Ok, so here it is...finally got all of my designs made. Lisa Lodge, an awesome jewelry designer, offered this challenge to all us other designers. She gave us some beautiful beads to work with...below are my creations. I will admit, I had a bit of a difficult time figuring out something different with these beads. I didn't want a typical necklace or even a typical bracelet. I guess that's the fun of creating...LOL
Here are my two pieces I created with the yummy beads...
I found these fun metal leaves at Joann fabrics. I really like that I was able to add a little dangle of beads on the bottom. I used Tim Holtz metal patina to add some fun to the leaves...
I used some sari silk strips and braided them and wrapped them around the loops. I then used the seed beads to make simple rings around the wire which I wrapped to hold the sari silk on the loop. I used copper wire through out to hold all of the beads together.
I didn't really have enough of the larger beads to create what I was thinking of doing, so I decided to do a crazy kumihimo bracelet instead. I mixed in some black glass beads to add more depth to both my pieces...
THANK YOU LISA.....
Your hostess: Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist
Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes
Kathy Zeigler Lindemer, Bay Moon Design
Eleanor Burian Moore, The Charmed Life
Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation
Chris Eisenberg, Wanderware
Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design
Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations
Janine Lucas, Esfera Travel Blog
Jasvanti Patel, Jewelry by Jasvanti
Shaiha Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings
Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz
Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera
Toltec Jewels, Jewel School Friends
Christie Searle Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry
Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me
Monique Urquhart, A Half-Baked Notion
Janet Bocciardi, Honey from the Bee
Dini Bruinsma, Angaza by Changes
Heather Richter, Desert Jewelry Designs
Christina Miles, Wings n Scales
Elizabeth Engriser, Bead Contagion
Alice Peterson, Alice Dreaming
Alicia Marinache, All the Pretty Things
Catherine Yvonne King, Catherine's Musings
Alice Craddick, Alice's Beads and Baubles
Ema Kilroy, Ema K Designs
Love the kumihimo bracelet. I may have to try using a mix of sizes and shapes next time I do some kumihimo.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jo-Ann. You will love mixing up the sizes of the beads, once you get started, you cant quit!
DeleteVery nice! I'm going to keep on the look out for that leaf focal :) I like the way you've tapered the necklace down to the focal. Kumihimo still perplexes me a little, so nice job. Christie
ReplyDeleteThanks Charis, once you figure out how to do the kumihimo, its so easy.., you will slap your hand on your head and say...wow..that wasnt so bad! LOL
DeleteVery creative!!! I really like how you explain your process . . . I never remember to do that and I think it makes for a great read. Bravo on your artistry!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Chris.. much appreciated! :-)
DeleteNifty designs, Christina! I love both the bracelet and necklace. Kumihimo has always fascinated me. I don't know how it is done, but it sure looks pretty when it is completed! Thanks for being in the hop!
ReplyDeleteThank you sooo much for the opportunity to play. Loved the bead mix too..Hugs...
DeleteChristina, you said you wanted to do something unique and you succeeded :) The necklace is lovely, and the bracelet really unusual, with all the varied sizes of beads (I actually wouldn't have guessed it was kumihimo!)
ReplyDeleteHi Monique, Thanks so much...its funny how the kumihimo can look so different when doing a mix like this. I have several bracelets I made with mixes and they are amazing! I am slightly hooked on the kumihimo right now. :-)
DeleteLovely pieces and very unique.
ReplyDeleteThanks Janine!!
DeleteWhat a fun kumihimo bracelet. Your addition of the leaves makes that necklace, it's just the zing that turns something from nice to special! Your site is one of the reasons I do blog hops, to discover new things. I can't wait to come back when I have more time and explore :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you Liz, that is such a compliment, I really appreciate it. I try to have an interesting blog, and sometimes I forget to blog..LOL Oh, and when I found the leaves, I knew they had to go on the end of this necklace. Funny how things just fall into my hands and the light bulb goes on! :-)
DeleteI'm so excited to see Kumihimo! The first jewelry techniques I learned were wirewrapping cabs & Kumihimo! And the first jewelry project I ever created was with my youngest daughter -- then in her early twenties -- and we made a "Hers & Paws" Kumihimo necklace & matching collar set (no beads of course & magnetic clasp for collar safety). So, seeing your GORGEOUS bracelet today warms my heart. Such a rare jewelry art & you have made a lovely forest treasure! Beautiful work. I also agree with Liz -- your leaf and the three tiers of your necklace make it very special! Cool design -- like walking through the forest, full of textures, shades of green, treasures and life -- and collecting a magnificent leaf to celebrate the journey! Lovely.
ReplyDeleteThank you sooo much. I learned the kumihimo about maybe 6-8 months ago. Something like that...anyway, I love it! Its relaxing, and next thing you know you have this beautiful strand for a bracelet or necklace. I love texture so I try to create a little more depth in my designs...the necklace would not have looked as fun if I didnt have the leaves...Its all wired accept for the braided sari silk and the little bead work on the ends...so it is kind of stiff at first when you put it on, but you can shape it nicely to fit perfectly on the chest...
DeleteTHANKS again....
Your necklace is so pretty with the silk and the leaf dangle from the focal. And I love your Kumihimo bracelet. I haven't tried a Kumihimo piece with beads yet, but yours is awesome.
ReplyDeleteThank you soooo much too! You need to start working with beads now with the kumihimo...I am still fairly new to the beading world and when I found this technique, I just fell in love with it..quick, simple, and beautiful...my style!! hehehe although quick and simple are not always how it works out...hehehe
DeleteLOVE that necklace, you've managed to keep it simple even though it is multilayered! The kumihimo bracelet is pretty too.
ReplyDelete