December 14, 2009

Custom Cowgirl Bracelet

I got a lot of custom orders during my jewelry party. Though this was totally thrilling, I will admit it was a bit overwhelming as the main thing I wanted to do after the months of preparation going into the party was to take a break from creating for a week or two! No rest for the weary! When my co-worker Melissa saw a Chinese-themed charm bracelet I had on display at the jewelry party, she immediately said "I want one like this!" I at first figured she wanted me to create a bracelet from scratch for her, though after meeting with her for breakfast one morning to discuss the bracelet (my first "consultation" of sorts!), Melissa explained that she had a sterling silver charm bracelet that she wanted to spice up. She presented me with 7 necklaces and bracelets from her "hippie days," all adorned with silver beads, turquoise, teek-wood, and coral. She had envisioned that I could take the beads from the necklaces and put them on the existing sterling bracelet. She found this picture as her inspiration: "The funky-chunkier, the better!" Melissa instructed. I'll see what I can do! I ordered some sterling ball-headed pins and a rustic looking sterling silver toggle clasp and went to work. I tore apart the necklaces and bracelets and took an inventory of what I had to work with: Here is the "before" picture of the sterling silver bracelet Melissa provided - with two headpins worth of beads for starters...And here is the after! Melissa LOVED the bracelet when I gave it to her at our company Christmas party - and went on to show and explain to EVERYONE at our table the story behind the piece! I will admit, this is not something I would think up to do on my own, but with the help of all the materials Melissa provided and the inspiration piece's picture, I think we hit the nail on the head! Check back on Wednesday for stories of how I commissioned others to make custom-pieces for me this week!

7 comments:

  1. gorgeous!! love how you used the pendants!

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  2. Yahooooooo!!! You definitely put your spurs on and lassoed that one!

    In all seriousness, I think it came out fantastic and I think the pendants look great on it too! :>

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  3. Wow, do I LOVE that charm bracelet! It's like no charm bracelet I've ever seen! What a great custom project! Did it take a long time to make? Very tedious? Is it the heaviest bracelet ever made, or more lightweight than it looks?

    Phew! I like seeing your process too, the inventory all set up. Gorgeous! Do you think you'll start making more items like this? I would buy it. :)

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  4. If I have learned anything from watching Project Runway, it's that a GREAT designer not only has their own vision, but is able to work with visions and inspirations of their clients. Because, as you well know, without clients, you have nothing!

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  5. dearest christyn,
    it's melissa!
    i love my bracelet.
    it has memories and charms from years,,, of my life.
    thank you christyn for making me such a treasured piece of art.
    with gratitude and love, melissa

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  6. Amazing bracelet!!! I love it. (May have to order one for myself... hmmm...) :)

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  7. Awesome creation, i would love to have all these bracelets, i am sure you are going to rock in 2010, lovely ideas, thanks for sharing.

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