A touch of autumn

I know, I know... we haven't even gone through summer yet... however - we've just returned from vacation and on our way back (through the Appalachian Mnts) I was reminded once again that time does not stay still, no matter what we do. A tree here and there would start rusting its leaves - while I love the colour of fall (especially here, in Canada, where the maple trees explode with unbelievable shades of red), I simply don't want summer to end, it's too soon!

But I think this next necklace is quite in the spirit of those trees I just admired.

Do you remember when I found the ceramic treasure at the store not long ago? There were 2 sets of ceramics, one green, one a beautiful blue/teal. I thought I will use the blue first - but after Kristi's Big Hole Challenge, what was left on my desk but the copper I used for the necklace. And everyone knows copper goes perfect with green, especially since the green ceramic beads were speckled with copper.

Ceramic beads are heavy and I wanted to make a long necklace, no stringing involved - so out came the wire jig, the pliers... swirl, swirl, cut... swirl, wrap, bead, swirl, wrap, cut... repeat many times, until this came out:

It is quite a pleasure to wear (although it was quite hard to create the wire charms on the jig: the copper is much harder than silver to work with, and the jig decided it won't cooperate and it would pop the charms every turn I took) - not as heavy as I was afraid it would be, long and with exquisite curves around one's neck, and the colours - oh, my, I am in love with copper right now :)

This is a picture of about half of the necklace, to give you an idea on how it falls: look at the shades of green and rust, aren't they delicious?!

While making the Bead Soup set you know I decided to make the 'beach' ring - and I suddenly knew how I want to use one of the disk beads left (I had a few beads left, but since the necklace was very symmetric, I wouldn't add them to the mix, thought I would make a bracelet):

I swear that ring took a lot of patience: the copper would just not behave itself... I almost gave up, but at the 3rd attempt I managed to get a decent-looking piece :) At least I am happy with it.

One more view of the necklace:

Lesson learned: each metal has its own personality and one should better learn how to get along with various materials :) Luckily for me - I adapt quickly and I love challenges.

How do you overcome challenges? (they don't have to be jewelry related, there are challenges everywhere you turn :))