A Behind the Scenes Look at Designing

"There is merit in the attempt, and a whole lot accomplished along the way." - unknown

I wanted to design a clasp for the Art Bead Scene and was playing with wire. I had the first part of the design in mind and I thought I was trying to create a toggle clasp.  I was playing around with different bar options and realized the bar would need to be for two strands - so I had a little flash and thought well let's transform this toggle into a multi-strand hook and eye clasp instead.

I used thin copper wire to noodle around with designs until I found one I liked.  After that I used craft wire in the desired gauge to make a prototype.  Once I finished a few and really understand how I created the clasp I was ready to make it in silver and photograph the step-by-steps. 

I thought you would enjoy seeing some of thought process that happens in creating - it's not just a here is my great idea let me whip it out kind of thing.  Nope, there are mis-steps and scraping plans altogether and then in a rush something inspired comes out of the mess and that is refined until it's tempered into a useful design. 

My next plan is to use the clasp in a bracelet with one of my Dogwood Pendants.  I'm sure more trial and errors await me, but that is part of the joy of creating your own work.  The playing and experimenting and failed attempts are as important as the finished piece.