The mantra heard everywhere I go these days is “go green”,  recycle, stop global warming, etc.  I have absolutely nothing against recycling, reusing, repurposing or any of the “buzz words” currently being used for being responsible for our surroundings and reusing what we have when we can. 

This isn’t a new concept to many people I know, but a necessary fact of  life in economic crunch times.   Almost every day there are news stories or newspaper articles about people planting community gardens or learning to grow their own vegetables to supplement food budgets.   Projects for home remodeling, plumbing, and redecorating have been turned into tv programs on cable channels showing people how to shop for materials and save money by doing it themselves.

Making and designing  jewelry can “go green” too.  A customer who had purchased a lampwork bead bracelet contacted me and said she would get more wear and enjoy the beads more if I could turn the bracelet into a necklace for her.   I told her I would be delighted to “repurpose” the bracelet for her into a striking necklace by adding small round faceted fire-polish beads and using the unique lampwork beads as focals or a centerpiece for the necklace.  I delivered the necklace this week and she loves it. 

I recycle beads all the time.  Sometimes I create a design that I think is perfect, but potential customers don’t agree with me and the piece doesn’t sell.  I never throw away perfectly good beads. . . just redesign them into something new and/or trendy.  I find that color combinations and styles change with the seasons, but eventually everything can be reused again sometime down the road. 

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I’m featuring my wood, seed, and shell stretch beaded bracelets for summer this time.  You will find these bracelets at KC Bead Designs/Bead Bracelets.  Here is a preview:

You can see more stretch bead bracelets in my stores.

’till next time!

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KC Bead Designs – Beaded Jewelry by Cheryl Skeens, located in the greater Kansas City, Missouri area, is owned and operated by Cheryl Skeens. In business since 2003 as a jewelry artist / designer of handcrafted beaded jewelry such as beaded earrings, bracelets, necklaces, eyeglass chains, beaded lanyards, zipper pulls, cell phone charms, mother’s bracelets, bridal and prom jewelry and more. Reflections. . .Beaded Jewelry. . .by Cheryl Skeens opened in July 2008 along with her new blog-site and is her second online store.