I seriously do not know how Lori pulled off another massive BSBP while feeling like she's been feeling. But she did! And I can't wait to see what the other third reveal jewelry artists have created!
I was teamed with a lovely lady from Minnesota, Brenda Sigafoos. I almost cried when I opened the package from Brenda...she sent masses of stuff, not just a few beads and a focal and a clasp, oh NO...she sent the most amazing assortment of black and white beads and crystals, a beautiful handmade silver wire clasp, a stunning black and white cameo focal, and a bunch of vintage loveliness all wrapped in three vintage hankies. Amazing.
I wanted to make a few pieces of jewelry that honored Brenda's sweetness and generosity, and that would showcase the beautiful pieces she chose for me.
I knew I wanted to show off the beautiful handmade silver wire clasp...I didn't want to stick it in the back of a necklace where it would be hidden; I wanted it to be the focus of this necklace. I created a very simple strand of various beads, and made an equally simple fake chain maille (maybe it's real chain maille, I've never done it before!) section on the opposite side of the clasp to give balance to the piece.
Close-up of clasp in hankie.
I was teamed with a lovely lady from Minnesota, Brenda Sigafoos. I almost cried when I opened the package from Brenda...she sent masses of stuff, not just a few beads and a focal and a clasp, oh NO...she sent the most amazing assortment of black and white beads and crystals, a beautiful handmade silver wire clasp, a stunning black and white cameo focal, and a bunch of vintage loveliness all wrapped in three vintage hankies. Amazing.
I wanted to make a few pieces of jewelry that honored Brenda's sweetness and generosity, and that would showcase the beautiful pieces she chose for me.
I knew I wanted to show off the beautiful handmade silver wire clasp...I didn't want to stick it in the back of a necklace where it would be hidden; I wanted it to be the focus of this necklace. I created a very simple strand of various beads, and made an equally simple fake chain maille (maybe it's real chain maille, I've never done it before!) section on the opposite side of the clasp to give balance to the piece.
Close-up of clasp in hankie.
Once again, I am reminded of the general suckiness of my photographs. When will I make this a priority? When will I set up and actually learn to use the light box I bought a full month ago? Rhetorical questions...don't feel compelled to answer. Really...don't.
Moving on. The cameo. Lovely, lovely cameo. Again, I wanted it to be showcased. The star of the show, so to speak. So here it is:
I added a little dangle to the cameo, using one of Brenda's (I mean, my) cracked glass beads. The chain...ah, that chain. It was made by Jeannie Dukic, of do-over challenge fame! I received two strands of these meticulously wire-wrapped pearls as my challenge to "do over" into something different. Make them over? Take them apart? Oh no. Let me tell you, Jeannie is a wire-wrapping MACHINE! Each is identical to the next. Perfection. I couldn't demolish it. All I could do was add to it. So I did. I took small sections (3 pearls each) and made a double strand on each side at the top of the pendant. Added a couple swirly "S"-like connectors, and placed a single strand of pearls around to form a short necklace. The cameo rests just below the collarbone in front. The clasp...there is no clasp. It is very simple to wind one of the silver jump rings around and up one of the connectors to put on and take off. Simple but secure.
I created a super-long necklace using many (oh, so many) small graphite beads from my stash. Each bead is separated by a tiny seed bead. I had a black ceramic connector in my stash with five holes on each side. I turned it on end and added a different dangle to each hole. The center dangle has a crystal dagger on the bottom, and the beads are wire wrapped together. I added equal lengths of black chain to each of the five holes on the top end, and connected them all to a graphite circle. The long rope of beads is attached to the circle. This necklace can be worn long, or may be looped around the neck to form a choker and a longer necklace. (Why do you suppose this photograph is appropriately oriented in Picasa, but will not rotate here?)
Next I turned my attention to one of the vintage pieces...a beautiful, flashy bright gold pendant with seven dangling daggers. (Doesn't that sound like something you'd chant while jumping rope? Seven dangling daggers...six dangling daggers...) Anyway. Inspired by Lil Ruby and her ice enamel perfection in the first reveal, I decided to enamel this piece. Alas, the enamels I purchased are brights...pink, green, and blue. I wanted something more muted for this piece. So I took a breath, dared myself to do it, and used a combination of dark gold, black, and silver embossing powders. Yes, I did. And I blasted it with my heat gun till it was melted. Twice. I did it two times. I attached this pendant to a simple strand of cathedral beads...clear glass with antiqued gold ends. I can't say I'm exactly thrilled with the result...but I'm not horrified by it, either. I believe I will be playing with this pendant for some time, until I get a result I really am thrilled with.
And then, just to make good use of many (many, many!) of Brenda's beads plus some of my own, I made a five-coil memory wire bracelet, as seen here:
I strung the beads in random patterns...I have a bad habit of making things so symmetrical that all the beads line up when worn, and that's not a look I like. Variety is the spice of life on these bracelets. I had to work REALLY HARD to make random patterns (you will notice I am not exactly saying that I strung the beads randomly, because I did create little sets...little patterns...to satisfy my secret OCD tendency to make things symmetrical).
I strung the beads in random patterns...I have a bad habit of making things so symmetrical that all the beads line up when worn, and that's not a look I like. Variety is the spice of life on these bracelets. I had to work REALLY HARD to make random patterns (you will notice I am not exactly saying that I strung the beads randomly, because I did create little sets...little patterns...to satisfy my secret OCD tendency to make things symmetrical).
Thanks so much for viewing what I made with Brenda's generous gift, and please stop by the other bloggers who are revealing their creations today!
so elegant, vintage projects!espeecially the first necklace!conngrats!
ReplyDeleteThank you...Brenda gave me lots to work with!
DeleteGreat Job! Everything has that "vintage vibe" that is so lovely
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by and commenting!
DeleteGood job with your soup.
ReplyDeletekathy
Thank you, Kathy. Now if only I can juice up my photography skills...
DeleteOMGoodness, you made so many beautiful pieces with your soup!! Well DONE!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for stopping by and leaving a sweet comment!
DeleteThe cameo necklace is my favorite, so sweet!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the sweet comment!
DeleteBeautiful work and great use of the materials!
ReplyDeleteGreat designs! I love the cameo piece especially :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice variety of pieces. They are so beautiful and romantic. The cameo necklace is my favorite.
ReplyDeleteYou made so many pieces for us to enjoy. I don't think there is a thing wrong with your enameled pendant. The subtle coloring goes really well with the daggers and the beads. I just love the cameo necklace with its subtle colors and I love the memory wire bracelet. I would love to wear it.
ReplyDeleteChrista, thank you so much for the lovely comments...you are sweet and generous!
DeleteGreat pieces, particularly the necklace you made with the cameo. Just gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteSuch lovely and elegant pieces Donetta! You did well to use so many of the pieces Brenda sent you. Nice work with the chain maille and I especially love the cameo necklace.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lisa, for stopping by and leaving such a nice comment@
DeleteI love ll your pieces, great design!
ReplyDeleteciao dall'Italia
All of your necklaces are terrific! I like your memory wire bracelet as well!
ReplyDeleteLovely necklaces - nice work!
ReplyDeleteLovely pieces, you did great job with your bead soup! The memory bracelet is my favorite! I also have a tendency to make everything symmetrical, which I actually find boring but still my brain works like that. I adore asymmetrical jewelry but i'm just not capable of making them...
ReplyDeleteI love asymmetry when other people do it...but I have not mastered the trick of making it look like I didn't make a mistake! Thanks for stopping by, and for the nice comments.
DeleteWhat lovely light elegant pieces - fab work.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful feminine designs. Love the cameo necklace.
ReplyDeleteThey're all great, but I especially like the necklace with the cameo.
ReplyDeleteI love what you made! The first 2 necklaces are my favourites. I couldn't quite see the chain on the first one, but totally could pass off as real chain maille. And hey, no worries about the photography - at least we can tell that your photos are of jewellery, and very nice ones at that :-)
ReplyDeleteActually, I'm so embarrassed by the photos that I've taken out my lightbox and have set it up. That's the first step; now for the second!
DeleteYou did a great job! The first necklace is my favorite. Hugs, Doris
ReplyDeletesuch elegance in these pieces. lovely job!
ReplyDeleteDonetta you did a wonderful job using your soup. The cameo necklace is just my style and the pendant you embossed is great.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pieces, great job.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pieces! I particularly like your cameo necklace and fun bracelet with the pops of red!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Christine...I'm so happy that you stopped by!
DeleteNice work! I love that necklace of vintage pieces!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work! That cameo piece is just stunning :)
ReplyDeleteYou've been busy! You did great on all of them, but I think my fave is the third necklace, it has some lovely edge to it.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pieces with beautiful focals. but the first one with the cameo is my favorite.
ReplyDeleteYour pieces are so bold yet elegant, a really amazing work you did!
ReplyDeleteThe cameo piece looks very elegant. Nice work you did to Jeannie's chain. The S connectors definitely add to the elegance!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful elegant designs... you got a great soup!
ReplyDeleteReally pretty pieces! The cameo is my favorite...great vintage look! Nice job with your soup.
ReplyDeletewonderful pieces ,i to love your cameo and your super long necklace has such a gorgeous elegant look.
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful. I love how you showcased that fabby cameo.
ReplyDeleteLovely pieces!!! Love the elegant cameo necklace!!
ReplyDeleteI think each and every one of those pieces turned out fabulously! I must say my favorite is the one with the graphite in it. (I love the dangles) However, each one of them has some beautiful aspects. The wire/pearl chain is perfect for that cameo, the embossing powder on the gold filigree was ingenious, and the hints of red in the memory wire bracelet gives it some fun. Great job!!
ReplyDelete