Sunday, September 1, 2013

Unexpected Knot Cover Jewelry

Want to see what I have been experimenting with?  Take a peek at my new necklace, all dainty dangles and dots.




I made the dangles and dots from a type of jewelry supply called a knot cover or bead tip.  Have you ever seen them?  They are a bit old fashioned these days.  Like very small clam shells, they are used to hide the thread knots in classic strung jewelry.


There are several different styles.  Some close sideways.  Some close upways.



I smooshed the upways-closing type with pliers, to get a flattened double dangle:


Tres chic, no?


On this bird necklace, I used the sideways-clamping ones as very miniature round charms.



And they even come in fancy designs - just look at this adorable mini fish knot cover!  It's so little.



I added them to earrings, for a tiny fishy finish!


Let's do a quick DIY for making these miniscule fish earrings:




Start with two knot covers, two earwires and two small jump rings.



Gently pinch a knot cover closed.




Roll the skinny 'tail' into a loop, using the very tips of round nose pliers.



Join fish and earwire together with a jump ring.




Wow.  That is one tiny trout.




 If you have two ears, repeat for a second earring.  That's it!




Knot surprisingly, I am truly, madly, deeply in love with this trippy little hack.  Still finding new ways to use it.  Hope you enjoyed seeing what I'm up to!







23 comments:

  1. You are so creative.. a bead tip for bead tips. I had thought that these were so expensive, but you've found them for a reasonable price. Love the fish knot covers. AND that adorable bird pendant. Thank you!

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  2. love this idea of creating new findings from existing supplies. and what can I say about the fish...its adorable.

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  3. Hi Michelle!
    I absolutely LOVE the teeny beaded jewellery! They are dainty and darling and I can see they'd be perfect for Faery Jewelry-either for them to wear or for them to be featured on!
    (If you make them, I'll buy them, my neuropathy has so destroyed my nerves I no longer do anything requiring fine manual dexterity...)

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  4. You have such a talent for seeing the beauty in utilitarian things! It's a rare and wonderful skill.

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  5. I'll keep staring at that bird necklace and the fish earrings... they make my Monday morning so much sweeter!

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  6. Since I don't have any fancy strung jewelry, I had no idea what those things were! But I like them the way you used them. Love that little fish and those earrings made from them especially! Way to go!

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  7. Very, very creative and, yes, tres chic!!!! Your tutorial is VERY easy to follow, so thanks for that - you're awesome!!!

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  8. I LOVE the little bird necklace!! Where do you find all your pretty fittings and beads, Fire Mountain?

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    1. Hi, Robynne - that's affirmative! I mostly shop via Fire Mountain, and wait to order until I have enough items to qualify for a volume discount. Unfortunately, they are sold out of the little bird pendants - sob!

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  9. I would have never guessed that those were clam shell covers. What a creative use of a boring component!
    ~Kelsy
    http://looseendscraftblog.com

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  10. That is so cool! Now I'm going to have to make one for myself. Where did you get the knot covers???

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    1. I got them all at Fire Mountain - here are some links.

      All bead tips:

      http://www.firemountaingems.com/Search?Keywords=bead%20tips&ItemsPerPage=20&SortBy=PriceLowToHigh&I=2&TotalPages=7

      Decorative bead tips:

      http://www.firemountaingems.com/Search?Keywords=%22hot%20tips%22&ItemsPerPage=20&SortBy=BestMatch&I=3

      Hope you try it!

      Mich

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  11. I love how you're always able to reinvent jewelry hardware (and other things) into something fabulous!

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  12. I do believe I'm in love too! I've never seen those cute little knot covers, only the boring kind, but you make even the boring kind look sassy and fun!!

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  13. nice tutorial

    from
    http://kasthuriscreations.blogspot.in/

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  14. Whoa, I'm lovin the fish kind!!!

    Sakura

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  15. Awww so nice.. I love this post.. you are so smart! and the tiny fish is too cute..I wanna catch it..hehe.. keep on sharing awesomeness my dear!!

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  16. Now THESE are sooo cool and creative to me!!! I'm loving it!

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  17. Such unique creativity��! I love the idea of using components in new ways & am in awe of how you can do this so wonderfully - alas I don't often have this ability. Thank you much for sharing your beautiful talents!

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    1. Hi, Pat! So happy this one caught your interest. Thanks so much for the sweet comment!

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    2. You're very welcome - so glad I found you😍

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  18. I love those fish clam covers and also the square bird pendant. I looked on Fire Mountain Gems for both these and couldn't find. Do you happen to have an item #?? Would appreciate the help. Loved your video and your talent.
    Debbie

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    1. Hi, Debbie - thank you so much! Here's a link to the fish knot covers:

      http://www.firemountaingems.com/search/?keywords=bead+tips+fish

      I'm not sure where I got the bird pendant, I tried looking for it on Fire Mountain but can't find it now. It was a while ago that I bought them.

      Hope that helps! - Mich

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