I had intended this to be a long bottle shape, somewhat like the first one I did, only longer and narrower, with a pointy bottom. You can see the first one here: http://fleurviolettejewelry.blogspot.com/2010/07/message-in-bottle-necklace.html But I had forgotten how I had shaped it, or how I had woven it. So I ended up messing up the shape and the weaving.
I knew this will not turn into a bottle...and I had to turn it into a lidded box.So I thought it was time to be brave and try the hinge and clasp shown in Mary's trinket box tutorial here: http://theangstyartist.blogspot.com/2010/08/trinket-box-101.html I was quite terrified, but this was going to be no bottle...and if I had to salvage my fine silver, I needed to get brave and try the hinge and clasp. So I did. Thank you Mary for your fantastic tutorial!! I made a lid, and when I started making the lid, I remembered how I had woven the first bottle. So the lid weaving is different from the bottom weaving.
The hinge alignment is not perfect.The box and the lid don't fit too good.
Many mistakes, but I still love this tiny little shiny box. Just looking at it makes me happy. It has a very happy feeling about it. I will keep doing this till I do it better. Because I love vessels, doors and windows! :-D I don't know why. Maybe because each holds within or beyond it, the promise of something probably fun, exciting, beautiful?
The box is made entirely of fine silver (pure silver). The bead on the clasp is a Ruby. The chain is sterling silver. The clasp is handmade.
12 comments:
I love containers too. When I was little, I used to have a box collection. Any kind of box, big, little, fancy...when I started on tissue and cereal boxes, my mother drew the line :)
This is so perfect! I want to pick it up and exclaim over the beautiful weaving and that one lovely ruby which completes it :)
You did a wonderful job on this piece.
Aren't containers really cool? :-)) I had to laugh about the collection of cereal boxes etc. I would still do it...and have done it, till hubby threw a fit over the junk I was collecting. hahahaha!!
Thank you so much for the beautiful words...they mean a lot to me because I know this little piece is a far cry from perfect...it is a museum of mistakes. But I still love it. It makes me happy. And your words encourage me...something I need a lot of at this time. ((((hugs)))
Been waiting for this post all day!! The bright silver with ruby flash is so gorgeous! I think I prefer this style even over my own boxes. Now I have to go drool and stare at it some more:))
Mary...wow! Your compliment floored me! There is no way you can like this better than your boxes, but your saying that makes me grin and grin! :-)))) And I feel even happier!
I can relate to seeing each mistake instead of seeing the big picture - which is perfect in it's completeness.
I am glad to see you making things that make you HAPPY!
I have containers for my containers. It's the obsessive compulsive side of me. So of course that means I love this. If it stores things, it's good in my book, but then if it looks adorable like this, it's WAY better!
Thank you Jen and Nicole! :-)) Nicole, I have these tinnnyyyyy bottles. And I plan to fill one up with an essential oil of my choice and store it in this container pendant. In fact when I make them to sell, I will offer that with the pendants. :-D
This should totally be for sale already. lol
Nicole, do you think a fine silver piece like this could be sold? I have been wondering whether to make one again and put it for sale or not...the material and the work involved will clearly make it between $175 to $200. I was thinking maybe make copper and bronze ones for selling...the work involved is actually a bit worse than fine silver (making a vessel in bronze)...because they are so much harder than fine silver. I have blisters and what not (as you already know) while working on a vessel with the enamelled bronze wire. But then the material cost is a lot lesser so I can do them for less than $100. Maybe I'll make one fine silver one too and see how it goes. What do you think?
I've sold fine silver pieces a LOT less labor intensive for $150, so I don't think you'll have any problem at all charging $200 for this. It's all about finding the right client. I definitely think you are going in the right direction also offering a bronze/copper option as well, but if I were you, I wouldn't post both a copper and a silver one in your shop at the same time. Post one, and when it sells, post the other. You'll be more likely to sell the silver without a less expensive option also available at the same time. But that's just been my experience with it. It also depends on the venue. I have to admit to more success selling more expensive items on Etsy regularly, while the less expensive things sold on Artfire, but I know a few who have had the opposite experience. It's just finding the right balance all around. I think this, however, is bound to sell no matter where it is or what it's made from. It's an adorable design. (Oh, and as I replied on my blog, I got matching chain at Michael's. Haven't been able to find another supplier so far, but still looking).
Love Love Love Love Love Love Love!
Need I say more?
Thank you thank you thank you Shay! :-)))))
Nicole, that makes sense. What I'll do is, I'll make a few fine silver pieces and put them on my Etsy store...I have 2 Etsy stores too where I don't list anymore because of the listing and re-listing fee. But I will try it out with my fine silver piece and see how it goes. I'll also go to Michaels today and see if they have the chain I am looking for. I just love this new wire! :-)))
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