Leather Key Chains

I've added something new to my jewelry shop.  While I love making my jewelry, I was looking for something that was a little less time consuming to make that I could offer at a lower price point.

I had some leather left over from some leather bracelets I had been making so I made a few basic key chains like the one shown below. It is made from a nice sturdy vegetable dyed leather with a nickel plated clasp.

Soon after I came across a silver plated swivel clasp and split ring when I was out shopping for supplies. That resulted in this key chain with clip. It is perfect for clipping to a belt loop or purse.

                                       

Next to be added was a key ring attached to a leather wristlet strap. This is great when you are running errands and don't want to lose your keys in the bottom of your purse. Just slip this over your hand and your keys are easily accessible.

The latest key chain added was the double ring. I work in retail and I notice a lot of people searching for reward card key tags among their keys. With my double key ring you can keep all your tags on one ring and your keys on the other. Or, you can keep house or office keys on on side and car keys on the other.

Clicking on any of the photos will take you to that item in my shop.

A New Project

My newest project doesn't have anything to do with jewelry making or crochet.

Our neighborhood was starting to be overrun with feral cats. They were everywhere and multiplying rapidly. A neighbor volunteers for a local no-kill shelter so she and another neighbor started trapping them, having them neutered and then releasing them into the wooded area behind our neighborhood.

 

In the meantime, a litter of kittens had been born.After they were weaned, the mother was trapped, spayed and released, The kittens were then caught. There were 3 little cuties. Someone took one right away, but the other 2 need a place to stay until they are old enough to be neutered and put up for adoption. That is where I came in. 

                                

My animal shelter friend already had as many fosters as she could handle, plus her own dogs and cats, so she asked me if I wouldn't mind fostering them for a few weeks. How could I resist?

Of course, my 10 year old tabby, Emma, absolutely hates them. I guess she has forgotten that she was rescued as a feral kitten in the woods by the same shelter and now has a cozy, warm, loving home with us.

My youngest son has been helping me work to socialize them so that they have a better chance at being adopted quickly.  The little orange one should have no problem. He is friendly to a fault. All he wants is attention. The black one, on the other hand, has finally stopped hissing at me whenever I get too close. I think that it is all an act since when you pick him up he doesn't really fight to get away and will settle down after a bit.

So, that is what I have been working on lately. How about you?

Happy New Year

I hope everyone is having a great New Year so far. It has been quite a while since I posted so I thought that the New Year would be a good time to get back to it. Hopefully it will be a trend that will continue on a semi-regular basis.

I have been trying to build up both my Etsy shops the past few months.My crochet shop, Morning Sky Creations, is very depleted right now. I'm trying to do a little bit of crocheting every day to gradually get if filled back up.

My jewelry shop, Morning Sky Jewelry, is doing a little better. Over the summer I made myself a crochet beaded wrap bracelet. I not only love wearing it, but I love making them. Once I started I couldn't start. The first ones I made using mainly seed beads and some stone chips. Then I made a few using Czech fire polished stones and those are the ones that I really love. 

Wrap Bracelet with Multi Color Seed Beads

Wrap Bracelet with Teal & Orange Firepolished Crystals

This is one of my favorites. I had ordered some Oxblood Red crystals for an idea I had. The supplier ended up sending me a freebie of some Czech fire polished copper luster beads. I ended up abandoning my original idea and combining the two. I love this bracelet. It was very hard for me to list it instead of keeping it for myself. I will have to look into ordering more beads to make another.

Wrap Bracelet with Oxblood and Copper Czech Firepolished Beads

One of the best things about these items is their versatility  They can be worn not only as bracelets, but also as wrap around anklets, or single or double strand necklaces.