I recently bought a motley collection of old beads and findings from someone on Facebook who was selling off her late gran’s bits and bobs (for the ridiculously give-away price of R150). I like that kind of thing – you often get a few fabulous surprises. To my amazement there was, in fact, a broken string of beads that looked suspiciously like garnets. I took them to a friend who used to work in a jeweller’s shop and she confirmed that they were indeed the real thing. I phoned the young woman I’d bought the beads from to let her know about the “valuables” but she said she didn’t want them and I was welcome to make them into something and wear it. I still haven’t decided what to do with them, but how lucky was I with that score!?
I thought I’d use some of the other stuff from granny to make something for this month’s ScrapHappy. There were a lot of little glass beads on wire and some pretty varnished shells with holes in them. I decided to turn it all into a scrappy boot wrap.
I’ll probably give this one to Karen. I started making the wraps with just two strands of beads to go round the ankle but I prefer the look of three (or more). She already has one of the first ones I made so she can add this to her collection. I’ve managed to list a few on etsy, will see if anyone finds them appealing!
Here are the links for everyone who joins ScrapHappy from time to time (they may not post every month but their blogs are still worth looking at): Kate, Gun, Titti, Heléne, Eva, Sue, Nanette, Lynn, Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Susan, Cathy, Debbierose, Tracy, Claire, Jan, Karen,
Moira, Sandra, Linda, Chris, Nancy, Alys, Kerry, Claire, Jean, Jon, Hayley and Jule.
Nice piece of work 
Nice!
Thanks :)
Lovely to see all your creativity. Lucky with the garnets.
I think they’ll remain in necklace form but I’ll redo something from scratch. There are lovely silver beads in the broken string as well.
What a gracious haul. I know I wouldn’t have the stash I have if not for the generosity of others. I’m slowly making use of it. I down by the garments though. They are one of my faves.
I’ve also been given lots of “craft-related” stuff by people who are clearing out. I now have so much – plus everything I’ve bought and stashed over the last 30 years – that I wouldn’t be able to use it all if I lived to be 200. I’m trying to focus on making what I really enjoy at the moment and, consequently, have given away about 50 boxes/bags of fabric to people who can use them. This makes me feel very virtuous – until the next time someone phones and says, Hey Jill, I’ve got a load of fabric offcuts from an interior designer who closed down and I thought of you….. I am very weak.
Yep, looks like we’re kindred spirits in that area. I was just offered another bin’s worth of scrappies… will I turn it away? No way!
Wow, garnets and the seller, doesn’t want them back…but I suppose she doesn’t know their value. Anyway great haul Andover how you’ve used them in more boot jewelry.
Oops that word is “love” silly phone
Now you make me feel bad – I told her they were semi-precious stones, but she was adamant!
What a great result! I know garnets are valuable, but I’m not really keen on them myself, they’re too dark, so I probably wouldn’t want them back either! I’m thinking your winter boot wraps would make pretty summer bare ankle wraps too!
Funny you should say that – I had that thought yesterday when I passed a young woman in the street with a sleeveless dress on and no shoes (and it’s not that warm yet, either!). The dress was plain light grey and she wore no accessories – I’m convinced her inner gypsy was just desperate for some beads around one of her ankles….
I’d wear them if I didn’t have kankles… However, I do, and the less the eye is drawn to them, the better!
Why do you think I only ever wear jeans….?
Well, I do wear cropped pants and shorts, and very occasionally a skirt, but I try not to draw attention to them. Can’t do an ankle strap or anything too high cut, and ankle boots are just totally out!
How to brighten up boots, fabulous.
Just a bit of fun!
Looks great – and what luck with the garnets.
For now they are in a packet in one of my drawers. No point them being where no-one can see them so might get my act together to do something with them today.
Ooh, very stylish.
I try!!! By the way, I commented on your ScrapHappy post earlier but it doesn’t look like the comment went through. I tried for a second time but I think still no luck – I hope WordPress isn’t mucking me around…..
How great to get something special in your box of odds and ends. Love the boot wrap!
Thanks, lots of special little things actually. But no emeralds or rubies so far….
Making treasure from treasure! How satisfying…
and leads to unbelievable untidiness…..
…oh, I believe it (not looking at the subsiding heaps on most surfaces around here…) My Grandmother used to say “A creative mess is better than idle neatness” – my mantra!
love the boot wrap. I’d be tempted to add a little bell! It is nice that the garnets came to someone who appreciates them.
I just made one last night with three tiny bells on! It’s very cute. Clever minds think alike ;)
The boot wrap is looking fantastic!
Thank you very much! I love making them.
That turned out to be a fortuitous find. I love garnets as does my daughter. I probably wouldn’t know what to do with them if I had them though. You are creative enough to figure that out. I like what you’ve done with the scrap pieces. I used to love wearing boots. Never thought to dress them up.
I’m not a very dressy-up person myself, although looking at my wardrobe one might get a different impression. It’s like I buy stuff for a different person – a really extrovert one who goes to the theatre and cocktail parties! In reality I slouch around in old clothes from thrift shops and some of Philip’s moth-eaten jerseys and even some old tops of mine that have cigarette holes in them. If I’m not leaving the house, it’s also slippers all the way. I’m a natural slob.
I hear you. Just packed away half of my summer wardrobe. The other half that hasn’t been worn in over 2 years is on it’s way to the thrift store. All dress shoes are now gone too. Rarely worn and all but new. I’m a working woman and dress like I’m going to do hard manual labor every day. Maybe we buy for who we’d like to be in better circumstances. I don’t think I’ve bought even one new outfit in over 2 years. The fashion industry must have noticed, do you think? :) I’ll bet they will think we are sisters. I’m the older one. ;)
*hahahahahaha laughing!!!! I’m hanging onto a couple of items (like a heavily beaded top and some velvet pants) on the off-chance that my social life will pick up again … but I’m not holding my breath! I’d actually be quite happy to go out in some of the old crap I wear, but my mother would say I have no pride. And she’d have a point!
I love that you contacted the vendor to tell her about the garnets. And I love these boot-belts. :-)
Your enthusiasm about the boot accessories has been an enormous help, actually. It helped give me the confidence to approach the organiser of a permanent craft market at a local wine farm and she mailed me just now to say she’d like to meet me and see some samples. So thank you very much indeed :)
What a creative way to jazz up your boots. I love it
Thank you.
How fun to use the beads this way!
Esther
Thanks, Esther. I do seem to have an enormous stash that have come to live with me over the years, need to find practical uses for them all!