Is Your Jewelry Design Finished? 5 Tips to Help You Decide

re: Is Your Jewelry Design Finished? 5 Tips to Help You Decide

louise@32 — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 07:51:59 GMT

I'm sorry, but I agree with the comment that the necklace is still overdone. There are rules of design which can be broken, but that is another story. 1st rule: Uneven numbers always work. Sometimes when working on any creative item & you can't seem to make it work, count & see if you have even numbers. This applies from flower arranging to knitting. Uneven numbers are best. The main section of this design has even numbers from what i can see. It isn't balanced 2nd rule: Don't introduce a new design element, unless it is echoed in another part of the design, otherwise, the new design element jumps out at you. The small beads need to be incorporated into the main strand, even just one or two. The small strand of beads is more obvious than the main strand.Also another strand of the small beads could be put under the main strand . This would balance out the design & frame the main section. Checking Designs: If you want to check anything you create from a straight forward design viewpoint, look at it in a mirror. That's why hairdressers & make-up artist always look at there work that way. Any sections needing attention become obvious. Turn your design upside down. It works, trust me. Look at it through a blue cellophane sheet. This is like changing a colour photo to black & white. Black & white needs to be strong in design. You remove colour & just get shape,texture, line etc. Are these elements pleasing when looking through the cellophane. Hold your piece of work in front of you, facing a mirror. Close your eyes, then open them & see what it is in your design that grabs your eye first. If it is not what you would prefer to be seen as the principal part of the design, change it or get rid of it. P.S. I personally love VOILA (behold)

re: Is Your Jewelry Design Finished? 5 Tips to Help You Decide

Dawn@123 — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 06:29:41 GMT

I made a piece about a year and a half ago called "Bone Deep". I never really felt comfortable with it's proportions and somehow it's design. IT was over 6 inches long from bail to bottom, which worked fine for me, because I am tall and have a long neck. This was fairly early in my wireworking days. http://www.flickr.com/photos/26700852@N05/2509581316/in/set-72157605168223198/ After living with it for about six months, I decided to revise it. I made it much shorter (around 4 inches) and added other elements, and reshaped and moved a few of the wires to balance the design and add whimsy. http://www.flickr.com/photos/26700852@N05/3033043103/in/set-72157605168223198/ The piece sold a few weeks after the revision...to another tall woman. What can I say? Dawn Blair, Dawn Blair Jewelry

re: Is Your Jewelry Design Finished? 5 Tips to Help You Decide

Lisa Arrow — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 14:01:30 GMT

I am SO glad some finally wrote a piece on this topic. In my jewelry-making, I have long lived by the adage: Just because you CAN make it, doesn't mean you SHOULD. With jewelry getting more intricate and complex all the time, I see so many pieces that, IMHO, are over the top and lack a certain "taste" level. While I realize beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I believe those sorts of creations are best suited for hanging in a gallery or perhaps entering in a contest. They just don't look appropriate when worn. When it comes to making wearable pieces, I have always tried to live by the "less is more" rule. But using restraint does not mean a less interesting piece will result. Just like too much clutter in a home can overpower its design, you will appreciate the elements of a necklace more if each one is properly highlighted rather than lost in a sea of superfluous "stuff."

re: Is Your Jewelry Design Finished? 5 Tips to Help You Decide

JenniferJ@43 — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 12:04:32 GMT

I really needed this article right now! I have far too many optios on my worktable and the idea of taking a walk away and leaving it "as is" may lead to my ta-da moment!

re: Is Your Jewelry Design Finished? 5 Tips to Help You Decide

ArdentTie — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 02:16:09 GMT

I love the example of Cynthia's piece. It really is a wearable piece of art. Cynthia has submitted dozens of necklaces to Stringing magazine and out of all of them, I see her wearing this one the most!

re: Is Your Jewelry Design Finished? 5 Tips to Help You Decide

JanG@25 — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:55:37 GMT

If I'm not sure about a design I've done, I sleep on it, especially if it involves cutting expensive chain. The trick, which I might learn before next century, is to find the balance between admiring something that still needs "editing" and working a design to death.

re: Is Your Jewelry Design Finished? 5 Tips to Help You Decide

I Create Wonders Inc — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:54:31 GMT

It always takes me several sessions and lots of ruminating to finish a design, and then I always wear it a couple of times just to see if it falls right on my neck or wrist. This also allows people to see my newest creation and I always get some sort of comment on it! Hallie J.

re: Is Your Jewelry Design Finished? 5 Tips to Help You Decide

SusanL@124 — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:55:51 GMT

imo, the first necklace is also overdone. Personal taste.

re: Is Your Jewelry Design Finished? 5 Tips to Help You Decide

Jean Campbell — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:44:27 GMT

Great post, Debbie! Thanks for spelling out what we all need to do more so clearly.

re: Is Your Jewelry Design Finished? 5 Tips to Help You Decide

Gyspy Mary — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:51:56 GMT

I love the article. I am a perfectionist on all my artwork. I just ripped, cut and strangled 4 pr of bird earrings. I just simply did not step back and "Admire that first pair". Thanks, for the reminder.GyspyMary