Neckcuffs, Bangles and Hoops - Sturdy, Well Made, Fantastic Bases for Jewelry Design

 

Recycled Sari Silk Wrapped Bangle Stack with mixes of left over beads!

The 3 above were inspired in 2010 by eclectic gipsyland's flickr photo set called 

Roulottes;

Someday I will have my own gypsy wagon and the only man allowed in will be the one who loads the heavy stuff for me.

but I digress...

I loved Linda's vision for Adorn Me! and wanted to be involved. At that time (2009) bezels and nickel silver were all the rage in artisan jewelry and I researched carefully to create a completely unique full days workshop that was exciting, colorful and textural. 

 

Once I had the neck cuff down, the bangles were a cinch to create and the wrapped ear hoops came easily after. 

I submitted my workshop with my copyrighted pictures and a full stepped out instructional hand out for all the students. It took approximately 4 weeks to research that this design was NOT being offered anywhere else, that my information was accurate and that all the teacher requirements were met.

The workshop was rejected because of my lack of teaching references.

Ah well, it was still a good learning experience and here I was with a full collection of never been seen jewelry! So I just started listing the pieces in my etsy shop and sending them in to stores. I was delighted to find buyers felt the same as I did about them!

I had hoped to try again as a workshop instructor somewhere with this idea but it looked as if someone else needed the fresh idea more.

It isn't the first time it happened, it isn't the last and I have a well of creative ideas to draw from so I can easily walk away from any design that I conceived that is in danger of becoming mainstream to embrace something new...... like patina-ted metal.

Again, researching carefully that no one else was offering such a concept.

And there wasn't!

Even the forums at Ganoskin had an bare patina section! Since then, Tim McCreight released a video on patinas and I was not worried because even though life had gotten in the way of my plans (2 rejected book proposals and my need to become the main provider for my family due to Mike coming out of remission and the subsequent 2nd diagnoses of PNH), my idea was still different enough to have merit, easy to learn, and had really fun results!

I knew that if I couldn't put it down that there were bound to be others who couldn't either. 

I am thrilled that my work resonates with so many people and that many jewelry artists have gone further in their personal jewelry journey from inspiration that I have given them.

http://missficklemediacom.blogspot.com/2009/07/sneak-peek.html

 I am going to keep thinking outside of the box. 

I am going to keep looking for ways to make unique jewelry that appeals to those dissatisfied with what is being offered mainstream.

I am going to keep discovering ways to make money, creating.

And I am going to keep sharing how to do it all with you.

Just wait until you see what I have in development, and then just wait until you see it in someone else's book, blog or shop showing how to make it!

I'll be taking money on bets that it will be within 6 months of my release. 

With Much Love, Respect, and Complete Understanding of How the World Works,

Shannon