Butterfly - final design of a Girl and her SHOES series!

Welcome to the final post of  "a Girl and her SHOES" series. If you missed the original post, you may want to check it out here to see what inspired this series.

The butterfly is a much loved creature. We see it used in home decor, clothing, accessories, paper products and much more. It is admired for its beauty and grace but most of all, it is a symbol of transformation.

I thought it appropriate that my final shoe transformation
would be a tribute to the lovely butterfly.

The shoes. I loved the design on these shoes when I first spotted them at the thrift store but unfortunately they were not on the discounted ticket. So I waited until they were the

half off sticker for the day, and lucky for me, they were still there!

I cut out around the stitched area of one shoe, removed the bow and this is when I noticed that the design resembled a butterfly. I enjoy these types of happy little surprises! I lightly scuffed up the leather and rubbed it with some brown permanent ink (for stamping) to add character and age and then added the pearls for color and texture.

I didn't want to use the bow but the braided lacing was pretty cool, so I incorporated
it to act as a way to attach the handmade pearl links. I finished the piece off with
a copper chain and a handcrafted hook clasp.

I've had a lot of fun creating for "a Girl and her SHOES" series! I hope it has inspired you to be like the butterfly...willing to make a transformation and let your imagination take flight!


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Spider - part five of "a Girl and her SHOES" series

Welcome to part five of  "a Girl and her SHOES" series. If you missed the original post, you may want to check it out here to see what inspired this series.

The working title for this redo was Spider. My reasoning for the working title will become clear a little later in the post. I realize that Spider is not a very attractive name for a necklace but since it is so close to Halloween, I decided to stick with it!

The Shoes. A very unique pair of sandals that I just couldn't pass up.

The first thing I did was cut the leather straps away from the sole. I played around with the shape for awhile until I got the idea to create a copper wire frame that the straps could attach to. I cut the straps down to a reasonable size and this is what I ended up with.

 

Okay, my working title is making sense now!

I attached the straps around the frame and wired on some metallic stick pearls for that needed bit of bling. Finally, a couple of the tiny buckles (also from these sandals)

became interesting additions to the copper chain and handmade hook clasp.

 

Normally I wouldn't think of allowing a spider to crawl around - or even come close - to my neck, but I'll happily make the exception for this Spider!

Tomorrow will be the final shoe transformation in "a Girl and her SHOES" series. (At least until I find time to visit the thrift stores!) I hope you will return!

 

Sharing with: Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday, I Gotta Create: The Mother Lode

Biker Chic - part four of a Girl and her SHOES series!

Welcome to part four of  "a Girl and her SHOES" series. If you missed the original post, you may want to check it out here to see what inspired this series.

Perhaps it is from growing up with three older brothers, but I have to admit...I do have a little bit of bad girl in me! A pair of leather studded boots adorned with buckles are my go-to winter shoes, so of course I would want the same in my jewelry!

Today my shoe makeovers are going Biker Chic!

 The shoes. A thrifted pair of clogs with cool studded straps and rings.

Not my size but those straps were definitely Biker Chic material!

Crystal Biker Chic

 I used the strap from one of the shoes to make Crystal Biker Chic. I cut one of the strips away from the strap so that I would have three strips. I attached a ring to the end of one of the strips and hung a couple of crystal nuggets from it. The last step was to attach a small ring to each remaining strap and add a copper chain and handmade hook clasp.

 Pearl Biker Chic

 I used the strap from the second shoe to make Pearl Biker Chic.  I cut two

of the strips away from the strap. I wired on green freshwater pearls and

finished it with a copper chain and a handmade hook clasp.

Crystals and pearls...a little bit good. Studded leather...a little bit bad. A perfect combination for any biker chick!

Confession: The closest thing I have to a bike is... well, a bicycle but I still love leather!

I have two more shoe-to-jewelry reveals to go. I hope you will return to see them.