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Turn Anything Into Jewelry Gourds, tassels, metal rods—they're stylish jewelry in the making. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-111

Even a gourd can become gorgeous!

If it's small enough to wear around your neck or hang off an earlobe, Michele Beschen can turn it into jewelry.

These projects from the B. Original host show how to make jewelry from gourds, upholstery tassels and even metal parts from model cars. Take these techniques and start looking for inspiration everywhere—your jewelry collection will thank you.

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C

Great Gourds

Ancient people used them to carry water; more modern folk use them to decorate their homes or even as birdhouses. But gourds also make excellent jewelry material, with interesting patterns and warm, earthy colors. Here's how to make your own gourd jewelry.

Materials:

rotary tool
diamond bit
small drill bit
dried gourd
stain
jump rings
jewelry clasps and findings

• Use the rotary tool with diamond bit to cut shapes out of your gourd (figure A). Michele Beschen likes rounded, abstract shapes because they bring out the color patterns in her gourds.

• Rub stain on the gourd to bring out the natural design and let dry.

• Drill holes at each end of a gourd piece with a very small bit (figure B). Repeat for all pieces.

• Link the pieces together with jump rings and add jewelry clasps and findings as needed (figure C). Gourd pieces make lovely necklaces, bracelets and pendants.

Hot Rod Beads

Hobby shops are chock full of interesting do-dads that make fun jewelry. The next time you're in one, look for hollow aluminum rods near the model cars (figure D). They do double duty as heavy tube beads.

Just clamp a rod in a vise and cut it with a hacksaw, then sand away any metal burrs. Use the rods with hardware and coordinating beads for an industrial-inspired pendant (figure E).

Figure D

Figure E

Figure F

Jewelry Inspirations Everywhere

Here are a few more "found object" jewelry ideas from Michele Beschen:

• Use a droplet crystal from a chandelier as a pendant. Several smaller droplets could become a matching bracelet and earrings.

• Grab a couple of interesting decorative tassels the next time you're at a fabric or upholstery shop. They make excellent pendants (figure F).

• Dangle a small Christmas ornament from your neck as a festive pendant. If you have complicated ornaments you no longer use as decorations, take them apart and find jewelry uses for the components.

No matter where you go, you'll find something that can make a fun piece of jewelry. Just keep your eyes open and B. Original!