Showing posts with label finished work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label finished work. Show all posts

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Free moving closures

This is one of those ideas that has taken me literally for ever to resolve.  It’s been in and out of drawers and pushed to the back of my table far too many times.  No more, I need this idea to finish some necklaces I have planned – especially since I personally prefer a shorter necklace length.  Can’t go over the head all the time…
I’m also planning to sell some of them (and others) in the shop so you’ll see in the photos that I have left the wire unfinished and sticking out of the mechanism (with some length) so that anyone who buys it to use in their work can make design choices about how it joins on.  This may be changed, we’ll see how it goes.


                  IMG_0477  IMG_0480
                 IMG_0478 
IMG_0479



You might be wondering why these are at all novel and it’s this simple feature:  the wire stays stationary (attached to your necklace ) while you screw and unscrew the clasp.  No more tension on the screw buried in the decorative part of the closure that will cause it to undo...and the  closure itself looks more like a bead than anything else.



                                            IMG_0481
Undone…
                                                 IMG_0483

There is a simple construction/mechanism that I designed ( I hesitate to use the word mechanism because it is very simple) that lets the wire move freely within the bead, but remain securely attached!  Very handy.  Great for bracelets as well and a bit of a change from a toggle!  


                                             IMG_0489

IMG_0491IMG_0492IMG_0493IMG_0494


There are also some other types of clasps I’ve been working on – these for example.  Two arms are joined by a screw and a polymer covered nut joins and secures the two sides.

                               
                                                        


IMG_0484

                                                    IMG_0488 


I have plans for much smaller and more ‘fine-boned’ closures of this type, but I need to source out really good quality tiny machine screw and nuts.  Perhaps my optometrist could help me here?  Or perhaps you other maker types out there?
Then, there’s this:  enough said….



                                IMG_0496               
IMG_0499


I’ve certainly had an interesting couple of months to start the year.  Best described as alternately exciting and frustrating.  I have 5 or 6 ideas that are all fascinating to me, but were going nowhere for the longest while.  This was one of them!  It feels good to have made some progress, because my  store has surely suffered for my inability to move forward: this state of mind often moves into other areas that have no reason to be stalled!


Back tomorrow with news of a shop update: it’ll be a big one….also some other big news!

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Hot times

Is the heat getting to you yet?  My brain feel very sludgey during this heatwave, probably due to waking up 6 or 7 times a night.  It was 35 C here yesterday with the ever helpful weather office reminding us that with the Humidex -'it feel like 42C!'  Hotter than Bangkok!'  At this point, I'd rather not know....must just endure!

Along with the slow brain, I have a case of 'listitis' - that is, being allergic to getting the listings up on Etsy of my (actually) finished work.  Just HATE this part....My daughter tries to help by making me origami containers in which to put my finished items.  I 'm impressed - these ones are round with 5 different sections!  They remind me of water lilies and they actually stack!  I do love my girl...

So to encourage myself, here are a couple of photos of my new lily/lotus containers holding the promise of things to come....
Too many photos, I know.  My excuse is that the colours are waking me up!



Is it just me, or does everyone else online seem energised and super-productive?  Ah, winter is my time....