Steampunk Necklace

To start off, I'd like to clarify that despite the fact that this is my second necklace-making post on this blog, I am definitely not an avid jewelry maker. However, I have been digging the long-chain-with-pendant necklace trend this past year, and lucky for me, it's a pretty easy one to replicate! So, without further ado, I present my easy-peasy steampunk pendant necklace:

Pause. Backtrack. I realize that I might need to clarify the term 'steampunk' for some, so let's take a brief rabbit trail, shall we? Steampunk.com gives a pretty nice definition for the term:

[A] literary genre, or least a subgenre of science fiction and fantasy that includes social or technological aspects of the 19th century (the steam) usually with some deconstruction of, reimagining of, or rebellion against parts of it (the punk).

I know what you're thinking - OF COURSE it started off as a literary thing! And it's true - think Jules Verne, à la The Time Machine:

Source: Travel News

The image above illustrates one of the key aspects of the steampunk trend - its ability to transcend media. Steampunk.com gives examples of steampunk games (Bioshock II), steampunk graphic novels (League of Extraordinary Gentlemen), and even steampunk movies (Sherlock Holmes) and TV shows (Warehouse 13). And it doesn't stop there! Which brings me to my necklace, an example of the steampunk design aesthetic:

What with all the cool contraptions in the stories, it was only natural that some people would decide to make some of them (or at least things like them). Thus, steampunk gadgets came into the real world. People have “steampunk’d” everything from computers, desks, telephones, watches, and guitars, to cars, motorcycles, and whole houses. These objects can vary from a grungy look of a forgotten antique to the shiny overwrought newness of a Victorian gentleman’s club. Think brass and copper, glass and polished wood, engraving and etching, and details for the sake of details. So, steampunk is also a design aesthetic. (Steampunk.com)

So interesting, right? But, I realize that I probably need to actually start talking about my necklace at some point in this post, so onto a chat about keys. Yes, one of the key elements of steampunk jewelry is an antique key. I've always loved old keys - I would buy them at yard sales when I was a little kid (weird? or telling?). At any rate, I love how popular they've become within the steampunk design aesthetic, especially paired with other classic steampunk elements (compasses, gears, clocks, etc.). Take a look:

Bronze key/compass combo on Etsy

Super steampunk'd key on Etsy

Source: dragonweave.com via Marc on Pinterest

Michaels actually has/had a steampunk section in their bargain aisle, which I visited several times (mostly to lament my inability to figure out uses for various items I wanted... which meant they stayed at Michaels). I did find a set of steampunk keys for $2.00, though, that I snapped up immediately. Pardon the picture quality - my phone is remedial:

Only $2.00!

I knew from nosing around Etsy for ideas that I wanted to incorporate another element in my necklace, and this collection of charms in the jewelry section of Michaels caught my eye:

Not a fan of wings, but the owl was adorable.

I also picked up some necklace chain (see pics below) for $3.99 that complemented the tone of the key and charm - as it was just chain, it didn't come with a connector. However, these necklaces are long enough to slip over your head, so you don't really need one. I just used needle nose pliers to snip off the length of chain I wanted (around 30" give or take) and then to connect the chain into a loop after slipping on my key pendent. Full disclosure: I initially threaded the chain through the key's preexisting loop, but I didn't like how the key kept twisting sideways with that setup. A jump ring connecting the key to my chain fixed the problem. I ended up using two jump rings in my necklace - one to attach the owl charm to the key (using pliers again) and another to attach the key to the chain so it hung in the right direction.

Closeup, with real camera

In-store, with (sub-par) phone camera

And there you have it! Here's a quick photo of the hanging length, if you're curious:

Button Art: Necklaces

When I was younger, I read a book about a character who collects buttons. She gathers bags and jars and drawers of buttons, so much so that others start to worry about her habit (more specifically, her older sister who shares a room with her, if I'm remembering correctly). One of the ways she attempts to downsize her collection is by making button necklaces for her friends, aaaaaaaaand I bet you can guess where I'm headed here.

This book, though a favorite of mine for a time, was long forgotten (to the point that I STILL can't recall its title, despite multiple Google searches) by the time I discovered the following items:

The brown and pink necklace (R) is from this Etsy shop, which still sells similar items (around $20 for a necklace).

I'm pretty sure the blue necklace (L) was also from an Etsy shop, but I can't remember which one (nor can I find it again - Google image search fail!).

At the time I found these images, I had recently come into possession of a variety of buttons from my grandmother's former button collection (mentioned in last week's post). When I saw these necklaces, I fell in love with the way they modernized the idea of button jewelry though color (modern mixes, monochromatic) and selection (basically, less is more - the entire necklace isn't button-blinged out). I immediately turned my attention to the buttons I had and began sorting. I found a few turquoise buttons to which I was pretty partial, and I decided to pair them with some chocolate brown buttons for a complementary palette. The pink/brown necklace above contains quite a few button shanks, which gave me the courage to try one in my own design. Since I only had a single variety of button shanks, I also mimicked the effect of layering buttons with contrasting colors in order to keep my necklace visually interesting.

Since I already had my buttons, I only needed to pick up a necklace chain (w/clasp) from Michaels, along with some jewelry wire. I wish I could remember what gauge wire I bought (I've since thrown away the packaging), because the first type I bought was too thin and didn't hold the button structure of the necklace at all. I would probably recommend 18-22 gauge, but maybe even thicker (which would be 16 and down). The picture to the left shows the two types, not a color preference (the choices were limited). I'm holding the better of the two - visually they are very similar, so it's more of a touch/manipulation differentiation (oh, and yeah, the number of the gauge, if you know it!). Once the wire issue was settled, I set to work 'threading' it through my buttons' holes and constructing my button conglomerate (for lack of a better term!).

Click to Enlarge

Once I was done constructing my button conglomerate, I attached it to my necklace chain. I used a pair of needle-nose pliers to break apart the chain, then I threaded the wire through the last link on each side and wrapped it off (you're definitely going to need a tool of some kind here). And be sure you tuck in the pointy ends of the wire once you've wrapped it off around itself, or you are in for some discomfort! For this necklace I simply broke apart the chain in the middle and inserted my button creation - luckily, mine was the kind of chain that can be clasped at multiple intersections, giving me some degree of flexibility regarding the end-result length of the necklace.

From the back it does NOT look pretty - but who cares?

And, here is my end result! The colors I chose helped alleviate any old-fashioned stigma, and I kept my layout down to seven button layerings. It is pretty lightweight, since most of the buttons are plastic. And the wire loops on either side are pretty unobtrusive. Fun, huh?