Updates and Such

Happy Monday you guys! Chris and I returned home late last week from quite a long trip first to Boston for a work conference for Chris and then onto North Carolina where I was able to undergo the surgery that my heart has been longing for and that you guys made possible so generously through the donations last March. I honestly can't even describe the deep gratitude I feel in my heart for all that God has done in these short few months, it is absolutely overwhelming! 

Physically and emotionally before we left was truly one of the hardest times in my life. Not only was I battling the PTLS but on top of it I got super sick. My dear friend Alisha described it as the seasons changing on my life, the wind blowing hard and my body and mind and spirit fighting to make it through the transition. Our time is Boston was fun but I literally had such intense migraines…you guys I'm totally going to do a good update on surgery and my physical health in a few more weeks. I am still recovering from the surgery and I want to give it some time before I really share about healing BUT can I just say - I am already feeling AMAZING!! Like night and day from before surgery. NO migraines since surgery, my fatigue has started to lift the deep depression and anxiety is decreasing…you guys GOD is healing me and I am just beyond grateful!!

One of the other fun things that happened these past few weeks was a few super generous mentions on some incredible blogs and instagram feeds about Rebekah Gough Jewelry. In particular my new Mama Bear Necklace was highlighted..again I will share much more about the miracles God is doing in my business too soon enough but right now we have been flooded with hundreds of orders and as we've come home from the trip I've barely had time to even think about healing it's just been an incredible provision of work for me (and a few others) to get orders ready and shipped out! We are working around the clock to get it all done and it's like a dream come true, I love making jewelry and to get to share it with others is like the biggest gift ever!

So I promise I'll be back and I am so so grateful for you - thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support and love it means more to me that you will ever know! xoxo

ps. I am going to be phasing out my blogger blog and my sweet friend Heather has combined my old blog and this one onto a new platform rebekahgough.com will become my new permanent home soon…this site will still be live but wanted to let you know I won't be updating it anymore..visit me at my new site HERE!

Rebekah Gough Jewelry is LIVE!!

I am so excited to finally announce that my new jewelry site is LIVE and ready to go! It has been a labor of love getting this thing off the ground and I am so very thrilled to share it with you guys! So without further ado head on over HERE and check it out and then come back and let me know what you think.

For the next week you can use the coupon code: friendsandfamily to save an extra 10% and also this month 10% of the proceeds from the entire line go to support the efforts of Restore International - an organization I absolutely love and respect!

I also thought it would be fun to do a giveaway to get things started off right so you can enter below by subscribing to my newsletter to win your choice of the Lucky Horseshoe Collar or the Petite Arrowhead Collar - I will choose a winner this Sunday evening. Thanks so much guys for all your love and support it means the world to me! xoxo

Newsletter 

a little sneak peek

I've been pretty absent in the space for the past month and a half but that's mostly because I've been working on a new little project and I can't wait to share it with you guys! I am launching my new jewelry line next week and it feels so good to be back doing what I love after about a (ahem) four year break! Thanks to all of you super sweet friends who are still reading :) I hope you are having a beautiful day!

creatively dreaming

 

I woke up dreaming of wire today - is that weird? I actually think about wire all the time if i am honest, it's my most favorite medium to play with and today I was feeling a little bit of creativity bubbling up inside. My older boys both had school and my sweet Mom in law offered to watch the younger two (big kiss for you Paula!!) so I had a super long list of things to accomplished including grocery shopping, the post office, and some serious cleaning to do. But you want to know what I did instead…after grabbing a good workout I poured another cup of coffee, took a long hot bath, put on some makeup, did my hair and then sat down in my jewelry "nook" and played around with some wire and gemstones.

 I have been itching to make a pendant with four arrows (one for each of my babies) and although this one didn't turn out exactly how I wanted it to, it just didn't feel right in my hand, I still had so much fun sitting in the stillness focusing and listening to nothing but the sounds of the birds outside and the whirl of our washing machine (the nook is in the laundry room :)) and for about three hours I was lost in a slice of heaven. The errands and shopping will have to be done soon but for today I am  glad I took a little bit of time for myself to explore the creativity in me.

This weekend is packed to the brim with a basketball game for my oldest, a birthday party and a day trip to the islands for a little speaking to do for Chris. I am looking forward to it and daylight savings too that will mean much more light in the evenings come next week!!

So what about you, if you had a few hours to yourself how might you spend it indulging on something creative, I would love to know. Monday I will be getting out my camera for the monthly installment of Ten on Ten - will you join me? It's always another way to flex the creative muscles and find some beauty in everyday. Hope you have a wonderful weekend friends whatever shape it takes!

vintage button rings

I will be the first to admit that this little project is embarrassingly easy. It's the kind of thing that can be put together in under a half an hour. And for me that makes it just about perfect because it can be whipped up during naps with dishes and laundry time to spare. The skies the limit on colors and combos and it's even more appropriate to sip something hot or nibble on something sweet while making. While your at it you can make a few extra to bless some of your favorite friends!

The supply list is short:

glue (E-600 is a great all purpose glue for jewelry projects!)
ring blanks
your vintage button stash
chocolate (optional but I recommend :))

After selecting a few fun buttons go ahead and snip of any button shanks that are in the way and get to work on gluing your little ring stack together. Alternately you could wire the buttons together if you have wire and want to go that route. Then glue the stack to your ring blank and let it sit overnight to dry.

And that's about it, the perfect little accessory for date night or after school pickup...enjoy!

(I originally shared this post over on Beautifully Rooted a few years ago but thought it would be fun to share it here too!)

enamel button necklace diy

I also considered naming this post ten reasons why I will never be a fashion blogger - haha! Getting my photo taken is pretty high on the list of most awkward ways to spend my time...but you guys I really loved how this necklace turned out so I just went for it. Please enjoy my awkwardness :)

Truthfully this post is dedicated to J.Crew and all the brightly colored jewelry that they have been showing this season. I love it all and wanted to emulate it on a smaller more wearable scale for my day to day and this is what I came up with.

All you need is a rhinestone button or brooch, luckily I had this one in my craft stash. Some nail polish and a steady hand. I had to go for a little neon orange I am still in love with the neon trend!

Paint the desired jewels with the nail polish (hint: it helps to use a tiny brush) I did a few coats and then let it sit overnight.

Then I added a simple chain with some jump rings and that's it. I thought about making it a hair clip but didn't have one on hand. I think that would be a really fun and wearable way to do the pop on neon too!

A special thanks to my sister in law, Kristen for enduring my awkward face to take these photos..and my other sister in law Jenny for throwing out the dress I have on (total score)! Hope you guys have a great day today and that you find a little time to play! xo

jewelry box :: wire wrapped briolette earrings

Making jewelry is one of my most favorite guilty pleasures. In days which feel so long ago I use to sell my jewelry line to boutiques and taught advanced wire techniques at a little (OK not so little anymore) bead shop here in Seattle called FusionBeads. I made the jewelry for several high end designers as well and would dream about my own designs - it was one of the most fun times in my life I hope to get back to it too someday!

I love everything about the delicate process of wrapping wire and beautiful gemstones and although for the time being I have hung up my jewelry designer hat from time to time I like to get out my collection of stones and play. 

I put together these really simple wire capped briolette drops this past weekend after coming across an entire box of gorgeous chrysophrase beads and wondered if any of you guys might like to learn a few jewelry making skills too - I thought it would be fun to start sharing them here this summer a "jewelry box" feature if you will. And for my first installment these simple briolette drop earrings...nice and light and a perfect gift for yourself or a friend they take no time at all!

 

A few things before we get started though and first things first your tools. If you are someone looking to really invest and get started in the art of wire jewelry making and plan to use real gemstones and gold filled wire and such I totally suggest investing in a really good set of tools. I love Lindstrom round nose and chain nose pliers and can not live without my Tronex flush cutters. The lower end tools you find at craft stores are fine too but just know that you won't be able to get those tiny little loops you see on work like Dana Kellin's (one of my fav designers!).

Also when working with gold filled or sterling silver wire I suggest using dead soft for wire wrapping - it's a bit softer and has not been work hardened the same as the half hard wire which works best when you want to create a heavier hoop or teardrop. The wire I buy most often is 26 gauge dead soft for wire wrapping and 20 gauge half hard for creating wire frames...but really it's all up to you and what you might even have on hand.

To make the earrings you will need two matching briolette (a fancy term for top drilled) stones and two pieces of fine (26 or 28 gauge) wire about 9" each. I used 26/dead soft gold filled wire.

Slid one of the stones into the center of one of the pieces of wire and bring the "two legs" up and around the bead.

Using your fingers gently pinch down as close to the top of the stone and create a little triangle squeezing those legs of wire together.

Pinch the top of the wire just above the stone with the round nose pliers and bend the wire back the rotate your hand back by releasing your grip slightly and turning the pliers so that they are top to bottom on the wire instead of side to side.

Then push the wire up and around the pliers to create a question mark shape.

Next you will turn the stone over and pinch the question mark upside down continuing the circle through on the pliers.

Then wrap both legs of wire back down towards the top of the stone continuing over top of the stone creating an organic looking bead cap with the wire. Once you get to the desired spot simple trim the excess wire with your flush cutters and use the chain nose pliers to tuck the wire into the back of the bead.

Hang them on a pair of earring wires and repeat on the second bead. 

Let me know if you have any questions - and if there is a specific wire technique you have always wanted to learn let me know too I might be able to help!

Thanks for letting me share today I hope you have a wonderful week friends!!

neon cord + beads + knots

POW! Instant gratification naptime crafting = my fave!

Prairie Feather Necklace

I have a sweet spot for feather accessories this time of year they just feel like fall to me. I had fun putting together this easy pendant this week to celebrate the beginning of November and the holiday season. I think I will make another one with four feathers, one for each of my little baby birds - who are not all such babies anymore, sigh.

It was super easy - here is what you need to make one:

fabric scraps
spray adhesive
feather template (optional)
wire
chain
scissors
jump rings and clasp
jewelry pliers

1. For each feather you will need two small squares of fabric. If you want to use a template for your feather (I used this one and sized it at 75% before printing it on card stock) make sure to cut each square the same height as the feather you desire. It will make sense in a sec - if you don't use a template and just want to free form cut the feather this step doesn't matter.

2. Lay each square of fabric on a piece of cardboard or another surface that won't get ruined by your spray adhesive and spray each piece. Then place a piece of wire approximately 6 inches or so in the middle of one of the squares and lay the opposite one on top and firmly press to stick. Let dry briefly.

3. Cut the square into a feather when it is dry using your template. Make sure to lay the template on top so that the wire is running through the center of the feather.

4. Wire wrap each end of wire. If you need a tutorial for this HERE is a good one!

5. Using your jewelry tools add jump rings and chain to get the desired length for your necklace.

Simple as that and a fun way to use up the ever growing pile of fabric scraps too! I hope you guys have a wonderful day today I will be back later on with our first capturing our blessings set!!

Another fun feather accessory tutorial HERE!