Past blog hops and challenges

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Pine Ridge Treasures' Ceramic Bead Challenge reveal

Today was the day for the reveal of Pine Ridge Treasures' Ceramic Challenge reveal.  I received a kit with six ceramic disks made by UK artist Natalie McKenna (Grubbi).



Here is a close-up of the beads.  The two on the left were a matching set of brown with gold/brass highlights.



Here is the set of earrings that I was able to make.


I still have the other beads to play with and I have ideas about how to use them.

Please be sure to visit Pine Ridge Treasures' Facebook page to see what the other participants were able to make.

Thank you for visiting.  Be sure to come back on Thursday for the reveal of Andrew Thornton's Brave Angel 2 Special Challenge.

Carolyn



Friday, October 23, 2015

Artisan Component Marketplace September Designer Kit reveal

I was one of the fortunate ones that won a set of components from the members of Artisan Component Marketplace for their September Designer Challenge.  

 
I received a set of ceramic beads from Okawa African Beads.

 
 A gorgeous wooden gingko leaf shaped wooden pendant from Dobzie Wood by Burl Girl.

 
I also received 12 inches of antique copper rolo chain

 
and some hand-dyed sari ribbon.

 
 
I knew right away that I wanted to link the chain and ribbon together.  I cut the ribbon in half and put the ends through the last link on each side of the chain.  Then I had to figure out a clasp.  I thought about that for a couple of days and ended up using a wooden bead as a sliding clasp (not sure that I am calling it the right thing) and put the ends of the ribbon through the bead going in opposite directions.
 


I then wore it a couple of days as is because I was having trouble thinking about how to use the beads.



I thought and thought about those beads.



Aren't they pretty!  Not my usual colors but I need to use them and I finally thought about using two on each side of the chain to kind of draw your eye.  These beads have large holes so I had to use bead caps on the ends so that the head pin didn't fall thru.

So here is the result.



How did I do?  Are the pictures the right size?  Too big?  Too small?  How was my design?  Any comments are welcome.

Thanks for visiting.  Be sure to come back on Saturday as I will have another challenge to reveal.

Carolyn