A chronicle of the meanderings, false starts (which in retrospect, while sort of embarrassing turned out to be highly instructive), epiphanies, selective apathy (still evolving), wild mood swings, opinions (subject to frequent change), and life lessons of an inveterate dabbler (and her latest dabblings).

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Challenge of Color Blog Hop

This is the second color challenge I've done--the first one was with Erin too! I don't think I've ever done any other challenges. There's something about the way Erin structures this one that doesn't tweak my inner rebel. I'm OK with it.

I've been intrigued by purple lately, and wanted to do something in the purple family. My palette was "Mineral Brights" (I read the word "brights" and groaned inwardly, but it was all right after all):


I wanted to use brass in it, rather than silver, and I started with that and some heavy gauge leather cord that got me to the cafe au lait color.
Then I hauled out virtually every bead I own in shades of violet, periwinkle and putty. I strung and restrung and strung again. Changed my mind about a pendant twice. And this is what I finally settled on last night:


Indonesian glass beads in ivory and periwinkle (I interpreted that center color as more blue than gray, mainly because I don't really have any gray beads, so I fudged on that one just a little) from Happy Mango Beads, matte glass tile beads in violet, glass seed beads in a deeper violet, little wooden spacers, tiny lilac seed beads, and a brass-over-pewter Ethiopian Coptic cross, also from Happy Mango Beads. (I actually had some other small glass tile beads that were a closer match to that center color, but I just couldn't make them work.) Just didn't have anything in that deep indigo, so I fudged on that too.

This will eventually be for sale in my Etsy shop, probably tonight or tomorrow evening.

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33 comments:

  1. Mary K. McGrawNovember 30, 2011 at 5:50 AM

    Love the use of the heavy gauge leather with the Coptic cross, they balance each other. And the violet beads give the piece some sparkle. Great necklace.

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  2. T...November 30, 2011 at 5:57 AM

    stunning, love the textures and colours, your design is very nice...

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  3. steufelNovember 30, 2011 at 6:13 AM

    What a stunning piece. I love the material-mix and the layering. Seriously cool stuff:-)

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  4. CraftyHopeNovember 30, 2011 at 7:41 AM

    Sounds like you worked down to the wire like I did. It turned out BEAUTIFULLY!! Why is it so hard to find a great gray bead? Anyway, I really love how you used the cord to incorporate the brown tones into your piece. Really lovely!

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  5. Heidi PostNovember 30, 2011 at 8:00 AM

    Fudging or not, you were inspired by the colors chosen for you -- isn't that the idea? It's a gorgeous piece. Bold, but because of its muted colors - simultaneously subtle.

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  6. Niky SayersNovember 30, 2011 at 8:01 AM

    Oh this is lovely the colors are fantastic

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  7. The Crazier SisterNovember 30, 2011 at 8:49 AM

    Absolutely LOVE this! Wow! And, fudge all you want on the colors, it still looks great.

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  8. TanyaNovember 30, 2011 at 8:58 AM

    Beautiful as usual. I love the leather cord and the how the neutral beads set off the purple ones.

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  9. jeanniekNovember 30, 2011 at 9:02 AM

    Oh yah baby! I can't quite find the word for this necklace. Noble? Chic?

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  10. Stephani GormanNovember 30, 2011 at 9:53 AM

    Awesome! I love it!

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  11. TesoriTrovatiNovember 30, 2011 at 10:29 AM

    Well, you know I love it when I can tweak your inner rebel. ;-) It honors me deeply that you listen to my pied piper notes and follow me along down these colorful rabbit holes! I give you choices but make you squirm a bit. I never said you had to use all the colors, just one of them! BuWahAHAaha! All part of my evil plan!

    ;-)

    This is in true Keirsten style. So earthy and sophisticated with thoughtful attention to detail. I have never ordered from Happy Mango but you do all the time. I think I have to start listening to your pied piping and buy something from them already!
    Thank you for playing along with me in the challenge of color, Miss Keirsten!
    Enjoy the day!
    Erin

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  12. I LOVE color!November 30, 2011 at 11:29 AM

    Very nice design, Be blessed to be a blessing

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  13. AliceNovember 30, 2011 at 12:01 PM

    I'm not usually a fan of purple hues, but when you add the earthy colors of the pewter focal, the putty colored beads and the leather cord, it makes a big difference.

    Your necklace is just gorgeous!

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  14. CynthiaNovember 30, 2011 at 12:19 PM

    Your necklace is beautiful. And matched your palette well. Great job.

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  15. ManekiNovember 30, 2011 at 12:44 PM

    Oh, what a lovely palette you got -- and you made something fab from it! I really like the mix of beaded multi-strands and single strand leather cord. And also the clean and simple lines in the design.

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  16. Sparkle QueenNovember 30, 2011 at 12:49 PM

    I really like your design... there's symmetry (which my brain needs) and yet the mix of beads is very different and plays well together! Great challenge design!
    {Hugs!}

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  17. Amy S.November 30, 2011 at 2:42 PM

    This piece is quite pretty! I love the way you mix the different style of beads with metal and leather. Great use of your palette!

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  18. beautifullybrokenmeNovember 30, 2011 at 3:37 PM

    Such a beautiful design pulled form your palette. I think the leather cord and focal balance the purple shades beautifully. Gorgeous!

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  19. Shai WilliamsNovember 30, 2011 at 4:29 PM

    Oh I am so in love with the colors and the balance of this necklace.

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  20. Pine Ridge TreasuresNovember 30, 2011 at 5:00 PM

    I love the use of metal and cord to balance and enhance the purple tones of the beads. Really nice!

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  21. KayzKreationzNovember 30, 2011 at 5:05 PM

    I really like the way you put this together. Love the beads and the cafe au lait leather really sets it off. Nice piece.

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  22. Kathleen Lange KlikNovember 30, 2011 at 5:34 PM

    I love your color palette! The necklace you designed is really beautiful. Love the multi strand aspect and the coptic cross adds a touch of mystery to it. Really beautiful work!

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  23. BobbieNovember 30, 2011 at 6:22 PM

    This is a very pretty interpretation of the palette you got -- you brought a beautiful, earthy feel to the "mineral" brights blend. Really lovely!

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  24. JenniNovember 30, 2011 at 6:45 PM

    I love the matt texture of the beads with the leather and brass combination..such a perfect fit for each other..and a little touch of sparkle with the violet beads..gorgeous.
    jenni

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  25. ShirleyNovember 30, 2011 at 7:05 PM

    Oh, I just love that leather cord! Such a great design, and your colors are wonderful!

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  26. SoulsFireDesignsNovember 30, 2011 at 7:55 PM

    What a cool and creative piece! I like it! I love the multiple strands... I love the way you brought the colors, and hey, colors are open to interpretation so fudge on, milady :D

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  27. ReginaDecember 1, 2011 at 3:41 AM

    What a gorgeous necklace, the mix of beads and material, the mix of the past and the present, the mix of purple and brown... I love it all.

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  28. Sarah SequinsDecember 1, 2011 at 11:04 AM

    I love how your piece turned out! I really like the way the leather looks with the beads, and the pendant was an excellent choice.

    Great job!

    -- Sarah

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  29. StarstruckbooksDecember 1, 2011 at 2:40 PM

    Those tones are lovely together. I like the balance of the cross with the other metal pieces as well as the leather all framing the pallette. Beautiful.

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  30. UnknownDecember 2, 2011 at 6:10 AM

    WOW! Just plain WOW!

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  31. AnonymousDecember 2, 2011 at 11:26 AM

    I love everything here! I love your palette, I love the beads you used, I love how you matched all together, I love how you used the leather cord. Great great job!

    Ambra

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  32. amyDecember 3, 2011 at 12:01 PM

    What a beautiful piece! I love how you intrepreted the colors. Lovely!

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  33. SueBeadsDecember 5, 2011 at 4:03 PM

    Beautiful as usual!!!!!!!!!!!!

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