Friday, December 17, 2010

Lorelei's Michaels Challenge 2


This is my second time participating in Lorelei's Michals Challenge.  It went more smoothly for me this time.  I can't count the number of hours I put into the last necklace.  This time from the very beginning, I knew I would do wire wrapping because of the color palette and because I really like to use my hands the way wire wrapping makes them feel.  I used 22 gauge annealed steel wire for all of the wire except the beaded bar that carries the focal pendant.

I start my photos with a picture of the clasp which is one of my own ceramic toggle clasps.  I used a Bali style silver plated bar for it.  I had thought of making a bar from steel wire but didn't as I ran out of time.  I got into this very late because of the Lake Effect Snow Events that separate me and our nearest Michaels store.  But I made it.

This picture is of the wire wrapped glass beads, a lone pearl and a heart.  I used this cluster to decorate and  color the overhand knot I made in the second row of chain.


This picture is of the beaded bar that carries the focal pendant.  The pendant is of chives flowering in late Spring.  I used the idea of the chive plant to title the piece Perennial.  Also, chives begin to grown in the Spring when nothing else is growing and the landscape looks like it does now.  Wintry. The pendant is made from earthenware ceramic clay. 
I used purple ceramic beads as one of the components that I added to the mix.  The  necklace seemed to call for that color.  Luckily the Chive pendant also had purple in it.  The other component I added is some of my little hearts.

This is a picture of the necklace in progress.  I had the usual design problems that I encounter.  Things didn't look right for quite a while.  You can see from this picture some of the changes I made along the way to improve things. 


Here is a picture of the necklace all put together.  I think it flows better when worn than in the picture.  I am quite happy with it.

Here are the beads that we worked with.  I substituted the light lavender ovals for the faceted beads in the photo since I couldn't find them at Michaels.  I really loved working with this chain.  The glass beads are such fun to wire wrap and they look so good with the steel wire, I think. 
Thank you so much Lorelei for doing this.  It is always such an amazing experience.

Please check out the other participants.  These links do not seem to be live so please go here
http://silverrosedesigns.blogspot.com



http://blog.elysianstudiosart.com/



http://threeredbeads.blogspot.com/



http://starcitystory.blogspot.com/



http://erinsiegeljewelry.blogspot.com/



http://www.thistlefarmarts.blogspot.com/



http://therabbitmuse.blogspot.com/



http://lindalandig.wordpress.com/



http://dreamsomedesigns.blogspot.com/



http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com/



http://jenjuddrocks.blogspot.com/



http://formysweetdaughter.blogspot.com/



http://www.mylifeunderthebus.typepad.com/



http://deborahmpurdy.blogspot.com/



http://beadhappytoday.blogspot.com/



http://pinkicejewels.blogspot.com/



http://craftyhope.blogspot.com/



http://gr8findings.wordpress.com/



http://tropicbeads.blogspot.com/



http://melissaruth.com/blog/



http://maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com/



http://beautifullybrokenme.blogspot.com/

18 comments:

  1. Love the use of your own beads in your necklace Mary!! Beautiful! The purple with the grey is a great mix of colors- I am so glad you decided to play along. I hope you will play on the next one! I'm in the planning stages now!
    My necklace is finally posted.

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  2. this is beautiful..i love the purpley beads and grey mixes. great colors for winter.

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  3. I love that you used your hearts, toggle and pendant as I have been holding onto the ones I ordered from you because I don't what to make that will do them justice. You have given me ideas. Your necklace is so cool and different. I too had a couple of re-dos!
    I love the purple with the wintery mix it adds a bit of coming into spring feeling.
    Shannon C

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  4. Like everybody else I love the use of your own beads Mary and the purpley beads work great!!! Beautiful necklace!!

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  5. Mary I love your beads and I certainly enjoyed how you incorporated them into this piece.

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  6. I don't think I've ever seen this shape for a necklace before. So cool, so interesting, so fun!!! You've done a wonderful job. Thank you for sharing it with us.

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  7. I love to wire wrap it relaxes me. I love the focal on this the colors go so well with the chain - beautiful!

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  8. Mary- this is just so lovely! I think your pendants and charms and toggles go so well with so many beads! I love the soft soothing tones here. Thank you for sharing!
    Enjoy the day!
    Erin

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  9. Mary, this is simply stunning! I absolutely love the heart in that pendant, and your toggle clasp, as usual, is to die for! Steel wire, now why didn't I think of that? I do love your whole necklace, so much!

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  10. Oh that looks so beautiful. Love your own beads in the composition. Would be great to see it on aswell, please take a photo of that.

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  11. VERY creative, Mary! The tiered strands in the front are interesting focals!

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  12. I knew from the first picture of your clasp that I was going to love your design! Really beautiful!

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  13. Beautiful! I love how it makes me think of the first signs of spring. Your ceramic components are so beautiful and I love the way you've combined them with the challenge beads. It's such a unique and gorgeous piece!

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  14. Your work has such an earthy ethereal quality, and I love it! I enjoyed the photo of your necklace in progress, and your handmade components led you to a stunning finished piece! Merry Christmas, Mary!

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  15. Spectacular composition! I love the clasp!

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  16. Been surfing all the challenge pieces today~what a unique piece! Love your pics and wish we could see one on a person. It's a fascinating necklace. :-)

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  17. Beautiful use of the colors!

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  18. An ingenious design, Mary! So wonderful.

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