25 May 2011

BTW: The Do Over Challenge

"My Mama always said you've got to put the past behind you before you can move on."
- the movie Forrest Gump

Jeannie Dukic is hosting a blog hop that is really intriguing to me called the 'Do Over' Challenge.

If you have been creating anything for any length of time you likely have a back log of pieces that were done early on that were not as successful as you may make them now. But you can't dwell on those past pieces. You have to move on by building upon them. Those pieces might lack pizzazz, or use materials that were not as unique. They aren't failures because they didn't sell, because they may show that your style has evolved and your taste in materials has grown more expensive. I applaud Jeannie for having the guts to put these pieces out there and ask for a 'do over'. I think it is exciting to see what other people can do. In fact, it reminds me that I have a whole dresser drawer of these potential 'do overs' that perhaps I should giveaway!

The piece that Jeannie sent me had white glass tube beads with a painted design, white plastic lantern shaped beads, golden pearls and small faceted cherry colored beads with a hint of AB all with a gold metal for components.
{do over before}

I tried and tried to use those white glass tubes but I just could not make it work. So I abandoned those to another day. But I ended up using the remainder of the beads in the piece, the pearls, cherry faceted beads and even the white plastic because I liked the shape.

{how do they make these bottle cap beads? I don't know but I love 'em!}

I dug through my stash and found my bottle cap beads from Glass Garden beads. I love this one with the bold graphic design and the words "Ale Asylum" on it. I have come to find out that Ale Asylum is a brewpub in Madison, WI where I went to college. So a place where you can claim freedom and protection from the crime of poor beer, might be a good place to be if you are in college!


I went from a traditional symmetrical design, to an edgier darker design. I added a great gunmetal heavy link chain with this kick ass industrial trigger clasp toggle. The bracelet is 9" long but that big clasp allows you to hook it wherever you like! To that I added gunmetal faceted glass beads, the bottle cap bead and some little gunmetal rounds. I like the little pop of color that those cherry beads add to this. I can see that this would be fun to wear out on the town!

I call this do over
"Refuge From What 'Ales' You."
 
(Get it? Teehee ;-).

{'Refuge from what ales you' available for purchase on Etsy}

Thanks, Jeannie, for letting me play along with you on this challenge. It certainly stretched me creatively and that is what I like! Now go on over to Jeannie's blog and check out what the other participants did and share some comment love!

So, now it is your turn...
Do you have something that you created... a wreath, a sewing project, a jewelry design, etc that could use a little 'do over'? 
Do you think that since your style has changed over time you might be able to look at it more objectively and breathe new life into it? 
Do you think it would be easier or harder to breathe new life into someone else's creation? 
Do tell!

Enjoy the day!

27 comments:

NEDbeads said...

What a wonderful do-over!!! Love what you made it into!!

Unknown said...

Erin you are such a Talented Artisan truly you are! Now where are the new pendants? Huh? lol

Lorelei Eurto said...

awesome! this sounds like a fun challenge! I love the outcomes i have seen so far! that bottle cap bead is the best!

JeannieK said...

I have to say it is a little embarrsing to put my ugly all over the internet, but we've all been there.
Erin, when I saw the last picture of your do over piece, I got chills. Crazy Cool! The red glass Czech beads give a little splash of color.
Love the bottle cap bead. Glass Garden Beads is just down the road from me.

Pretty Things said...

Very nice!

I've done a do-over challenge before and it was enlightening! And I also do-over any piece of jewelry of mine that hasn't sold in a year.

pam ferrari said...

I love your design!

Cheeseboy said...

You have such incredible talent.

My do over would be the "birdhouse" I "built". It's garbage.

Anonymous said...

Erin,
I love the "Ale Asylum" bottle cap bead and the kick ass trigger clasp! Beautiful work!

I have quite a few jewelry designs that need do overs! :)

Kokopelli said...

What a great piece! Love to look at all the pieces, although I wasn't able to participate.

barbe said...

It turned out really beautiful Erin!!! I am having a ball looking at what everyone created.

My Life Under the Bus said...

Fantastic Erin it's a totally different piece! You totally took it up a notch! Very edgy and rock and roll!

kim said...

I have to tell you I come to your sight daily and love your work. The bottle cap beads intrigue me too! I like the modern look you achieved, the texture of the plastic beads....I have lots of my grandmothers! I too look back at where I started and where I am now...likes and dislikes change as our lives change. I am already tearing apart items from last years shows...new and unexpected keep me interested and that makes creating so much fun.

Christine Altmiller said...

"life is too short to drink cheap beer" was one of two pieces of advice i got from my college boyfriend. LOVE this piece for so many reasons---your vision, the edgy look, the total uniqueness, the beer. you completely nailed it.

Brandi Hussey said...

How fantastic is this!

I'm absolutely sure my style has changed since I started. I don't have a whole lot of those early pieces - I took them apart and gifted the beads away - so I don't have any to redo.

But I think working with someone else has made would be a fabulous challenge - something about how the beads would be new and fresh to me is appealing!

SueBeads said...

What a great redo!

sandi m said...

The bottle cap and clasp - perfect for the redone beads. Great job.
(Maybe make a variation of the bottle cap into a 'simple truth'?....)

Judie said...

Cindy Adkins, at Whimsical Musings, just might be able to use those glass tubes in one of her designs. And she might have something that you can use, so I propose a swap! Cindy sells on Etsy, too. If you haven't seen her stuff, check it out!! I just bought a piece of her art yesterday!

Shannon Chomanczuk said...

I am having fun at this challenge. I love what you made :-) Beautiful.

Michael and Cherrie Fick said...

Neat idea. I have a couple boxes of take apart or do over pieces and one in particular that has some interesting beach, parts but I put it on my new mannequin and I feel inspired. This one is worth it. Your redo is great.

Charlie said...

Love the new piece you have a very unique flare and I love it! Great job!

Cameron said...

Wow, even though you used a lot of the same beads, you really changed the whole feel of the piece! What a cool concept for a challenge...very creative!

I think it might be easier to do over someone else's design rather than your own...no road blocks of memory to hinder you :)

diane hawkey said...

WOW! you totally transformed that. Wonderful work!

Anonymous said...

Wow what a great post!!! The bracelet came out amazing. I think it would be easier to do over someone else's project, but I'm such a softie I wouldn't want to hurt their feelings by changing to much. LOL, better stick to my own!

Holly said...

Erin, this is a standout bracelet! I love how you edged it up a bit. And that bottle cap from Glass Garden Beads? *LOVE*!

lunedreams said...

That is WICKED cool!!! love the gunmetal, dark bronze and black, and the hardware/bottle opener-looking clasp. the beer theme just makes it!! makes me think of guinness. which i loathe, but that bracelet makes me want to drink some.

elisabeth said...

Love the bracelet - your work is always fantastic - and the bottle cap charm is so great!

Niky Sayers said...

Love what you came up with, its a real staitment piece and that bottle caps fab!

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