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My new obsession

I think it’s safe to say that making bracelets is my new obsession! So here is a little story about bracelets…

Last year, just before Christmas, I was asked several times if I had any bracelets for sale. I replied that I had a few, but not many, as I was finding them “difficult” to make.

What I meant by difficult was a couple of things. First, wrist sizes vary! Yes, there kind of is an average wrist size, but I was finding that most people either wanted that average size bracelet made smaller or larger. And second, I was making them to match in with necklaces. It was frustrating when the necklace would sell, and the bracelet was left behind.

So I kind of stopped making bracelets for a while. But since I have been doing this creative/making challenge, I have found a new passion for making one of a kind bracelets. They don’t need to match a necklace, they can just simply be a beautiful bracelet on their own. I’m loving the freedom in making them.

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A year of recycled glass jewellery

recycled glass bracelet

So, I’ve been asked a few questions about this year of recycled glass jewellery, and I thought I would answer the questions below.  I’m now 10% of the way through the project, and I have to say – so far so good!

Q. What is the year of recycled glass jewellery?

A. The year of recycled glass jewellery is really about giving me a focus for the year. I love making recycled glass jewellery, but I find that I only work in two extreme kinds of ways – either full on production or full on exhibitions. This year I wanted to MAKE time to explore the recycled glass idea further. Take production and exhibitions out of the mix, and just be creative every day with recycled glass!

Q. So, you are making something every day?

A. The creative process for making beads and jewellery is a bit longer than that. The process for making beads is a day, so I can’t actually make the jewellery until the following day. So there might be days when I make the beads for a couple of pieces, and the next day I’ll make two pieces of jewellery. And in between all of that I am planning, drawing, thinking, contemplating and experimenting!

Q. What are you hoping to achieve by doing this?

A. I am hoping to commit to making new work, to trying new ideas for beads, trying new types of glass, trying new types of jewellery. I get fairly creative when it comes to exhibitions, but sometimes I leave new ideas to the last minute and never really try them because I’ve run out of time! I wanted to take the stress of preparing for exhibitions away, and just be more creative this year.

Q. Is it working?

A. Well, I’m over 10% of the way through, and I have to say I am having lots of ideas about new work, and also making lots of new work! I’m really enjoying it all: the making, the photographing and the sharing of the work on social media.

Q. Do you think you’ll last the whole year?

A. Last year I drew a picture of a pair of earrings every day for an entire year, and that was so difficult. I feel like this year’s challenge is a bit easier than that to be honest, so fingers crossed, I am going to last the whole year.

Anyway, that’s just a bit about the project that I am working on. If you have any questions, please let me know!

Here is today’s photograph of a bracelet that I made from a Stone’s Green Ginger Wine bottle. I love the shape of these beads, and the colour rates very highly for me too! Simply elegant.

recycled glass bracelet

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Green Recycled Glass Bracelet

recycled glass bracelet

All the pretty greens in this bracelet.  Ranging from Peroni Beer bottles to French champagne bottles, and some Green Depression glass thrown in for contrast!

I have been wearing this bracelet for a while today, and I have to say it’s actually behaving quite nicely, with the disk beads staying on the top of my wrist.  Yay!

recycled glass bracelet