Creataholic

Filed under: Bracelets, Cold Connections, Creativity, Metal Work, Torch Work, Wire Work | Back to: Homepage

Anyone who knows me probably realizes that I’m a creataholic. I tend to make things all day, everyday. Yes, I still wash the clothes, cook, play with the dogs, yell at my husband (not really!), etc. but I really like to make things!

I spent so many years learning about and teaching about creative thinking that it’s really fun to get to actually “DO” creative thinking. No matter what I’m making, I find myself asking “how many different ways can I ……?” This phrase is generated following the ideas of Alex Osborne about fluency. One of my other favorite phrases from the formal Creative Problem Solving procedure (Trefinger) is “In what ways might I . . . ?”

One of the tasks this week has been considering those two questioning phrases in terms of a new woven bracelet I’m developing. The form utilizes a simple weave wherein two outer pieces of wire are woven together with a copper strip about 1/2 inch wide. I’ve been punching holes in the copper strip so it could be part of the weave.

The prototype bracelet is the one at the bottom of the photo. I torch painted the copper strip to get the red color and left the copper wire its natural color. It will, of course, oxidize later based on the environment. The other two are the first answers to the “how many ways” question. I embellished the one on the top right with some natural turquoise cut in button shapes with two holes. The bracelet on the top left has fewer holes and I cut them all in the center rather than on both sides of the copper strip. It has quite a different look from the other two when viewed close up. Both stone embellished bracelets were dipped in liver of sulphur to which I added a tablespoon of ammonia. It gives it a slightly different patina from plain liver of suphur.

Now the challenge will be in finding other ways to change this basic design without losing its simplicity. I may just have to conger up some basic creative thinking processes to help me continue to vary this design. Hmm . . . there’s something about fluency, flexibility, originality and elaboration . . . and then there were those Six Thinking Hats (DeBono) . . . (so many choices).

Bracelets, Cold Connections, Creativity, Metal Work, Torch Work, Wire Work 2 comments

Everyday Tiaras

Filed under: Bracelets, family, Necklaces, Wire Work | Back to: Homepage

Playing with wire one evening, a seemingly familiar shape emerged in my hands. Who knows whether it came from my subconscious while thinking about my long ago high school years or from something else. My high school class just celebrated our 45th reunion in Medford, Oklahoma. Although I didn’t attend, the photos and notes from classmates brought back a flood of memories long buried, but still reachable. While I don’t remember too many high school dances, I do remember my last prom. I had been sick and out of school for three weeks, but managed to get it together and make it to the prom. After all, I already had a date! It was an eventful day of preparation during which my mother burned a hole with the iron in the chiffon overskirt of my long blue dress. The local dry goods store saved the day. There she purchased blue plastic flowers which she sewed on the dress to cover the hole. I remember that she was much more upset than I was.

I also remember that my hair wasn’t in very good shape, but we managed to adorn it with a pretty sparkling tiara. It seems to me that it looked much like the one in the photo below (from Tiara Town). It was probably much smaller

That shape stuck with me and I recognized a similarity in the wire shape I made the other night. It became the bracelet below.

I also turned the shape upside down and made a necklace.  If you stand on your head and look at the necklace below, you should be able to see the tiara – or you could just believe me! This particular piece and the bracelet above are both made of moonstone from Magpie Gemstones. I made another similar necklace out of sterling silver wire with grey colored moonstone, but it found a home before I could take a photo.

Today, I tried my hand at a smaller necklace, shown below, that has less loops. I really think I prefer the loopier one. All of these are finished with handmade chain and clasp.

These necklaces are fairly easy to make and the bead placement helps secure the wire loops in place at the top.

I think there are a few more jewelry tiara designs in my future, but I don’t anticipate ever needing to wear one on my head again. I’m either afraid or relieved that those days are past – I wonder which . . .?

Bracelets, family, Necklaces, Wire Work comment

Waving

Filed under: Bracelets, charms, Metal Work, Necklaces, Techniques, Tutorials, Wire Work | Back to: Homepage

How do you wave at folks? Do you just raise one little pointer finger to acknowledge them are are you an all-out-use-your-whole-arm waver? The latter is the kind I see outside a certain San Marcos business. He’s waving with his entire body as he dances to the music emitted into his earphones. He’s been waving there for so long that they’ve even made a billboard about him. Did I mention he’s really skinny too? All that waving seems to pay off in one way or another.

I’ve been waving with my wire jewelry for years. I started with a simple wire wave bracelet and continued by making wave necklaces. Originally, these were made from recycled copper wire, but now I use new 14 gauge for the pieces. They’ve also gotten a bit shorter recently. You can see the bracelet contrast in the photo below. Obviously the shorter piece is not yet completed. If you want to make these yourself, I have a free tutorial for the bracelet published on the Magpie Gemstones’ (www.magpiegemstones.com) site: http://www.magpiegemstones.com/wave_bracelet.html

I’ve also tried waving with different shapes.

Here are a couple of versions of the newer wave necklaces. The first features riveted copper charms (faith, hope and love).

The second is embellished with amethyst stones and the wave is a bit more full.

I guess I’ll keep coming back to this standard in my jewelry line and continue to perfect my wave. How about you? What kind of waver are you?

Bracelets, charms, Metal Work, Necklaces, Techniques, Tutorials, Wire Work comment

The Royals

Filed under: Bracelets, Wire Work | Back to: Homepage

I’ve been calling the bracelets below “my royals”, but in writing about them, I thought that “royal” should have more connotations that simply referring to a king, queen or other sovereign. My search for the truth, however, kept ending on sites pertaining to the Kansas City Royals. This was not what I was looking for. The term is used in phrases such as “he’s a royal pain in the . . . “ where it means extremely bad. It can also be used to mean excellent as in “let’s give them a royal welcome.” I was also amused to learn that royal can indicate a stag with large antlers that have 12 or more points on them. I wonder what The Royals in England think about that definition.

Unfortunately my royals are not full of the crown jewels and they aren’t sparkly, but at the least, the one on the right is shaped like a crown. Ok . . . so I’m stretching it just a bit. Give me a break!

The “princess” bracelet on the right of the above photo is made from a combination of two of my etsy tutorials, the dimensional bracelet and the woven bracelet. I wanted a new shape in the middle and this tiara form emerged. I put in the stones, but felt it still needed something; therefore I added the weaving. I think it could be done with bright crystals and more elaboration, but I’m just a simple gal.

The “queen” bracelet below sports a star at the middle top and is adorned with lots of turquoise and some carnelian. It is the cursive style bracelet that just ended up with a little extra width and more dramatic swirls. I guess this one is fit for a Texas queen.

My final assumption about “royal” is that the term can stand for extremes or outliers, whether they are good or bad. England’s Royals are outside the norm in status; The Kansas City Royals hope to be the same when they play ball, but may sometimes give their owners a “royal pain” and as for my bracelets . . . time and customers will tell.

Bracelets, Wire Work comment

More Leather Wrap Bracelet

Filed under: Bracelets | Back to: Homepage

I thoroughly enjoy making the Chan Lu style bracelets that are so popular these days, but have ventured into something a bit different. The bracelets shown above also use leather and wrap, but only go around the wrist one time due to the width.

The bracelets lounging upon the rock in the photo are all the three row style and those below are five rows. This style utilizes square knots (macramé) at the beginning and end of the bracelet. You can create a pattern or simply stick with one color. The tutorials for these bracelet come from Alisha of Beadifulnights.

The video is very well done and most beaders will find it easy to follow. I use a very soft 2mm ultra micro fiber cord that I purchase from Magpie Gemstones www.magpiegemstones.com I used the Greek leather cord for a couple of these and prefer the micro fiber cord due to the way it drapes. It comes in various colors and at this writing, you can get 10 yards for $5.95. I can definitely handle that!

Give these a try if you like the look, but BEWARE! These are fun to make, quick to finish and the process is very addictive.

Bracelets 1 comment

Why Didn’t It Work?–Variables

Filed under: Bracelets, Philosophy, Tutorials, Wire Work | Back to: Homepage

Have you ever been enthralled with a design in a book, magazine or online tutorial, rushed to make it and flopped? I have. I used to get disgusted and think “surely there’s something wrong with the pattern.” Yet, you know that’s probably just a personal excuse. It doesn’t help at all when a friend says she tried it and it turned out great.

When I read a tutorial, I tend to jump right in and attempt to make the piece whether I have the specified supplies or not. I’ve even failed at making something from a tutorial that I wrote. Here’s a case of that.

I have a new bracelet tutorial in my etsy shop( https://www.etsy.com/listing/103694934/wire-and-beads-diamond-bracelet-tutorial) . I’ve made the bracelet time and time again and know it is correctly written. Alas, the other day, I tried it with a different size beads and flopped. I only changed one variable and, of course, it changed the dimensions on the circumference of the piece. Rather than using the 4 or 5 mm beads I suggest on the tutorial, I just grabbed a pretty gemstone and used it. Unfortunately, the pretty amethyst had a diameter of about 12mm. Using it on the bracelet caused the piece to stick out farther on my arm and made it too short. I needed to alter the bracelet wire length to accommodate for the larger beads. The bracelet below shows the correct bead size for the wire length.

This is only one example of how variables change an outcome. I might have used a different gauge of wire or different style hook and these, too, would have changed the end product.

Variables effect everything we do. Did you ever say something perfectly kind to a family member only to have that person bark back at you in an angry voice? It’s possible that the person just had an unpleasant encounter with someone else and you received the outgrowth of that situation. Perhaps that person has a headache . . . ? I’m sure it wasn’t YOUR fault.  I know it’s never MY fault . . . ha!

Driving up a hill at my normal quick speed takes a nasty change with the weather varies and the road surface is wet. I guess I should slow down.

The point here is to be aware that variable are ever in the way of perfection. Consider the variable before initiating an action. How might the variable change the outcome or product? Plan for this change.

The other more positive side of variables can result it happy happenstances. I can use a different gauge wire and sometimes the jewelry piece gets better or has a new pleasing look. In the aforementioned person to person encounter, recognizing the variable/current temperament of the person you speak to might allow you use different words or just steer clear of the person.

So, the question of “what did I do wrong” should come prior to initiating a project. Rephrasing it to ask ‘how will the change in this variable effect my outcome and how can I adjust for it?” might help us all get more pleasing results. I think I’m going to try the last question.

There’s no way to get rid of variables in jewelry making or in life. We should just expect them and know that outcomes are often altered when a variable changes.

I’m wishing you variables that result in good things.

Bracelets, Philosophy, Tutorials, Wire Work comment

Bracelets Galore

Filed under: Bracelets, Teaching, Tutorials, Wire Work | Back to: Homepage

I’m beginning to think there are more people who like to make bracelets than there are people who like to wear them. (Let’s hope not!) I subscribe to a number of daily jewelry newsletters and you might not believe the number of bracelets that are featured each week. But then . . why not . . . bracelets are often quicker to make and require less materials . . . and, if I were to tell the truth, I’d have to admit I really like to make them too.

One of my beginner classes made bracelets the other evening and we were quite proud of ourselves. These were the traditional wire bracelets with bindings.

The participants made the bracelet on the upper left corner of the photo.

Measurements for these bracelets seems to be the trickiest part. I’ve made a good number of them that didn’t quite fit my wrist correctly.

Last week, I set out to write a tutorial for the bracelet below. It looks easy doesn’t it?  Well, it was NOT easy to write.

There are a number of variables in the bracelet that effect the length and you know how I hate to measure! Yet, I did measure very carefully and finally nailed this tutorial. It seems to be pretty foolproof now and the bracelet isn’t that hard to create once you know the measurements. I also fussed with the clasp on this one and finally chose my pirate’s hook that I use on the wave bracelets. This makes it easier to get on and off.

Now the trick is to quit making these for myself. I keep finding so many variations that it’s hard to move on to the next design project. Don’t be surprised if these pop up again . . . I’m resisting closure on them.

Bracelets, Teaching, Tutorials, Wire Work comment

Goldilocks and the Three Bracelets

Filed under: Articles, Bracelets, Philosophy | Back to: Homepage

Once upon a time, a little girl named Goldilocks was getting ready to go to her very first dance. She wanted to look just right and knew that even though her dress was pretty, she really had to have the right jewelry. She had already looked in all the stores at the mall, but just couldn’t find anything that was unique. Then, she read on Facebook about an independent jewelry designer who lived in the forest near her home. Maybe that designer would have something she could wear to the dance.

One day, Goldilocks followed her GPS directions and arrived at the home of the independent jewelry designer. She knocked on the door, but no one came. She rapped hard one more time and the door pushed open. Thinking this was a good sign, she went right in. At first she thought it was a bit strange that no one came to greet her, but she quickly erased this thought as she began to look around. “Wow,” she said to herself. “This is really cool stuff!” There were necklaces and earrings and bracelets the likes of which she had never seen. Why, this was just what she had been wanting.  At the mall things looked just the same from one store to the next, but here everything was unique, just like Goldilocks.

Goldilocks quickly spotted the most beautiful bracelet sitting on a table right in front of her. It was the perfect color to go with her dress for the dance and even Pantone had recommended this tangerine orange as the color of the year. She had to have it! So, she tried it on. “Rats,” she muttered. “This bracelet has very small beads on it, but it is too big.” Goldilocks was so disappointed that she failed to put it back on the table where she had found it. As she turned to walk away, she spotted another bracelet in the same color that was made from big beads; so she tried it on, but it was too small. Maybe coming to the independent jewelry maker was not such a good idea after all. As she turned to leave, she caught a glimpse of something sparkling on the corner of the work bench. Even though she was really tired and discouraged, she decided to give it one more try. She slipped the third bracelet on her wrist and it was just right! Goldilocks whirled round and round admiring the bracelet and imagining how beautiful it would look on her wrist at the dance. When she finally stopped, she was so dizzy that she dropped into a nearby chair and closed her eyes to dream.

About that time, the independent jewelry maker came in the back door of her home. First she noticed the big orange bracelet was not where she left it and then she found a second smaller bracelet out of place. Grabbing her big hammer off the work bench for protection, she began to look around to see if there was an intruder roaming about. That’s when she noticed a teenager plopped in her favorite chair. That girl was wearing one her original orange bracelets. Hmm . . . the independent jewelry maker’s first impulse was to call 911, but her cell phone was still in the car and the girl looked harmless. She gave Goldilocks a little nudge and the surprised girl hopped up exclaiming about the beautiful bracelet she found.
Now everyone knows that a good compliment about an artist’s work goes a long way and so Goldilocks and the independent jewelry maker made nice and searched the studio for a pretty necklace to match the bracelet. Goldilocks used her Dad’s credit card to purchase the jewelry and went happily away to tell all her friends about the independent jewelry maker and her wonderful wares.

 
As for the independent jewelry maker . . . she decided to lock her front door the next time she went out, but to leave a note saying when she would be home just in case any more girls were tired of the mall.

The moral of this little tale for consumers is that the independent jewelry maker CAN provide something unique that you won’t see at the mall. The moral for the jewelry maker is to always have product available (and lock the door).

Articles, Bracelets, Philosophy comment

It’s Cursive

Filed under: Bracelets, Necklaces, Wire Work | Back to: Homepage

“Joined up writing” or “running writing”, aka cursive formed the basis of the idea behind the pieces shown here. I think of cursive as continuous movement and connection between alphabet letters to form words as opposed to printing wherein each letter is made separately. It works for words; so why not for wire?

I’ve always hesitated to cross wires in a piece because I like a hammered look and hammering crossed wires weakens them. With the bracelets below, I simply avoided hammering the crossing points and hammered around them. It was tricky, but turned out OK.

I enjoy making this style because it naturally flows from one end to the other and forms a sturdy bracelet. I instituted a clasp on the first bracelet shown, but felt it was not needed on the second one since is was narrower.

This necklace evolved after I took one of the cursive bracelets to a boutique and the owner kept wanting to make it into a choker. It doesn’t have any crossed wires and technically shouldn’t be labeled cursive. I was largely concerned with filling the space of the piece with swirls that fit together. The trick on this piece was to go back and bind those curves in place so they wouldn’t change shape. This turned out to be a very comfortable, yet unique, necklace. I can usually tell if it is TOO unique the first time I wear the piece. I had this on the other night and individuals kept looking at it, but not turning away. If they turn away, I assume it’s not pleasing. (But they could just be nice people . . . ?)

Next, I would like to experiment with a necklace wherein the wire forms a V in the from as opposed to this arc shape. I’ll let you know if that hatches.

Bracelets, Necklaces, Wire Work comment

Variations on a Theme

Filed under: Bracelets, Creativity, Philosophy, Techniques, Wire Work | Back to: Homepage

If you are a frequent reader of this blog, you know that I make many analogies between jewelry design and music. This is yet another. Variations on a theme bring to mind classical music in which many of the great composers embellished their own basic motives to create numerous variations. Some contemporary musicians have also taken short snippets from classical music, varied these and employed them in new music.

Variations are also a big part of training in creative thinking wherein we ask participants to think flexibly and change an original idea. Sometimes the ideas that follow are better than the first and sometimes this exercise simply serves to reassure the thinker that they had the best idea in the first place.

The same is often true in jewelry design. I try many different versions of a “theme” or design to see whether it might be improved. Sometimes I initiate this process out of sheer boredom when I’m tired of the same design, yet it is still popular with customers. The following is an example of this.

You will likely recognize the bracelet on the left above that is a design I’ve been making for at least five years. I also sell the tutorial for it in my etsy shop and it has also been popular there. (Thank you customers!) https://www.etsy.com/listing/91729421/dimensional-cuff-bracelet-tutorial

When a boutique customer called to she needed more of the same, I realized it was probably time for another variation on this design. I’ve made it with square and rectangular faces in the past, but wanted something new. After experimentation with shapes, I created the bracelet shown on the above right – a variation on the theme. I plan to make this one again using more colorful gemstones that will show up better against the weaving.

Another popular bracelet, the wave, that initiated so long ago that I can’t locate a photo, also needed revamping. I changed the initial bracelet shape to triangles as shown below.

Finally, still considering the wave bracelet theme, I made a new “cursive” bracelet that proved to be a bit tricky. This one required plenty of wraps to help the 14 gauge wire hold its shape. I think this one holds further possibilities.

This was an interesting and somewhat challenging exercise and I continue to think “what if” regarding variation possibilities. But for now, I think I’ll just go play some classical music on the piano with a score that someone else wrote.

Bracelets, Creativity, Philosophy, Techniques, Wire Work comment