Wednesday, January 19, 2011

"Creative" Problem Solving


These are two examples of my "coffee bean" bracelet. The one on the left is the original, made a long time ago, which is still the bracelet I personally wear most. I've made it a number of times over the years for others, always with the simple hook-and-loop clasp you see here.

But when I made one for an old friend recently, she had trouble working the clasp and sent it back. After my adjustments were still not enough to enable her to wear the bracelet, she sent it back again. This time, I decided to cut a big hole in the last "bean" and created a toggle on a short chain to go through it. Here it is on the right. Much easier to manipulate and I think it looks better, too!

7 comments:

CarolynArtist said...

Wowzers Peggy, you are so flippin talented! I like the new version more...it pulls everything together, and how awesome that it's easier to take on and off...

CarolynArtist said...

I also have a question about the process you went through to make these...did you solder piecess together or did you do repousse work?

stoneaddict said...

Fantastic, integral design solution! Love it.... Sometimes it takes a long time to get to simple.

Peggy Shiffrin said...

Carolyn - this bracelet is made of castings from a mold made from a "coffee bean" element I carved in wax. Castings are then cleaned up, drilled and attached with jump rings.

artjewelsz said...

I like both bracelets.I keep going back and forth over which I like better. There is something cool about the toggle.
I think your friend is annoying.

CarolynArtist said...

Lol Sandra, tell it like it is, oy! I'm saving up for one of these Peggy, seriously...I've seen you making some bracelets but haven't paid attention to how you make them, wow...you rock with the coffee beans...

CarolynArtist said...

does anyone (you might know Pegggy) who people are making molds from things like peanut shells, crows skulls, etc? Would it be something that's painted on, or smooshed around the peanut? I'm thinking it's time to take a molding class, not even sure what it's called...plastic molding?