artemisia absinthium

[carpe_jugulum]

I rarely make anything for myself these days as I tend to dedicate most of my crafting time to padding my Etsy store, but I tried to spend time this weekend putting together some elements I'd had lying about the house for awhile.

Comments

[crisper]

I wouldn't call the gear "tasteless bling" but I think it distracts - it tries to turn it into a pendant but doesn't quite succeed, so it's a bit hampered as a choker, but not a clear win as a dangling necklace either.

The buckle, however... that is pure win.

[crisper]

That being said, there might be a way of straight-dropping a piece of something from the collar's center to make it succeed as a pendant; I think it's the double points of connection that trip me up.

[carpe_jugulum]

Sensible; thanks for your opinion. I was a bit inspired by the fabric collar I love so much (this one: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=5526453) but it's symmetrical, whereas my green one is not.

Mostly I doubly connected it so the gear wouldn't bounce around and slice me in the neck, but now I'm reconsidering.

(And making this piece is helping me brainstorm your commission in a way; worry not! ;)

[vonslatt]

I think the cog would like to be on a field of black, or black lace - like a cameo on a choker. Might be more comfortable too.

[carpe_jugulum]

I did sand down the "axle" of the cog so it's not sharp on the back, but maybe you're right. If it were like a cameo on this piece, where would you place it? Or would you forgo it entirely?

[vonslatt]

Hmm, maybe so the teeth on the top of the gear looked to be engaging the upper zipper?

Then the frame needs to move, maybe around back or to the other side - oh! and put a bit of aged card stock in it that reads "#3 Sprockets" or "Specimen" maybe. ;-)

[carpe_jugulum]

Whoops; I think allykat's comment got double posted and then deleted. Here's the text:

"that's pretty much what i was thinking

my first reaction to the cog wasn't "OMG! TACKY!" - it was "that keeps distracting me, drawing my eye away from the rest of the piece, and it looks a little ... out of place.

maybe if it was antiqued, or darker. or, as below, it might look awesome on another lace piece as a cameo choker."

[mystress]

OH THE GREENNESS! Yum!

[mischiefmydear]

I actually like the asymmetrical-ness of the cog piece. It adds more visual interest to me, and gives me more to look at, as opposed to thinking, "Oh, zippers, kay." It looks like it may need a link or two extra on the photo-right side-- then it may lay a bit differently, but yah.