Following the altered art movement, I think we are also seeing a resurgence of jewelry making in areas that once would have been considered “child’s play” but are now moving into wonderful, creative designs. For instance, I once worked with a basket-weaving group (come on, Baskett IS my last name!). There, the use of nails and glue was forbidden, unless a piece was damaged and a stave needed to be glued to repair it. So, too, glue in jewelry making was considered a non-artistic way of creating a piece. Using molds to create jewelry was also considered a craft, and not an artistic design; but now, resin jewelry is very popular, as we see designers raising the bar in this area. Rubber stamps have been used in many ways in jewelry designs, as scrapbookers broadened their horizons and combined different areas of creativity into 1 piece.
The area of cold connections has also expanded, as people want to combine metals, or metals with gemstones, but don’t want to work with hot solder. Rivets are much easier and wire wrapping or wire prongs can be made by hand, without any special equipment. I have also started to see more fiber jewelry in designs this year, as designers wove a strip of cloth between large chain links so the necklace matched the outfit.
Turquoise Teardrop Pendant & Barrel beads
I also think gemstones are regaining in popularity because they can also be jewelry with a statement, about conservation and the environment. And, one precious gemstone, set in a nice pendant, can be strung from very simple chain or cord, and still make a dazzling piece of jewelry that others will admire. I have also seen smaller, less expensive beads, even chips, used but formed into multi strands so the final design was very dramatic and fashionable, but the overall cost was reduced.
teribaskett
Latest posts by teribaskett (see all)
- MORE Seed Bead Stitching - November 23, 2009
- One of My Fav “Wire Wrappers” ! - October 18, 2009
- Jewelry In a Flash - September 15, 2009
