Craft Therapy and a New Necklace

January 31, 2013

Craft Therapy and a New Necklace

January 31, 2013

Brass Tag Necklace Made with New and Vintage Items

 

I’m one of those people who just doesn’t get angry about ordinary, every day things. It takes me a while.

I’ve been accused of being a “Pollyanna” and I’m OK with that. I LIKE thinking the best about people. It makes me happy.

I got really upset with someone last night. Like I said, it doesn’t happen often, but I found myself being lied to by another business woman that I’ve gone out of my way to help. I was sad, disappointed and angry.

About the only way to calm myself down when I get upset is to either CLEAN something or MAKE something.

A little craft therapy always helps.

So I decided to make a necklace with some old, brass number tags I found a while ago.

 

Brass Tag Necklace Made with New and Vintage Items

 

 

First, I had to clean up my jewelry making station. Which made me feel a little better.

And then I created the necklace.

I thought I could use a two hole punch usually used in jewelry making to create a hole at the bottom of the brass tag but it was far too strong for the punch.

Luckily, my husband has a whole garage full of cool tools so just a few seconds with a drill press and I was set to go again.

The little copper heart is also a vintage find that I added to the bottom of the tag with a jump ring.

A few Swarovski crystals in black and clear on headpins added to the jump ring that holds the brass heart add a bit of sparkle with the vintage metal. And a pearl drop just for a girlie touch.

Ahhh! Just what I needed to do to calm myself and get back to my usual happy go lucky self.

What do you do when you are angry or upset to calm down? Do you have your own version of craft therapy?

 

 

Vicki O'Dell

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  • Linda Abellera 'Fletcher Mountain Creations' October 14, 2014 at 2:27 am

    I realize that most of these comments are over a year old, but they are new to me and I am almost relieved to see that other artists meltdown once in a while too:) I usually gather all of my old bead magazines and books around me in bed, shut the door (which means do not bother me) and have a read fest and drool over all the ideas I come up with. Then I sleep for the rest of the day/night and am all set to make things the next morning, with most of the nasties gone!

    • Vicki O'Dell October 14, 2014 at 6:03 pm

      Thank you for the comment Linda. I went back to look at the post and I can’t even remember what I was so upset about at the time.
      I like the way you cope. It sounds like a grand plan!

  • Allie February 3, 2013 at 10:13 am

    I clean when I get REALLY mad.
    I clean REALLY well.
    I try not to do nothing, I try to be productive, so at least some good can come of it.

    • Vicki O'Dell February 4, 2013 at 3:45 pm

      Hi Allie,

      I’m glad you can put your anger to good use. I hope it doesn’t happen too often! πŸ™‚

      V

  • Dawnll January 31, 2013 at 8:50 pm

    I love the necklace and amazed you can create when upset. I have to do physical labor like CLEAN,BAKE, or organize when I am upset.Must have been in the water yesterday I did all of those things in a few hours…lol

    • Vicki O'Dell February 1, 2013 at 10:31 am

      Dawn,
      I need the heavy lifting of physical work when I’m super duper upset. Nothing else seems to help. Luckily, that doesn’t happen often at all.
      I sure hope you are doing better today! πŸ™‚
      V

  • Deb Ochs-LaGrone January 31, 2013 at 10:55 am

    I wish I could say I crafted when I’m upset but for me I lose my creativity when I am really, really angry. Unfortunately for me my therapy is a time stealer, I sleep it off. Then after I can be back to my creative self. Other times I have had to do heavy physical labor like redoing my backyard or something if it’s a gigantic issue that won’t go away. πŸ™‚ That happened to me last winter and I have a fab new back yard now repleat with pond, tiled patio and a grill/bar area. LOL

    • Vicki O'Dell January 31, 2013 at 12:59 pm

      Wow! Deb, you must have REALLY been angry. Hopefully, you aren’t reminded of the reason you were so upset when you are in your back yard. I don’t think that sleeping it off is a bad idea either. Sometimes you just have to crawl into a snuggly, little hole and let the bad juju wear off.
      I hope you are happier now. πŸ™‚

      Vicki

  • Diana January 31, 2013 at 9:57 am

    For me, it’s baking, or making art. Sometimes when I’m feeling really down, I just sit down to draw, and bam! Much better.

    • Vicki O'Dell January 31, 2013 at 1:00 pm

      Hi Diana,
      Sometimes I bake but doing something that takes more brain power is usually the way to go for me. I’m so glad we have our creative lives to turn to when the real ones get to be too much. Aren’t you?

      Vicki

      • Diana January 31, 2013 at 1:46 pm

        It’s true. I try to do brainless activities when I’m down. Writing helps. On pinterest, I have some fine art pinned, so I copy the artwork as a drawing exersize and after that, inspiration comes πŸ˜€

        • Vicki O'Dell February 1, 2013 at 10:30 am

          Diana, I write too. I try to write a little every day just to get some of the “thinks” out of my head. I like the drawing idea as a way to “prime the pump” of inspiration. I may have to give that a try! πŸ™‚
          V

  • Teresa Jaye January 31, 2013 at 8:35 am

    ahhh, yes, I know! By the time I left work yesterday I was so crazy with the injustice of it all that I was near to tears. The best thing to cure it is to slap down some gesso and paint, a little bubble wrap and some butterflies and ***vwa-la*** feeling much better!
    Your necklace is gorgeous, I especially enjoy the little copper heart – perfect!

    • Vicki O'Dell January 31, 2013 at 1:02 pm

      Thank you, Teresa. I’m glad you like it. I’m sorry you had a rough time at work. I used to have a job that had me in tears a few times. I feel for you. But I’m glad you can create and feel better. I hope today goes better for you! πŸ™‚

      Vicki

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