Thrift Shop Blog Hop Reveal

Well I just did my first ever blog hop ... so be kind lol.

It's Pookledo's thrift shop blog hop - the idea was to go to a thrift/charity store and buy something for £1 (or $1.50 for the US participants), then make something/s.

I actually found this challenge harder than I anticipated - turns out even charity shops are expensive in London ... I went to one and they wanted at least £2.99 for a piece of jewellery, and up to £9.99!! I have to say I was shocked as it wasn't sterling silver, gold or anything precious - just costume/fashion jewellery. After a few more trips I managed to find something more in the budget:

A pair of brand new large hoop earrings and a cute enamelled bird necklace - the bird was named Tweet.

I didn't get a great in-progress picture as I did a bunch of wirework and wire wrapping which I got carried away with and forgot to photograph until I'd finished lol.
But here's a pic of the wirework leaves as I was working on them  =)

(Please excuse the bad picture - it was the early hours lol)






Unfortunately when I was finished with the leaves and put it all together I realised the metals mismatched and with all my monthly jewellery making budget spent (well actually I went over as I wanted in on a magazine competition) - the hoops were more of a bronze/antique gold mix while the bird details and chain were bright gold. So I decided to wrap the hoop in some gold wire to bring the colours closer. 

So anyway, here's what I wound up with after stabbing myself frequently with the wire ... those little loops on the bottom of the hoops were a nightmare to wrap around, and I left the teal coloured drop beads on the hoop as they reminded me of leaves and I thought the colour went nicely with the pink of Tweet:

Oh dear, the pictures didn't turn out very good (it was raining outside so I had to take them indoors), but there you have Tweet's New Perch ... I hope I did okay in my first ever blog hop - I learnt that working on a £1 budget is very hard lol  =)



And here's all the other folks in the hop so check out what they made too:

Sarah - www.pookledo.blogspot.co.uk
Deb - http://greenshoot.blogspot.co.uk/
Kimberley - http://goddessesandbeads.blogspot.co.uk/
Skye - http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.co.uk/
Ambra - http://chicandfrog.wordpress.com/
Beti - http://stringingfool.blogspot.com/
Emma - www.apolymerpenchant.com
Shelley - www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com
Tammie -  http://ttedesigns.blogspot.co.uk/
Leah - http://beadyeyedbunny.blogspot.co.uk/
Denielle - www.somebeadsandotherthings.com
Keri Lee - http://www.pinklemonade.typepad.com 
Rochelle - acreativechelle.blogspot.com
Pam - http://pamelas-studio.blogspot.com/
Ingetraud - http://ingetraud.wordpress.com/
Audrey - http://esperianterra.blogspot.com/
Julie Anne - www.thepeacefulbead.com
Sharyl - http://www.sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com
Micheladas - http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com 
Lo (Me)  -   http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.co.uk/
Kala - http://maybejustperhaps.blogspot.co.uk/