I know of designers who would make the most complicated designs for themselves – pieces that are elaborate, extremely well made and luxurious.There are also those who make Chunky Ethnic jewelry for themselves. I also know folks who would make something really simple and easy to make when it comes pieces they create for themselves. I belong to the second – third category. Call me lazy or business minded, I somehow choose to take the easiest, fastest route when I design my own jewelry. Also when I make something for myself, it is because I either need it urgently or that I have seen the trend/style over and over again at different avenues and it somehow teases me to make one for myself.
A couple of years back, when I was working on my Dhathu collection, I bought a white metal pendant for myself with an idea to color it using Patina inks. To be fair to myself, I even painted it. But then it got lost (figuratively) in my stash as I didnt have any beads to go with it. I took it out and put it back umpteen times in the last two years until october 2015 when it came back to life and this is a rambling post on how exactly it happened.
I want that momma!!
One of my Friday evening/Saturday evening rituals is to read the weekly account of Caprilicious jewellery by Neena. I literally “window shop” and drool over her pieces before I sit down and tackle blogging/social media issues that I have neglected during the week. Over the last yeat I saw a lot of Afghani pendants being used in her work. Then in October 2015, while at Dastakaari Haat (an artisan market) shopping with my mom I got this urge to buy a silk thread necklace with a Yemeni/afghan style pendant – well why I saw it on a “blog” and want one. (I can like that sometimes!!) I found a lot of it in the haat but found all available choices too expensive and I was broke at that point after having bought some clear quartz earrings and a labradite chain that I later refashioned. My mom very sweetly said she would buy one for me, but the designer in me, couldnt take it and I said “I will make one for myself”.
I can make it!
One of my designer friends used to site a reason for why designers are almost always badly dressed – “we look at something and think that its too expensive and we can make it by ourselves“; but in reality we never do (lack of time being one of the many reasons) and resulting in not having it at the end of the day. I shamelessly admit that I fall prey to the “I can make it easily” syndrome many times a year. But I wasn’t going to let it get to me this time and quickly figured out a way in my head on how I can put together a chunky tribal necklace. I then, remember that pendant and I thought “now all I need are a couple of silk cords and some chain and I can make it”. Fortunately for me a guy was selling these brightly striped silk cord anklets with ghungroos( mini cowbells) attached and was even willing to sell me individual pieces by breaking out two pairs.
Yes I made it!
My mom was skeptical on the drive home and I don’t blame her; I have cupboards full of such UFO at my house. So the very next day I wire wrapped some chain and these cords along with the pendant, added a few charms and a clasp and viola a necklace was born. It was simple, efficient and painless, not to mention large, statement making and beautiful – just the way I like it! My mom was surprised that I got the project done apart from the labrodite refashion in a day.
Did I mention that I am lazy before, sure right I did. Whenever I design a trend based/inspired piece for myself I hardly wear it. Somehow the making by itself becomes the goal and not the wearing so it is often months, sometimes even years before I wear a piece. This piece was originally planned for Diwali and I eventually wore it after Christmas.
I made it for a skirt – blouse ensemble in blue and hot pink and wore it for a movie/folk festival visit along with oxidised metal earrings from Ahmedabad. It was quite the head turner and I was so pleased. What do you think of it?
So tell me in the comments if you make jewelry for yourself and if so what sort of things influence you or how does your design – making process work.
I hope you found it interesting
Cheers
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