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Getting a New Perspective on a Frustrating Jewelry Project

by Nancy Vaughan.
(San Diego, California, USA)

Seems like much of the time when I post photos of my jewelry the designs are from a piece that failed or some weird new components I just found. This piece is no exception.

Several days ago I decided to make another cuff bracelet using smooth flowing lines inside the frame. So I went through the usual steps, design, fabricate, texture then shape. It was a beautiful idea and I couldn’t wait to start stringing beads.

Before I started with the beads I checked everything to be sure there were no wires that could create a problem. Then I made a startling discovery: I had put the texture on the inside!

Easy enough to fix. Just flatten it out and form it around the mandrel again.

Wrong! It didn’t work and the whole thing collapsed in the middle. The ends were pointing up not out. It had a boomerang shape.

For whatever reason I could not get the piece formed with the right side out in a shape I wanted. All of the wires kept slipping into the wrong place.

I got tired of trying to make the bracelet into the bracelet shape I wanted. So I put it down and walked away!

A few hours later I decided to try again or see if there was something I could salvage. Taking that time away made it easier to see what I had even if it wasn’t what I wanted.

I had just received some lovely blue agate beads that had some unusual colors mixed with the blue. I needed some contrasting or coordinating color beads. The agate beads were smooth so I decided to use some faceted carnelian and a few blue/blue green seed beads.

It didn’t look like a butterfly yet. In fact it didn’t look like any recognizable object. But I had a great time stringing the beads and choosing where the different sizes and colors would go.

About 3/4th of the way through was looking better. So I began planning where to attach a chain or leather cord.

But it still didn’t look like a butterfly. The butterfly appeared as I was taking photos of the piece.

I find that sometimes while focusing the camera for a good shot things begin to look different. Seeing it from another view point is quite helpful.

After I finished the butterfly I decided it needed a companion. It needed a cuff bracelet and this time I paid more attention to which side was out and which was in.

Nancy Vaughan
Wicked Wire Works