Hinges & Gears

by Joan Williams
(Springfield, MO)

I had a lot of fun creating this bracelet out of re-purposed
materials - hinges and clock gears! The owner of one of the local bead stores always has a great selection of these things and I love to dig through them for inspiration.

Once I got the design figured out, it was really easy to put together - I simply attached the gears to the hinges with large links from a Vintaj chain. The rusty little flower was wired to the gear with a bead and a ballpoint headpin. As I prefer a monochromatic look, I only added a hint of color with Gilders paste, but a whole different look could be achieved by painting the pieces different colors or adding bright beads.

Oh, and the best thing is - I was invited to teach a class for this bracelet at the bead store!

Joan Williams
Lilruby - jewelry design and more