custom

cool
jewelry
create
200 +
personalized
pendants, charms,
and clasps

melinda barta
 { Toolbox }
Circle template
Fabric-marking pencil
1 "
/8 (3 mm) metal vertical hole punch
and eyelet setter with 1/8" (3 mm)
setting tip
Quilter’s cutting mat
Hammer
Size 3 or size 22 embroidery needle
chenille needle
Sewing thread
earthly charms Iron
pendant Scissors
silver & stones

patchwork { MaterialS }
Dye-based permanent ink pad
Stamp set with abstract, floral,

panache
and/or bird patterns
Scraps of cotton fabric, ribbon, and
rickrack
Felt to match fabrics
Fusible web (see sidebar)
Assorted copper, brass, and silver
Fabric, stamps, ink, needles, thread—it’s time to 5–12mm round and rectangle jump
rings
use all of your craft-room goodies and create these 1 "
/8 (3 mm) eyelets in colors to
complement fabrics
ring with charms surprisingly quick-to-assemble, layered acces- 6-strand cotton embroidery thread
Craft glue (optional)
sories. Don’t worry if you have never embroidered
before, the optional stitched embellishment uses
button & bird
the easiest stitch of them all, the running stitch.

patchwork pendant. If working with patterned fabric,

mermaid teardrop pendants consider stamping on the backside—this will
pendant W make the pattern more subtle and the stamp
more prominent.
Central Image Prepare the central image
before building the base layers: Cutting and fusing. Trim the image to the
desired size, using the circle template and
Stamping. Use inked stamps to decorate fabric-marking pencil as a guide.
scraps of fabric for the focal point of your

stacked rectangles
pendant
custom cool jewelry 
 { Toolbox }
Circle template
Fabric-marking pencil
1 "
/8 (3 mm) metal vertical hole punch
and eyelet setter with 1/8" (3 mm)
setting tip
Quilter’s cutting mat
Hammer
Size 3 or size 22 embroidery needle
chenille needle
Sewing thread
earthly charms Iron
pendant Scissors
silver & stones

patchwork { MaterialS }
Dye-based permanent ink pad
Stamp set with abstract, floral,

panache
and/or bird patterns
Scraps of cotton fabric, ribbon, and
rickrack
Felt to match fabrics
Fusible web (see sidebar)
Assorted copper, brass, and silver
Fabric, stamps, ink, needles, thread—it’s time to 5–12mm round and rectangle jump
rings
use all of your craft-room goodies and create these 1 "
/8 (3 mm) eyelets in colors to
complement fabrics
ring with charms surprisingly quick-to-assemble, layered acces- 6-strand cotton embroidery thread
Craft glue (optional)
sories. Don’t worry if you have never embroidered
before, the optional stitched embellishment uses
button & bird
the easiest stitch of them all, the running stitch.

patchwork pendant. If working with patterned fabric,

mermaid teardrop pendants consider stamping on the backside—this will
pendant W make the pattern more subtle and the stamp
more prominent.
Central Image Prepare the central image
before building the base layers: Cutting and fusing. Trim the image to the
desired size, using the circle template and
Stamping. Use inked stamps to decorate fabric-marking pencil as a guide.
scraps of fabric for the focal point of your

stacked rectangles
pendant
custom cool jewelry 
 Custom Concepts
Cut a piece of fusible web about G completely covered the felt with fabric but want
(6 mm) smaller than the image and to add more embellishments, it is okay to layer
use the iron to adhere the fusible web to the a narrow trim on top of the layers (the next
back of the image, according to manufacturer’s process of fusing on the central image will help
directions. When cool, remove the paper keep the trim intact). Oval pendant with bird.
backing and set aside. Simply string the pendant with
Central image. With the fusible side face olive green velvet ribbon; trim
Note: If you do not wish for the fabric to fray, cut down on top of the embellishment layers, iron the ribbon ends at an angle
the fusible web to the exact shape and size of the the central image to fuse all layers. If needed, to help prevent fraying (if the
fabrics. use the craft glue to tack down any trims that ribbon is made of synthetic
did not get fused to the other embellishment materials, you can also melt the Birds nest. Make a pendant with gold
Layering. Join the layers of the pendant. layers. edges slightly with a lighter). fabric that has been stamped with the
image of a bird’s nest, printed brown/pale
Felt. Cut the felt so that it is at least 1/2" (1.3 cm) Embroidery. If desired, embellish the layers blue fabric, and a brown eyelet. Attach an
larger than the general shape of the pendant’s with simple running stitch: antique copper 9×12mm rectangle jump
final dimensions. Cut a piece of fusible web that ring. String the pendant’s jump ring with
is the same size and fuse it to the felt; when cool, Running stitch. Tie knot at the end of 20" speckled brown/white size 8˚ seed beads,
remove the paper backing. (51 cm) of embroidery thread and bring the cream/brown 8×6mm faceted pressed-
needle up near one of the fabric layers’ border. glass rondelles, and light blue mottled
Embellishment layers. With the fusible side 5mm rounds.
of the felt face up, cover with fabric scraps,
ribbon, and rickrack, allowing the pieces to [ fig.1]
overhang the edges. Iron all pieces to fuse them 1
2
to the felt and trim to the final pendant size.

It is best to have each embellishment layer

touch the fusible web; however, if you have

Take the needle to the back of the felt about G"

{tips (6 mm) away from the base of the thread, along Hanging. Finish with one of these Eyelets. Lay the pendant on the cutting mat
4 Use a press cloth and a piece of muslin or other
the line to be stitched, and bring the needle techniques: and position the hole punch at least J" (3 mm)
turn the iron temperature plain cotton fabric works
4 To avoid crushing back up about G" (6 mm) away (Fig 1). Repeat from the top edge of the fabric; strike with the
down when working with just as well).
dimensional items when to complete the stitched line. Tie a knot at the Ribbon loop. Lay a ribbon vertically across the hammer several times to form a hole.
ironing, like those with
synthetics like ribbon.
(You can buy press cloths
4 Ironing will help heat-set
ribbon and rickrack, press
base of the thread on the back of the pendant. pendant (perpendicular to the main image)
(or make permanent) the while layering (above) but do not trim it. Fold Insert 1 eyelet in the hole from front to back.
at most fabric stores, but them face down on a clean,
dye of the stamp. the excess ribbon at the top to the back and Turn the pendant over so that the tube end of
fluffy terry-cloth towel.
whipstitch the end to the felt to form a loop. the eyelet is facing up, center the eyelet setter
over the eyelet, and strike with the hammer
several times to set.

 pendants patchwork panache custom cool jewelry 

 Custom Concepts
Cut a piece of fusible web about G completely covered the felt with fabric but want
(6 mm) smaller than the image and to add more embellishments, it is okay to layer
use the iron to adhere the fusible web to the a narrow trim on top of the layers (the next
back of the image, according to manufacturer’s process of fusing on the central image will help
directions. When cool, remove the paper keep the trim intact). Oval pendant with bird.
backing and set aside. Simply string the pendant with
Central image. With the fusible side face olive green velvet ribbon; trim
Note: If you do not wish for the fabric to fray, cut down on top of the embellishment layers, iron the ribbon ends at an angle
the fusible web to the exact shape and size of the the central image to fuse all layers. If needed, to help prevent fraying (if the
fabrics. use the craft glue to tack down any trims that ribbon is made of synthetic
did not get fused to the other embellishment materials, you can also melt the Birds nest. Make a pendant with gold
Layering. Join the layers of the pendant. layers. edges slightly with a lighter). fabric that has been stamped with the
image of a bird’s nest, printed brown/pale
Felt. Cut the felt so that it is at least 1/2" (1.3 cm) Embroidery. If desired, embellish the layers blue fabric, and a brown eyelet. Attach an
larger than the general shape of the pendant’s with simple running stitch: antique copper 9×12mm rectangle jump
final dimensions. Cut a piece of fusible web that ring. String the pendant’s jump ring with
is the same size and fuse it to the felt; when cool, Running stitch. Tie knot at the end of 20" speckled brown/white size 8˚ seed beads,
remove the paper backing. (51 cm) of embroidery thread and bring the cream/brown 8×6mm faceted pressed-
needle up near one of the fabric layers’ border. glass rondelles, and light blue mottled
Embellishment layers. With the fusible side 5mm rounds.
of the felt face up, cover with fabric scraps,
ribbon, and rickrack, allowing the pieces to [ fig.1]
overhang the edges. Iron all pieces to fuse them 1
2
to the felt and trim to the final pendant size.

It is best to have each embellishment layer

touch the fusible web; however, if you have

Take the needle to the back of the felt about G"

{tips (6 mm) away from the base of the thread, along Hanging. Finish with one of these Eyelets. Lay the pendant on the cutting mat
4 Use a press cloth and a piece of muslin or other
the line to be stitched, and bring the needle techniques: and position the hole punch at least J" (3 mm)
turn the iron temperature plain cotton fabric works
4 To avoid crushing back up about G" (6 mm) away (Fig 1). Repeat from the top edge of the fabric; strike with the
down when working with just as well).
dimensional items when to complete the stitched line. Tie a knot at the Ribbon loop. Lay a ribbon vertically across the hammer several times to form a hole.
ironing, like those with
synthetics like ribbon.
(You can buy press cloths
4 Ironing will help heat-set
ribbon and rickrack, press
base of the thread on the back of the pendant. pendant (perpendicular to the main image)
(or make permanent) the while layering (above) but do not trim it. Fold Insert 1 eyelet in the hole from front to back.
at most fabric stores, but them face down on a clean,
dye of the stamp. the excess ribbon at the top to the back and Turn the pendant over so that the tube end of
fluffy terry-cloth towel.
whipstitch the end to the felt to form a loop. the eyelet is facing up, center the eyelet setter
over the eyelet, and strike with the hammer
several times to set.

 pendants patchwork panache custom cool jewelry 

  it’s in
the cards
project
gallery
tiny tins

topit off

charms melangé

 cabochon
craze

love of travel
bracelet

locked in time
 custom cool jewelry 
  it’s in
the cards
project
gallery
tiny tins

topit off

charms melangé

 cabochon
craze

love of travel
bracelet

locked in time
 custom cool jewelry 
 |

Create jewelry that is uniquely you

table of contents with Custom Cool Jewelry
Pendants
Add a personal, handcrafted touch crafting materials, including emboss-
Nouveau Riche Rings to any piece of jewelry using just a few ing powder, collage papers, wire,
Etch-a-Bead easy-to-find materials for one-of-a- fibers, glass-etching cream, patinas,
Classy Coils
Fantastic Plastic
kind results every time. Melinda Barta, found objects, fabric, memorabilia,
Flirty Frames assistant managing editor of Beadwork and more.
Impressionable Clay magazine, shows clever ideas for
Top it Off Each project component is shown in a
Patchwork Panache
boutique-style projects with a personal
It’s in the Cards twist in Custom Cool Jewelry. number of color and design variations,
Cabochon Craze with each partially strung on with a
Whimsical & Weightless Think outside the box with Melinda’s few beads to inspire readers to create
Front & Center
The More the Merrier unconventional uses of common their own complete jewelry pieces. A
Tiny Tins crafting supplies. Learn to: chapter with full instructionsto make
Charms ™ bake bead collages with eight complete jewelry projects shows
Charming Caps & Cones resin in the oven how to put your custom components
Splash of Pattern
Soft & Sweet
™ emboss antique playing cards together for fabulous jewelry.
Charms Mélange ™ roll up some polymer clay
Bits & Pieces ™ stamp and stitch fabric focal pieces
Clasps ™ wire-wrap to your heart’s content
Beaded Ring Toggles and more!
Charmed Chain
Lasso Loops
Beady Hooks & Eyes Melinda shows unique alternatives
Orbital Endings to store-bought beading components
Wrap it U
Millefiori Mesh
using a wide range of jewelry and basic
Jewelry Projects
A Love of Travel Charm
Bracelet
Forest Floor Necklace
Love Bees Necklace
Eye Candy Bracelet
Vintage Nouveau Necklace
rta is
Old Santa Fe Style Necklace thor Melinda Ba
Floral Romance Necklace About the au of Be ad wo rk magazine
Paperbound, 8½ x 10¼, 144 pages ing editor
assistant manag Pi ec eW ork
43 illustrations,
sistant editor of
Beading and 150 photographs, 2 charts and the former as in fib er ar ts and
Wireworking 101 in e. Sh e ha s a BFA degree
ISBN 978-1-59668-074-6 mag az ado State
l design from Color
Project Resource Guide $22.95 a minor in appare to Stitch (Inter-
the author of Hip
September 2008 University and is lli ns, Colorado.
Start Shopping e lives in Fort Co
weave Press). Sh
interweavebooks.com