Sunday, September 23, 2012

Alchemy



These are some drawer pulls that have been hanging around forever it seems.  But now that I am taking Deryn Mentock's The Alchemy of Objects Class  I am looking at them differently.



I am thinking about color palettes

#444433
#996644
#669933
#aaaa55
#bbcc99
dull

#777722
#dd7744
#88ee11
#ccee66
#eeeecc
vibrant

and polishing and changing something old.  This is how one of those drawer pulls looks now that I have polished it up--its brass-- and removed that pull handle and cut off most of the tube the screw attachment was for.
Here is a small handle I got at a flea market in Maine this summer.  I thought it might  make a nice mold.

And here is how it looks now all cleaned up




I have been wrapping beads and practicing symmetry for our first class assignment necklace

I added a  toggle clasp I made out of Copper Clay

And some of my handmade beads AND  an old brass plant wall hanger, also from the flea market in Maine
and all together-- viola:   ALCHEMY

If you think you would like some magic in your life, there is still time to register and participate in this great class.  

Here's how...go to Something Sublime and sign up.  You will be so happy !!


21 comments:

  1. Lots of contrast and excitement in your symmetrical design! Love the brass with the darker metal. I was looking to learn some design basics, and just signed up for this class myself!

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    1. thanks so for the kind words. so happy we will be in class together. hope you post often.

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  2. wooow this is a really gorgeous necklace Mary!!
    and Im not surprised You come up with such a beauty
    You are one of the most talented designers I know :)
    B

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    1. Hi Birgitta, I am so glad you can comment now on my blog. Probably because I changed browsers. thanks so for the kind words about my work. My head is swelling!!!

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  3. Nice post! I'm in the class, as well. I hope your drawer pulls show up in one of your challenge pieces. Can't wait to see what you do with them :)

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    1. thanks for the comment. I am hoping to use one this week but one can never predict how things will go. I was so excited about how great a little 0000 steel wool made them. Luckily I have 2 of each in case I ruin the little one by drilling a hole in it. I am going over to Flickr to see what you are up to. Everyone is so encourage. Thanks so much.

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  4. Great stuff! I love all you've done. It's so cool!

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    1. Thank you so much Sally. I really appreciate the comment and the encouragement from you!!

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  5. Love that drawer pull, I agree it looks like it would make a fabulous impression! Your necklace turned out beautifully. Can't wait to see your next piece. See you in class! -Cara

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    1. Hi Cara, thanks so much. I hope I can use it this week and that I don't destroy it drilling a hole in the top. I going to check out you work on Flickr too. I so appreciate your encouragement.

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  6. Anonymous23/9/12 12:53

    Love having you in class, Mary...thanks for joining in! :)

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  7. Hi Mary, I'm in your class too, but I started a few days late and haven't done my first challenge yet. You did great with yours! I like the casual feel of it and your ceramic beads and the coiled wire make it more interesting. Are the black beads near the clasp some you made? I'm always looking for black beads without a real glossy finish. This is an awesome class!

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    1. Hi Susan, So happy to meet you. Thanks so for the great feedback on my necklace!! About the smooth matte black beads near the clasp, I bought those at Michaels and they are Crystal Black Quartz nuggest 8-10mm from the Bead Gallery with an occasional thin lacy white inclusion. They are very nice to work with and there are many solid black or close to it in the
      7" strand.

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  8. A gorgeous necklace!!! I've been making asymmetrical pieces for a while now and maybe it would be good to do just the opposite to give my brain a kick-start.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Alice. I actually found it an effort to make the necklace symmetrical since I am so used to just mixing beads up and not thinking about it too much. So it was good for my brain too!!

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  9. Your necklace is beautiful. I love this class too! Can't wait to see what all you create each week. I love old drawer handles and have quite a few of my own. I have a picture I can't post just yet because it is coming up in a magazine, but they are so fun to use!!

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    1. Thank you Kristi so nice of you to encourage me. I would love to see what you made. What magazine should I look for it in?

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  10. Mary that necklace is so rich looking in the colors and shapes.
    Also, I would love to see what you make if you use that drawer pull as a mold. Andrea

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    1. Hi Andrea, So good of you to stop by and leave a such a nice comment about my necklace. I think I will make a mold today. I have just the right amount of mold material left in the jars for making one. It could make a cool clasp. I will also try to use it as it is with maybe a hole in the top for attaching it to a necklace.
      Take care. I am feeling a nip of Fall in the air as probably you are too!!

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  11. Mary, I have been meaning to stop by to see your post on this beautiful necklace ever since I saw in featured by Deryn on FB...it is just so stunning and right up my alley. The class sounds so informative and inspirational. Which flea market did you attend in Maine, btw? We were there again this summer...and apparently there is a flea market in Wells next to that big antique mall.

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