Studio Tour of Circuit Breaker Labs

Ever wonder how I make circuit board jewelry? Take a peek!

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All messy cutting and grinding is done in the attic. Because circuit boards are made of layers of fiberglass and metal (tough stuff!), I primarily use the dremel to handle them because it has the power and flexibility to do so. Notice the heavy duty gloves? I’m also wearing special clothing, goggles, and a face mask.

Once the pieces are cut the way I want, I bring them downstairs to my studio. The circuit pieces get placed in bezels and receive 1-2 coats of resin. I use a two part epoxy resin which crosslinks over time, giving me about a 30-45 minute working window before it gets too viscous to work with. The resin needs at least 24 hours to cure, and the longer it sits undisturbed, the harder it gets.

Each piece is finished on my glorious 8-foot long lime green counter top. All findings are organized and pliers are close by to turn my resin cabochons and charms into wearable pieces.

I also have a desk dedicated to shipping Etsy orders. It contains all items I have listed on Etsy like boxes, mailers, bubble wrap, tape, jewelry boxes, labels, and business cards, in order to streamline the process.

Thanks for stopping by!

At it Again

Lately, it seems lazy weekends are the impetus of beadweaving! I have been waiting to use this gorgeous ceramic cabochon I picked up at a bead show years ago. Just today I finally came up with a plan for it, while also discovering that despite my ridiculous collection of delicas, I do not have a single tube or bag containing a dark denim color. I Guess I shouldn’t be too shocked since I tend to work in obnoxious color schemes! I finished this one up in copper and labradorite, which work wonderfully together with the cabochon.

 

While I was at it, I made a few more necklaces using variations of my favorite techniques.

 

All the Purple!

I had an inclination to beadweave today! I had forgotten I purchased some gorgeous dyed purple paula shell cabochons. With some help from Lacy’s Stiff Stuff (doesn’t get more descriptive then that!), I bead embroidered and bead wove shades of purple beads to encircle the cabochon. The back piece is just a fancy gunmetal filigree stamping.