The Breakfast Theory

2019 was the year I received a lot of upcycle projects for old jewelry pieces. My sister also had a bagful of accessories that she was about to throw away and this made me wonder just how much accessories were being thrown out everyday. After finishing one project, I thought, since I was going to upcycle the pieces from my sister, I might as well document it and create tutorials on how to upcycle or redesign old jewelry pieces. But like I said in my previous post, this blogsite was too disorganized and I didn't have the time to fix it that I decided to just create a new one to separate the tutorials from my random posts. So if you're looking for upcycle jewelry projects and ideas, visit  The Buttercupstreet Project . All my socials are there too, so tag me in your versions, I'd really love to see them!

A couple of months back a client said she'd be sending over a string of pearls in silver thread for redesigning. She tried to explain that they were tangled but that was an understatement. What I received was a clump of pearls in silver string. I couldn't even tell if there was a clasp or not, where it began and ended, and what kind of necklace it was.. *sigh* my client friend never ceases to amaze me!  So I tried playing Dr.Quackquack and tried to untangle them but it seemed when one knot was free another one formed. And as if that's not hard enough, I found out the pearls were glued to the string! It was taking too much time and I was losing patience I had to set it aside to work on my other projects. Although from time to time I'd work on it, it still looked the same as when I first got it. I was feeling hopeless. Finally done with everything else and now having some free time, I decided to take this on and not accept orders until it's done. Two headaches after a...

You may be wondering why I would give away this pattern for free when I can sell it. Well,  I'm really not so good with giving (and taking) written instructions. So to be fair, I only sell patterns that I can give accurate instructions on.  I rely mostly on pictures, I find them easier to follow. So hopefully the images I included helps too if my written instructions become too confusing. I had to use a dark background so the threads would show.  1.       Start with the basic netting technique. String in 147 pieces of seed beads. Pass the thread through the 6th bead from the last. 2.      String 5 beads then pass through the sixth bead from the previous row, repeat to the end. 3.      Leave 6 beads at the tail. String 8 beads then pass thread through fourth bead from previous row. Repeat until you have a total of 9 rows. 4.      String 8 beads then pass the thread through the 6th ...

Lately I've been obsessed with making earrings. I previously thought they weren't challenging enough but then I started getting inquiries about them and thought, why not give it a try. So to make it more challenging, instead of just wiring I decided to try beading techniques and boy was I wrong about holding back on those earrings!  What I was used to making. And sometimes wiring it. Beading or weaving headbands and necklaces are time consuming, usually taking 4-5 days to finish, and for someone with very low E.Q., the wait is often frustrating. But to do the techniques I love and finish the project in a day?  Well, I think I'll be making a lot of earrings now.  I made 3 pairs in 6-7 hours. The design possibilities are endless! Although it does take a lot of patience when the design I have in mind doesn't work. Like for this earring, I had an idea of the last layer(red coral beads) perfectly aligned. But it wouldn't stay flat, it kept crinkli...

Over the years I've been asked to repair and revamp broken accessories and jewelries by family and friends. One recurring problem are bracelets with elastic nylon.    But I've made it my personal policy not to use elastic nylons anymore.  Not since a bracelet I made snapped when I was out, and beads flew all over the place. It was embarrassing, but the first thing that came to mind were the ones I sold. Did they snap on my clients too?! I was mortified at the thought! See, anything stretchable loses their elasticity sooner or later, and they go brittle. And you just don't know when these things will snap, how can you anticipate something like that, right? So here are other ways to make bracelets without using those elastic/stretchable nylons. Charm bracelets: very feminine and easy to make. Lobster Claw Clasp: which I used for the charm bracelet from the previous picture. Tube Clasp: if you're making a multi-strand bracelet. Screw Clasp ...

Due to the fact that they are close to the face, earrings must compliment one’s face shape. There are also several basic styles that can be worn from day to evening and are appropriate for a variety of clothing options and occasions. But how do you tell which earring type compliments your face? First, i dentify your face shape to decide what style of earrings will compliment your face best. Consider what will enhance your good features. Take into consideration the cut and color of your hair, your skin tone, your body size and especially the clothes you’re wearing.  BASIC SHAPES Other Shapes Round Face Shape If your face is round then lean, long and angular curved lines will elongate and add a little angle to your face. You can wear drop earrings in dangles, ovals and oblongs. Square and rectangular earrings are also good options, as are angular earrings. It’s best to avoid small studs, hoops and chunky large earrings. ...

Sometimes when you start a project you get so excited that you just dive into it only to find out that your bead hole doesn’t fit the pin. This is especially true with pearls, fresh water pearls to be exact. And if you force it in, the layers peel away, that’s how delicate pearls are. So, here’s a little technique I learned to do when working with pearls, which I’m sharing with you. All you need are round nose pliers, flush cutter, a spool of .06 (or 22) gauge wire and basic wire wrapping skills. Step 1 : With your .06 wire, insert the bead straight from the spool to minimize wire waste. I leave about less than an inch of wire above then grasp the wire with your round nose pliers and then bend it to create a loop and wrap the tail wire once or twice around the stem, just enough to secure, you’ll be wrapping wire around this later. Cut as close to the stem as possible. Step 2 : Push the bead at the base of the finished loop. Position the tip of the pliers at the base of th...

Isn't it frustrating when you want something but don't know what they're called? With all the different styles of jewelry today it's easy to confuse their names. Well, to add to your stock knowledge and save you from ordering the wrong kind of earring, here's a list of the different types. Tell me if I missed any.  And while it's not a rule, it's kind of like hairstyles. As women age, the hair gets shorter and it's the same with earring style. Studs The most common earrings we see. This is like the training wheels of earrings, we all start out with studs. Hoops These usually have a circular shape, although some are of different shapes. Dangle or dangling earrings Usually kept in place by a small hook. The look varies but they are the type that ‘dangles'. They are basically longer even though the length varies and they hang from the earlobe. Drop earrings Easily confused with the dangle earrings. A drop earring, unlike the dangle, does not ...