Autumn Butterfly Cuff
For the October Pretty Palettes Challenge, I wanted to create a piece of jewelry that felt transitional: bits of flowers and butterflies from summer, but with the colors of fall. I also wanted a quick but satisfying project as the fall is always one of my busiest times, perfect for "make it today, wear it tomorrow" types of jewelry.
To make this bracelet, I embellished the brown leather cuff with red glass 4mm rounds, a large 24x45mm brass and glass flower slider, copper-plated butterfly coins, and gold-plated 4mm rounds. All materials are available at Michaels.
To add the strands of beads, I punched extra holes in the leather and strung the beads on brown hemp cord. (The cord is tripled for the slider, since it is heavier.)
I liked the result, but I felt something nagging at me. Had I made this design before?
Miss Cowgirl Bracelet
It took some digging, but I unearthed another leather cuff with sliders that I made in May 2012. The two are similar, but not identical by any means.
For my Miss Cowgirl Bracelet, I wove embroidery floss over the top and bottom of the cuff instead of punching holes in the leather. The use of additional sliders and the popular deep turquoise and dark brown combo gives this cuff a dramatic rodeo glam look.
The holes I punched in my Autumn Butterfly Cuff allow you to make shorter lines of beads on the cuff. More of the leather shows in this version which feels more boho in style.
Is It Okay To Copy Yourself?
It can feel like cheating to add a new spin to an old design. It's natural to want to make each creation uniquely special, something that that world has never seen before.
But the truth is that it's perfectly fine to use the same colors or materials or themes again and again. Those choices are what make you recognizable as an artist. It's your special signature. I've lived most of my life in the western part of the U.S. and I'm naturally drawn to leather and western styles of jewelry. Flowers, copper, and turquoise are other features that show up regularly in my designs. I can run from them, but I can't hide ... for too long, anyway.