Crafts Unleashed

Granted, the summer show of the Craft and Hobby Association (CHA) is mostly geared toward paper crafting, but I DID see some jewelry. Again, the trend that first prevailed at the winter show is still going strong- mixed media is still all the rage.

So what does this mean? Well a couple of things!

1. Mixed metals are a must. Mix up your silver, antique gold, steel, and copper. The only rule I’ve seen is pretty loose- keep your finishes consistent. For example, it your are working with antique gold, feel free to mix it with matte finished silver or gunmetal. On the other hand, pair bright silver and bright gold to your hearts’ content!
2. Add fabric and ribbon to keep it fresh. I saw ribbons woven through wide chain, ribbon rosettes stitched and attached as embellishments. The textiles give a feminine look and soften all of those hard edges.
3. Vintage looks abound. So many of the jewelry lines look like they are collages of old bracelets, your grandma’s brooches, and stray chains from your jewelry box. And I mean this in a GOOD way! This also gives all of us permission to disassemble old pieces and put them together with new components to really make our jewelry looks personal and unique!
4. Multiple layers and asymmetry prevail. Using many layers of strung beads, wired components, and lengths of chain, you can free yourself from worrying whether or not both sides match!

Have fun, and make sure you check out the great selection of jewelry making materials at ConsumerCrafts.com!