When at first you don’t succeed….

Try, try again! It took three tries to get these links and things to work together, but I’m really happy with the end result.

I originally wanted to make a “chain” with the twisted brass jump rings joining alternating Swarovski rings and gold-filled stampings, but the jump rings weren’t quiiiiite big enough. So I fiddled around some and came up with the first effort:

This looked pretty good on the board, but had a tendency to flip around when I actually wore it. The backs of the Swarovski rings are shiny silver—they look chromed—and the proportions weren’t quite right, either.

The MO and I discussed it over lunch (hey, gotta take advantage of a captive audience! plus he has good taste) and that led to the second attempt:

This was very much the look I wanted, but the sizes just didn’t play well together. The crystal rings kept hopping up too high (as you see in the center one) and as much I wished this would work, it just didn’t.

I went back to the best part of the first attempt, the dangle, and tried again. This is the end result and I love it.

I was worried that the rings would flip, but they stay put for the most part. Turns out the earrings are particularly fab. They’re just approaching too heavy for me, so they’re not all-day-wearable, but they move well and of course they’re SHINY….

After looking at the pictures again, I think I want to try my original chain idea but just with the crystal rings and the big jump rings. Looks like I’m going to have to buy some more beads!