Creative Pay-it-Forward 2014, item #1

[aryanhwy]

On FB a few days ago I signed up for a Creative Pay-It-Forward, the sort of thing where you comment on someone's status and they'll make you something, and in return you post the same offer and make something for the first five people to comment. I figured most people who'd respond to my post would be SCAdians (I was right), but since this isn't an SCA exchange per se, I'm not necessarily bound to SCA standards, and thus I can branch out a bit and have some fun. I'm also looking forward to using up some of the random left-over assorted stuff that I have (though for one project, I also had no problem going out and buying something new to use as the base).

Funnily, the first person to comment I knew almost immediately what I was going to do for, and since I had all the materials on hand was able to get started right away. I made three things, and since she's not on LJ, I can post pictures now even though I won't get it in the mail until tomorrow:

• A silver wire ring (using .5mm wire) with black glass beads:
  
  
  
  
  The style is that of the Anglo-Saxon rings that I've been making, but with the addition of the black beads because I thought they'd be pretty. It was a bit tricky forming a nice circular spiral while keeping the beads from falling off.
  


• A copper wire bracelet (using 1mm wire; I just ran out while making the clasp, but we went out to the hardware store yesterday so I could getmore) with orange+flowered glass beads:
  
  
  
  This is 100% out of my head in terms of design, though strongly influenced by this bracelet that englandbound made. These aren't necessarily colors that I'd wear together, but I rather like how this turned out. The beads are ones that I'd gotten in a box of beads that I bought of another SCAdian who was looking to clear out her clutter (whereas I'm looking at re-populating my bead collection with metal, wood, and glass, rather than the plastic I'd accumulated as a kid. Those will be coming out of storage for Gwen in a year or two!)


• A gold-and-orange silk pouch lined in orange cotton broadcloth:
  
  
  
  
  
  This is fabric that was left over from the sari that my friend Jyoti brought me from India that I could wear to my cousin's wedding in 2007. That sari came with enough extra that you could make the appropriate under shirt garment, and I'd bought the broadcloth to line it. The scraps from this (all very small) have been sitting in my fabric stash since. I sewed the lining to each piece, and then blanket stitched the two lined pieces together with orange linen embroidery thread from Sweden, which I think I picked up at kingdom university 2010.

Comments

[badgersandjam.livejournal.com]

The hardware stores here don't have copper wire. I can't get to the craft store as it's flooded...

[aryanhwy.livejournal.com]

No copper wire at the hardware store? How strange!

I am rather disappointed that mine carries coper only in 1mm, I would've liked some variety. I think soon I might need to head online for ordering, as then I can get some larger guage silver, possibly some gold, and some square rather than round wire.

[englandbound.livejournal.com]

I like what you did with the bracelet! I have a couple ideas I'd like to try as I have more of those beads. The beads have 2 holes and I was originally going to string smaller beads between, but I love the wire work, so I found one similar to this in a book I have. I have trouble making nice even spirals, even without beads, but I haven't been practicing much. I hope they get better with time.

[aryanhwy.livejournal.com]

They do get better with practice, especially if you have a nice soft wire like silver or copper. I also found that starting my spiral on my round-nosed pliers helps a lot, because once you have a circle, you can simply follow it.

Looking forward to seeing pictures of more of your creations!