So after a few swift words with myself, I started feeling rather excited. I knew both the artists hosting the bloghop - Lesley Watt from Thea Jewellery I have met a few times now, and am a fan of her amazing bronze clay work, and although I normally work in silver I figured it would be good to go out of my silvered comfort zone! I've never met Caroline from Blueberribeads, but we have cyber connections via Facebook, and I've bought 1 or 2 of her scrummy beads (yeah right, 1 or 2, who am I trying to kid??)
So the beads arrived, and I duly didn't take a picture of them - novice mistake - but I'm sure you'll be able to pick them out of my pieces!!
I have made 2 necklaces and 2 bracelets, and have to say that 3 of the pieces came together with relative ease, but Lesley's purple and olive bracelet bar threw me completely, I had so many co-ordinating beads out to try and find something that worked I just think I hit myself with bead-blindness!!! New illness - but I'm sure you know what I mean!!
I decided to seek help and had a word with Claire Braunbarth from Smitten Beads, and she spent a morning digging in her prolific bead stash and came up with several possibilities, one of which must have sparked my brain into gear, as I went home and remembered I had acquired some gorgeous stick pearls in the perfect shade to tone with the bracelet bar - and ta-dah - challenge finished!!
Hope you like what I've made, and don't forget to check out the other bloggers sites to see their designs too!
Thank you to Caroline and Lesley for hosting this challenge - I've really enjoyed it, and here are the other bloggers who are taking part - just off to grab a cup of coffee, then I'm off blog-hopping - enjoy !!!
Lesley Watt - http://thegossipinggoddess.blogspot.co.uk/
Caroline Dewison – http://blueberribeads.co.uk
Gay Messander - http://gaysiemay.blogspot.co.uk/
Made By Jules - http://madebyjulesblog.blogspot.co.uk/
Heidi Post - http://expostfactojewelry.blogspot.co.uk/
Janet Bocciardi - http://www.honeyfromthebee.com/
Dolores Raml - http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com
Lucy Haslam - http://faerystone.blogspot.co.uk/
Pine Ridge treasures - http://www.gratefulartist.blogspot.com/
Shirley Moore - http://beadsandbread.blogspot.com
Tracy Collins - http://travelsintimedesigns.blogspot.co.uk
Melissa Trudinger – http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com/
Toltec Jewels - http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com
Judith Johnston – http://www.judith-johnston.com/blog
Janine Lucas – http://www.esfera.me/travel/blog/travel-stories
Madeline Bunyan – http://madelinebunyan.com/mlj/
Chic and frog – http://www.chicandfrog.wordpress.com
Julie - you should use these colours more often you did a great job...they're all great pieces but I do love the enameled necklace. Many thanks for joining inthe challenge with us.
ReplyDeleteThanks for pulling me out of the hat ;-)
DeleteGorgeous! Especially that first bracelet... I love those colours together! Thank you for taking part :)
ReplyDeleteThanks to you too Caroline :-)
DeleteHi Julie, what great pieces you made!! Love how the stick pearls matches the bracelet bar. And very clever to use the toggle clasps as connectors in the second bracelet. Never thought of that! Very pretty. The third necklace is gorgeous. The pendant....so pretty. The headpins with the beads coming from the bottom of it, very beautiful. And I love what you made with the gorgeous pendant from Lesley.
ReplyDeleteThank you Janine - once I got going I really enjoyed it !!!!
DeleteReally beautiful designs! I especially love that first bracelet!
ReplyDeleteThank you Shirley, I think it's the one I'm most pleased with as it was a real challenge, and when it came together I loved it !!!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous pieces! I especially like the last one!!!!! Now aren't you glad your name was picked to particpate?
ReplyDeleteYour use of the stick pearls was perfect. They compliment the bronze component beautifully.
ReplyDeleteYou have put the colours together perfectly! I especially like the first two! lovely!
ReplyDeleteHello fairy these are all sooooooo fabulous how clever are you i love them all the colour and texture of your first one with those stick pearls is fab and must say i adore the flower necklace really srumptious :)
ReplyDelete