Jeannie over at Jeannie's Blog posted a Do Over Challenge on her blog that intrigued me. The basis of the challenge is that she sends participants an "old, tried, boring" piece of her jewelry for free, and then the participants try to rework it into a new, cool, updated design and share it on their blog today. I love doing jewelry challenges because it gives me some direction when I am creating. It is hard for me to just sit down and create something without some sort of starting point or guidelines.
Here is the piece she sent me:
Now, I will make an embarrassing confession (blushing) - I neglected to take a photo of the jewelry when I received it, and one night I was talking to my mom on the phone as I absently started taking the necklace apart. When I hung up, I realized I hadn't taken a photo of it for my "before" photo! Doh! So I pieced some of it back together and took a photo of part of it. The actual necklace was the same pattern repeated in a very long necklace, but you get the idea! Lesson learned :)
Pink, and this shade in particular, is definitely a color I never use, so I knew this was going to be a difficult challenge for me. Added to that, I made a last minute decision to travel to Ohio to visit my parents, and I did not have a chance to make my design before I left. That meant I needed to pack as many beads and supplies as I could so I could work on it at my parents. Last night, I reworked my design many, many times, but I was limited by what I had on hand and finally decided I needed to leave it alone for now. (Btw, isn't the background awesome? My mom has this old side table that was my grandmother's, and it makes an awesome background in my opinion...now to figure out how I get it to FL!):
Leslie of Mad Maggie Designs sent me this awesome beaded toggle clasp, and I thought the colors worked well with the MOP triangle beads and some Czech beads I had.
I did not have any pendants with pink in them, but this mermaid pendant by Nan of Spirited Earth had touches of pink in it and introduced a blue shade to the color scheme. I also used two of her beads in the same shade of blue. I thought the mermaid went along with the ocean/sea theme of the shell triangle beads.
I thought using the triangle beads would be easy, but I was wrong! I think they are too big compared to the other elements I used. I repositioned them a few times and liked this pattern the best. Then I wrapped some beads on them with wire trying to liven it up, but to be perfectly honest, I just wasn't happy with my final result.
These are the matching earrings I made:
As for the pink beads, I just couldn't bring myself to use them. I realize I failed in this part of the challenge and accept that I need to get out of my comfort zone more, but I am definitely not there yet! As a result, there may be a Do Over of my Do Over in the future! It is disheartening when you struggle with a design and end up unhappy with it, but sometimes you just need to set it aside and try again later. I plan to do that with this piece. I believe I can come up with a better design and possibly use the pink beads, but I need to give it a rest for now.
I apologize for such a long post, but maybe you can at least relate to my frustration, and even give me some advice on what you do when you get stuck in a rut on a design :)
The good news is that the rest of the participants came up with some really amazing designs using the jewelry they received, and their creativity is truly inspiring. Go check out all these awesome blogs and their Do Over designs:
Donna(No Blog) See it on Jeannie's Blog:
Lisa http://lucidmoonstudio.
Christine www.onekisscreations.blogspot.
Elisabeth http://www.beadsforbusygals.
Jamie(No Blog) See it on Jeannie's Blog:
Nancy http://nedbeads.com
Charlene http://clay-space.com
Thank you, Jeannie, for a fun, creative challenge!! Jewelry challenges are great because they encourage our creativity and get us to move out of our comfort zones so we can grow as artists. Not to mention, you meet great people and their blogs in the process!
21 comments:
It's so funny that feeling that comes over us when we know we either nailed it or not. I do think the pendant and the MOP triangles look good together. Maybe wire stack three MOP together to keep insyc with the pendant?
Thank you for participating Lisa.
jeannie
Holy crow, woman, but that's beautiful, and so detailed! Great job!
Lisa,
First, the background is AWESOME! Second, your do over is beautiful, I think you did a great job!
Hey there Lisa! I think that you had a lot to work with, but it is hard when it is not your preference. I had some beads I just couldn't figure out what to do with so I took them out of the equation. That being said, I love the mermaid and the toggle. And triangles are a favorite shape (also the name of my sorority Tri Delta), but I am partial to odd numbers, so many just three? I think they work as the earrings though! I thought maybe they would work as a bracelet. I think the triangle shape is pretty cool. And I think that it is totally cool that you are going to do over your do over! That is a great idea! I know that when I am stuck I get frustrated, but to be open to new possibilities is awesome!
Thanks for playing, this was fun!
Enjoy the day!
Erin
I love this it's completely different - I don't think you failed at all.I love how you tweaked the color. I had the same struggle and reworked mine I don't know how many times - then I made the earrings and actually liked them. The necklace I had to stop futzing with and just go with so I get your frustration. I wasn't completely happy but I do love what you did - That focal is awesome! Happy Hopping! Patty
As I was reading your post I was smiling all the way through! I too have worked and reworked my design. I now have 2 seed bead necklaces to use up....waxed linen cording that I cut apart, chain sections....Monday night I walked out of the craft room and told my husband....this was supposed to be fun!!!! In the end it did challenge us to get out of our comfort zone...I think Jeannie had an uncanny knack of picking the right piece for all of us. You have a beautiful creation . Lots of textures and subtle hints of color. Job well done!
Love the way you have combined the elements with the weight of the pendant making it all work together so nicely. Love the idea of the redo challenge. I often take my own pieces apart after a while because they just aren't right somehow. Funny how it can be one element being changed that makes all the difference. Good work.
i think you completely made this beautiful and wearable and fun. love what you did!
I think you did a great job, but I know what it's like to work with less-than-favorite beads. I do like pink but not crystals so much. Love the MOP triangles, though, and how you wrapped beads in them!
I love this! I think you did a fantastic job!!! :) Thank you for using my toggle clasp!!
I hate being thrown out of my comfort zone too. I would not have know what to do with those triangles either.
Love the new piece you did a fantastic job! The triangles were great!
nicely done. those triangle beads are not a easy design element.
I think you did a GREAT job, I like it. I'm not a big fan of pink either, but you used the triangles very well.
Marcy
www.queenmarcyoriginals.typepad.com
mantle@piedmontcenter.com
Lisa - I love what you did with the triangle links! Wrapping them with the bead? Great idea! I do understand (way too well) that sometimes you do need to put something aside and go back to it...but still, I think this necklace is a hit!
Awesome job!! You may not like to get out of your comfort zone, but when one is that creative, it's completely fine to stay there.
I don't know how I missed hearing about this challenge in the first place. . .
Anyway, I really like the way you wrapped the wire on the MOP pieces and I ADORE that table!!
I love it! Love those triangle beads but I see how they could be tough to work with.
I always have this "just right" feeling when I've nailed a design, so I understand what you are feeling. However, having said that, I really like what you created. I think adding the blue from Nan's pendant helps soften all that pink, and you don't have to use every single bead of the original. I thought that wire wrapping beads inside the triangles was a stroke of genius. Well done!
I really like what you did with your piece and had the same problems with mine but think you did a great job!
Never mind the pink beads, I love your do-over necklace. Great job.
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