Friday, November 30, 2012

3rd annual Challenge of Color

Erin Prais-Hintz of Tesori Trovati hosts challenges throughout the year. November is traditionally the challenge of color. I always love this challenge, because it forces me to create out of my comfort zone, and I usually like what I've created for this challenge. I tend to design monochromatic jewelry, maybe because I feel it's more wearable, but also because I'm not good at pairing colors together. This challenge leaves me no choice.
The palettes are very special. Please see Erin's blog for a full explanation, so it's not repeated here.

My palettes this year (she gave each us two to choose from) were opposite each other. One is yellows and deep reds and browns, the other icy blues and greys. Erin asked us to pick one of the palettes, so she knew how to list us for the blog hop. I had told Erin I chose "Greenland Coast" for my palette, but when I sat down to make jewelry, "Erongo Massif" came out first. So, I have pieces for both palettes.

 
 
 
Erongo Massif:
It just so happened that I made this enameled focal and matching enameled beads BEFORE I got my palettes! The red beads are much darker in real life. They are those "Red Velvet" crystal beads that were all the rage a while back. (I have tried to retouch them, to simulate the deep rich red color)
 I created the focal using a vintage copper art deco stamping. It's quite heavy (gilding weight) and has little indentations to glue chatons in. I made a hole in the center indentation, and wired my "flower" to it. The larger red crystal was just barely bigger than the opening in the center of the flower, so I used 2 smaller crystals under it, for support (I don't want it to go inside the flower). The focal is heavier than it looks, but it lays ok when worn. Maybe I should glue some red chatons in all those little indentations.

This is a good look at the art deco base.


 I am in love with this enameled piece! Yummy!!

 
 
Greenland Coast:
This one took a bit longer, just because I had to make all the wire wrapped dangles. This is loosely  inspired by Barbara Lewis' Floral Cascade necklace. In fact, many of the enameled beads were made for my own floral cascade necklace, but did not get used. It just so happens, they matched my palette. I made all the dangles, and had them laid out to go onto a chain, but going around the neck (like a charm bracelet). Then I thought "What if I made it into a lariat type necklace?"
So, that's what I did.
Materials include my enameled beads, Vintaj chain, hematite crystal rounds, silvered crystal rounds,  crystals rondelles and smaller AB crystal rondelles.
 The necklace does not have a clasp and is one long length (maybe 28"?). One end is brought over the other in whatever position you want. This allows the wearer to "tie" it as long or short as they like. It can be "tied" in the center, or to one side. It's a lot of necklace, and is not for everyone, but I really like it.
 Once tied, it's a luxurious amount of beads in the middle - I love it!

 
Earrings to match. My enameled beads and the same silvered and AB crystals that were used in the necklace.
And another pair. They look like Art Deco hot air balloons to me. Up, up, and away!
A big thank you to Erin for organizing this challenge again, and Brandi for the fabulous color palettes. They both put a lot in to it, and we all get a lot out of it!
Thank you Miss Erin and Miss Brandi!
 
Please visit the other blogs (it is a blog hop, after all!)
Rather than copy and paste the long list of blog hop participants here (there are 80 of us!!), click here, to go to Erin's blog post.

 

28 comments:

  1. WOW! I love both pieces! Love. The rich reds and that floral focal - home run! Greenland coast really speaks to me, I love the colors (and textures) and love lariats. Congratulations - you really mastered both palettes.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous7:40 AM

    So pretty! I would have found that second one a challenge but you did beautifully. And I am so in love with that daisy in the first! Great work!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm so jealous of people who can do this enamelling business! Lovely lovely art pieces here, I adore art deco and the lariat is just splendid :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. WOW all of your pieces really capture the color palettes! Nicely done, but I can't stop staring at your yellow enamel focal for Erongo Massif ... it captures the yellow landscape with those bursts of red - fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Darn I have the enameling stuff and just haven't had time to play....and you did!! Love your enamel work..I love yellow so can't go wrong there! I do love blue too ...darn I need to get my work orders out of the way so I can play! You keep playing ... love your creations!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous2:18 PM

    Both pieces are gorgeous but I absolutely love the Greenland piece! Whew! Takes my breath away!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Those are amazing pieces. I cannot get over how you made the focal in the first necklace .. it's stunning! I love the lushness of the second pieces. The enameled beads are awesome.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I thought the enameled flower focal was great, and then you had a shot of how it was raised up - wow, that is wonderful. And the large gathering of blue beads is fabulous - I would definitely wear that. Andrea

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous8:54 PM

    Both pieces are amazing. Definitely two of my favorites out of all the blogs I've visited so far. Gorgeous work!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I am realllllly loving that red necklace, can totally see how gorgeous it would look when worn.

    I like the design of the blue one too, but am always so very partial to red :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous3:10 AM

    Your enamnel beads are lovely and I really like the Greenland Coast necklace. It's very clever and it's gorgeous when it's tied.

    Ambra

    ReplyDelete
  12. OMG - I love your enamelling, absolutely beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Your focal on the first piece is beautiful, that with the reds makes a great combo! Choosing to make a lariat on your second piece worked perfectly with all the blue and white dangles...gorgeous! Your earrings did remind me of hot air balloons!

    Your enamel beads are fabulous...do you sell them? I looked for a link to an Etsy site or webpage but didn't see one. I love the open ones, they are so neat looking.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Your enamel work is just fabulous! The focal in your first piece is perfection! And I love your take Barbara's design in your second piece - the lariat style works wonderfully! Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Both of your pieces are gorgeous. Love the flower focal that you made in the first one.

    ReplyDelete
  16. WOW! great job. I love your enamel. I just bought Barbara Lewis' book on torch firing enamels and I'm itching to try it. The second piece is my favorite.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Gorgeous! I love your enameled beads, they add an awesome pop of color to each piece. It's hard to pick a favorite, but I think it's got to be the lariat style necklace - I love the way all of the charms look together once it's tied.

    And I think those earrings totally look like hot air balloons!

    Thank you for playing along!

    ReplyDelete
  18. What a magnificent necklace with the Art Deco and gorgeous flower. Beautiful and so well designed. I am so happy I stopped by. Love your Grrnland Coast necklace with the abundance of blue enamel beads and its great flow.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Love your enameled pendant/necklace...that is so different. The blue enameled necklace is also so pretty and nice earring!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Such a creative focal in the first necklace--amazing enameling job as usual. A beautiful necklace and I bet it looks stunning on. And I would so wear a floral cascade lariat! Outstanding!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Beautiful pieces! I love the enamel beads, it gives the piece colour and texture without too much weight.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Fantastic interpretation of your color palettes. Wow!

    ReplyDelete
  23. oh goodness - so very much goodness here! I totally saw it as hot air baloons, jsut before I read it. That focal, with all it's little levels, how fantastic. The tied lariat, I'm at a loss to desribe how much fun that must be to wear. What a fantastic job!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I just love enamel beads. I still want to find a way to set up a studio space that will work for me. That flower focal is such a WOW piece! I love it! The colors are a beautiful match to the palette. And I do so love the way you constructed that second lariat wrap style necklace. I will have to borrow that idea sometime. Very versatile!
    I am most happy that you are willing to propel yourself out of your monochrome and into a rich palette of colors! Thanks for taking up this Challenge with me! Enjoy the day! Erin

    ReplyDelete
  25. Your enameling is fantastic! The colors are beautiful. I especially love the jumble of beads on the blue necklace.

    ReplyDelete
  26. What a great focal in that first necklace. Very nice. I really like the second necklace and the way it can be tied and then just a bundle of beads. So pretty.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I love the "look" of your work! It reminds me of the beautiful items that come from Moracco! I'll be back to investigate your enameling. Thank you, also, for the kind words of encouragement on my blog.

    ReplyDelete
  28. OhMyGosh! Both of your necklaces are absolutely inspiring! The colors in the second one are some of my favorites, but the focal on that first one is so very eye-catching. Lovely!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for leaving me a comment!