Color Challenge Blog Hop

Don’t you just love Erin Prais-Hintz’s Color Challenge Blog Hop ?  This challenge was a REAL challenge for me.  Not a challenge in the sense of difficulty, but the time crunch got to me.    I have been thinking about the beautiful color scheme Erin sent me from the US Geological Survey Earth as Art representing the Lake District of England.  I have been to the Lake District and have very fond memories and inspirations from my time there.

 

 However, here’s what I pulled together to begin work on the challenge:

 Left to right, agate green seed bead mix, lamp-work glass beads “turquoise” cross (so close!), crystals, dichroic glass, and braided sari silk among other bits and bobs.

As I was working on the necklace, though, I stumbled on a little project I had been working on a couple of weeks ago using vintage women’s watches.  The light bulb went off over my head!  Here’s what I designed.  It’s called Reliquary for a Fabri-holic.

The watch cases contain tiny scraps of the beautiful sari silk in colors of the Lake District image.  It reminds me of a medieval crystal reliquary I saw several years ago that contained threads from the Virgin’s Tunic.  The necklace of twisted brass links hangs about 30 inches and looks very antique.  

So, did I capture the scheme? (It was difficult to photograph)  Here’s a detail.

Thanks to Erin for hosting the hop.  Now, go on over to Erin's blog and check out the other hoppers. 

P.S.  I'm having a holiday sale in my Etsy Shop with the coupon code hohoho10percentOFF at checkout.

Look What Our Postal Carrier Brought!

TWO PACKAGES!! It is like Christmas here. One package is from the divine Miss L. Lorelei Eurto and the other is from Amanda Davie. I will post about Amanda's package tomorrow. Today it is all about patience.


A few months back, quite a few actually, Lorelei hosted a Round Robin Necklace challenge. There were six of us that signed up for the challenge and we all started a necklace and wrote down ideas for the rest of the group to help with finishing each piece. (Read more about it HERE).

Well, we all got our pieces to Lorelei and she did a little something to each and then past them on to the next in line. Eventually I got to work on the pieces and then sent them to next. She worked on then and then sent them to the final artist who held on to all of them for what seemed like forever. I do not know, nor do I need to know, what the hold-up really was. I am just glad this story had a happy ending.

The whole shabbang

A detail

another detail.

I asked for dangly things, especially religious symbols for the 36" chain I sent. You can see lots of crosses, two hands, several hearts, some celtic pieces and a tiny vail with a picture of the face of Mary. There are also quite a few art beads and crystals.

I love it. Thank you my Round Robin Friends!

Bead Soup Part Day #7 -- My Partner's Reveal!

I have waited almost a whole week (well, actually a lot longer than that) to see what Heather Pyle from My Muse did with the bead soup ingredients I sent her in May.

This is what I sent . . .
And this is what she did with it.

and this . . . and this . . . .

Now get on over there and tell what a great job she did! (She is #81 below)

June 25th

72. Cindy, Cindy Dolezal Designs

73. Valerie, Hot Art

74. Courtney, Beads by Breul

75. Johanna, Fire Phoenix Creations

76. Shea, gr8findings

77. Julie, Pryce Designs

78. Jeannie, Jeannie's Blog

79. Patricia, Verre Design

80. Christa, Adventures of One Beady Woman

81. Heather, My Muse My bead swap buddy

82. Susan, Night Beader at Large

83. Sonja, Drachenei

84. Jennifer, Glass Addictions by Jennifer

If you have not already, sign up for my birthday giveaway {HERE}. It is going on all week, so come back at the end of the party to see who won. It could be you!!

Finished Pieces (and One Work in Progress)

After talking to my friend who has commissioned me to make two pieces for high school graduates, this is the first to be finished. It is for a lovely redhead with a distinctive style.

Here it is on my "old lady" neck . . .

and here it is on a backdrop.

Notice the handmade clasp? (I made it!)

And this is a work in progress: a bracelet for another graduate for the same friend.

What is your favorite version?

And here is a pair of earrings that are just gorgeous in person. They do not photograph well because there is a swirl of color that moves all aound each bead -- perfectly matched!

More photos and projects as I finish them.

Comments are ALWAYS welcome.