Friday, June 1, 2012

Andrew Thornton's Spring Challenge

Yes, three posts in two days. Unusual for me, I know. I was starting to think I had bit off more than I could chew by signing up for two challenges and Shannon’s weekly 'Finally Fridays' challenges. On the other hand I need this kind of push to keep me at the bead table.


From Andrew's Blog

Andrew collaborated with Lima Beads and came up with a lovely spring inspired kit for this challenge. I just clicked ‘add to cart’, and soon the kit was traveling to my mail box. The kit includes the sweetest bunny toggle from Green Girls, a tiny pewter bunny charm from Tierra Cast, a darling ceramic bird charm from Earthenwood Studio, a little tagua nut large hole bead, a pair of Lucite leaf charms, a hammered chain, two tubes of seed beads, and a variety of Czech beads.

I like to get some mileage out of kits like this and spread the goodness around to several pieces. The first piece I made was this bracelet made with four of the faceted fire polished Czech beads from the kit, some vintage green beads, wasabi deep cut Czech beads, green Druk glass beads, a dyed howlite tube bead, Vintaj chain and components, and some sweet lampwork spacer beads.


'Lime-A-Rita'

The second piece, another bracelet (which I’ve been making a lot of lately) includes the apple green Czech beads, a large turquoise dyed howlite bead, lampwork beads from Twinstar and Lynda’s Bead Dreams, a polymer bead from Heather Powers, a Bali bead and sterling silver spacers and clasp.


'A Gentle Breeze'

These earrings include the Lucite leaves and a couple of the Czech beads from the kit, plus triangle wood beads and a variety of Vintaj chain.


'Jungle Fever'

The inspiration for this last piece came when I saw a little bird on our porch with a wad of fiber in her beak ready to use it to build her nest. This necklace is made with the sweet ceramic bird, a peach colored ‘sugared’ lampwork bead from Fire & Fibers, Vintaj components, and a silk dangle from a destash over at Objects and Elements. I’m thinking I need something more on the chain, so I might take it apart and redo just the chain part. Also, I don’t have a name for this one. Any ideas?



I didn’t get a chance to use the chain, the bunny charm, tagua nut bead, the tiny green glass beads, the seed beads or the bunny clasp. But I hope to make something with these soon. Thanks for stopping by. Please visit Andrew’s blog for the list of participants.

8 comments:

Mary Lamoray said...

Great bracelets!! My favorite is 'A Gentle Breeze' LOVE it!! I keep wanting to join all these challenges but before I know it, they are over and I missed it!

The first thought/name that came into my head when I saw the necklace was, 'Let's Go Fly A Kite'! :)))

Therese's Treasures said...

Hi Alice,
Wow love all the piece you made. The necklace is my favorite, because of it's simplicity and it lets the bird be the focal, so pretty.
Therese

The Vintage Farmhouse said...

Love those bright greens!

Andrew Thornton said...

Yowza! You got a lot of mileage out of the kit! (With more left over for more pieces!) I am always impressed when folks manage to create several pieces. I get a little bead happy myself and tend to put everything and the kitchen sink into my designs.

Anyways, you did a great job! Thank you again for participating! It really means a lot to me! You did fabulous! I really like the last one! I think you should call it, "Mama Spring". It looks awesome and the inspiration translated well into a jewelry piece. You should submit this one to Creative Jewelry magazine!

Thanks again for participating!

Patti Vanderbloemen said...

All of your pieces ate beautiful..but I absolutley LOVE the first bracelet! Wonderful design!

Tanya said...

Those are fabulous. I love that first bracelet and the earrings. They work so well! The middle bracelet just looks like fun in wearable form. :) Your little bird is just so sweet. It does look like he's about to feather his nest. Awesome job!

Cilla said...

I sound like a broken record but...I love your stuff! My favorite is the Lime-A-Rita. I don't wear a lot of green ( if any?) but I love it in bracelets for some reason. I think the ribbon colors on the necklace could add inspiration for the chain of the same necklace but that is just me. Great Work Alice!!

Cindy said...

So, so beautiful, Alice! I love when you post your jewelry. I especially love the first bracelet and the long tassel necklace!