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).

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Some New Pendants

Well, I was having a hard time getting the lid to close on my "artisan ceramics" and "pendants" containers, so I decided I'd better get busy. I had been thinking of this pendant for a long time-- a graceful rectangular polymer clay pendant by Erin Prais-Hintz of Tesori Trovati, from her "Forest Finery" series called "Simply Oak":
I wanted to match the gunmetal color on the pendant frame, so I fished out some pewter-colored buttons I've had in my stash forever, and knotted them together with dark brown waxed linen cording.
(Sold)
Miraculously I had glass seed beads from Fusion Beads in a matte, metallic denim color that EXACTLY matched the subtly varying blues in the pendant, and some sweet little carnelian nuggets.
I finished it off with some no-nonsense silver-plated steel chain.

Next, I dipped into my hoard of Karen Totten ceramic components, and plucked out this little gem:

I circled it for a day, trying it with this bead and that bead, this cording and that, arranging and rearranging. I came back to it the next day, and this was what I eventually arrived at as it grew dark outside:
(Sold)
Recycled glass beads from Ghana via Happy Mango Beads; two more little glazed lozenge beads by Karen; lovely matte glass seed beads in sand hues also from Happy Mango; ceramic discs in coffee glaze from somewhere like Michael's, I don't remember; sterling silver wire and tiny sterling silver beads; waxed linen cording and leather; and a little drilled beach stone at the end, just for fun.
I started out with way more beads than I ended up with--I kept paring down, paring down, and the sterling wire and beads were a last-minute addition related to covering up some knots. I rather like the extra interest the little silver "bubbles" added here and there. I used double-ended 18 gauge fine silver headpins to fasten the leather into loops, and tossed in some of my embossed beadcaps.
I am especially fond of the nekkid sections of cording--I guess that would be "negative space," jewelry-style!

I have more Karen Totten in my container and I'm not afraid to use it. Anymore. This exotic little "Forest Fossil Ring" was next:
I held it in my hand for an evening, scrutinizing it under a full spectrum bulb, trying to tease out the colors. I eventually decided to combine it with both lighter and darker greens, antiqued copper, and brownish-rose colors, and follow the same basic design scheme as for the previous necklace. Here is the final product, completed on New Year's Day:
(Sold)
Stones include prehnite nuggets and irregular heishi, red lava, and dragon's blood jasper (the little green barrels). I knotted them onto Irish waxed linen cording in forest green and antique rose, and finished the back with dark reddish-brown leather cording.
I used one of my petaled beadcaps to add interest to the base of the focal, and linked everything together with my embossed copper rings.
I actually think I might be liking this one even more than the other one. I am in love with these lava beads.
I like the visual rhythm the prehnite disc beads give to it. I found these at a bead show, and also got strands of bronzite and Botswana agate in the same cut at that show. I love them. I am hatching a plan for the Botswana agate that might involve Karen Totten again. I'm on a Starry Road bender!

11 comments:

  1. These necklaces are really gorgeous. I'm so glad you broke out some of your stash!

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  2. Such a wonderful way to start my new year with a dose of your eye candy! And the fact that you brought my pendant to life in such a distinctly Keirsten fashion just makes my heart leap! Thank you for sharing all of these lovelies! I am working toward new things but first to clean up the studio so I can find my stashes (and they are all over the place!)! Enjoy the day. Erin

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  3. You have made some fabulous necklaces there and I love the way you have photographed them too.

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  4. Yours is the first post I have clicked on in the New Year, and what an inspiration! I could linger here all day, soaking up the details of these 3 incredible designs.

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  5. You've got some amazing talent and a great eye for putting pieces together! I'm curious about your fabulous bust that you're using....did you make it? It's a really cool piece too! lol! Happy new year!

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    1. It's a white plastic mold injected shirt form I got at StoreSupply.com. I decoupaged it with white tissue paper and some book pages. I have a second one, a black one, that I did the same with, but with kraft brown tissue paper and faux vintage Parisian printed kraft tissue paper. http://www.storesupply.com/pc-14135-1259-womans-shirt-forms-white-70210.aspx

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    2. And by the way, thank you for the kind words!

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  6. Sei fantastica, qualsiasi cosa diventa magnifica!

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  7. Splendid work. So I am not the only one who circles evolving designs for days....

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  8. Hello dear VIB (very important beader) these jewels are really beautiful. So balanced, unique , special. They are like a perfect sonate. You are a great artist dear friend and when I wear your jewels I feel all the passion you have put in them because they are living vibrating jewels.

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  9. Wow lovely jewellery, I especially like the simply oak pendant, the colours are fab together. Very special piece x

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