So, if you're looking for the AJE Blog Reveal, go here.
At the beginning of the year, I told myself that I would not enter so many challenges. Really. And then Karen Lackey posted this great challenge over on Artisan Whimsey for seam binding. Huh? Ok, Not a Sewer here....I vaguely understand that it's something to strengthen the seams of clothes...right?
Well, in the jewelry world, Karen has taken it to new heights. She hand dyes it and comes up with the lovely, yummy colors.Please go check out her Etsy Shop. The color she chose for the challenge was a soft, pretty aqua blue. Which leads me to my next challenge. See, I don't do soft colors....I'm a primary, earthy toned kinda girl. Love purples. Love burgundy, matte raku....not so much on the soft, pastel colors. So that was another personal challenge, to see if I could actually work with a soft color palette. Sigh...ok, I'm in. Just can't stop myself.
Here's a pic of what Karen sent to me...
See? So soft and pretty!
Ok, so I stretched myself outside of all previous boundaries. I used fabric, I used netting, and I used kumihimo with fabric. Wanna see?? Of course you do!
As soon as I saw the color of the seam binding in person, it reminded me of a beautiful pendant I had of Marie Voyer-Cramp's. If you've never seen her lovely wooden pendants, you can check them out at Skye Jewels. I wanted to keep to the delicate, ethereal feel of the lightweight pendant, but I didn't want to just string it on the seam binding.
I have used netting in a few pieces, but I've never done tubular netting like this.
I used eyelash yarn, bronze pearls and faceted brown agate gemstones, along with the seam binding in the kumihimo side.
Yes, I know that end of the kumi looks like a hot mess....but this was a learning experience, right?
I didn't really know how to attach the clasp, so a simple knot on each side is what worked.
This pic is just to show you how pretty the seam binding is with the wing of the butterfly....
Here's a close-up of the netting and the kumi.
And there you have it. Am I totally pleased? Not with the endings, but absolutely with where this challenge took me.And....I still have more left!!! Hope you enjoyed the ride with me.
Blessings, Shirley
