My Coffee Table Project

This is a little explanation of my coffee table project. Jacob and I got this wonderful hand-me-down coffee table a few years ago. It's been through multiple apartments and generations of college students. It's sturdy and has never let us down in its coffee and magazine holding abilities! I wanted a "cheap" update for it, and painting it just seemed silly, so I opted for turning it into an ottoman sort of thing. We put our feet up on the table anyway, and we were always sticking our pillows on the table to make it soft! I tried to take pictures as I worked on it, but failed miserably. I will explain what happened in between shots!

So, here's the wonderful coffee table in all of its glory:
First I measured it, and then I went to the fabric store to get upholstery fabric and muslin that would cover all four sides and the top. The fabric is where this project can get pricy. I also got some 1/2 inch foam:

Here's my staple gun. It kills by hands but it does the job okay.

To get the tight/cushiony effect that I wanted, I spray glued the foam onto the table (after I cut it to the size of the top of the table (plus an inch or so). After that, I cut the muslin out so it could be pulled over the foam and stapled to the bottom of the table:
Our table stayed like this for a few months while I rested and regained the will to work on this project some more...

When I finally regained the will to DIY, I got out the fabric I bought months before and sewed it all up. The cover is pretty simple, just the sides sewn to the top and hemmed. I made ties for the corners so it looks more finished.

The cover is basically a table cloth that ties on the corners because I wanted to be able to remove it and put it in the washing machine. We have a dog, and his hairs get all over everything! Also, I'll be able to change the cover when I feel like it. I might get some modern looking fabric next time!

Overall, I don't think it looks perfect, and it doesn't really look like one of the cool, high end ottomans for sale but it's an improvement! Cheers!

Flashback

... to senior year of high school (when I learned about binary code)!

I've seen some jewelry with binary code in the past, and I'm thinking about doing some of my own (no copying)! I like this idea because binary code can be used in jewelry in order to display a secret message.
Somebody (including me) could wear a necklace that says either normal things, mushy things, or even really weird things and (almost) nobody would ever know!

Slacker

I haven't posted in a while because I've been working on the new house:

I'm getting back in the game though, and I'm excited because I will be featuring Etsy sellers in the near future! I've found some great designers who should be fun to show off a little bit!

Cheers!

Initial Pendant Process "Video"!

Copper Beads from Scratch

My latest class project has been using up some copper sheet I've had in my toolbox for a while now! I decided to make beads and display them on sterling silver so the copper looks pretty high end. They're not perfect but I think that the end product is very elegant... what do you think?

I'm not planning on selling these but I might change my mind!

Etsy Columbus Wedding Challenge Entry

Here's the actual pendant that I'm entering into the Etsy Columbus Wedding Challenge! It's listed in MollyStuff, called Romance in Yellow.

Etsy Columbus Wedding Challenge

I've been working on a design for the Etsy Columbus Wedding Challenge. Here's a sketch of what I'm planning on making!
The pendant will be hand-cut out of sterling silver with a yellow crystal bead hanging from it. I'll probably make earrings that match it... oh and coordinating bridesmaid jewelry? Oh boy... the deadline is Sunday!

New Item at MollyStuff: Exclaim!

I think I've finally figured out how to photograph jewelry in my apartment! I found a setting on my camera that seems to work pretty well in the lighting I have in my apartment. I think I need to get a tripod, though!
vs.

This is a new piece for my Etsy store, MollyStuff. It's called, Exclaim!

The pendant is sterling silver, measures .5" X .5", and it hangs on a 16" sterling silver chain.

Pendant for Chain Project

This pendant started with a fashion drawing-inspired sketch.
Here's the silver version. (There's a tab above her head that will wrap around the chain to hold the pendant) This one is definitely a statement piece of jewelry! It measures 4" tall (including the silver disc that hangs from the bottom). This pendant is going to hang on the chain that I made in my class. I'll put up a picture when I have the pieces put together!!

Class Project: Chain

Yay! I made a chain! It's 18" long and made out of 18 gauge sterling silver wire. I formed each ring, cut them out, soldered each ring, and formed them into this loop-in-loop chain. It's a very simple chain but it took about 6 hours to complete just because it takes time to form the rings and solder them individually. It's not completely done yet... to complete the project I have to add closures and I'm making a pendant to hang off of it.

Class Project: Riveting

I made this pendant in my jewelry class. It's made out of copper and brass, with a copper wire rivet and a copper tube rivet. I don't have a chain for it yet but I'll wear it around when I get a gold chain!

Princesse Lointaine ::for sale!::

This is a new sterling silver pendant for sale at MollyStuff! This is a modern take on the popular Art Nouveau theme 'Princesse Lointaine' (the female with flowers). The pendant measure 2.25" tall by 1.75" wide, hanging on a 16" sterling silver chain. Only $50!

Adobe Garamond Initial Pendant ::for sale!::

1" X 1" sterling silver pendant, on a 16" sterling silver chain. $55 at my etsy store, MollyStuff! Just let me know what letter(s)/font you want and I'll make it for ya!

The Dancer ::for sale!::

In life, as in art, the beautiful moves in curves.

~ Edward Bulwer-Lytton

At MollyStuff as of today, for $50! It is sterling silver, measuring 1.75" tall by 1" wide. It hangs on a 16" sterling silver chain.

Mmm... New Design... Tasty.

I'm making this for my Etsy store. Yay! This will be cut out of silver and hung on a silver chain. This was inspired by my love of lines from dance and fashion drawing.

Finished Class Project!

I soldered the bezel (the piece of silver that goes around the stone) in class last week, cut out the pendant piece on my own, and soldered the bezel onto the pendant in class today! Setting stones is pretty fun... I think I'll do it again in my next class project. For my next project, I'm going to be making the chain as well as the pendant! Woah! The chain starts out as sterling silver wire... yikes! I'm excited to eventually have a necklace that's all handmade!

My plan is to keep all of the things that I make in my class (not try to sell them), sort of as portfolio pieces. I may eventually give them away, though!

Lucky Charms **for sale!**

I have two pairs of horseshoe earrings for sale and two horseshoe pendants for sale in my Etsy store, MollyStuff. Everything is handcrafted sterling silver (sold seperately).

Rhythm

I think I've found a rhythm! I work on the designing of jewelry on Monday mornings and go to class in the afternoons. Then on Thursdays I can make what I designed on Monday. I think that as long as I keep doing this, I'll be able to get a nice little selection for my Etsy store.

Me Lucky Charm

I made this ring in my class yesterday in honor of St. Patrick's Day!

New MollyStuff Items for Sale!

Silver Eye, $50 at MollyStuff.

Silver Dangles, $20 at MollyStuff.

Please visit my store, MollyStuff if you are interested in purchasing!