Tuesday, March 1, 2011

You've Gotta Start Somewhere!

I am brand new to jewelry making and learning things on my own using books and YouTube videos.

For my first necklace, I used pre-made chain as my jump rings still need to be perfected more. This is what my first design looked like (blurry I know!):



So, obviously, things seemed off balance and just . . . wrong. I was going for asymmetrical and it was clearly not working! Also as I viewed the picture of it, I realized the floral pendant on the far left did not look good with the other charms and pendants.

I took it apart. I moved things around endlessly on my bead board. I shortened it.

I crafted embellishments for the different charms to make them stand out more fully.  Finally I came up with this:


Generally, I think it works a lot better than the original. I think it could still use some more beaded elements or something to give it more bling though. What do you think?

4 comments:

  1. love this one. reminds me of some of the pieces in the new free people catalog. even the same photo styling on the wood plank background!
    http://www.freepeople.com/accessories-thejewelrybox/

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  2. Thanks, Karen. I had not seen those, but checked out your link. Wow- it does look like a very similar background!

    I was looking for someplace outside to photograph in good light and just used our porch furniture LOL.

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  3. Hi there Leigh,
    I am going through everyone who left a comment on my Bead Soup Blog Party necklace. Thank so much for that!

    And now I just read your first post about your first piece. I must just say I love your way of approaching a new craft. Who'd dare to go about it like that, showing every step of the journey. Hurray to you! I love it!

    But now you ARE a professor I read. Of what I wonder. Academic methodology (eh, is that the word I am searching really?) seems to be your alley anyway. I like that!

    And hey, I am only Swedish, my english didn't come out all that great today ...

    All my best,
    Malin

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  4. Malin, do not apologize for your English- it is excellent considering my lack of knowledge of any other language except elementary Spanish! I am a professor of Communication :)

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