Year of Jewelry Week 14: Easter Parade

On April 8, 2012

And this has absolutely nothing to do with Easter…. I’ve tried, so far, to push myself to stay within the creative confines of the themes, but this one just wasn’t happenin’.  Perhaps because I don’t celebrate commercial holidays (except to eat the candy or, in the case of Halloween, to make toddlers weep in fear and eat the candy), or perhaps because I was absolutely adamant that a bunny was the last thing I would make out of respect for the resurrection of someone’s Lord and Savior, but I just wasn’t feeling it. As an after thought (and it’s more than a little ironic this is an after thought) I could have made a cross, and perhaps I still will, but for now, this is my entry into Year of Jewelry’s Week 14 “The Easter Parade”.

And since I didn’t stay within the confines of the theme, I at least made an effort to try something new by attempting a different style. Failing miserably at it, but attempting it nevertheless. If the style has a name, I’m ill-informed as to what it might be, but much better examples of what I didn’t do very well can easily be found by ogling the dynamic work of Iza Malczyk, Sarah-n-dippity, Vanini or HoneyandRings just to name a few. And though this isn’t technically my first try at this style (see my post for “Irish Eyes Are Smiling” Week 7), the design is a bit more complex…. which is what I have to tell myself to sleep better tonight.What started out as a pair of earrings somehow became a pendant, and not just any pendant, but an I’m-not-doing-another-one-of-these-fraking-frikin-wavy-curly-q-devil-spawn pendant…. and what a fancy thing she is too, in that kinda homely, undecided way. But there’s bound to be a partner out there for her somewhere!And though she may be the uncomfortable homeless ruffian of the jewelry world, I have a much deeper appreciation for artists who do this kind of work and make every turn of the wire an effortless display of beauty. I can assure you it’s no easy task… a fact to which my wayward and woefully awkward love child here can attest.

With that said, I’ve grown a bit attached to her during her short yet undeniably fruitful little life, because she’s taught me a valuable lesson…. leave this kind of work to the professionals! And on that note, I’m off to bed. Happy Easter to those who celebrate it, and Happy Candy Day to those who don’t. Please decapitate a chocolate bunny on my behalf and a good weaving to you all!

Edited to add: As you can see, I did indeed make a partner for the ruffian, and even a tutorial to boot. After I recovered from the difficulties of trying something new (and there’s always difficulty, right?), I sorta fell in love with this design and made a whole family of them so they wouldn’t be orphans in my designs-I-tried pile. Oddly enough, I dare say this is even a favorite design! So if you haven’t tried the Year of Jewelry project yet, it’s a fountain of inspiration, and you can view the wonderful entries for this year on the Year of Jewelry Facebook page.So don’t be afraid. Jump in and try something new. I promise you wont… well, you may disappoint yourself. Why sugarcoat it? I make it a point to disappoint myself at least once a week. But, like me, you may still hopefully learn something important in the process.And that lesson, my friend, is to be unafraid.So go forth, be unafraid, and happy weaving!Nicole