mariakoropecky by Maria Koropecky, Crystal Mapper
Do you have some old jewelry lying around that you never wear but can’t seem to part with? I do—and recently, I found myself inspired to give one of those pieces a new life.
On the weekend, I went to one of my favorite stores in Victoria, BC: Bamboo Beads & Bling, right in Chinatown, just across from Fan Tan Alley. I even mention this little gem in my book, Closer to Indigo.
Finding Inspiration
My mother asked me to fix her antique coral necklace, so I signed up for a workshop and thought I might bring in my own projects too. I brought in an amethyst butterfly necklace and changed the clasp to a magnet which I highly recommend doing.
I also brought in a bright blue necklace that I got in Washington DC for a dance as a teenager and haven’t worn since because it was too tight around my neck and the clasp was hard to fasten.
We weren’t sure what the 6mm beads were made of – not Larimar, not Amazonite – more like a sea shell or Mother of Pearl of some kind.
The Creative Struggle
I didn’t have a plan about what I’d do with the beads before the workshop, led by Michael, who helps with finishing touches. But with all the jewelry-making supplies on hand, I was open to discovering what would come through and slowly a design started to take shape.
First I considered adding fuchsia beads—nope. Purple? Nope. A different kind of blue? Nope. None of the combos I thought of felt right.
Then it came to me: chakra colors. I’ve wanted a necklace that represents all 7 chakras for a long time—maybe this was the moment.
But what about the blue? How could I show the throat chakra among the chakra colors and still keep the rest of the blue beads together? Would it look odd to have light blue appear in two sections?
Turns out it actually works!
The Chakra Rainbow Reveal
- 4 red Garnets for the Root
- 4 orange Carnelians for the Sacral
- 4 yellow Citrines for the Solar Plexus
- 4 Green Aventurines for the Heart
- 4 Seashell blues for the Throat
- 4 navy Sodalites for the 3rd Eye
- 4 purple Amethysts for the Crown
We put daisies in between the colors to give them extra space and extended the necklace by several inches.
The overall effect? Like a rainbow under a blue sky. Suddenly the old sky-blue choker had transformed into a chakra rainbow shining in the sunlight. I didn’t see that coming!
Upcycling Magic
And I learned a new word: upcycling!
Upcycling is taking something old, broken or forgotten and transforming it into something new, meaningful and beautiful. No landfills, no re-gifting, no clutter—just honoring something from the past while reimagining it in a modern, intentional way. I love it!
What about you? Do you enjoy creating new things from old things too? I’d love to hear your creative process!
And if you’ve got old jewelry lying around, maybe it’s calling for a little upcycling magic too.
And if you’d like to see my new chakra necklace in person, come see me at the Spiritual & Psychic Fair in Sidney, BC on March 21! I’ll be wearing it for sure!
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If you’re at all curious about crystals and chakras, I’M LOOKING FOR 10 PEOPLE who’d like a Crystal Mapping Session from me before the Spiritual & Psychic Fair on March 21, 2026 in Sidney, BC. Sessions will be offered by donation — message me if you’d like to book yours.
If you’re intrigued by the Bamboo Beads & Bling scene in Closer to Indigo, here’s the link to buy your own copy on Amazon.
