Necklaces for Nationals: The shop is open!After the design challenge, my necklaces are on Etsy
by Naomi Fujimoto
Published: February 6, 2012 Necklaces for Nationals, my 10-day jewelry challenge, is done! Monday through Friday, February 6th to 17th, I designed a necklace a day and posted it here.
Why this challenge?
My tennis team qualified to play at Nationals next month in Indian Wells. Tennis outside in the Southern California desert: a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that also happens to be expensive! We're paying our own way (airfare, lodging, meals, and tournament fees).
This necklace challenge is a way to raise funds; each of the designs is for sale in my Etsy shop, cooljewelsbynaomi.
Like advancing to Nationals, it has been a team effort: Cathy, Jane, and Kelsey helped by giving me design advice, pep talks, and occasionally, the perfect clasp. Bill and Jim shot beautiful photos without much advance notice. Jane C. (from Bead&Button) encouraged me when I was tired. And Serene designed the colorful banner for my shop.
The experience was not only a fundraiser, it was a fun-raiser. Along the way, I shared what I found most challenging in the design process, as well as tips and solutions.
The two weeks were fun, frantic, and filled with possibilities. I had big plans that included gemstones, pearls, chunky silver, chain, and a multistrand. The necklace-a-day concept was indeed challenging, and I did a last-minute design change on Day 10.
Thank you for checking every day to see my newest design. I appreciated your comments and encouragement.
So here we are. The design challenge is over, and now comes the fundraising part. I know that most of you have your own work to showcase and sell, but if you are so inclined, feel free to share the link to my work.
Thanks again for making jewelry design a team sport!
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10 DAYS OF NECKLACE DESIGNS | 1 / 10  |
Necklace # 1: Colorful candy jade Color wise, this was an easy design to pull together. The rondelle strand has my favorite mixed-berry shades, and I added faceted acrylic nuggets for even more color. Fuchsia bicone crystals tie everything together.
The challenge
Getting the nuggets to hang straight.
Design tip
Use 3-in. (7.6 cm) head pins, making the stem of the wrapped loop long enough so the nuggets hang lower than the adjacent rondelles.
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