There are some things in nature that strongly represent motherhood to me, such as sweet little nests and cute green pea pods. Like my wire bird nests, I also wanted to create a unique pendant of peas. The pea part was easy, I’d simply use beads strung onto a headpin and the pod topped off with a bead cap.
All of which I found on sale at Michael’s Crafts yesterday.
But the pod, well, that was where the hunt came in. Off to the local Goodwill, I went in search of green leather. I kept an eye out while looking through purses, pocketbooks, jackets and skirts. I wouldn’t need much as the pendant would be tiny. And lookie here! I found a pair of pea green leather shoes. Perfect!
With my fabric scissors, I cut off a section of shoe.
Peeled off the inside vinyl and folded in half, I trimmed out a pod with one straight side and one curved, careful to make it long enough to house the number of beads I planned to use.
Once the pod shape was cut out, I took it to the sink and gave it a good soapy washing, because after all, it did come from a used shoe!
I used one of my sewing machine needles to pierce a hole into the fold for running the headpin through.
I threaded 4 beads onto a headpin, one representing each of my children.
I used super glue GEL to connect the end of the pod pieces then pulled the beaded pin up through the hole.
I turned it over and again with the super glue gel, (great because you can control gel so much better than the runny stuff,) I sealed up the back curved side creating a seam, allowing enough glue to also secure the backs of the tiny beads, keeping them in the pod.
The pod was still damp from its washing, so while pressing the seam as the glue dried, I pressed the pod around the beads. As the leather dried, it molded so nicely around the peas. Once dry, it’s easy to trim out and form your pod a bit nicer with a good, sharp pair of scissors.
I attached a bead cap, made a loop for hanging and added another piece of twisted headpin (with its head removed) as an itty-bitty vine.
Strung onto a small silver chain, I just love it.
Not a bad thrift-store shoe repurpose, eh?!
UPDATE: After posting, I went back and tinkered a bit more, this time using a piece of leather that was previously hemmed and stitched. I also pinched the bead cap onto the top of the pod and used the extending wire from the original headpin to create the little tendril instead of adding an additional one, therefor only using on headpin per pod.
Need something to put your pea pod necklace in? Check THIS out!
Wow! That looks amazing, have a great day.
you ma'am are the mac guyver of the craft world. I LOVE it.
What a cool tutorial!
Cathe, it's absolutely adorable.
that is a brilliant idear and you have made it beautifully love Dorothy
great job and very unique. love it.
Very clever and looks so authentic. I love your style. Happy creating…
So clever – love it!
-Danielle
That is just darling!
Aren't you clever! I love it!
So cute!
That is awesome!
What a wonderful idea! I love it!
I love it! You need to sell the pendant on Etsy. I want one with three peas.
If whoever took those shoes to the Goodwill sees this they will wish they had kept them. Thanks for sharing.
Debbie
What a funtastic idea.
I love the recycling- idea about it.
It is absolutly beautiful. Thank you for showing us.
You are amazing!
Oh but I loved the shoes……..great pendant though!
This is the cutest idea I've seen in a long time. Love it!
Peace & Love,
~Barb~
I don't beleive what you have done. So original and so inspiring!
Pam
You just never cease to amaze me! This is so cute!
LOVE! this is brilliant!
Wow!! Just fabulous
x
y ahora qué harás con los zapatos tengo mucha curiosidad!!!
and now, what will you do with the shoes… I have very curious! next post?
That is the cutest thing I have seen in a long time! Do you think I can get 9 peas in my little pod? And can you share pieces of the shoe with the rest of us?
Lisa~
You are so darn creative! Can we even stand it? love your inspiration, thanks for sharing.
Brilliant ! ! ! I'd like just a wee bit of Your Creative Mind…..
Now that my dear is just too precious! And look, you have more "shoe" to make more!
I L.O.V.E. it!!!!! I will be on the hunt for green leather. This would make a great baby shower gift.
This is adorable! You're so creative!
Super cool!! Great creativity.
Cindy
TOO adorable. You are so clever I can hardly stand it!
Very, very cool – I lvoe how you made something so gally worthy out of Michael's sale items and a thrift store shoe. Amazing!
Should QC my comments better – this might make more sense – "I love how you made something so gallery worthy"
ok- so are you for reals? UH-MAZING!!! baby 5 is on the way- i'm doin this!
I love it!
Way Cute!
What a fantastic idea!
Now I must purchase green shoes.
Excellent work!
Good to see some creative recycling/re-using, and use of leather
Cute. Shame about the shoes! LOL
What a fabulous pendant, you clever sewandsew, lol
Oh my what a fabulous idea! Your creation is perfectly gorgeous! Hmm, where to find a green shoe! Could try felt I suppose but wouldn't look as fabulous as your pod Cathe – absolutely love it!
Your creations absolutely blow me away! Such amazing talent! Thank you for sharing!!
BRILLIANT idea! I love that you've repurposed the shoes and that each piece created is truly one of a kind
I was just at a gift show where I saw a pea pod necklace (all metal) & thought too bad I can't actually make one myself. But I guess I can! I'm so glad I stumbled across your blog (thanks to Craft Mag on FB!) – subscribing
Awesome idea. Thank you for sharing.
Its a very nice shoe by the way
I absolutely love it!!!
Oh, how sweet is that, Cathe, with your repurposing of some old leather shoes and a few craft store supplies, to make such a dear necklace!
Just a quick note to let you know that a link to this post will be placed on CraftCrave today [19 Jul 12:00pm GMT]. Thanks, Maria
Brilliant, creative and eco….5 stars!
This is adorable. I love it. So creative.
oooh those shoes were so cute! aaah! the pendant is cute too though! Great tutorial!
This is so adorable and so creative and I love the bit about the recycled leather. Great job.
Blessings,
Tricia
pea-utiful
that's darling!
This is adorable!!! How fabulous that you found the perfect shoes to make this with.
That's gorgeous and so original and unique! Such an exquisite necklace!Amazing job! Congratulations! and thanks for a great tutorial too.
That's quite lovely! very clever!
As a creator of mini food, I fell in LOVE with this beautiful pea pod necklace! WOW! Beautiful work!
you are AMAZING!!!!!
Wow, how cool is that?!?
So smart..love it!!
that's so sweet
)
This is adorable!
I also wanted to let you know that I just featured you on my blog. You're so creative!
~Kim
Wow, that necklace is so cute and you are so creative on how you did it! Thanks for sharing!
Hi – stopping by from Everything Etsy. You have a beautiful workspace AND blog. I especially love repurposed crafts and I can't wait to take a look around
So clever. I love your creative spirit. Be Blessed
Wow, that necklace is so cute!!
Wonderful! I can't wait to give it a try. Thanks so much for sharing.
This is adorable!! How clever. This would be a great gift at a "Pea in the Pod" baby shower.
you are sooooooooooo very crafty!! that looks so COOL and i really LOVE this idea! thanks so very much for sharing! Have an AWESOME day!
love this. so cute!
You have always great ideas!! Your creations are really magic. Thank you
this is stinkin' adorable!
Cuuuuuuuttttttttte!!!
Smiles,
Susie
Cuuuuuuuttttttttte!!!
Smiles,
Susie
Positively brilliant! Old shoes are something I always feel really guilty about throwing away, and I've never been able to come up with a project to repurpose them. Now I feel inspired. The pea pod necklace is really lovely!
That is SO CUTE! I really want to make one. Wanted to say thanks for your bird's nest tutorial. I just finished making one out of pearls from an old necklace I never liked and recycled electrical wire. Then I hung it from a piece of black yard sale ribbon and it's fabulous! Spending gobs of money on jewelry is just not something we can do right now, so it's wonderful to be able to wear special things (and give them to others) anyway. You're awesome!
SOOOO awesome!!!
Fabulous tutorial! This pendant is awesome! You rock!
Amazing! What a fantastic idea, I love this.
I love it, Cathe. I especially love how fearless you are with leather.
) Thanks for the wonderful ideas?
This wins the prize for creativity
that is really beautiful! and how generous you showed us how you did it!
what a wonderful idea! love it!
Okay, I made some birds nests. Guess I'll have to make some pea pods too! Thanks for sharing.
Loooooove it! Off to share!
Aaaack! I want this so badly I am going to make one myself! Thank you so much for sharing.
This is so cute and clever. I love it!
I made a peapod for my sister's special birthday this week and I love how it turned out. Thanks so much for the inspiration Cathe!
Just can't say how much I LOVE this. Like Love LOVE this! Thanks for sharing. I'm off to look for green shoes!
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Just an adorable idea, you are a breath of fresh air in the craft world.
Outside the box ideas.
What a beautiful and creative idea…
how cool.
I LIKE SHOSE FROM WHERE YOU AER BUY IT
Uhmmm . . . first of all . . . you are amazing! Googled for pea seed packets and found your site. Getting ideas for my sister’s baby shower. She always refers to the Baby (Ava Lillian) as her pea in a pod. I will try my hand (or pass it down for my 12 year old to do) the pea seed packet with my sister’s and bro-in-law’s name on it as a party favor. Perfect. Plus, I love, and so will my sister, the vinage look. I hope my sweet pea flowers are blooming and they will be part of the decoration. I am going to make the necklace for my sister. Thankfully, I have a friend who is a cobbler, hopefully green leather will not be hard to find. I look forward to combing through your site! Patti
very cute! i’m going to try this with polymer clay
Wow!! I love this. i wish I could have such great, original ideas.
I will attempt this. My daughter had a nickname of ”pea pod” when she was born. Very precious. A nice gift for her. Thanks, bg
Wonderful idea. since I won’t be able to find pea green leather shoes, I wonder if, I can get some of tim holtz dye ink and ink onto the leather, if it would work. I may have to mix some colors but I can do that. I think this will work. I have all the other jewelry supplies. a pair of earrings would be cute too! I know you can buy soft leather in patches at Michaels, or Hobby L. thanks for the idea!
It is amazing what you come up with! I especially LOVE the little birds nest and the pea pod necklace. I MUST try and make both. Hope I have some luck finding some pea green leather. I just found your website today and will be checking back often to see what comes out of that awesome head of yours. Keep it up…I LOVE it!!
Oh my goodness! Cathe, you are on your way to becoming one of my favorite people, and I just found your site 5 minutes ago. I will be checking in with you here on a regular basis from here on out.
Bravo on a site well done!
Exactly what I have been looking for!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you!
what a clever idea, one of my favorite T-shirts from back in the day, was the picture of a pea pod and the lettering “Give peas a chance”. Best yet I got it free with DelMonte labels!