Forced changes #2

My last post showed how I removed a broken cabochon and replaced it.

This post involves another broken stone- this time not so easy to replace.

As so often happens, I really had taken a long time making this necklace.  I would work on it a little, then put it away in a drawer and think about it for awhile.  I liked the way it was coming together, but just didn't know what the next step would be.  When I finally got it out to seriously work on it again, I looked at the stone closely, and yep- you guessed it!  It was cracked!!! I don't know if it had been cracked all along, or if it had cracked while being jostled around in the drawer.  Either way- it was cracked.

This stone was a wonderful slab- not rounded on the top like a cabochon.  And an unusual shape, not to mention the unusual patterns in it.  In other words, I couldn't find anything I was happy with to replace it. Although it was cracked, it wasn't broken all the way through, so it wasn't in danger of falling out or anything.  But I still wouldn't sell it this way.  

After asking for suggestions on FB, I came up with a plan.  To disguise the crack, I beaded some branches over the it to mimic the branches on the metal components below it.  (by the way- those metal pieces are old earrings)

I loved the result!!  I think it really added interest to the piece, and blended in very well.  

So I finished up the piece and added the fringe. Finally finished!!   I photographed it.....

Done?  Not so fast there!  After looking at the pictures for awhile, I realized I really was not happy with the fringe. (Plus, there were some remarks on FB that people saw, um, other things when looking at it.  I won't even go into that- I will leave it to your imagination!)  So, back to the drawing board.  After experimenting with several different fringes on the bottom, I finally came up with one that I was happy with.

So there is the finished piece.  When people ask how long it takes me to make one of these pieces, I really can't tell them.  I just grit my teeth and say "LONG"- especially this one!!

Forced Changes

I have been writing a series of blogs on changes I have been asked to make in my beadwork.  Sometimes I'll change it, sometimes I refuse. My next 2 posts are about 2 changes I was "forced" to make.  You'll see why.

The first was a  necklace that I just loved.  It featured a little angel that was a vintage pin, sitting on a cabochon that reminded me of the world.

All was well  until we went to an Art Show. While packing up, a whole tray of jewelry  was knocked onto the pavement. (I am not saying here WHO knocked it onto the pavement, but it wasn't me.  As a side note- I am still married)  This necklace was the only casualty.  The cabochon cracked right down the center.

this picture is the cabochon after I removed it

I liked the necklace, but couldn't really figure out how to save it. The cabochon was both glued in and surrounded by a beaded bezel.   I finally decided nothing was lost by trying to replace the cabochon-after all, it was ruined the way it was.  I cut out the last couple of rows of the beaded bezel first.  But removing the stone  was not as easy as I thought it would be.  That E6000 really holds well!  But I pried it out without damaging too much of the beading.  I found another cabochon that worked, rebeaded the damaged bezel, and it looked like it was supposed to be that way!

I really did like the original cabochon better, but I was happy enough with it, and at least it was not a loss.

The next post will feature another "accident"- and a change that I ended up loving!! Till then....

More Changes

My last 2 posts have been about change.  The first was a change I made for a customer which turned out well.  The second was a change I refused to make.

Well, another post on change just sort of fell into my lap.

 Last fall a customer purchased this bracelet from me at a show.

She asked that I make a  necklace to match it.  She liked the design of another necklace that I had displayed with 3 cabochons. So I based the new necklace on that.

This is what it looked like when I sent the finished picture to her for her approval.

Now this is why special orders are so hard.  What you envision as perfect is sometimes not at all what the customer has in mind.  It is understandable- but frustrating.

She thought about it for a couple of days, then emailed me back that there was a problem.  She was tactful, but said that every time she looked at the picture, she saw a surprised face- with 2 eyes and an open mouth!  This has happened to me with jewelry in the past- in fact- that may be a future blog post!  People sometimes see something in a necklace that I never saw- then after they point it out- that's all I can see when I look at it!!

I told her it was OK if she wanted to cancel the order, I would be able to sell this necklace and it would be fine.  She was very nice, and said that she still wanted the necklace, but could I make some sketches of some ways it could be altered, and was willing to pay me for the extra time spent.

Well, you don't want to see my sketches.  Maybe I can bead- but sketch...not so much.  And I really did not want to spend the time tearing apart the necklace when I was not sure that it would be what she wanted.  So I came up with an idea.  Photoshop!!  I just made 1 extra small component and photographed it- then photoshop did the rest!!!   What a time saver.  I know these pictures are crude, but they were good enough to give her an idea of which one she preferred.

 






She picked the picture she liked and I altered the piece just one time.

So below is a picture of the finished piece.  I must agree, I like it better than the way it was at first.  And the face is gone.  The customer said how much the mock ups helped.  I will definitely use this technique again in the future!

She also sent me a picture of her wearing the finished piece. She loves it!

So,a happy ending!!  Another example of improving upon a design by listening to a customer.

To change or not to change

In my last post I showed a necklace that I changed to suit a customer.  I really felt it was an improvement.  But that doesn't mean that every time someone suggests that I change something, I go home and immediately rip it out.  Sometimes I disagree- and I ultimately have the final word.  But of course, sometimes that means I lose a sale.

Take this collar for example:

I struggled and struggled with this fringe- tearing it out multiple times and changing it until I was happy with it. In fact, it was my favorite part of the collar!  It looked pretty impressive at my art shows hanging on a mannequin- if I must say so myself!!

So a woman came into my booth and tried it on.  She was a small woman, and she loved it, but felt that the fringe was too much for her.  I could understand that- it looked great on her- but it was outside her comfort zone.  So she asked (wait for it) if I could remove the fringe!  Yes she did.  I felt like crying.  Now, it was a slow show.  I definitely could have used this big sale.  But it would have broken my heart to remove this fringe!  Luckily (?) her next question was, "How much of a discount can you give me if it doesn't have the fringe?"  I say luckily because that made up my mind for me.  No, sorry, I would not remove the fringe.

Now, maybe I was wrong- it probably would have looked fine without the fringe- maybe even better.  But I couldn't do it.

A few shows later, a woman loved this collar and bought it.  With the fringe.  She was a small woman and she wore it well!!

I have been SOOO bad about posting blogs lately.  Actually- all summer!! It seems like I am always so busy, and I just don't take the time to do it.  I have lots of ideas for posts, so that's not it!  Oh well, I guess it is what it is.

First things first.  When we got home from our Maine trip this spring, a box was waiting at the door with my copy of "Showcase 500 beaded jewelry".  You remember.... THE ONE WITH MY NECKLACE ON THE COVER!!!! (sorry for shouting- excited)  I couldn't wait to open it- and I was definitely NOT disappointed.

It is awesome!  If you love beadwork- you will love this book.  So much inspiration.  Almost all of my favorite beaders are included- all with beautiful clear pictures of their work. The beadwork  goes from simple to outrageous.  I can't say I like every single piece in this book...but really, if they were all my taste- it wouldn't be half as interesting!!  I am truly amazed how many talented beaders are out there- it is certainly humbling.

Anyhow- here are my 3 pieces that were included..

"Cathedral Windows"- page 15
I made this piece for Bead Dreams in 2010  It was a finalist.  I remember I finished it in the camper when we were on vacation (right up against the deadline!) and took the submission photo right on the counter of the camper.  (different picture)  It actually turned out pretty well, natural light coming from the "kitchen" window. I have made numerous brooches using the design of the individual components and even sell kits for them.

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                                                  Blue Cathedral windows kit

                        Brown Cathedral Window Brooch kit            

"Butterfly Dreams"- page 159
This piece was created for the 2011 Bead Dreams contest.  It was not accepted, but definitely gets the most attention at shows!  It is made with real butterfly wings that I have encased in acrylic.  One of the things I love about this necklace is that it is so large, yet weighs hardly anything!  I am often asked where I got the butterfly wings. Years ago I bought about 20 small square metal containers at an estate sale.  I wanted them for storing small items. (beads?)  When I got them home and opened them, they all contained different things.  Some were nuts, some were stones etc.  and one contained a bunch of mounted butterfly wings.  I kept them for a long time, but never could figure out a use for them.  Then one day I remembered a necklace my father brought home from Hawaii during WW2 for my mother.  You have probably seen them- it was a blue butterfly wing under a glass cabochon with a black silhouette of palm trees and ocean painted on it.  That was it!!  I have included butterfly wings in a lot of my jewelry since then, purchasing more wings when the originals ran out.

"Twilight"- page 422
This necklace sold at the first show I took it to.  Although I love the look of all the seed beads in the fringe and in the neck chain- let me tell you they were a pain!  Especially the neck chain- joining 2 rounded shapes with several strands of beads, and trying to get the right number so it all lays flat.  Not so it lays flat when it is on the table, but when it is on a neck...which is entirely different!  Lots of trial and error in this one.

So there is the backstory on the pieces included in the book. I am so excited and proud to be included with all the wonderful artists in this beautiful book.  And hopefully, I will find the umph to blog more often!  Till then......

Can I just finish this necklace?!?!

Have you ever worked on a piece that seemed like you would never get finished?  I just did!!

It is a collar that I am entering into the FMG seed bead contest at the end of the month.  Actually, I am entering two pieces.  The first one came together easily, and was finished weeks ago.

But this one.....!!!  It is something quite different for me and I was pretty excited about it.  I started working on it in Dec., and had all the components finished for quite awhile.  It sat in my studio in a tray, and I would continually rearrange the components, even taking pictures of them in different arrangements until I came up with one I thought I liked.  About a month ago I assembled it, and made a few more components to add to it

Here is a sneak peek of some of the components- I don't want to show you the whole piece until after the competition!

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I wanted it asymmetrical- but that has always been a struggle for me.  And this was no exception.  It just didn't work out like I pictured it.  So I started tearing it apart and rearranging it again.  OK- I liked it.  Then I added black connecting parts.  I loved it!  ....until the next morning that is.  Too dark.  So I tore it all apart and modified the connectors.

Still not happy- I decided to add a big fringe.  I finished this one night, fairly pleased with it, until, again, morning came and I decided the fringe needed to be longer.  Added length to the fringe, but, NO, I DIDN"T LIKE IT!  Tore off the whole fringe.

By this time I was getting really frustrated.  My son and wife are coming for a visit for a few days and I really should be getting the house ready.  I have my first show in 2 weeks, and I have bundles of stuff to do for that!  And the "Battle of the Beadsmith" is pressing in on me- I  need to get started on that piece.  So last night I decided to finish the clasp etc. and just be done with it.  I could live with it, even though it is not what I envisioned.

This morning, I took some photos of it.  And yes, you guessed it, it turned out that I could not live with it as it was.  I tore out part of it and re-positioned a couple of components.  Done. I think it's OK.

Here is a picture of the back- actually- I really like the back!!

So, now I have to get started on my other projects.  Happy this is done.  Wait- if I just added one more bead over there..........

Using Leftovers

I use my leftovers.  Well, I admit, sometimes they get lost in the back of the refrigerator until they turn green and have to be thrown out. But I'm talking beads here!

 I hate wasting things, and that includes my time.  So, sometimes when experiments go wrong, I am able to salvage parts to be used in another project.  I am not talking about using parts of vintage jewelry and old beads here. (although I do plenty of that!)  I am talking about using a leftover component that didn't work in one design, or was just leftover from one piece, and using it in another.

 For example:  This was a leftover component from a large piece I am making for a FMG contest.  It is composed of a bunch of these smaller pieces, and I got carried away and made way too many.  So this little necklace used up one of those components.

This one is a special order necklace I recently made.  I made the neckchain and decided it was a little clunky for the size of the pendant.  So I made this chain instead.  It's a little hard to tell in the picture, but it has smaller beads.

 Which left me with an extra neckchain.  So I decided to use the first one in a little bit bigger necklace.  Turns out, the customer preferred the second one and purchased it!

This necklace was all about leftovers.  I had all these little cabochons and over the course of about 5 years I would make a few more and set them aside.  I wasn't quite sure what I would ever do with them, until I brought them out and played with them a bit.

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Then of course I had a few pieces leftover, so I made a bracelet!! (but there weren't enough for earrings!)

Last year I entered this piece in a contest.

The large polymer piece was my second attempt.  The first attempt was leftover....so I made a necklace of course!

Do you remember the "Australian Wedding Piece"? (no, she never sent pictures!!)  I used a lot of leftovers from that!  Most of them were experimental components that didn't pan out in the original piece.

Here are a few of the leftover pieces- there actually are lots more!

So, save your leftovers- you never know how you will be able to use them.  And the good thing is, they have a really long shelf life!  I have never had to throw one out because it was growing a nice crop of mold!!

Bead Dreams- One yes, One no!

I received my letter from the Bead and Button competition today.  I entered two pieces, and one was accepted as a finalist!  I am so pleased and excited!  Of the two pieces, I could never guess which one would have a better chance.  Good thing I entered 2 of them!

I don't like to publish pictures of pieces before the contest (ruins the surprise!), so I will show you the one that was NOT accepted. I titled it "Guardians". Those of you that are FB friends have been watching this one take shape for quite some time.

This is actually a piece that a customer of mine commissioned. She had a really big and heavy smoky quartz crystal point that she wanted included in the piece. She also wanted these 2 big wooden dragon earrings. (yes, they are earrings!) to be a part of it . I wasn't sure it would all work out.

Let me explain the earrings: The main part of the dragon went behind the ear, then the tail was a separate piece that attached on the front and held the earring on.  Here is a picture of the piece when I was working on it, without these upper tails attached.

One other small problem- one of the tails was missing!!  I ended up making a tail to match from polymer clay!!  It's the one on the left:

Although these dragons are glued on, I decided they should be reinforced and "tethered" them with beading.  I also built up the beading underneath in those places to support them better.  I also beaded around the top and bottom of the crystal to give it extra support.

So that's the story about how this came about. My customer has not seen it yet- she loves big intricate work, so I hope she likes it!  Here are the pictures of the finished piece:

the clasp

And just a peek at the piece that was accepted as a finalist:

Glass Tiles- not just for bathrooms anymore!

I just finished and listed a necklace on Etsy.  It is made from a small glass tile.  You know, the kind that is used in bathrooms!  I love using these for the depth they have, although the thickness and shape sometimes makes them a little tricky to bezel.

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link to Etsy listing

So I got to thinking about all the necklaces I have made over the years from tiles and thought I would post them.

I am happy to say that my picture taking skills have improved over the years.  I apologize for the quality of these images- some of them are pretty bad!

It all began when a customer of mine bought 4 beautiful tiles that looked like dichroic glass.  They were small for tiles, but big for jewelry. About 3" across.  There were 2 gold ones and 2 blue ones.  She wanted me to design and make necklaces with these.  First, the gold ones:

It was quite a challenge.  Not only did I need to design the necklaces around square tiles, but they all needed to be quite different in style.  Next I tackled the blue tiles:

bad picture, but my favorite of the necklaces!

Well, the customer was so happy with these, that she presented me with 2 more tiles!!  These were beautiful sculptured tiles, but much thicker and heavier than the first ones.

 These tiles would have been pretty expensive if you were tiling a whole bathroom!  But not so bad for a focal in a necklace.

Done with the commissions, I decided to do some necklaces with tiles of my own.  This one is made with 1" square tiles:

And this one I made with a ceramic tile that I sand blasted to get the design:

So there you have it!  Maybe my next post will be some of the other unusual things I have beaded around.  My husband always says, "If it sits still, she'll bead around it!"