Okay, so, I decided to make some Aries constellation jewelry. It was a bit of a whim, really. I saw some pretty pictures online and thought, “Hey, I could totally do that!” Easier said than done, let me tell you.
First, I had to sketch out the design. I’m not an artist by any stretch of the imagination, so this took longer than I expected. I started with a simple ram’s head, trying to capture that classic Aries look. Then I messed around with different ways to incorporate the stars – initially, I wanted a whole constellation, but that got too cramped. Finally, I settled on a stylized arrangement, using small, sparkling stones.
Next up was sourcing materials. I went to my local craft store, and man, those places are overwhelming! I spent ages looking at different beads, chains, wires, and findings. I ended up picking some tiny cubic zirconia stones for the stars – they sparkled nicely. For the ram’s head, I opted for a mix of gold-filled wire for the horns and a hammered silver setting for the head itself. I also grabbed some jump rings and a clasp because, honestly, I had no clue what those things were called, but I knew I needed them.
The actual construction… oh boy. The wire work was a nightmare. My fingers were aching, and I swear I nearly poked myself blind a few times. I spent hours shaping the ram’s head, carefully bending the wire, trying to get the horns just right. The silver setting proved surprisingly tricky to work with; it kept bending in unwanted places. I had to start over a couple of times. Getting the tiny cubic zirconias into the settings was also a test of patience. Those little things are slippery! I nearly lost a few down the sink.
Finally, after what felt like a million years, the ram’s head was done. Then, I had to attach the stars. I’d envisioned a delicate, sparkling arrangement, and I’m happy to say, I think I nailed it. I used tiny jump rings to connect everything, which was a bit fiddly. But once it was all done, it felt pretty rewarding! I even added a small, delicate chain for the necklace.
The clasp was the least stressful part, thankfully. I just clipped it on, and thankfully, it worked perfectly the first time. I really wasn’t looking forward to redoing that part!
In the end, I’m pretty happy with how the Aries constellation necklace turned out. It’s not perfect, there are a few slightly wonky bits, but I think it captures the spirit of the constellation. It’s a really unique piece, and a reminder of a fun, if slightly frustrating, afternoon spent crafting. I learned a lot, definitely need more practice, but definitely wouldn’t mind trying something similar again!
