This morning I sat down at my design table and just sat there. Nothing in mind. I started thinking about filigree and the few components I had on hand. Then, I knew I had these small Swarovski Sew on Stones that I though would make easy earrings. The bad thing about the stones was, the back of them was coated gray. That is not good for a free dangling earring. Sparkle side -- blah gray side.... But if I attached them to filigree, then you wouldn't notice the gray side as much. I took out the single pieces of filigree and realized that the stones were too small of scale to go with them. Then I saw a filigree ring that I had flattened. I don't know why or when I had flattened it.... it was just there. I liked the shape of the ends of the "ring".
I took a picture of earrings I already made and an unflattened ring.
I then took the ring and with a simple pair of scissors, I cut the filigree in the shape was appealing to me.
I took apart the original pair of earrings and reused all the components and added one
jump ring to attach
the Swarovski stone to the filigree.
I am really happy that the filigree helps cover and hide the icky gray side of the stone. I am also ecstatic that I was finally able to figure out a different use for the filigree rings.
I have really wanted to work with and experiment with filigree, but always allowed myself get stumped. I was afraid. I don't know why I would be afraid! In jewelry making (and most things crafty) usually you can always re-use and re-purpose projects that don't come out "just right".
