Wednesday, May 13, 2009

The Unexpected Evolution of Hammered Hoops

Some days, the planned gets hijacked by the bizarre and the unexpected. This time, it was the unexpected.

I'd gotten my hands on some 20ga copper wire so I could hammer out some hoop earrings. Being the smart woman I thought I was, I decided to make them roughly fish- or tear-drop shaped for ease of hammering them out evenly. After some brainwork about how to secure the wires, everything proceeded fairly uneventfully - the hoops weren't exactly ENTIRELY even, because I really suck at getting them perfect, but they worked.

Then I put them on. And they were just 'enh'. They needed something more. Maybe just a touch of colour, a little wire-wrap to accent.

Wire-wrapping led to more wire-wrapping, one thing led to another thing and suddenly instead of hammered hoop earrings, I had these on my hands:


Wine Country: 20ga and 24ga copper wire, 4mm garnets, 4mm amethysts, olive glass seed beads. RM40.





They reminded me so much of grapes on the trellis, naming them Wine Country was only natural. I didn't think the little amethyst dangle would look nice, but amazingly it does, and it gives just that needed bit of weight for them to hang properly. They measure just shy of 4cm, one side's -slightly- uneven because of the hand-hammered hoops - I really need to get better at this hammering thing. The bead placements aren't exactly symmetrical either on both earrings, but that's deliberate for a touch of nature-inspired random.

10 comments:

Snickering Corpses said...

They *do* look like grape clusters. That's pretty amazing. I love that moment when you realize you've invented something that surprises even you.

*also headtilts* I understand everything in the description except the RM40. Is that a price, an item code, or something else?

Jeremy said...

Definitely nice to have something come out even better than originally planned!

RM40 is a price, yes. RM is the standard abbreviation for Malaysian Ringgit.

Tammy's Treasure Chest said...

Those are AWESOME! I really love them, and I'm glad your original plan turned into something unexpected!

Swati said...

Shuku, these are brilliant! I love it when original plans get washed out, and something more amazing that the original thought comes about. I think they look like grapes too.

Mystic Indigo said...

I really like this design too...you are such a talented writer...really, you should consider writing a book....

Marcos Mateu said...

Shuku! how are you. I got your mail the other day, can you please give me your current email address? it's not in you blogger's profile.
I hope you are doing great

Swati said...

LOL! I wished, and before I could state my wish, it was granted. I had not seen the "follow" button on your blog before. And I had been wanting to ask you to add that so that I could click on it, and then you'll be in my list. I came to your blog specifically to request that, and lo behold! It was already there! :-)

Shuku said...

SC: Yes, as Jer said, RM is standard abbreviation for Malaysian ringgit, so it's a price. Thanks for the compliment!

Jer: It'll be lemon meringue soup next maaaaybe. :P

Tammy: I am too! I'm so glad it turned out better than expected, I've had too many things turn out worse!

Stacie: Thank you! I've been -attempting- to write. The word is, 'attempt'. Unfinished bits and bobs aaaaall over...but one day will try to compile and finish!

Marcos: EEEE, MARCOS! How are you? Emailed you! Want updates. :)

Swati: You wished, and you received! It must have been transferred from you to me, because I put that rather recently, on a whim! Yes, now you can follow, and that's how I follow you and the rest of the wonderful artists...

Swati said...

Hey Shuku, I have changed the url of my blog to http://FleurVioletteJewelry.Blogspot.com. You are "following" my blog, so I don't know if it automatically will point to my new blog or still take you to my old blog. Let me know if the "follow" thing automatically takes you to my new address or still to the old one. Thanks!

Shay Stone said...

Hey.. I thought I commented on these days ago! Very cool. Love 'em!