Jewelry Tutorials: I Never Could Follow Directions

This lovely turquoise pendant by Deborah Gray-Wurz was featured in Step by Step Wire Jewelry December-January issue this year. She was inspired by a Native American piece. I had some lovely lampwork beads a friend made I wanted to show case so I decided to give the tutorial a try.

Here's my problem or perhaps my gift, I am not really good at copying.  In fact, I got a poor grade in penmanship because I wanted to make the letters "my way" not like the ones on the board.   Give me a recipe for a great meal and I will alter it to fit the spices and food I have on hand. I made the best fudge ever this year at Christmas and it will never be repeated which is the downside of winging it.

I teach jewelry classes and students have asked me if I have specific directions for the projects.  The answer would be "No."  In fact, I could never write a jewelry tutorial for others because I don't measure wire except with body parts.  You know about as long as your thumb, length of your hand, that magical yard which is from your nose to the end of your arm.

So with the best of intentions, I decided to follow the tutorial precisely the first time.  I carefully measured each wire, flattened and filed and did my best.  But guess what?  I didn't like it when I got finished.The matching silver beads were too plain so I changed them out.   It also didn't have the kinda swirly flair I like in a piece.  So I started messing with it. I continued to wire weave and twist the ends of the piece so it looked less like a horse shoe and more like a sea creature.

Another jewelry artist once said to me that she didn't worry about people copying her designs because everyone's personality comes out in their work.  I think she may be right about that.  Even when I am following a tutorial, I still find the need to mess with it.  The upside is no two pieces are ever exactly alike.  The downside is I will never be able to make that award winning fudge again.