Monday June 7th, 2010

At last, I can finally boast to completing my latest production. I had literally been working on this piece all day Sunday, pausing only to have the infamous Sunday Roast (and pudding), playing with the hamsters, eat cheese puffs and occasional trips to the latrine. I didn't even sit down with the Papers and their many supplements till 11:50pm, by the time I'd finished they were well out of date.

So just what was this stunning work of art that I sacrificed my whole Sunday for? It was simply a five strand bracelet (or five strand bracelet disaster as I refer to it on my Flickr page). I'm sure it'd take the pro's no time at all but I continue to reiterate the fact that I am a simple novice. The idea came about after seeing these multi-strand bracelets in numerous books and magazines in a whole multitude of designs, I was feeling ambitious so I thought I'd give it a crack. My theme was complete randomness, just making it up as I go along, there were two primary reasons for this, the first being that it would ensure my design would be completely unique
and secondly I didn't really have much choice in the matter. You see whenever I invest in beads I always favour the 'mixed' packs that vary in colour, shape and style so I didn't really have any that would create a full strand.

It was all going so well, all my thread was all measured and cut correctly, beads by my side I started threading like a fiend possessed. It wasn't until I'd completed the third strand that I realised that just like the Titanic I'd hit an iceberg. In other words I'd cocked up - royally. Instead of slipping each of the individual threads through a single calotte and knotting it, I'd only gone and looped the threads at both ends securing the loop with a crimp bead. Trying so hard to remain optimistic I daringly proceeded but deep down I knew that just like the great ship itself I was sinking very slowly.

It was only after I'd attached the lobster clasp to the finished 'piece' that I gasped in horror, each of the individual loops varied in sizes meaning all the strands differed in length to the point of ridiculousness. The clasp was a pointless addition, the bracelet was that big (one strand alone almost fitted around my wrist twice). You could simply slide it on to your wrist only to watch it immediately fall off sending it crashing to the floor, it was truly heartbreaking - for me at least.

I asked Matty for his opinion, after all what could he say that I hadn't already said and thought to myself? He said he liked the actual design idea of it but would maybe have been better suited to a necklace, hmmm, he was certainly on to something there (not that I let him know that). After much thought I chose to keep the bracelet for pure comedy value, where I can look back at my novice days with fond memories.

As soon as funds allow, whenever that maybe I'm going to have a huge bead splurge and seriously consider that necklace idea. Looking back it certainly wasn't a whole Sunday wasted a very important lesson was learned that day, well two actually the first being don't ever let enthusiasm and delirium get in the way of studying instructions and logical thinking. The second, never eat a huge bag of cheese puffs immediately after devouring a chunky slice of strawberry cheesecake, don't do it, trust me, I suffered.

On a more positive note, Saturday night I put together lovely pair of summery earrings I called 'Lemon Drops' (again check out my Flickr page if you care to take a gander). They were inspired by all the gorgeous weather we'd been having (notice how I used past tense). I really wish my username didn't have 'wine gum' in it, I'd kill for a pack of those right now.