Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Suddenly Spring Blog Hop...

 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:

Linda Younkman said...

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!

Anonymous said...

Great job, Andrew! This piece really says Spring. That was a neat idea to use the picasso Czech beads. The pendant is just perfect!

Therese's Treasures said...

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

Michelle Mach said...

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!

Unknown said...

Your talent certainly shined through with this creation. Cudos.

beautifullybrokenme said...

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

Donetta said...

Very inspirational...so much thought behind your designs! Your piece is just gorgeous, Andrew.

Karin Slaton said...

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!

Jean Katherine Baldridge said...

I love it, Andrew! so pretty!

jean

Alice said...

I love it Andrew! The colors are so fresh, and you definately captured spring in this piece!

Lori Anderson said...

Very pretty -- I LOVE anything with dangles.

SueBeads said...

It's beautiful Andrew!

Anonymous said...

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.

lamplight crafts said...

I love your choice of beads as well as the way you used the rondelles. The necklace just radiates spring. The pendant is impeccable.

Kathleen Lange Klik said...

What a beautiful necklace! The wire wrapped beads and dangles are a wonderful element. Transforms me into the spring season!

bwheather said...

Oooh, I just love the necklace. The colours really go well together. It's definitely something I'd wear. ;-)

Anonymous said...

Wonderful Andrew.I love the blue bird bead.

Kim said...

I love your necklace. That pendant is wonderful

CraftyHope said...

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. :)