Club Creative Studio hand-made wire bracelet.

Turquoise bracelet hand-twisted wire from Club Creative Studio.

Club Creative Studio speaks often about creativity. Here on the blog, you will find inspiration from art, project ideas, and other helpful information stemming from creativity. Today is no different in that I am sharing a short story from the spark of creativity that comes from the opportunity to collaborate and brain-storm.

I attended a networking event a few months ago and there, I met very interesting business people. Among all of them, I met a lady who had a common thread with me. We both shared the love and passion for beads. She was also designing jewelry so needless to say we had much to talk about. What began from a single common friendship fostered a bond through beading. As we connected via other social media methods, we learned more about each other. We planned an outing together to a local bead store that was going out of business. It was there that we spent several hours looking and speaking about beads as well as shopping for beads. It was really a fun time to spend time with someone with a shared enthusiasm for beads and supplies. We are now “beading buddies”.

My beading buddy bought a bracelet (say that three times fast). The wire bracelet was a store sample from one of their classes. When we looked at it we thought the same thing. We both had wondered how it was made, and if we could figure it out by closer examination, since there was not a way to get instruction from the store that was going out of business. We both had mentioned that we had wanted to try to create something similar but had not taken instruction on the technique. We thought that we could make them ourselves. We ended up splitting the cost of the bracelet and I took it home to dissect so we could recreate it later.

After meeting for a brain-storming session, we combined our creative time, and collaborated with our supplies to make our own versions of the same bracelet. Turns out the pattern was a good starting point for us to springboard into our own style and wire-wrapping techniques. Our skill levels were expanding together and we were inspiring to each other. That is what I am thankful for today, the opportunity to connect and support the creative drive of a fellow artist. Can you think of someone you have merged talents with or have benefitted from bouncing ideas off of? Do tell how it was a positive impact for you.

I am now getting comfortable with the technique and my materials. I will soon be able to offer these hand-made bracelets online for others to enjoy and purchase http://www.clubcreativestudio.com

Feel free to “like” Club Creative Studio on Facebook. You can see a “Sneak Peek” from time to time of a fresh design on the Club Creative Studio Facebook page at http://www/facebook.com/clubcreativestudio

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Remember how thrilled I was when I wrote about the empty bullet shells that I received from visiting my friend? Janet brought to me many more spent bullets and encouraged me to keep creating from them.  She recently introduced me to the supply source and he told me a few interesting things that I will also share with you here on the blog.

Using empty bullet shells, I created fun recycled art.

Club Creative Studio Bullet Shell Jewelry Art.

Mr. Dan Buckley is a retired police officer. In 1990, Mr. Buckley retired from the Montgomery County Police Department after thirty-three years of dedicated service. He told me about when the force was making a transition from 38 calabar revolvers to the now used 9 millimeter weapons.  “The “bad guys” had more powerful weapons than they did.” So, the transition began. While they needed to train with the new guns, they had to shoot many rounds to get comfortable with the use and power.  They trained weekly and shot many rounds. Mr. Buckley estimates that the hundred men probably fired around 500 rounds each when they were first making the change-over. Times that by 100 officers and that equals 50,000 empty cases!  Dan collected the shells from the ground initially because he planned on reloading them. He did not get around to it.  For nearly 25 years, they remained in a 5 gallon bucket in a corner of his garage. I could not wait to make my artful transformations and I continue to dream up new items that I can incorporate the empty shells into.

Mini bead flowers on wires are ready to be cut for the Club Creative Studio Bullet Shell Vase Pendants.

Club Creative Studio bullet Vase Art.

When Janet told Mr. Buckley about me and the art that I created from her police officer son’s empty gun shells, he offered to give me the bucket so that I could do more creative art! so, whenever I create another item using the shells, I thank the kind heart of Dan for being my generous supply source. It was great timing and great luck to feel blessed with bullets!

Club Creative Studio Bullet Shell Key Rings

I am allowing my mind to wander and expand on other ideas and ways that I can utilize these shells creatively? I have a few creations in the works. If you have any suggestions as to a different way I can use these bullet shells as a new pendant or in a new item, please share your vision. I have a lot of shells to use up! Thank you for sharing your ideas with me.

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Club Creative Studio Jewelry Art.

This post highlights an interesting recent creation.  It may have started out as ”trash” but, I am happy that I can refer to it as “treasure” now.  I spent time visiting an interesting person and in the mist of one of our conversations she quickly swept away the empty gun shells from a desk top to throw away. Her son, a police officer had the discarded shells from his training. Who knew that being tidy in front of me would make her change gears and not toss the trash.

I asked her if I could have the empty shells because I had an idea to drill a hole through it and somehow make an interesting pendant.  She agreed to share them with a smile and a bit of confusion. It was hard for her to imagine that I could really use them for something artful.  I had ideas in my mind, and I could not wait to show her the results.

Needless to say, I found a way to be creative with the empty shells.

Mixed with a combination of beads, metal wire, crystals, sequins and charms, these bullet shell casings are made to be one-of-a-kind, unique pendants hanging from a simple chain.

Club Creative Studio bullet pendants are one-of-a-kind creations.

These creations will be available online after a brief introduction at a four-day holiday craft fair the first week of November, 2012 in Rockledge, PA.

Club Creative Studio Bullet shell jewelry art.

Please bookmark us and visit us online for the latest creative creations. Our creativity is Art That Sets You Apart! http://www.clubcreativestudio.com

KEEPSAKE RIM TRIM Featuring: Club Creative Studio’s, one-of-a-kind, hand-rolled clay beads.Enhance your floral arrangement and transform a common vase into a reusable keepsake. Colors of beads will vary. The beads will compliment flowers used in the initial designed arrangement.

This item is available exclusively as an “add on” item to a floral arrangement designed by Special Arrangements Floral & Gift Shop, Jacksonville, NC, by way of their teleflora services/website.

It is exciting to share this new item line with you! It is both a decorative and functional item for the home. It will compliment your floral arrangement and add an additional splash of color!

Thank you for your interest in Art That Sets You Apart!