If at first you don’t succeed…

Well, you know the rest!

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If you dabble in the arts or in crafts of any type, then you know that slip-ups are part of the territory.

Even if you’re quite experienced, having a finished item turn out well is never a forgone conclusion – particularly if you’re adding a new element.

It can be frustrating when you’ve devoted time to a project and it ends up being unusable. But, on the bright side, it can be very rewarding to try again and eventually solve the problem.

Currently, I’m at the “try again” stage.

What we have here, Kids, is a reject!

My plan was to use this beautiful Czech Glass Button for a clasp on a bracelet. And I was pretty excited to discover coordinating beads in such a similar color palette. Along the way, I tested, and measured, and all appeared to be going well.

However, when the piece was finished, it did not drape properly on the wrist. The button shank is too wobbly. I thought I had allowed for “wobble”, but sometimes it’s not possible to tell exactly how a piece of jewelry will lie on the wrist, or on the neckline, until it’s finished. There really is a bit of engineering involved and that can mean trial and error. I’ll bet you’ve had a commercially-made piece of jewelry that never seemed to hang correctly or fit just right. It was probably never “tested” after it was made.

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Sooooo,

I’ll be taking this baby apart . . . totally . . . and then starting over . . .

but maybe not today. 😉

Hugs,

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Comments

If at first you don’t succeed… — 10 Comments

  1. Hi Crissie
    Gosh, I do that a lot. But bead weaving has one advantage. You can take it apart and re-use the beads. I have a couple of necklaces I made a few years ago that were created to wear with particular Hawiaan shirts that I no longer have. In stead of leaving them in the jewelry box, I’ll take them apart and use the beads for yet another necklace.

    I’ll be back later to see what’s up with everyone else, and what I am celebrating today. There IS a disadvantage to being the first one up. ~lol~

    Have a great day and a great weekend.
    xx, Carol

  2. Well, it is certainly beautiful! I’m sure you will figure out how to make it perfect.

    Sorry I have been MIA all week; it has been one of those crazy, out of control weeks where I am on the go from morning til night. To top it off, Robert is cutting a tooth and has not been sleeping well. I know I have missed some good posts & will go back and comment.

    Hope everyone has a great weekend!

  3. I’m late, fighting a migraine today.

    I love the bracelet, its so sad that it didn’t work. I think I would be heart broken if I had to start all over. When you get it right you will have to show it too us.

    Today’s Celebrations
    5/20 Weights and Measures Day ( Anniversary of international treaty, signed May 20, 1875, providing for the establishment of an International Bureau of Weights and Measures)
    5/20 Be a Millionaire Day (we all can go for that)
    5/20 Pick Strawberries Day ( you can pick them out a the grocery store and dip them in chocolate too)
    If you do pick strawberries tomorrow is strawberries and cream day so you can celebrate twice!
    5/20 National Quiche Lorraine Day

  4. Oh no, Kelly!
    I hope you feel better soon! Headaches are exhausting. Lots of xoxo’s for you!!!

    I want to be a millionaire who has Quiche Lorraine for dinner, strawberries (with chocolate) for dessert, and have the entire thing be calorie-free – so I won’t be adding to my weights and measures! 😉

  5. Hey Carol! 😀
    I know you love beadweaving and that is something we share, for sure.
    (Your bead “embroidery” is wonderful too. One of these days I will try it.)

    You are so right about recycling the woven jewelry pieces!
    I’ve also taken apart old costume jewelry that was in less than great shape, to salvage the beads/findings that were still good for use in a new design.

  6. We missed you Allison!!!! 😀
    Hope Robert’s tooth comes in soon, and that there’s a nice break until the next one is on the way!
    I’ll bet you were very proud of Annelise’s work on the posters! Tell her that I am, too! 😀

  7. If I had to start over, I’d throw it all out. You’d hear me yell “to hell with it” all the way to the Cape.
    I’d make it work just as it is.

    Hey Kelly – get better soon – when do you start school?

  8. Clenna,
    You are a riot, Lady! 🙂
    How’s the house re-decorating going? You probably won’t be able to give it your full attention until after school is out. At least it hasn’t been a very hot, humid, May – so that makes school days and moving furniture a *little* easier.

  9. That’s a beautiful button. I LOVE buttons!!

    I can’t tell how the back is made from the photos. Can you post more close ups?

  10. Hi Donna,
    It has a squared glass shank that’s part of the button itself – an integral part of the mold used to make the button – so the whole thing is one piece. I’ll grab a photo of it next time I’m taking pictures. 🙂

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