Sunday, November 14, 2010

A Little Swaparoo Treasure

My latest beady-jewelry challenge was a jewelry swap hosted by Ms. Lori Anderson.  Instead of the usual "bead soup" of loose beads and findings, this time we swapped pieces of finished jewelry.  This allowed for a little digging through old or not-so-successful designs.  I have plenty of oddball pieces in a container called "Tear Apart and Start Over" so it wasn't hard for me to find one to share.  My partner in this little venture is Ms. Erin Prais-Hintz of Treasure's Found.  Her blog is always full of inspiration and gorgeous designs, so I was thrilled to see what she might share.  Since I wasn't focused on what I was doing, I forgot to take a picture of the piece she sent, but the basics are:  asymmetric multi-strand necklace with sterling silver tubes, purple pearls, and a big Thai silver floral focal.

After I tore it all apart and made little piles of all the different pieces and beads, I got down to business on a new necklace.  I chose a big lampwork glass focal by Kay Bolden, a local artisan from here around Hampton.  The pretty purple in the glass worked perfectly with the purple pearls from Erin. I added some lemon quartz, shimmery blue moonstone, and a few green Swarovski pearls along with the sterling silver tubes to create an asymmetric multi-strand piece finished off with a little brown leather.


I call it "Lavender & Lemon" and wore it out on Friday night...it feels good.  Not too heavy. 


Since I still had more beads in my little piles, I went on ahead with some memory wire and strung up a matching bracelet.  The Thai silver beads from Erin's piece worked perfectly.


And last but not least, I wanted to do something cool with that big focal and a brass cuff blank served as the perfect base.  I finished off the purple pearl pile along with some silver wire to string the flower and create a mixed metal bracelet.


The rest of the artists in this swap have blogs worth checking out...here's a list!

Erin Prais-Hintz http://treasures-found.blogspot.com
Johanna Rhodes http://firephoenixcreations.blogspot.com
Laurel Steven http://laurelsteven.blogspot.com
Loretta Carstensen http://www.designsbyloretta.blogspot.com
Lori Anderson http://www.PrettyThingsBlog.com
Mallory Hoffman http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com
Marianna Boylan http://www.stargirlshop.blogspot.com
Norma Turvey http://moonlitfantaseas.blogspot.com/
Sharon Misuraco http://goinoffthebeadinpath.blogspot.com
Stacey Curry http://starhitchedwagon.blogspot.com
Tyne Bodenburg http://www.tynebodennecklaces.blogspot.com

14 comments:

  1. Just gorgeous, Jen! The beads you inherited from Erin are soooo very pretty - I just love those shades of blue. I especially love your mixed metal cuff - so amazing!

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  2. Gah! I must get my butt-eth in gear! I am working on those pieces tonight and I am just stunned... not by your creativity and proliferation of beady goodness but that the silly little necklace that I sent you could be reincarnated into something so stunning! I am totally digging all of these, that lampwork - swoon! But my fave has to be what you did with that silver focal flower. Breathtaking!
    Come on over tomorrow for my reveal!
    I had the best partner ever!
    Enjoy the day!
    Erin

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  3. I think these creations are magical. Love the leather with the beads on the necklace. And the flower bracelet is an amazing transformation. Great job.

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  4. All I can say is "OH"! Love them all. That bangle is amazing!

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  5. More multiples - how awesome, Jen!

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  6. Your additions to Erin's beads are so perfect! Lavender and Lemon, wow, one of my favorites! The addition of the leather is just enough to keep it from getting too serious. I never would've thought of that! Then it all carried over to the bracelet, love it. The silver flower is wonderful on the cuff, would look so awesome on my wrist!! Lovely work!

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  7. The flower bracelet -- WOW! I love EVERYTHING you did but that bracelet is inspired!

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  8. wow, that cuff is amazing, I've participated in the bead soup party this year, but that swap is a great idea to recycle pieces of unsold jewelry, great!! smiles,Virginie from ViviBijoux.com

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  9. Everything is lovely--but I really like the cuff!
    Bead Happy!
    Michelle

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  10. Incredible as always! Love the purple and yellow together.

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  11. Oh the colors are just gorgeous!! Three very beautiful pieces. That cuff is way fun - a true statement piece!

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Bedford, PA, United States
I'm a retiree/artist/student who makes things. It's a nice kind of lifestyle!

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