Tag Archive | chain reactions
Material Metamorphosis: Transforming Broken Pieces into Wearable Jewelry
This pair of earrings is one of my favorites – but after one of the charms lost its mother-of-pearl inlay, the set became unwearable.
Using the charm as inspiration, I selected a sterling silver heart link base strand, and a gunmetal filigree insert strand to construct a necklace.
You can use any of our 10″ base strands to attach your own charms, pendants or embellishments. This may be worn as an anklet, or – as explained in the next step – it may be combined with an insert strand to create a necklace.
After attaching the charm, connect your insert strand. Secure your design in the back with a detachable hook-up style clasp.
Now my unwearable earrings have a new life as a Chain Reactions custom necklace!
This earring was also broken. I used pliers to detach the intact charm from the earring hook piece. You may need to add a jump ring to make your charm sit perfectly in your necklace.
Again, simply attach the new charm to a base strand.
Next, layer on your favorite insert strand. Here, I have selected a white pearl insert strand to match the opalescent charm.
You can mix and match elements to achieve the best match in texture, color and style.
Voila! Another “new” necklace from old jewelry!
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Featured Design: JULIE is a Star!
This design was created for Julie, the 100th person to like Lace Exoskeleton on Facebook! As someone who has inspired me throughout my artistic career, Julie has given me far more than I can express in words…
This set includes custom charms. The first charm – not in this image is a hand-embrodered crystal star. The second is our signature skeleton key to symbolize opening doors, expanding horizons. The third is a silver heart with crystal droplet in lagoon blue to symbolize the connections of love and friendship.
This exclusive, one-of-a-kind insert is designed as an “illusion” style invisible strand. It includes teal blue fishing line and crystals. We may produce this strand in the furture, although it has an unfortunate tendency to kink permanently when worn often. Our other designs do not have this issue.
This set included three clasps – a crystal beaded hook-up clasp in lagoon, and two heart tab hook-up clasps. This variety of clasps ensures the length of each strand is adjustable.
The center piece of this set – available upon request for custom orders – is a hand-embroidered star pendant.
Julie selected the lagoon color palette to compliment her fair skin tone. This is one of the best colors for people whop like green, but find that it brings out too much red in their skin tone. Shown here against a pale blue background, it shimmers with subtle green accents (Swarovski crystal luminous green).
Against a white background, the darker blue tones in the lagoon theme stand out. Each color palette in the Chain Reactions collection will assume a unique appearence depending upon your personal skin tone and coloration.
This necklace includes a custom insert strand. Longer and shorter strands are available for all of our designs upon request to ensure that your piece fits as both a necklace and a bracelet.
With love and best wishes, we at Lace Exoskeleton proudly proclaim that JULIE IS A STAR!
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Exponential Fashion Potential
This image illustrates some of the main differences between bold and delicate strands.
The foundation of each base set is a 10″ chain base strand like this one. The base strand is used to build necklaces and display pendant or charms. It also doubles as an anklet.
Each base set creates at least 3 different jewelry combinations. Our deluxe set – with two insert strand – creates all of these combinations. The number of combinations grows exponentially as more strands are added.
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Somewhere Over the Rainbow…
Color is more than an aesthetic decision! As the physical evidence of light wavelengths, color has the power to influence moods, perception, and mental states. And, it is also an effective vehicle for personal expression!
Color trends will never again leave you stranded with an obsolete, outdated piece! With our interchangeable strands in 28 different colors (not including our seasonal and special edition palettes), you can adapt your color choices to correspond with any trend or color fad. And an extra bonus: You can match every stubborn magenta bridesmaid dress – without investing in a whole new set of jewelry pieces… How does this work? Well, because the chain base strand and charms are detachable, you only need one full set to create necklaces, bracelets and anklets. Thus, the more strands you buy, the more color options you have – and your look can never go out of style again!
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“Sexy Sweetheart” Necklace & Bracelet Design – Using COLOR to Convey Themes & Tell A Story
Inspired by the most decadent, irresistible feminine archetypes – from femme fatale, to the vixen, vamp, temptress, and beyond – this black & red asymmetrical necklace design features a knockout combination of seductive themes and come-hither color combinations.
This “Sexy Sweetheart” design uses several different interwoven colors and themes, inspired by one of my favortie date night ensembles. No matter what color represents your inner goddess, you can “be your own fairy godmother” with Chain Reactions modular jewelry. With 28 colors to choose from (and combine!), you can easily create the perfect accessory to match almost any design inspiration. For this design, a cherry red pair of sexy (yet traditional/vintage) heels serves as our first source of inspiration.
A complex look can be built from a few simple pieces. Every layer – from your perfume, to your nail polish – exudes a story of its very own. “Collage” your fantasy onto your body by mixing and matching different design elements from different sources. Pictured is my favorite nailpolish color (selected to match the shoes).
We begin our necklace with a neutral base color – black – to match the dress fabric pictured in this image. A 10″ base strand in black is used as a connection point for a crystal key pendant in “silver night”.
Next, a red 10mm heart (“light siam AB”) drop is layered onto the 10″ chain base strand, via the same clasp used to secure the key. Experiment with different layers and color combinations to achieve different effects. Red and black are often associated with sexuality, passion, and “the darker side” of romance. You can use intuitive themes as inspiration when selecting a color combo – what do you want people to see, hear and know? Communication without words may seem difficult – but it is at heart, the only universal language we have!
After the charms have been layered, an 8″ crystal insert strand (pomegranate, bold style) is connected to the clasp.
The loose end of the chain base strand is attached to a heart tab hook up clasp.
The open back of this necklace allows you to put it on without disturbing the layered charms in front.
This step is normally completed around the neck. Attach remaining end of insert strand to the heart tab hook up clasp.
Voila! Sexy sweetheart, on demand!
Matches the nailpolish perfectly!
And also perfectly color-coordinated to match the shoes!
Dreaming of a matching bracelet? Your wish is my command! Attach a heart tab hook up clasp to the end of a 7″ delicate style crystal insert strand (pomegranate).
Attach another heart tab hook up clasp to the other end.
Connect a crystal beaded heart hook up clasp (pomegranate) to one heart at a time to complete your bracelet.
Here is how you get it on you wrist!
Sexier than any forbidden fruit!
This design is bold, yet still classic, feminine, yet a bit edgy. What does your inner temptress look like?
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Summer Morning Dutch Baby Pancakes – A Necklace & A Recipe
Tasha’s recipe for mixed summer berry compote: Gently simmer 1 pint fresh blueberries and 1/2 cup fresh strawberries in a mixture of lemon zest, pomegranate juice, 1 vanilla bean, and lemon juice; add juice until berries are submerged; cook until berries burst and release juices; add raw honey and a pinch of salt for flavor balance.
Before mixing pancake batter, preheat oven to 450 degrees F, and warm a 10″ skillet for 5-10 minutes in the oven (this step ensures that your pancake will rise up, as pictured).
Roger’s recipe for Dutch baby pancakes: While skillet is preheating, combine 2 eggs, 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup sifted flour, lemon zest, a pinch of salt and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Remove preheated skillet from oven, and turn down heat to 425 degrees F. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter onto the skillet, and then puour your pancake batter into skillet. Remove when golden brown, as pictured.
Batter will rise above sides of your skillet – cut into slices and top with powdered sugar, whipped cream and compote.
Enjoy with your favorite toppings and spices added into the mixture… Why is baking so fabulous??? Because it is MODULAR – you can adapt it to fit your personal tastes and preferences!
The Dutch baby pancake necklace!!!!
Use a 10″ enamelled brass base strand (pictured in black) to combine 1 each of the following beaded insert strands: (1) 8″ bold pomegranate strand, and (2) 8″ bold honeycomb strand. These colors mimic the combination of vivid summer fruit and golden pancake dough in our Dutch baby pancakes.
Next, begin twisting the strands to get a “DNA twist” effect.
Secure loose ends with a heart tab hook-up clasp.
Use the same heart tab hook-up clasp to close the remaininf ends of your necklace.
A close up of our Dutch baby pancake necklace.
Perfect for hot summer days – vivid, yet classic! What inspires your Lace Exoskeleton?
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Introduction to Color Matching: How to Adapt Your Exoskeleton to Match ANY Outfit!
Modular jewelry designs can be adapted to match any inspiration, context or color combination. The necklace featured in this post was inspired by the deep red of fresh summer cherries, and the dusty pink fabric of one of my favorite cotton dresses.
To find the perfect match, “collage” a few modular pieces together to see how they look.
To build a necklace, begin by attaching one charm to a base strand.
If a layered look is desired, stack other charms – in different materials, shapes, and sizes, on top of your base strand.
Cluster a few crystal drops on top for even more dimension.
After attaching your chams, connect your desired crystal insert strand to the same clasp you used to attach your charm layers.
finish your necklace by connecting the loose ends in back with a hook-up clasp or chain extender.
Mix and match your modullar pieces to match any outfit!
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Chain Reactions Color Palettes ~ White Wedding
This bold style bracelet is perfect for brides. It is heirloom quality, and wearable even after your big day is over.
Here is a stacked bracelet with both the bold and delicate strand.
Different color palettes will look different when worn on different skin tones.
You can mix and match colors, or go for a monochromatic look, like this.
Here, the crystal beaded heart hook-up clasp is holding the bracelet in place. If you need more length, or have troble getting all of the ends on by yourself, we have a great selection of other modular components to dolve these issues and adapt the strand to your needs.
This set also creates an anklet. Shown above it is the bold bracelet.
The bold asymmetrical necklace uses the same chain base strand seen in the anklet image.
You can also wear the strands as a centerpiece for symmetrical necklaces.
These strands are simply layered onto the base strand. Delicate strands are 7″ and bold strands are 8″, allowing the stacked layers to fall perfectly in this design.
Strands may be twisted to make this DNA twist necklace.
A detail of the twist technique, also useful for bracelets.
And more twist technique!
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Intro to Modular Jewelry… and The Universe!
Chain Reactions modular jewelry lets you create your own jewelry trends, styles and designs, while also offering an alternative to passive “consumption” of identity and self-expression.
Interchangeable pices can be layered to match any outfit, mood or holiday. This produces less waste than having discrete items for very limited uses.
The same necklace may be worn with any charm. The chain color, too, may be edited. Or, you can simply break this necklace down into a bracelet and an anklet.
A modular design allows you to begin with a few pieces, and build a collection slowly over time.
As you find new interests, and you style changes, the jewelry you wear can be altered to fit the evolution. Most importantly, obsolete concepts are edited out without loosing your entire investment in self-expression.
As your mind and body mature over time, your sense of creative empowerment and collaborative involvement will also blossom. When your choices as a consumer are more closely fitted to you, they are far more rewarding, and less likely to be discarded before their use value is depleted.
With modular designs, there are no limits to potential for growth. Individual pieces are not bound by a specific configuration, and move freely between designs. Charms for earrings double as charms for bracelets and necklaces.
~~~ Lace Exoskeleton ~~~ 