Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Summer Lovin' Blog Hop

Today is the reveal day for the Summer Lovin' Blog Hop. And....I'm late to the party! Note to self: Don't book 2 reveals in the same week!  My sweet friend Amy put together an awesome kit, and sent it out to the participants.


I knew I wanted to bezel that focal, cause I've been all excited since I learned to bezel. I really wanted to use a rope technique from Sonoku's book, Japanese Beadwork. I didn't have the right size pearls, so it didn't work out quite right. I still like it, but I need your help. I couldn't decide what type of clasp to use for it, so any suggestions are welcome.
I finished the ends off with a loop, so I can add any type clasp.

I added two loops on the back of the pendant for the rope to slide through.
The pendant with the chain. I love the tree idea, and emphasized it with a few leaves dropping from the bottom of it. They were made from  the English Rose pattern of Kerrie Slades'. (Look for a review in the next couple of weeks)

A close up of the leaves. Let me tell ya, I don't do a ton of brick stitch, so this was a serious learning curve! I absolutely love how they look, and the rest of the English Rose pattern is just as lovely.

Close up of the focal. I love those lavender lined amber 15's.
I really  had so much fun with this project, and it sparked so many ideas in my head! There were several beads I didn't get to use, and I just ran out of time. I tried my best to use the peachy gold pearls, but they didn't want to play!
Here is the list of the rest of the players,
Lori B.
Shirley Beads and Bread  You are here!!!
Lois ¿Que Onda Q'town?
Lucy K.
Debbie Beechy Beetique
Tanya A Work in Progress
Audrey Dreams of Absolution
Sandra Stories from the City of Brass
Mary MLH Jewelry Designs

Blessings, Shirley

16 comments:

  1. How pretty. What great bead work. I really like what you did with this challenge.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh my gosh Shirley! I just adore this gorgeous necklace!!! (I agree about our ropes!!!) The woven leaves dropping from this is a great touch!! So well done!
    Thank you so much for taking part in the challenge/hop!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Those lavender lined beads really sparkle! You did a great job with the brick stitch. What if you made a simple toggle and have it close through a "ring" that echoed the shape of those fantastic leaves?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love your necklace! The leaves are a great touch to the pendant. Lovely!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Shirley, I love what you did with the kit. I especially like the falling leaves, that's what spoke to me too! :) Regardless of if your pearls were the "right size" or not... I think they were the perfect fit for what is a beautiful necklace! Job well done!

    {Hugs!}

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Shirley,
    Gorgeous, gorgeous necklace I love your design and the brick stitched leave are a nice touch. I'm a little stumped as what king of clasp to suggest, a beaded toggle is what comes to mind. A cute little button would be a nice clasp also. Oh so many possibilities!
    Therese

    ReplyDelete
  7. WOW! It's beautiful and this is the begining of a learning curve? I am impressed. You did a great job embracing that focal and those leaves are just adorable. I also loved the way you worked with the clasp. great job. My reveal will be in the next session. Dita

    http://www.alankarshilpa.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. oh my! just gorgeous! the bead work is fantastic and those leaves are so pretty and such a unique addition to your piece!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love the addition to the leaves. This is a great piece!

    ReplyDelete
  10. That is gorgeous. I love the silver and black with the focal. You may not have had the right size of pearls, but as Dawn said, the rope is perfect. As for a clasp, I like Therese's idea of a beaded clasp. I bet a gunmetal leaf clasp would look nice as well.

    ReplyDelete
  11. You did amazingly with the kit ! <3

    ReplyDelete
  12. Exquisite! The leaves are lovely, particularly the contrasting spine running down the middle. Using the one color throughout the piece allows the focal to really shine. Well done.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Omigosh Shirley, I absolutely LOVE that!! I had thought about bezeling my gradated focal, but decided it would just take the focus away from the focal...but this one of yours is just spectacular. Love the brickstitch leaves as well....why don't you think about continuing the theme with a leaf-themed closure of some kind? Stiffened brickstitch leaf into a round peyote toggle? Bet that would be pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I am just loving your necklace, wow!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I loved the kit you got with the peachy colored pearls and that pendant but yours looks so perfect without them, that I can't imagine using them now! This is really lovely and what about doing a large beaded bead to go through that look for closure? I dunno what else to think of! Congrats on learning to bezel. Someday I will, too! Love seeing all your cool things!

    ReplyDelete

I'm thrilled you stopped by! Thanks for your words of wisdom.