BTW: The Do Over Challenge

"My Mama always said you've got to put the past behind you before you can move on."
- the movie Forrest Gump

Jeannie Dukic is hosting a blog hop that is really intriguing to me called the 'Do Over' Challenge.

If you have been creating anything for any length of time you likely have a back log of pieces that were done early on that were not as successful as you may make them now. But you can't dwell on those past pieces. You have to move on by building upon them. Those pieces might lack pizzazz, or use materials that were not as unique. They aren't failures because they didn't sell, because they may show that your style has evolved and your taste in materials has grown more expensive. I applaud Jeannie for having the guts to put these pieces out there and ask for a 'do over'. I think it is exciting to see what other people can do. In fact, it reminds me that I have a whole dresser drawer of these potential 'do overs' that perhaps I should giveaway!

The piece that Jeannie sent me had white glass tube beads with a painted design, white plastic lantern shaped beads, golden pearls and small faceted cherry colored beads with a hint of AB all with a gold metal for components.

{do over before}

I tried and tried to use those white glass tubes but I just could not make it work. So I abandoned those to another day. But I ended up using the remainder of the beads in the piece, the pearls, cherry faceted beads and even the white plastic because I liked the shape.

{how do they make these bottle cap beads? I don't know but I love 'em!}

I dug through my stash and found my bottle cap beads from Glass Garden beads. I love this one with the bold graphic design and the words "Ale Asylum" on it. I have come to find out that Ale Asylum is a brewpub in Madison, WI where I went to college. So a place where you can claim freedom and protection from the crime of poor beer, might be a good place to be if you are in college!

I went from a traditional symmetrical design, to an edgier darker design. I added a great gunmetal heavy link chain with this kick ass industrial trigger clasp toggle. The bracelet is 9" long but that big clasp allows you to hook it wherever you like! To that I added gunmetal faceted glass beads, the bottle cap bead and some little gunmetal rounds. I like the little pop of color that those cherry beads add to this. I can see that this would be fun to wear out on the town!

I call this do over
"Refuge From What 'Ales' You." 

(Get it? Teehee ;-).

{'Refuge from what ales you' available for purchase on Etsy}

Thanks, Jeannie, for letting me play along with you on this challenge. It certainly stretched me creatively and that is what I like! Now go on over to Jeannie's blog and check out what the other participants did and share some comment love!

So, now it is your turn...
Do you have something that you created... a wreath, a sewing project, a jewelry design, etc that could use a little 'do over'? 
Do you think that since your style has changed over time you might be able to look at it more objectively and breathe new life into it? 
Do you think it would be easier or harder to breathe new life into someone else's creation? 
Do tell!

Enjoy the day!