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| Inspiration Piece |
Most if not all beaders have piles of jewels that they hoard over like the dragon above. In the case of the Art Jewelry Elements team, they have lots of art beads. January's Art Jewelry Elements component stash challenge called for 9 lucky readers of the Art Jewelry Elements blog to be selected randomly to receive an art bead from members of the team.
Sue Kennedy, Lindsay Starr, Jen Cameron. Center: Caroline Dewison, Lesley Watt, Melissa Merman, Kristen Stevens and Linda Lang each contributed a bead.
I was lucky enough to win beadwork by Lindsay M Starr of
Phantasm Creations. Lindsay is a beadwork artist living in Nashville, Tennessee, but she says she is a west
coast girl at heart. She is continually
inspired by nature, especially the sea, sea life, and insects. She loves
learning, and always challenges herself with new color palettes,
materials, and techniques.
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| Starfish |
As soon as I saw the bead, I was reminded of a starfish. I am luck to live by the Atlantic Ocean in Lewes, Delaware in the summer and Blackwater Sound in Key Largo, Florida in the winter so I get much of my inspiration from the water. I wanted to use the turquoise, golds and whites in her piece to create a necklace. I love how her beadwork is 3 dimensional. I was challenged to find a way to attach Lindsay's piece to other beads to create this necklace. I knew seed beading was not an optional that I wanted to use. I also knew that I didn't want to cause any stress on her beadwork which looks very delicate so I dug out a finding that I have been hoarding for several years now.
I added some brass loops to the component and then sewed the back of Lindsay's beadwork to it. The finding
turned out to be the perfect size to hide behind the beadwork and it
also had holes in the metal work where I could attach the beadwork.
I added some gold glass beads and turquoise beads and a brass clasp that I made to it. What are your thoughts on my using the metal finding as a base for the necklace? I would love to hear what some of you might have done instead.
Here is the list of the participants - the team, winners and special guests! Please visit them!
AJE team:
Guest Participants ( aka winners)
Bonus participants!
I love how you used that metal frame! I would have been stumped by receiving that focal because I don't use seed beads either.
ReplyDeleteFabulous design and really clever, you did an amazing job with it!
ReplyDeletelove the colors in this one ... feels like the sea!
ReplyDeleteHi Kathy, When you showed the metal frame I pictured the star suspended from it. I think your choice was much better. Your design really lets Lindsay's star shine. I think you showcased it perfectly.
ReplyDeleteLove it Kathy! That piece always reminded me of a starfish too...you found the perfect home for it! Thanks for playing!
ReplyDeleteI love what you have done with the metal behind this piece and how you have joined it all up, very creative! I also really like the colours you have used and the cute little starfish!
ReplyDeleteVery pretty! Good work on problem solving to use that pretty starfish!
ReplyDeleteReally pretty and very creative piece Kathy - well done.
ReplyDelete