January has flown. I always have dreams of hibernating and catching up on the stacks of books that inhabit all rooms of my house. This year I was in the studio every day. Collages (4 new) and mixed media necklaces ( 6 new) for a gallery show that opens tomorrow. When that show was hung, it was with great pleasure that I got to return to this beauty from Karen/Starry Road Studio. I had been thinking on it for weeks, literally, and wanted to make my design become reality…
Playing with pictures – but you can clearly see the colors and textures here. Dimples on the edge, a spiral, and a great earthy green, hints of rusty brown, turquoise… I wanted to do a bracelet – partially because of the size ( app 1″) and because it is double sided. I get rather annoyed when a bracelet focal flips over all the time… The irony – in my final design the ceramic focal can’t flip over. Ha. Outsmarted myself.
The focal is framed with chunky faceted jasper nuggets. The bracelet is copper, stamped, forged, with patina. The hinge is formed directly from the sheet, and creates the clasp. A pin of wire ( chunky, like 12 ga?) is on a leash of vintage chain.
The spiral and dimple design was intended to reflect the bead’s design. I created the dimples with my center punch, punching on wood to get a deeper impression, and alternating sides to have rasied and recessed dots.
Detail of the design, and clasp when worn. The pin is short and smooth, and not too uncomfortable. I would wear this on my non-dominant hand on a normal day, but mousing and writing with it on wasn’t very practical. ( I am really focused on the wearability of jewelry. Why design a cool looking piece if it’s uncomfortable, or impossible to wear?) But I digress.
I am pleased with the piece, and will wear it myself. I do see experimenting with the design a bit, offsetting the hinge for comfort…Thank you Karen for the challenge and the inspiration! Please see what my AJE teammates have created! The links can be found here. Until later…
Jenny Davies-Reazor 
That’s so cool Jenny, alot of bracelets this month but all so totally different and wonderful. Love the copper and the chunky accent beads!
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It still ecites me to see the wide range of items we create with similar ingrediants. And each month I feel I get to know people better!
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I do love the funkiness of the clasp. I can see that it might be a bit hard on the dominant hand if you are working though. I really love your entire design!!!!
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And I love your design – we are polar opposites this challenge!
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I love it – that hinge is so clever. Good luck at your show.
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Thanks Susan! I may even wear my new bracelet! I think it will be a conversation piece…
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I am in love with this design! Really unique and everything “sings” together just right! ❤
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If you send me more pie, and measure your wrist I will make you one… I did slide a piece of copper tubing in the bead to keep it from wiggling. In case you weer interested. I loved working with it!
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WOW, that clasp is really great! I love what you did, love the focal! Very inventive! Can’t believe it’s February myself!
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I know. And I think February will fly by just as fast!. Thanks Sue!
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Ooooh! I LOVE this design! The hinge and pin is so clever…although seen on your wrist the pin looks kind of scary. Hopefully it looks worse than it feels 🙂 I love how you reflected the bead with the dimpled edges and spirals. Gorgeous!
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Yes – Jen. The pin is filed smooth, but does stick out a smidge. I think wearing on my left hand will solve any discomfort. And I dont wear it while working…Its a design to play with…Thank you! I was going to etch swirls in and simply ran out of time…
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A hinged clasp-that’s thinking out of the box Jenny. You did a great job & definitely wear it tonight!
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In school we used to solder tubing onto the piecee – we made hinges often. Having it be the clasp just worked out the best!
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So ummmmmm when will you be teaching this to the rest of us?!? Sooooooooo coooooooool!
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Wow! I love everything about it! The green and brown with the copper is perfect…and the clasp is genius!
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Love this design Jenny the copper with the bead are a perfect match and it’s unique and original and such a clever closure. Brilliant.
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I think that having hinged copper sections is so clever! What a great idea!
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Great design…wish you lived closer so we could have a creative play date.
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We may have to schedule one regardless. You arent THAT far away….
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We may have to schedule one regardless. You arent THAT far away….
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