Brooch Bracelet

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DIY Brooch Bracelet

I can remember a brief stint in the late 80’s/early 90’s when I wore a brooch on a scarf. It seems like the same time twistbeads were in style. Did you have those? The necklace where you would twist together a few ropes of beads held together with a fancy clamp.

My hair was as wide as it was tall back then. Those were the days.

If I think back even further there were days when elegant ladies with perfectly bee hived hair wore an heirloom brooch with everything. These fancy pins were a regular piece of jewelry adoring dresses and polished attire. Nowadays you don’t really see brooches on the pages of fashion magazines. In fact you’re more likely to find those glamorous gems hidden away in the bottom of a jewelry box, a thrift store display or even a garage sale.

That’s where I found a few of these lovelies. Garage Sale steals at $1! What to do with these beauties screaming for a fashion forward update?

I don’t see them making a comeback in the same manor they were worn in their heyday. So, today we will usher in the old…in a new way. We are going to repurpose these beautiful old brooches into cool, funky fun bracelets. The supplies are easy to hunt for. You may even have some of your grandmothers old jewelry tucked away that you can bring back to life. Next you will need a man’s belt (they tend to be thicker than a woman’s). Either clean out your man’s closet or hit the thrift store. Belts run about $2-4/each there. The items below are needed from your local craft store to bring the past to a new purpose.

An antique brooch emulates class and style. A era bygone. Days of a slower pace and more formality. A time when neighbors raised each others kids and sipped sweet tea on their front porch. Brooches make me think of wisdom.

Think about the confident, delicate, sophisticated, pulled together looking women of days past who stylishly wore these fashionable pieces of jewelry.

Those women are just like us, only living in a different time. Think about where those ladies are and what they’re up to now. The time that has passed between brooch wearing days and today has gathered wisdom and knowledge only Christ and life experience can round up. Those ladies are all around you. They are in your church, bible study, neighborhood, town and maybe even your family. These beautiful matriarchs hold deep vats of wisdom just waiting to be poured out. They are waiting to share their experience earned wisdom with a younger generation. So often in life we gravitate to people our own age and in the same stage of life. But what are we missing if we don’t broaden our friendship horizon? Think about all the teaching of tips, tricks, shortcuts, time savers and flat out knowledge we could gain if we saddled up next to some older women who have already been there, done that.

Titus 2 firmly states that sound doctrine should be taught and passed down, generation to generation by training and example.

Titus 2:3 Teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live…4 Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children.

Older women in our lives still sparkle and shine like they did when they were younger. They are priceless jewels just waiting to be used. Let your eyes scan over your crowd of friends. Is your group one dimensional or is it full of variety?

 

Maybe you have precious resources running rampant in your family that you can gleam from. Maybe your family lives far away and you need a local mother or grandmother figure. Maybe you never had a relationship with your mother and could grow and rest in the love a wise women of another generation could offer. Maybe you didn’t grow up in a Christian household and hunger for a role model. Maybe you’re a young mom drowning in the throws of infancy and toddlerhood. Maybe your marriage is circling the drain and you need a Godly wife to walk with you. Maybe you are parenting teenagers right now and could use some gentle wisdom and prayer that you will make it through the trials of the teen years. Maybe you are an empty nester or newly retired.

 

Wherever you are in life seek out someone unexpected. Find the friendship that offers life giving truth and example. I bet there is a match for you. One that can calm babies and your heart. Perhaps you’ll come across a mother of five girls who will offer you truth and patience when your wheels go off the track. A hip grandmother could cross your path and show you what a life long love of the Lord  and service can look like. There might be a beautiful lady who walks the marriage vows of taking care of each other in sickness and health out in an inspiring way. A funny and humble wife and grandmother will lead by faithful example and help you learn how not to sweat the small stuff. This type of friendship is God ordained. If you pray for it and seek it, God will bless you with it.

And you will learn.

Oh how you will grow and learn.

No doubt, this will not be a one sided friendship. You will see that you have something to offer your new friend too…

We all long to feel new, useful and purposeful – at any age – just like this shiny brooch.

 

Brooch Bracelet Supplies:

* affiliate links below, this just means if you make a purchase I could receive a small commission, thanks!
Belt
Leather hole punch

Scrap leather

Leather glue

Snap kit

Hammer

Scissors

Pencil

1. Once you have gathered all your supplies start by measuring a length of belt to your wrist. Make sure it isn’t to tight, you need room to move. (picture above)

2. Use a small bottle or other round item to guide a soft rounded end to your belt bracelet. Cut accordingly. (picture above)

3. Read the directions on your snap kit. Punch a hole in each end of bracelet. Use hole size that will accept snap parts.

4. Following the directions attach snap to belt. You want to make sure you have the parts the right way before you hammer them together.

5. Place brooch where you would like it displayed on bracelet. This is usually a little off center to compensate for the snap overlap.

6. Punch hole to accept pin back

7. Line up broach with hole and make where to punch second hole for the other end of pin back.

8. Press pin through holes and secure closed. You want the pin base to push through the holes you punched. This should make the brooch flush on the front of bracelet.

9. Cut a small piece of leather to cover the back of pin area.

10. Glue leather down with leather glue. You will have to hold a while, it takes time to set. You may need to go back after it is dry and re-glue some parts to make secure.

11. Go show off your “new” bracelet! Check out these other cuff bracelet ideas: Watch face  or old shoe upcycle.