When I heard that Michelle Mach was hosting another challenge, I jumped at the opportunity. She has a knack of creating unique challenges that always push my creative thinking. For the "Suddenly Spring" challenge, she sent out a readymade bracelet that we had to cannibalize and repurpose in our own designs. The bracelet was strung up on elastic stretchy cording and had bright blue crystals and crystal encrusted rondelles.
I thought this would be a piece of cake. And for the most part, it was pretty easy to create a design that I was happy with. However, I did run into some design "issues". One of them was dealing with the "blueness" of the blue. It was quite assertive and really stole the show. I wanted to mute it a bit, but didn't want to sacrifice too much of that vivid spring sky vibe.
I paired the blue crystals with some Picasso finish Czech glass rondelles and colored headpins that I made in a fun fringe of dangles. The Czech glass helped to add a touch of the green and subtle brown that I wanted to bring in and tone down the "bling" factor. Even after I added the opaque glass, the crystals were still a little BLUE... so I added a secondary layer of dangles using seafoam-turquoise-colored Czech glass beads. It did the trick to tone down the blue and tie it into the rest of the piece. For the rest of the piece, I used a slightly more green shade of the Czech glass with the crystal encrusted rondelles for the base of the necklace. For the toggle, I used a sweet, sterling silver floral toggle that I had here at
Allegory Gallery.
I think what really says SPRING about this piece is the awesome polymer clay pendant from Heather Powers of
Humble Beads. The bird pendant really says it all! Fortunately, I was able to work with the beads from the bracelet and some additional Czech glass to make them all match harmoniously with the polymer component.
I had a lot of fun working with this challenge and want to THANK Michelle Mach for organizing it! I know it's a lot of work to put these things on and she did a wonderful job! Way to go Michelle!
Curious about what the other participants made? Check it out:
Michelle - Beads & Books [Hostess]
Andrew - The Writing & Art of Andrew Thornton
Christa - Adventures of One Beady Woman
Dita - Alankarshilpa
Donetta - Simply Gorgeous
Erin - Erin Siegel Jewelry
Heather - As I Bead It
Jean - Snap Out of It Jean - There's Beading to Be Done!
Karen - Over the Moon Design
Kate - We Can Make That At Home
Kay - Palm Coast Art
Kim - CianciBlue
Kristina - Wild Roses and Blackberries
Linda - Lindy's Designs
Lisa - Pine Ridge Treasures
Marlene - Amazing Designs by Marlene
Michelle - Reverie & Revival
Pam - The Crazy Creative Corner
Renetha - Lamplight Crafts
Sharyl - Catchenthesun
Terry - Pink Chapeau Vintage Jewelry
Therese - Therese's Treasures
Pamela - Someday Beads
19 comments:
I love your piece! I love the way you toned down the blue with the Czech glass beads. Your use of the rondelles is great. I held off on using the rondelles but you made them work. Heather's pendant really rocks!
Great job, Andrew! This piece really says Spring. That was a neat idea to use the picasso Czech beads. The pendant is just perfect!
Andrew your necklace is beautiful. I love all of the components in your piece and how they all work well with each other to bring a very Spring time piece of beauty.
Therese
What a gorgeous necklace! You're right--those blue beads really want to steal center stage. I love Heather's pendant--the perfect touch. Thanks for joining the challenge!
Your talent certainly shined through with this creation. Cudos.
What a beautiful piece, Andrew! I am amazed at how you transformed the bracelet into such a stunning necklace, and the thought process on the colors and how you used them is great. :) Molly
Very inspirational...so much thought behind your designs! Your piece is just gorgeous, Andrew.
Beautifully done, Andrew! I learned so much from listening in on your color choices and seeing how each decision impacted your finished design. I ALWAYS gain something valuable when I click over to your posts!
I love it, Andrew! so pretty!
jean
I love it Andrew! The colors are so fresh, and you definately captured spring in this piece!
Very pretty -- I LOVE anything with dangles.
It's beautiful Andrew!
I always look forward to seeing your challenge pieces, Andrew, because you are one of my creative inspirations. This necklace is lovely, the Czech beads you chose are the perfect touch, and the pendant is lovely.
I love your choice of beads as well as the way you used the rondelles. The necklace just radiates spring. The pendant is impeccable.
What a beautiful necklace! The wire wrapped beads and dangles are a wonderful element. Transforms me into the spring season!
Oooh, I just love the necklace. The colours really go well together. It's definitely something I'd wear. ;-)
Wonderful Andrew.I love the blue bird bead.
I love your necklace. That pendant is wonderful
It's amazing the way you were able to alter the strength of those blue beads just by picking the right shades to go with them. You blow me away. Than you for teaching me something new. :)
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