Blogger design challenge, with a great supporting cast!

I had a pile of the 'Electric' purple beads from Rings and Things blogger challenge. I wanted to make something that made them the focal, but not the focal - does that make sense? Something like a great supporting cast - something that the design would just not be complete without it.

I began to rummage thru my supplies and found a fun random color pattern of purples and thought to celebrate the last day of Feb - the month of amethyst - this would be a fun design.

This necklace has components from each of my blog partner sponsors, Rings & Things, Art Beads and Beadin Path, whether thru the program or purchased on my own, and more items I have collected over time.

It was fun to bring them all together, into one design.

Electric Circus (it is a fun balancing act between symmetry and random )


From Rings & Things
29-555-10-901 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 10mm (Brown Mix) *
29-555-16-901 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 16mm (Brown Mix) *
28-000-007-273 Bead, Glass, Faceted Round, 10mm (Electric Purple)*
40-099-24-7 - Chain, Footage, Oval Curb, 10.5mm (Antiqued Copper Plated) *
47-406-SP 22 ga copper wire
24-101-7 10mm copper filigree bead

From Beadin Path
LUC4274BR Matte Dark Bark Tube beads, 6 x 26 mm*

From ArtBeads
TBRD6-615 TOHO™ Bead Round 6/0 Matte Raku Blue/Purple Iris 8g Bag

And the rest! (sung in my head like Gilligans Island theme)
copper chain - lululalland
copper rings - sedonastones
purple turquoise - dakotastones

*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Rings & Things were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blog Partner Program. These items are for review or design purposes. Find out more about the Rings & Things Blog Partner Program . More items marked with '*' mentioned in this post credited to Beadin Path were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Beadin Path Design Partners. These items are for review or design purposes.

Blue Note - Shell pearl pendant - Rings & Things Blogger Challenge

More blogger fun with my shell pearl mix from Rings & Things.

I need to just embrace the fact that I like to create necklaces and pendants and stop trying to carry a full line. It would be fun to partner up with a couple of others who love to make just earrings or bracelets. Could start a fun little co op of sorts :)

I really didn't know where I was going with this design. I just let it happen. It reminds me of a treble cleff on sheet music. Maybe I was directed this way because I was listening to Big Twist and the Mellow Fellows while I was working....




Here are some of the components I used:
29-555-10-905 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 10mm (Blue Mix) *
29-555-16-905 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 16mm (Blue Mix) *
28-000-007-443 Bead, Glass, Faceted Round, 10mm (Electric Blue) *
47-402-SP 14 ga copper wire
47-406-SP 22 ga copper wire
swarovski crystals
garnet
opalite
coral

What do you listen to when you work?

*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Rings & Things were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blog Partner Program. These items are for review or design purposes. Find out more about the Rings & Things Blog Partner Program

Bracelet idea with earring components!

I had some free time this morning, waiting on my buddy to call me, and got to work on this idea that has been rolling around in my head. A few days ago I wrote a post showing the great mix of fun and random components from Lisa of A Bead A Day. She had sent me this great goodie package in trade for a bracelet I had made.

I immediately fell in love with the wooden earring blanks. The color is so rich I couldn't wait to make some thing with it. I couldn't make earrings tho - I needed to do something else.

I chose one of the fun freshwater pearls for the focal and accented it with garnet. I LOVE garnet and bronze/copper together.





I loved the idea of the multi chain on the bracelet and left the chain long for some fun dangles.



The more I worked with this - the more I think I want to make a necklace out of it instead :)



This was so much fun to do, and an opportunity I would not have had if I hadn't of traded with Lisa. Stop by my blog entry about Share your Wares, it could be just the item you have been looking for!

Shell pearl pendant design - Rings & Things blogger challenge

It came about more or less like a flash in my brain. I was curled up in my recliner watching a terrible movie, rolled over and thought I would take a nap before work (having a hard time getting going this morning) As SOON as I closed my eyes this image flashed. My eyes shot open, I leapt from my chair and dashed to my work table.

I bent the 14 ga wire around the shell pearl just to get a rough 'fit' and then hammered the copper wire to strengthen it and to texture it so the 22 ga wire when wrapped would 'bite'.

I started at the top and made a few wraps and added a pearl. These little fresh water pearls are not perfect. I embraced that in the design and didn't make the wraps perfect either.

Now, there is the dilemma of the long pearl. It is not drilled. What am I going to do with it? There was a slight divot in the middle of the pearl, perfect to hold the wire for a wrap and not allow the pearl to slide thru. I went with it :)





Here is what I used:
29-555-10-901 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 10mm (Brown Mix) *
29-555-16-901 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 16mm (Brown Mix)*
Random freshwater pearls *
47-402-SP 14 ga copper wire
47-406-SP 22 ga copper wire
swarovski crystals


Slid it on a long piece of leather, threw it on with a black sweater and out the door I went. I had some fun this morning (so much fun I was late for work) making this pendant. Thanks Dave and Thanks Rings & Things!!!

What did you create today?!?!

*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Rings & Things were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blog Partner Program. These items are for review or design purposes. Find out more about the Rings & Things Blog Partner Program