The theme this week for the Year of Jewelry was Déjà Vu. As in "Haven't I seen this somewhere before?" The challenge was to take a piece and rework it (and hopefully make it better!). I chose a bracelet I'd made with a focal by Shelley Graham Turner of Tori Sophia for a Play Date Artist Reveal back in October. You can read all about it here, but I'll show you the bracelet:
I really loved the button Shelley made and I wanted some bulk since the button was pretty sizable. I went with a multi-strand bracelet design and beefed it up with some wooden beads I found in the perfect colors. I liked the looks of the piece, but it was just never as wearable as I wanted it to be. Because the three strands were made of different mediums, they moved differently - and not always in harmony. I decided to rework it and I started by cutting everything apart and making a bead soup.
I found a spool of Superlon Tex 400 cord in a gold color that really draws out the undertones of the button. This cord is double the thickness of the cord I usually work with, so it has some heft to it. I decided to make a necklace this time around, but keep with the multi-strand design. I used the button as the clasp and made a loop in my macrame to accommodate it. Then I added a little bit of decorative knotting and some beads, long strands of knotted cord interspersed with random beads and some pretty knotting on the other end with a place to stitch the button. This is the piece I ended up with:
A close up of the button/clasp area:
I really like this piece. I think it highlights Shelley's button much better than the bracelet did and I think the size of it is better for the button, too. I haven't worked much with the Tex 400, but I think I'm going to have to do some more experimenting - I really like it in this necklace.
So, there you have it. My version of Déjà Vu. Want to see what the other members did with this theme? Check out their work here.
This is gorgeous, really gets me inspired. I learned how to macrame by my grandmother way back in the late 60's, belts ect, now I want to do this again, sooooooo beautiful!! thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteCheryl
Awed by your work yet again! What a beauty.
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely gorgeous - beautifully done!
ReplyDeleteI can't find the right superlative, but I think this is my favorite design of yours...ever!
ReplyDeleteLove seeing the progression from the bracelet to the necklace. The finished piece is beautiful!! And it's further proof that this creativity business is never a straight line. I think that's what keeps us hooked.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the grandbaby!
Stunning! Stunning!! Love how you reworked your Playdate Artist bracelet into a necklace -- so postmodern & Déjà Vu of you!! You took my breath away --- again!!
ReplyDeleteI kinda liked the bracelet but the necklace is just stunning!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love this necklace!!
ReplyDelete~Erika
I am so in love with this necklace! I can't believe that I missed it on FB.
ReplyDeleteI cannot duplicate this one because I don't have another button like that one, but I can make a similar one! www.knotjustmacrame.etsy.com
ReplyDeleteWhile sorting my beads recently, I came across a number of mixed African style beads which I think would lend themselves very well to something like his.mthanks for sharing and inspiring me. X
ReplyDeleteNot really. There are a couple of straightforward advances you can take to guarantee that your valuable gems is in as ideal condition as the day you got it. hati wolf
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