The beautiful Kristi Bowman of Kristi Bowman Design makes some of the most wonderful copper components. She announced a contest and picked several winners to receive a pair of copper end caps and make something from them for the blog hop. I sadly was not one of those people. However, she had extras, and if you wanted to purchase a set, you could join in as well. I wanted to, so I did! I love her work - I have lots of it. She gets some really beautiful colors from her copper. Below is the multi-strand necklace I made. At first, I thought about earrings. Obvious, to me - maybe too obvious, but I can see myself buying more of these to make some earrings! Then I thought bracelet. But I really really wanted the copper end caps to show, so I decided to make the necklace! First, the things I like about it!
1. The idea - I love the idea of connecting multi-strands with a looped wire and pulling it through the end cap so you can't see the way it's put together - it looks so finished. There are 7 strands on this necklace. 2. The end caps - they are so beautiful and I chose all the seed beads to pick up the colors in the end caps (the beads are not yellow, they are a goldish color, but are showing up yellow because of the lighting). 3. The somewhat choker style - long enough that you can see the end caps, not too long to be annoying!
Things I don't like about it - 1. Even though she gave us tons of time, I ended up doing this at the last minute because I had to order a lot of the beads and they took so long to get here, plus my house is a torn apart mess (although hopefully that will change next week!). 2. The twisting - it just isn't working. I need to figure out a way to twist it more, before you put it on, so that it stays twisted. Does anyone know how to do this? 3. I did not have time to LOS the copper I used to connect all the bead strands, or the jump rings or clasp (I did make the clasp and I like it). I will have to take it apart to do that, but wanted to get this post done! 4. The photos - taking photos at 9:00 on Friday night just doesn't work! Not enough light. 5. None of my beads are in the piece - I made two I wanted to put in, and the darned things turned two different colors in the kiln. That's so annoying!
Please stop by and see what everyone else has made with their end caps - I can't wait to see!
Please stop by and see what everyone else has made with their end caps - I can't wait to see!
Comments
I love the necklace it is very pretty. I agree those caps are just too pretty to hide. I have the same problem with twisting strands they never stay twisted.
Therese
you can do your los with a qtip - then you don't have to completely disassemble... but still neutralize and wash off...
if i wanted to do the twisting and have it stay, i would probably get one end secured in the cone - then twist to where i liked it... put that end in the second cone and make sure my wire wrap around the exposed loop kept it snug...
the bead caps are really great...
The only solution I've come across for getting the "twist" to stay is to crimp the final ends of the strands in the opposite order from the beginning ends...if that makes sense.
Anne
http://www.annemade-jewelry.com/kits.htm#torsade