These are the buttons I received from my partner, Kim Bender.
My first attempt was inspired by Kiersten Giles' 'Disco Darling' necklace from the October issue of Step by Step Wire. But I didn't want to copy her design completely, just her idea of using wire as an armature to attach and support the buttons.
The piece didn't turn out as I envisioned. It's quite large and really wasn't the shape I wanted. I intended to attach this to a chain but it just didn't look righ. Those white buttons are just sitting on there ready to be glued on, but I decided to ditch the entire idea and try something else. The photo below shows the back of this piece.
'Character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries.'
~James A. Michener
The idea for this second try came from seeing a fiddlehead fern as an ingredient on a recent episode of Food Network's show Chopped. Unfortunately my wire skills need a lot of work, so the piece does not lay flat, and it is out of balance, so this would-be pendant has been taken apart.
I've run out of time to make something else, but I wouldn't say this challenge was a complete loss. I've learned a few things along the way; to keep trying, to know when to admit defeat, to accept that my wire skills are lacking, and that for now buttons are not my thing. Thanks for stopping by. Thanks to Cindy Wimmer for hosting this blog hop! Be sure to check the list below and see what everyone made.
'I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.'
~ Thomas Alva Edison
Alice Peterson and Kim Bender
Angie Blasingame and Billi R.S. Rothove
Billi R.S. Rothove and Angie Blasingame
Birgitta Lejonklou and Pam Farren
Bonnie Coursolle and Tania Hagen
Brenda Salzano and Hope Smitherman
Cat Kerr and Heather Powers
Cece Cornier and Jeannie Dukic
Celeste Thurston and Christine Damm
Christine Damm and Celeste Thurston
Christine Stonefield and Dana James
Cilla Watkins and Lori Bowring Michaud
Cindy Wimmer and Mimi Gardner
Cynthia Machata and Julia Johnson
Cynthia Riggs and Lori Finney
Dana James and Christine Stonefield
Diana Ptaszynski and Erin Prais-Hintz
Emma Thomas and Rebecca Anderson
Erin Prais-Hintz and Diana Ptaszynski
Erin Siegel and Sharon Borsavage
Heather Powers and Cat Kerr
Holly Westfall and Sally Russick
Hope Smitherman and Brenda Salzano
Jayne Capps and Kim Dworak
Jeannie Dukic and Cece Cornier
Jenna Meyers and Kristi Harrison
Jenna Tomalka and Karen McKillip
Jenny Davies Reazor and Sandi Volpe
Julia Johnson and Cynthia Machata
Kalaya Steede and Kylie Dickman
Karen McKillip and Jenna Tomalka
Karen Mitchell and Renetha Stanziano
Karla Morgen and Mary Govaars
Kay Thomerson and Shannon Chomanczuk
Kim Ballor and Laurel Steven
Kim Bender and Alice Peterson
Kim Dworak and Jayne Capps
Kim Roberts and Partner unable to participate at this time.
Kristi Harrison and Jenna Meyers
Kylie Dickman and Kalaya Steede
Kym Hunter and Lynda Moseley
Laurel Steven and Kim Ballor
Linda Djokic and Patty Gasparino
Line Labrecque and Teri Baskett
Liz DeLuca and Lorelei Eurto
Lorelei Eurto and Liz DeLuca
Lori Anderson and Niky Sayers
Lori Bowring Michaud and Cilla Watkins
Lori Finney and Cynthia Riggs
Lynda Moseley and Kym Hunter
Marianna Boylan and Tracy Statler
Mary Govaars and Karla Morgen
Mary Harding and Stacie Florer
Maureen Baranov and Tracy Bell
Melissa Martin and Theresa Fosdick
Michelle Hardy and Peggy Johnson
Mimi Gardner and Cindy Wimmer
Nicole Valentine Rimmer and Niki Meiners
Niki Meiners and Nicole Valentine Rimmer
Niky Sayers and Lori Anderson
Pam Farren and Birgitta Lejonklou
* Pam Ferarri and Stefanie Teufel (will share their reveal on a later date)
Patty Gasparino and Linda Djokic
Peggy Johnson and Michelle Hardy
Rebecca Anderson and Emma Thomas
Rebekah Payne and Sue Kennedy
Renetha Stanziano and Karen Mitchell
Rose Binoya and Shanti Johnson
Sally Russick and Holly Westfall
Sandi Volpe and Jenny Davies Reazor
Shannon Chomanczuk and Kay Thomerson
Shanti Johnson and Rose Binoya
Sharon Borsavage and Erin Siegel
Shirley Moore and Veralynne Malone
Stacie Florer and Mary Harding
* Stefanie Teufel and Pam Ferarri (will share their reveal on a later date)
Sue Hamel and Terry Carter
Sue Kennedy and Rebekah Payne
Tania Hagen and Bonnie Coursolle
Tania Spivey and Teresa Gagne
Teresa Gagne and Tania Spivey
Teri Baskett and Line Labrecque
Terry Carter and Sue Hamel
Theresa Fosdick and Melissa Martin
Tracy Bell and Maureen Baranov
Tracy Statler and Marianna Boylan
Veralynne Malone and Shirley Moore
54 comments:
I think the first one looked like a very cute caterpillar...
Alice, you are on your way - just finding that inspiration is the first step. And I loved that Disco Darling tutorial of Kiersten's as well, what a great idea to use buttons for that project. Thanks so much for participating! xoxo
Love your buttons Alice! I especially like the colour and the gorgeous wirework you've created to highlight their beauty! Well done ....
Alice, keep at it! Sometimes you just need to walk away and down the road something will hit you!! I will have to go have a look at the tutorial...it looks very interesting. I had fun and a challenging time with my buttons. Thanks so much!
I really like both ideas and I hope you don't give up on them. You have some great buttons to work with! Good luck!
I liked both pieces ... first one could be a brooch on a retro jacket - how cute would that be! And I love the fiddle head idea ... now you have me thinking - great idea!
I think they both look cute. Congrats on getting the inspiration and trying it out. I know you'll enjoy continuing on with them until you find what you like.
Great ideas. Your buttons are a great collection that work well together.I could see bails glued on the back of the first set and made into a charm necklace. Keep going. I agree that if you walk away you can return inspired.
Keep at it and something will work out for you!! you got some beautiful buttons!
I have also tried my hands at wire wrapping, there is some patience needed for sure. I really like the second one and thought it would be interesting to see it with patina'd wire.
~Angie
Actually I like the first one. Sometimes there are things you don't like but other people like them. :)
The second pendant reminds of the muscial note. You did a wonderful job
That first one is a real hit!!
I would love to use it for a necklace hanging in a "bow" in front ..oxidated with some nice things at the sides and something dangling from the "left over" loop jumm!
I am sure it will come to You how to finish it up...got the same problem myself with a necklace in this hop ;)
I love the hop challenges as they encourage experimentation and creative problem solving. Love what you did, the buttons were such a lovely earthy green. The pendant intrigues me. Patina the wire, leather thong... I don't think its a loss!
I love the shape of the first one! But you're right sometimes I have to re work a piece several times before it becomes what I want OR what IT wants to be LOL
Wire work is something you have to love or it just kind of leaves you in the dark. I think both attempts were actually pretty goo.
Practice practice practice - I can totally see this finished! I can't tell you how many times I rip things apart before it looks good and works together. I love that you showed your process - we all go through it! XOXO
I rather liked the caterpillet. U could have made it a desk sitter. I have a fw things i like to just look at :-)
Your pieces turned out great! They would be fun to wear!!
Alice, I liked both of your ideas! The first piece would make a most audacious brooch.
Your quotes really made me smile!
I like your idea to integrate the wire with the buttons. Glad you shared!
Hi Alice!!
Nice!I love that piece that Kiersten submitted, and i think you did a great job with that technique!
Thanks for showing us your efforts - I think both of them are very nice!
I like the diea of using wire as an armature to attach and support buttons. I'm going to have to try playing with that technique.
I'm glad that you showed your trials with us! Keep going!
Hi Alice.
I have so many jewelry attempts that go into the UFO (UnFinished Objects) pile that don't work out and I get frustrated and put them aside. I have found down the road I end up using pieces and parts from that pile or reworking a piece and it totally works out later. keep them around and visit them again. You had some good ideas and some great buttons to work with.
Tracy
I think your first attempt was great. It could have been a brooch as it was. It looked like a critter of some sort. But, don't settle for results you don't love. Keep at it :)
I think what you created is awesome! First off it is totally original and I love that the plant inspired the look. Very Cool!
Alice- loved reading about your experimentation and your vision for the pieces! Can't wait to see them when you get them just how you want them!
Loved reading about your vision and experimentation on these pieces-- can't wait to see them when you get them just how you want them. Beautifully creative ideas!
Such great wire work! You did a marvelous job!
I actually really liked the fiddlehead fern one. I so appreciate you showing your process. And it really is what makes us better. I'll look forward to seeing what you decide upon for these lovely buttons.
Wire is really hard to work with but you're totally on your way! I love the first piece you tried out. I could totally see myself wearing a necklace with that as it's focal :D
You'll figure it out Alice and when you do you'll be proud of the perseverance it took to get it done! I can't wait to see what you come up with!
More than anything..I love what you have learned along the way.Lessons for each of us.I still struggle with getting my ideas out,but like you I learned when to walk away and distract myself with something else.
I think your wonderful...just had to say that!
xoxo Cat
You have some great ideas going on. The most important thing is that you keep trying. I actually really liked the first piece you created. Hopefully, you can find a way to alter it to work in your design.
Alice, I enjoyed your post more than most of them because it was about your process, your journey, not just a finished product. Bravo for you!
I love that you showed us what didn't work. I too have problems sometimes getting a certain look. Glad to know that we all just keep going! Keep up the awesome job.
Alice, a failure isn't that if you've learned something from it! And I think that first piece is cute :)
I love the way you think, Miss Alice! I don't know that it is always the destination but the journey that is most important. I saw that episode with fiddlehead ferns. I love that plant, but I would never consider eating them! I think you should keep at this. I think you may be onto something.
Enjoy the day.
Erin
While you may not have "finished" anything, I think you planted a few seeds! Good job!
Your quoytes are great and for a person who is just beginning with wire work, I think that you are doing well! I really liked the first piece you did.
First of all, I just have to say-- the buttons you got are so darling!!! And I know what you mean about not quite knowing what to do.
I had a similar problem, in that the things I had planned and attempted to do just didn't work out too well. While I am happy with my finished product, I am glad to know that I wasn't the only one who had some difficulty with the challenge <3
I did like what you had made-- the first project you photographed was really interesting, construction-wise-- I never would have thought about making a pendant!
So glad I got to play along with you on this challenge :)
*~* Julia *~* http://beautifullywhimsical.blogspot.com *~*
There are times when I feel that all I create is just wrong, wrong, wrong, just not what I had visioned. But, there are times when my design just falls into place and feels completely right. I love how you challenged yourself, I'm sure it was frustrating, but keep pushing forward :0)
Alice, What you did create with the wire was WAY better than I could have concocted. I understand the problems you encountered necessitated taking it apart, but I just want to say that your attempts were way creative and artfully done! Thanks for sharing them!!
Alice,I really like the buttons on the armature and when you showed us the back I saw very very nice wire work. the piece has great potential. Sometimes the time pressure just gives me brain freeze and I get stuck. I am sure you will find your way with these. It was so great that you shared with us your process.
Both of the pieces are so beautiful....sorry they didn't turn out the way you envisoined though!
~Des
It will come with practice, I had a hard time with my buttons too, scrapped a lot of wire. I was lucky that I'd just taken a ring class, so I had some practice there :-)
What a neat idea. Another alterned art design. thank you for your nice comments.
sueH.
Well, I think your pieces were looking good! It is hard when it's not turning out the way you planned though - I understand that! I like the last one the most.
and, thanks for your kind comments on my blog regarding my friend Wade, I appreciate that! :-)
Thanks for sharing your creative process. Sometimes that is as interesting as the finished piece. BTW, I like the second piece!
TY for such a inspiring post! I dig ur pieces and think you'll do something awe inspiring with them! I luv posts like these and ur quotes & insight make this my fav stop on this Challenge! And ur pieces rock!!
Alice, what an inspiration your post is! I struggled too, and wussed out by using one of my buttons as a closure. But...I'm blaming you, and going to carry on with some of the different ones Cindy sent me.
Quite like your second piece, actually! I think it has definite possibilities. :-)
It's so refreshing to find someone sharing the experimentation!
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