Via Twitter, I came across a family-owned and operated company in Michigan called
Photo Jewelry Making. They sell a wide variety of bracelet, pendant, brooch, and ring blanks, as well as all of the necessary supplies to transform your photos into wearable art. I love to make quilled jewelry and realized many of the blanks could easily hold quilling instead of a picture.

Placing a quilled monogram in a silver rectangle is sure to elicit the wow factor, plus the frame stabilizes the design. The textured background is a nice bonus too.

This piece is a magnifying glass - ahem, something I'll probably need in the not too distant future with all the close work I love to do. Meanwhile though, I shortened the beautiful silver chain by doubling it, and added a Japanese quilled motif to the beveled surface.

A graphic by
Sharon Bennett inspired the design. You might remember the
quilled bird pendant I made which was inspired by another of her illustrations.
This clear glass locket is double-sided - such a great feature, as you can print out two pics for double the viewing pleasure.

Originally I planned to use it for the quilled E, but despite cutting 1/8 inch strips in half, the paper was a bit too wide for the clasp to shut.
Happily, Plan B worked out perfectly... despite the crazy, hot weather that has made our garden look quite sad, there was
one bright stem of purple balloon flowers in bloom. I grabbed my camera and the EZ-Photo Resizer software, and in no time at all, printed out a picture just the right size to fit the frame. If anyone asks, I can proudly say, "Yes, from
my garden!"

This one inch square, silver pendant frames a single quilled flower. I chose the iciest shades in my paper stash to make a summertime blossom, and cut a square of pale blue, pearlized paper as the background. The mini-ball sterling silver chain adds to the delicate look.

I used standard 1/8 inch quilling strips to make the flower. If you're new to quilling, check out my tutorials
here and
here for all the scoop you'll need to make this project.
Make:
6 inch lavender marquise (make 10)
6 inch pale rose marquise (make 5)
Flower petals:
1. Glue a lavender marquise on each side of a pale rose marquise for each of the five petals.
2. Hold marquises in place while the glue dries, pinching the sides to form the petal shape.
3. Glue a strip of pale turquoise paper around each petal twice as an outline.
4. Glue petals together as pictured to make the flower.
Fringed flower center:
1. Finely fringe a 3 inch lavender strip and a 3 inch pale rose strip.
2. Stack one fringed strip on top of the other and glue them together at one end. Glue a 3 inch lavender strip to the glued end of the fringed strips.
3. Insert the free end of the lavender strip into the slot of a quilling tool and roll toward the fringed strips. Continue rolling to the end of strips. Apply a small amount of glue and slide flower off tool.
4. Glue the fringed flower in the center of the petals and fluff out fringe.


The company also sells a variety of more ornate frames... I think these silver-plated and brass pendants would lend a lovely, antique look to a filigree design. Thanks,
Photo Jewelry Making, for offering lots of new and exciting possibilities for quilled jewelry!