I just finished making this ensemble over the weekend. I started with two embroidered pieces, both were brooches that I had made for a class that I teach. The necklace is made up of mostly vintage glass beads from Japan. I also included new bronze beads, and some Czech glass beads. The clip-on earrings are vintage celluloid domes embossed with silver leaf.

I kept one of the pieces as a brooch, though I cut it down a bit, to keep the silk ribbon embroidery as the main focus. I added a cord around the outer edge, and sewed a bronze button and mother of pearl buttons around the edge.

I used the other piece for the center of the bracelet, using an old watch to frame the embroidery. I used vintage grosgrain ribbons that I had been saving for just the right project. I wrapped the smaller ribbon through the watch links, and hand stitched this to the wider ribbon. I glued a button to hide the hole where the winding mechanism used to be. I then added in a garden of vintage mother of pearl buttons, that have silk ribbon embroidered stems and leaves. The bracelet is clasped with a large hook and eye, with an added bronze button for decoration.

Both the brooch and the watch bracelet use simple silk ribbon embroidery stitches, that can be seen in my new book, Embroidered and Embellished with will be available next month.

Happy Stitching! ~Christen