Hello everyone! I hope this blog post finds you and your loved ones safe, healthy and well, during this time. <3

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In today’s blog post, I am sharing how my Project OHMistry bead OHM Don’t Give Up was made. From the initial sketch, to the wax carving and to the end result…I will be sharing this fun adventure with you.

If you missed seeing my announcement about OHM Don’t Give Up, I have created a page with my previous YouTube videos and blog posts. You can find it HERE.

The OHM Don’t Give Up bead releases on June 19th at 10:00 AM PT.

So, if you are ready to learn how OHM Don’t Give Up was made…make sure to grab a delicious cup of tea and let’s get started!

* Photos courtesy of OHM Beads

Ideas, Stories and Inspirations…

In this Youtube video, I share a detailed look at what inspired OHM Don’t Give Up. You can watch it HERE or down below:

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After brainstorming through my inspirations for my bead, I began to sketch out some ideas. I knew I wanted a mountain/journey concept, with a “dark” scary side and a “light” happy side. It was important this bead had a nature and fairytale theme too.

I was also inspired by my favourite bible verse, Hebrews 11:1 ⛰ ✨

Sketching it out…

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After I sketched out a few ideas, I sent my sketches and design concept to OHM Beads. We began to collaborate on the bead design! They took my ideas/concepts and transformed them into an incredible bead design. I had so many ideas for a tiny bead and I was shocked at how many of those ideas they were able to keep or expand on.

They also asked me a wonderful question: did I want the bead to be like a real mountain or more of a fictional idea? I loved their idea of a real mountain, so we went with that concept!

They sent the bead concept art to me and we tweaked around with the bead design together, playing around with snakes, wolves and ghostly creatures!

They also added an adorable mushroom house to the “light side” of the mountain. This touch was so “me” and makes me smile to this day! So sweet of them to add that detail in!

After we approved the final design, it was time to test the design out in wax!

Lost-Wax Casting

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OHM Beads sent me videos and photos of OHM Don’t Give Up in the lost-wax carving. The process of lost-wax casting allows intricate details to be achieved. It also provides an idea of the size and a safe testing ground to see what the details will look like, before testing it out in sterling silver.

It was fascinating to see the journey of a sketch transform into a wax carving! I was shocked to see how many details were achieved on wax.

After the wax casting was approved, it was time to move forward and create the silver master mold!

Silver Master Mold

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The silver master mold was incredible to see! OHM Beads sent me photos and videos from every angle. They even added a blue sharpie pen over the laser engraving placement on the You Did It, so we could see it clearly.

All our ideas were captured perfectly. The details from the wax were maintained. I could not get over how much detail made it onto a small bead. I also LOVED the font OHM Beads chose for the bottom of the bead that reads, “Don’t Give Up”.

OHM Beads also styled the silver master mold with other wax molds, so I could get an idea on size (see below photo).

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Box Art | OHM Don’t Give Up

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The box art was a challenge for me! I had so many ideas, but none of them seemed “good enough”. One night, I was walking in the rain and an idea hit me: why not do a fairytale story sketch?

I took inspiration from my engagement photos. They were taken on a mountain top with a Little Red Riding Hood inspired dress that I made for the occasion. I loved the idea of a woman wearing a protective clock, on her journey up and over the “Don’t Give Up” mountain.

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I sketched out my ideas and then created the final sketch. I coloured it in with a mixture of pencil crayons and prismacolor markers. The only thing I didn’t think about was the direction of the box, on the back. Which is why it’s in the opposite direction of other OHMistry boxes. Oops!

OHM Beads had the fantastic idea to add Don’t Give Up to the box art using the same font as the bottom of the bead. I loved that idea!

It was also during this time that I sent in my official bead description and artist biography. I found the artist biography SO hard to write! Special thank you to Nichol, my mom and Mike at OHM for giving me some ideas!

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Approving the Insert

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After the box art, bead description and artist biography were finalized, OHM Beads sent me the bead box insert to approve. We decided to showcase the “dark side” of the mountain, when you first open the box. It is the “start of the journey”, after all! When you unfold the insert and look inside, you would see the “light side” of the mountain.

Finalizing OHM Don’t Give Up

After the “big things” were completed, OHM Beads and I confirmed a few other things that included the announcement date and release date.

And…Here We Are!

9 days until OHM Don’t Give Up releases! It is so surreal, crazy amazing and exciting. A special thank you again to OHM Beads (and all of you) for making this huge dream come true for me. Means the world and back!

I cannot wait to see how you will style this bead, and to hear your “Don’t Give Up” stories. <3

Limited Edition. Only 111 made.