pendant.



Here's the story.  This little antique (my great-grandmother's coffee table) has been on a shelf in the garage for many years.


Because two claw feet were missing.  (Sniff.)  But!  We recently found four other feet that match, and Jeff will be restoring the piece.

Meantime, I swiped the beautiful 100-year-old claws for this necklace, featuring some gorgeous porcelain beads.


Want to DIY?  Here comes a quick look at what I did to convert The Claw into The Pendant.



The claw has two holes.  Using a headpin and two spacer beads -



I made a small wrapped loop poking out from each side of the claw.




(For a step-by-step on wrapped loops,  click here.)

Then I used those two loops to attach the porcelain beads like a chain.  Just turn each bead into a link with simple loops on both ends, and connect them with jumprings.



I added a long chain, and my super shmancy, carnivorous clawfoot necklace was done!  Yes, 'tis a little bit weighty, but because the claw and beads are hollow, still quite wearable!


Interesting note: the two holes in the clawfoot are offset.  Did you notice?  One is about 3/8 inch higher than the other.  (Why?   So the screws that attach them to furniture don't meet in the middle.)  I hid the imbalance by staggering my beads, and making nearly imperceptibly larger loops on the links for the short side.

See, I tell you all my secrets!

So now, as you prowl for materials to upcycle, you must be sure to keep an eye out for claws.  Not an easy prey to hunt, certainly...but what a delightful day it will be when you score one!

(Resources update: reader Shannon found some nicely priced reproduction claws online, and left a comment with the link.  You are too sweet, Shannon!  Also, if anyone wants to snap up some of those gorgeous green beads on sale, I bought them right here.)   




20 comments:

  1. This is awesome...Is the necklace heavy to wear? I love Duncan Phyfe.

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    1. http://www.paxtonhardware.com/Antique-Claw-Feet/departments/209/

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    2. Wow, great link, Shannon! The necklace is weighty, but still reasonable to wear because the claw and the beads are hollow.

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  2. You're so generous with your secrets, Michelle! Thank you. I look forward to each of your posts.

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  3. Wow - now that is seriously cool and totally my style!!!!

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  4. Such a beautiful necklace. I never knew that the claws came off the furniture..ready made holes so you don't need to drill. Brilliant. Where did you get the gorgeous porcelain beads?

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    1. Hi, Amy! Got them at Fire Mountain and they are on sale...cheep cheep!

      http://www.firemountaingems.com/search/?Keywords=bead+porcelain+carved+puff+vase+sold+per+strand

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  5. Pretty... But your great-grandmothers coffee table is only 100 years old? Must you remind me of exactly how old my family is? I mean, my great-grandfather had a peg leg, could you upcycle that?

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  6. I love it! What an amazing eye you have to turn a small piece of your great grandmother's table into one of your beautiful necklaces. Thanks for the very clever tip about disguising the uneven holes in the claw foot. You did it again!!

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  7. A happy ending for those claw feet! Great job and thanks for sharing on craft schooling Sunday!

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  8. Geez, girl, this is a show- stopper if ever I've seen one. Amazing! Love the history behind it, and the colour combo is to die for.
    You MUST wear this with a white gypsy blouse and a long skirt. On the beach.
    I'm drooling, it's really, really beautiful.

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  9. I love that necklace...what a cool piece. not just for how beautiful it is, but for the history as well.

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  10. Now that is a really cool take on "vintage"!

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  11. Gorgeous Mich!


    Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
    Hope you have a fabulous week!
    Jill @ Creating my way to Success
    http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

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  12. It is a brilliant use of "The Claw". In fact, that should be its name. Or is that already a horror movie title?...

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  13. You are so clever! What a fun and funky necklace. Thanks so much for sharing at Vintage Charm.

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  14. Wow! This is so creative and clever! Just lovely!

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