Selecting A Band For Your Tiara Or Crown

I’ve made a variety of bands so far and it seems I’m still getting requests for yet other styles, so the purpose of this post is to let you know what I’m familiar with and how each one works. I hope this helps you decide what works best for you and that my readers give me feed back on what people are looking for.

The first type is the vertical comb tiara…

For this style all the ornamentation is attached, perpendicularly, to a hair comb and there are rings attached for bobby pins.  This is a good choice for flat, less puffy hair styles and it’s good for short hair and works better on real hair as opposed to wigs.

 

The most popular is the basic headband…

This type is a basic U band with a ring at each end for bobby pins or a stretch cord, elastic or ribbon to secure it.  The band sits at an angle and the ornamentation is vertical.  Most of my clients find this to be the most comfortable choice, especially performers who need to make quick costume changes.

 

Then there’s the head band with an under-wire…

This is recommended for larger, heavier pieces, the under-wire allows for more bobby pins to give added security.

Of corse, I’m always exploring other options and if you have any suggestions, I welcome them most eagerly!

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Thinking Beyond The Dead Of Winter

Yes, it’s the dead of winter, there’s a foot of snow on the ground and the temperature is in the single digits.  So, to warm myself up I must think of spring and work on new items that bring warm thoughts of Carnival Balls and Summer Galas.  With that in mind, I bring you this “Gilded Lily” tiara.

 

This piece is now available in my Etsy Shop, but may be subject to prior sale.

Here’s some close up views for you…

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An Update To My Creative Challenge

So my 12 week creative challenge is moving along at a steady pace, I’ve been concentrating on more elaborate pieces which take more than a day to complete, that’s why I no longer post every day now.  For today though, I thought I’d share these two pieces that are coming together quite nicely.

I’m calling this the “Warrior Angel” tiara.  I may add a few elements to it still and there are some tiny rings soldered every here and there for hanging beads from, I like my jewelry to have moving elements.  I’ve been wanting to use these cobalt blue stones and spiral beads for quite some time, there’s many old stones and beads hanging around my studio just waiting to be used in just the right design, some of them I’ve had for more than thirty years.  I think I’ll have this gold-plated, if the stones stand out too much after plating, maybe I’ll enamel the leaves like I did in this mask. 

The other piece I’d like to share is a brooch that will be part of a necklace.

This one is a commission based on this piece. 

The customer wants something more colorful, with a biological theme and in a silver plate.  I hope she likes it!

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Gaining Momentum With My 12 Week Challenge

I got up bright and early this morning and put together this whimsical little tiara.  In the center and off to the sides you’ll notice the spiraling empty settings, after I have this piece plated I’ll be setting pearls into them.

Just to be sure you’re aware, all of the items posted during my Twelve Week Creative Challenge have a raw finish and will be plated, patinated, and/or enameled at the end of this motivational project.

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12 Week Creative Challenge Update

So, now I have more motivation for my twelve week creative challenge.  I’ve been accepted to a juried show in New York, It’s part of an event hosted by The Imperial Court Of NY called a “Night Of A Thousand Gowns“.

I’m very grateful for this opportunity, I always enjoy designing for drag queens and showgirls.  Now I’m faced with the challenge of creating some spectacular pieces to insure the success of this venture.

As always, thank you for following my blog and be sure to check out my Etsy shop if you have the chance.

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Update to My Twelve Week Creative Challenge

Well I’m sorry to say that, although not over, my twelve week creative challenge has been greatly interrupted.  You see, I’d developed some pretty severe kidney stones making a surgical procedure necessary, after which there were some complications.  So with the crippling pain and the grogginess caused by so many painkillers, I was unable to produce anything creative for several days.

I did get into my studio whenever possible and worked on some items that had already been started.

I had a lot of fun with this necklace with all of its flowers and monsters.

In addition to what I’ve shown you in this post, I’ve managed to assemble a lot of small component parts, not worth showing, for larger pieces yet to come.  I’m feeling much better now so I’m resuming my creative challenge, I’ve lost track of which day I left off on so my updates won’t be as specific going forward.

Thank you for following my progress.

~Richard

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Days Twenty One Through Twenty Four Of My Creative Challenge

I’m moving right along with my twelve week creative challenge, I’m just making things a bit faster than I can photograph them so bear with me.

For day 21, I made this necklace from an old watch case I found somewhere amidst all the junk I’ve collected over the years.  I think I’ll finish it with tones of silver, gold and raw brass.

On day 22, I made this Venetian style cross necklace, carnivale is coming up in February so I hope to have a series of masks and jewelry to show for the occasion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Which brings us to this crystal carnival mask I started on day 23.  I think I need to add a lot more dangling beads and chains, but we’ll see.

And finally for day 24, I struggled to make my way into the studio and I have only the beginning of a renaissance style necklace to show for it.

That’s all for today, I hope you’re following me on FaceBook and have a chance to check out my ETSY shop? In the meantime, take care.

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Day Twenty Of My Twelve Week Creative Challenge

Today I did some more work on this butterfly tiara, I think I need to take a break and get back to it, it needs something and I just don’t know what.  But that’s what I have to show for day 20 of my twelve week creative challenge.

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Day Eighteen of My Tweleve Week Creative Challenge

Today I felt like getting back to my jewelry bench, so for day 18 of my twelve week challenge I made these “Goddess Of Love” earrings.  The beads are a very dark red, capped with little crystals, and at the bottom are cast cupids.  I may still add a heart or little dove inside the crystal cage, but for now they are finished.

Please keep in mind that the items I show in the twelve week challenge posts still have to be electroplated and are in their raw form.  Also the photography is the result of quick snapshots so I promise you everything will look much more impressive in the final post.

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Days Nine And Ten Of My Twelve Week Creative Challenge

Although my intention was to make something each day of my twelve week creative challenge, for these two days my creative energy went into the setup and presentation of a very successful holiday craft show. Here’s some photos of my booth…

It’s pretty much the same setup as most of the shows I do, but this time I added a little side table with some specialty items.

In doing a show like this I find the full review of my recent and past work coupled with customer input to be a great exercise and I ended the day with a good amount of inspiration.  I probably won’t have a post for day eleven due to the exhaustion I feel at the end of this amazing event.

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