Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Design Development

I recently purchased a necklace at the thrift store that inspired me to create a similar collection to post on Etsy and to sell at events. What appealed to me about the piece was the element of asymmetry encompassed in the symmetrical design.


I like pattern, regularity and predictability (symmetry) and have struggled in the past with creating asymmetrically. However, the randomness of asymmetry really makes a striking statement, I think. This sleek, simple design has the best of both worlds.

My first step was to go to my local bead shop to pick out a selection of natural stone beads the basic shapes and sizes I was looking for. I chose a variety of jasper, sardonyx, quartz, agate and jade.

Top row: Oval curved green line quartz, oval curved olive jade, oval carnelian sardonyx
Middle row: Oval red sardonyx, oval rice black agate, oval curved red sardonyx
Bottom row: Oval black sardonyx, oval sesame jasper, oval green line quartz
Next, I ordered the 3/8" bronze rings and wire that I needed. I decided to make my own chain elements rather than using the pre-made commercial kind. I opted for a modified mobius pattern because it's prettier than a double link chain, which was the other option I was considering.

I toyed with the idea of enhancing the bronze rings with a nice patina but my two experiments garnered me green and brassy yellow. Neither of those were acceptable for this project. Any other experiments would have required specific chemicals and time that I did not want to spend. I'll let them patina naturally. *smile*

I placed an online order for the other components (the clasps and decorative rings) I required and they showed up surprisingly quickly three days later. With everything in place, I began working on the prototype this past weekend.

The process was not without challenges. I had to heat the bronze wire I was using to string the beads on. The half-hard wire was too difficult for me to work with. Heating it, then letting it cool down, softened it to a more malleable state.

I had to play around with the lengths of chain too until the finished product met my requirements, hanging the way I wanted it to.

So, without further adieu, here is the completed prototype...


Each necklace I create in this series will be different, using various combinations of the beads I purchased. I'm tentatively calling the collection, 'Autumn Frolic'. What do you think of the name? Leave a comment with your thoughts or alternate suggestions.

10 comments:

  1. Love the prototype! Looks great.

    While I like the name i wonder if it limits the times of year that people might be interested in buying the product?

    Tying it to a season might be limiting (will someone look at it as a Christmas gift but be put off by the name?).

    What about "fanciful frolics"? or something else seasonless?

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    1. A very valid point. I hadn't considered that. I'll have to put some serious thought into an alternate name.

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  2. Very nice, Bonnie! You could make "seasonal" collections for different times of the year and gear the colors of the beads for the seasons. :-) I think this is what you had in mind anyway, isn't it?

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    1. Yes, that is what I had in mind but I currently do not have plans or ideas for other seasonal collections. For that reason, I'm beginning to see the value in having a more generic name, something that will work all year round.

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  3. Rather than alter the name, why not do a series of "Seasons" for these? Autumn Frolic, Summer Sass, etc.? It's still a series, you're just encompassing all four Seasons? Painters and photographers do it all the time. Why not beaders? (p.s., looooove the idea and the proto!)

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    1. Thanks, Pam. I'm quite pleased with how the prototype turned out. Now, all that I have to do is come up with ideas for the other three seasons!

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  4. I love seeing collections in a shop, so I think you are on the right track there. Even though the necklace is in 'fall' colors, I think giving it a more elemental name would create a wider interest. Even if people like a piece, and want to wear it, say, in the spring, the idea has been planted in their head by the name. You know, subliminal suggestions...:)
    Well done with the creation, Ms. Bonnie!

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    1. Thank you for your comment, Shirley. I'm not quite sure what you mean by an 'elemental' name. Could you please give me an example?

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  5. I think that the name you've chosen is great. When I look at your necklace, the focal bead and the bronze chain have the colours of the falling leaves of Autumn. I had to look up the meaning of frolic in the dictionary, and it's a good choice because it's a positive adjective and it's a modern, assymetrical and unexpected design. Have a nice week, Ana

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    1. Thanks, Ana. I still think it's the best name that I've come up with. I will just have to market them a bit differently during other seasons if I go with 'Autumn Frolic'.

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