Alpine Wildflowers: The Transformation; by Caprilicious Jewellery

Hello folks, how are you today? It's getting colder and the leaves are tumbling down from the trees. next week, the clocks go back and winter will be upon us. What better time to take a second look at the jewellery I made over the last couple of years and see if all was well with the pieces in storage, waiting for their forever homes. 
That's a picture of our little driveway - and poor hubby is constantly sweeping up. What he doesn't account for is that every gust of wind blows more of them down, so until all the trees are bare, it's a complete waste of time and effort. For my part, I'd be content to allow the leaves to stay where they are for now - one good storm will miraculously blow them all away, eventually, but he refuses to see my (lazy) point of view!
The last couple of years have been lean for Caprilicious - I've been busy with the day job, and various other things have meant that I haven't been making jewellery regularly, my blog posts have become irregular and I haven't persisted with marketing. Things have settled down somewhat, so we're back on track, now.

---

So there I was, gazing at my creation, “Alpine Wildflowers,” a necklace that, to be honest, had been giving me mixed feelings. It was like the designer equivalent of that one dish you cook, taste, and then mutter, “Hmm, it’s missing something.” But for a while, I couldn’t put my finger on it. The beaded neck piece with a central wire core for stability was there, the vibrant colors were there, and yet, something felt incomplete.

---

It was almost like being a parent who secretly wonders if their child might need a little… enhancement. Imagine suggesting a nose job for your kid! Absurd, right? But that’s the mindset of a creator – you’re so involved with your creation that accepting it might need changes feels like a betrayal of your original vision.

---

Days turned into weeks, and “Alpine Wildflowers” sat in my drawer, staring back at me every time I opened it, like a neglected plant. I tried to convince myself it was fine, that the minimalist (?!!) look was intentional. But every time I looked at it, a little voice inside my head whispered, “It needs more pizzazz!”

---

? Wallflower ?

One evening, after a particularly strong cup of coffee, inspiration struck. What if I added a fringe? Tassels! Yes, tassels would give it that extra flair it was crying out for. It felt almost rebellious, like giving my necklace a dramatic makeover – the kind where you go from wallflower to dazzling diva.

---

And so, with a few beads here and some colorful threads there, “Alpine Wildflowers” transformed.
​I matched the beads in the pendant with the ones in the tassels and as I had about 40 blue crystal teardrop beads to end the fringe with, there were enough to make an exuberant fringe.
The tassels added movement and vibrancy, making it look like it was ready to dance in a meadow full of actual alpine wildflowers. Suddenly, the piece felt alive, brimming with the personality it had been missing.

---

Now, when I look at “Alpine Wildflowers,” I no longer see a project that wasn’t quite right. I see a bold statement piece that embraced change and came out better for it. The tassels didn’t just complete the necklace; they completed my vision, reminding me that sometimes, a little tweak can turn something good into something spectacular.
​
And there you have it – a creative journey from mild dissatisfaction to exuberant satisfaction, all thanks to a few beads and a willingness to listen to that inner voice. Sometimes, our creations need a bit of extra love, just like us. And if that means giving them a metaphorical nose job, so be it!

---

I have a friend at work with a birthday next month - she will be out of the country, celebrating with her extended family. She is a really nice person and works tirelessly to bring innovation to the hospital and makes my life a whole lot easier. I thought I should show her some appreciation, but she doesn't wear jewellery - at least, not the Caprilicious kind. I put my thinking cap on and came up with a brooch that she can wear on her winter coat - surely that would be acceptable, even for a non wearer of statement jewellery, I thought. It can be worn as a brooch, and on a ribbon or chain, as a pendant.

---

Now, you might think that this is an easy project - draw the letter, slap on some beads on the front and a brooch pin on the back, and Bob's your uncle! Well, so did I - but actually, the front with the embroidery was the easy bit. It was when I tried to finish the back when the trouble began. The brooch was a bit floppy, as the weight of the larger crystal beads seemed to pull the ends of the 'S' in different directions (mostly downwards!) so it had to be stiffened using card - the card had to be narrower than the brooch, and had to be pierced to allow for the brooch pin. I destroyed a whole bunch of card S's and the air was blue around me, but I finally got there. The whole thing was covered over with Ultrasuede and edged and eventually what you see before you appeared out of the murky fog of blue around me. I think she will like it - d'you agree?

---

That's me for this week, folks. Have a fabulous weekend and I'll catch you soon.
Until then,
​xx