June 13, 2012

Creating a Piece Based on a Palette

The process of creating a new micro macrame piece is, for me at least, messy.  And it involves dragging out a lot of potential bits and parts before narrowing it down to the finalists.  Last week's color challenge involved black and white - actually more gray and shades of gray with bits of bluish gray, but for the sake of simplicity, we'll call it black and white.  So I went to my handy dandy supply closet stash and came up with this bead and cord palette:
Then I study the applicants for a while and wait for inspiration...  Aha!  There's usually a moment where something from the pile strikes me or reminds me of something I've been meaning to try.  And then I'm off.  This week it was the large rectangular pendant - I think it's Magensite.  I liked the weight of it and my plan was to surround it with a macrame bezel and suspend it from an intricate necklace to make a real statement piece.  
When I reached this point, I was seriously doubting the wisdom of my plan.  I'd spent one entire evening doing the bezel, and I'm still not crazy about it.  I think my technique would work better on a stone without corners, so maybe I'll attempt it again on something round.  Maybe.  Then I spent another afternoon/evening getting started on the straps.  Again, I seriously underestimated the time involved in this undertaking:)  I considered putting it into the UFO (unfinished objects for those of you who don't know craft-speak) pile, but I just couldn't, so I pressed on.
Ta Da!!!  I feel like there should be a chorus singing in the background as I present this.  It's not perfect, but then again, none of my work is.  I'm always finding something - a knot just a bit out of line, I bead that I should have culled, a place where the tension isn't as even as I'd like.  But I've come to the conclusion that imperfection is unavoidable and perfection is unattainable and that's part of the charm of handmade.

10 comments:

  1. I just found your blog and etsy shop! I haven't macramed since the early 80's, but your amazing work has inspired me to do it again. Have you written a book yet on macrame or do you teach around the country? Are there any books on macrame jewelry that you particularly like or could recommend? Thanks! -Sandy

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    1. Thanks for the lovely compliment, Sandy! No, I haven't written a book nor have I taught a class - I'm much too busy knotting:) My idol, Joan Babcock, has written several books, though - if I were going to buy some books, that's where I'd start.

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  2. I think anyone who creates is going to be over critical of their work. I can always find things I would change/mistakes in mine. I think the necklace is stunning.

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  3. Wow! Wow! WOW! I think this is amazing! Love the color palette, love the knotting and it is most definitely a fabulous statement piece. You shouldn't point out the bezel wrap because there's no one who would notice it if you didn't point it out!

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    1. LOL - I can't help it! If I see a flaw I feel like I have to point it out to everyone in the interest of fair disclosure LOL.

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  4. It might not be perfect in your eyes but it is gorgeous! And a statement piece that will go with so many different outfits.

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  5. Wow. This is definitely a statement piece! Beautiful! Unlike a lot of other people, it seems, I didn't learn knotting back in the 70's and 80's when I was a kid, so I'm just starting to learn and play with adding macrame to my jewelry designs now. It's funny because I'll tell someone I'm doing macrame knots and they say 'oh I remember making those (usually rust colored) hanging plant holders!' 2012's macrame is DEFINITELY not your mother's (or your grandmother's) macrame!

    Your work is amazing, Sherri. I love how you've incorporated beads into the designs. Very cool!!! And no one will notice any imperfections!!!!

    Now I'm reading your next post and am off to visit the website's listed and to check out that book!

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    1. Thank you & good luck in your knotting adventures:)

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  6. I haven't learned to do knotting as of yet. You definitely give me inspiration to try. Absolutely gorgeous piece.

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