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Saturday 31 January 2015

January Component of the Month with Art Jewelry Elements



There is a blog I like to follow called Art Jewelry Elements and each month they have a giveaway.  Imagine my excitement when I received an email from Linda Landig telling me that I had won the component that she had donated to the January challenge!

Before I reveal  what I made and explain how I put it together, I have a little story to tell.  I spent most of December telling myself that it will take a while for my component to arrive as it was Christmas so postal services were busy and Linda lives in the states so my prize had a way to travel.  I waited very patiently, eagerly checking the mail daily.  Mid-January arrived and I couldn't wait any longer so I contacted Linda to let her know I hadn't received anything. 

Linda was upset to hear that I hadn't received the component and very kindly offered me a replacement.  I was upset to not be able to take part in the challenge.  So, I had a little sulk then came to terms with the disappointment.

Fast forward a couple of days, I was just arriving home from work.  A lady wandered onto my drive with two beautiful dogs, one of which is an irish Wolfhound!  She asked if my house was number 71 and was my name Yvette to which I answered 'yes'.  She then proceeded to take an envelope from her bag and launched into an explanation of what had happened.  This lady also lives at number 71, different street obviously, AND she happens to make jewellery.  So, when an envelope turned up with 71 on it, from the states she just opened it up thinking it was something she ordered.  Not until a day or two later did she realise that the package was not hers.  With the hectic festive season and then illness she hadn't managed to try to track me down until last week! Am I glad that she went to the effort to find me!  I should say at this point that the lady in question is Sue of Visionari, she has beautiful artwork and jewellery for sale.

This is the piece that I won!  Isn't it stunning?  I had some ideas swimming arouund in my head while waiting for it to arrive.  I had thought I could make a macrame necklace using ivory and what little amount of neutral toned beads I have.  The brief was to bust some stash so no buying more beads.  However, when I fnally got my mitts on it I decided that too many beads would totally detract from the beauty and rustic feel of the piece.




This is what I made.  It looks kind of simple and I didn't bust much stash in the end.  To be honest, I would have been happy to have the pendant on the leather with nothing added but where is the challenge in that?

I did find this a bit of a challenge.  My usual colour pallette is much more vibrant and I was resisting the urge to make anything too busy reminding myself that in this case less is more.  However, I was under a tight timescale and after having this sitting around as a mock-up for a couple of days I decided to go with it.

The lampwork glass disc and the purple etched bead are my own creations.  The other beads are from Smitten Beads.  I made a macrame bail using some C-lon cord with some little pink beads to finish the ends.  The pendant is threaded onto a long piece of leather thong which can be knotted at the desirable length for easy wear.

I hope you like what I made.  Many thanks to Linda for a gorgeous pendant.  I hope to be able to take part again sometime.  If you would like to see what the others made please follow the links below.

AJE team: 

Guest Participants ( aka winners)
Samantha- Wescott Jewelry
Nikki - Silver Nik nats
Yvette - Blue Kiln Beads


Bonus participants! 

25 comments:

  1. Lovely piece Yvette and I'm all for simple and wearable myself :0)

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    1. Thank you Lesley. I think this might be one to keep I can imagine getting alot of wear from it.

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  2. I like that you used leather along with the beads. They go well together. Well done!

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  3. Glad it finally found it's way to you, it's a beautiful design!

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  4. Hi Yvette, I am glad that you finally got your bead. Your simple design let the lovely pendant be the star. Good job.

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  5. Beautiful! I joined in too Christine :D http://christinesjewellerybox.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/aje-challenge-reveal.html

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  6. Love it! Such a delicate mix with Linda's work. Thanks for playing!

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  7. Love what you made, the colours are fab and the macrame bail is so creative!

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    1. Thank you Niky, the bail is first for me but I think I'll be doing it again.

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  8. What a great necklace! And it will go with everything!

    I know that these hops are all about making friends and showing off our goodies and it looks like you got an upgrade! I hope that you met a new beading buddy in Sue.

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    1. Thanks Shaiha, it has been a lot of fun. Just what I needed to revive my blog.

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  9. Your design has such harmony, such integrity. I love it!

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  10. I'm so glad that my pendant finally found its way to you. You made a great necklace with it. The lampies you made to go with the necklace are gorgeous. Such a pretty combo!

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    1. Thank you Linda, it is a beautiful pendant and I have really enjoyed taking part. I will be keeping a close eye on the Art Jewelry Elements blog.

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  11. I agree that keeping it simple was great so Linda's beautiful bead could shine. But I love the other touches you used like the macrame bail. It's just right.

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  12. Thank you Ann, the macrame bail was new for me and I think I will be using it again.

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  13. I think it's perfect the way it is! I love the beads you paired with it, and it would be a fantastic everyday piece. And what a funny coincidence about your package going to a different jewelry maker. I'm glad it found its way back to you :-) Thanks for participating in the design challenge this month and for reading AJE!

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  14. Im so glad it arrived! And you met a kindred spirit in the mix as well. You never know what fate has in store. I love the design, simple lets the bead really sing. Thanks for playing!

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  15. Love the simplicity of your design and the cool macrame bail! Those lampwork beads complement the pendant so nicely.

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