Samstag, 2. Mai 2015

Swap 'n hop - Reveal day!



The main reason why I love to take part in bead swaps and blog hops is the challenge they provide. You may get material that you would not have bought yourself and it takes much more thought and effort to integrate them into the own design. That you make them "yours".

The Swap 'n Hop was organized by Linda. Thank you so very much! You can find links to all the participants at Linda's blog "from the bead board". Furthermore you could have a look at the facebook group "bead peeps" or the pinterest board for the Swap 'n Hop. Still, I would always advise to visit the blog to also get an idea about the person behind the creations and also what ideas and thoughts went into the finished pieces!

While I got a lot of different beads and styles from Kathy from Bay moon Design (my swap partner), I especially took her challenges to heart: Pink and the metall butterfly. I just posted the images just yesterday because my bead package for her is still on it's way... *sniff* So even if today should be the reveal day, stay tuned for what is still to come!

You mad recoginze the pink items I used... but I believe it may be a lot more difficult to find all the "butterfly pieces" ^^

So I will start with the pieces made for the "butterfly" challenge.



I took the butterfly apart with some metal figure scissors, punched it some or more holes and sanded it all down. I also roughened the surface because I like this worn look! All of them move beautifully!


And, can you find where the parts belonged to the butterfly? 

I also added some paint on some pieces to play more with colour while keeping the random and organic shapes.


Kathy: I used vintaj patinas! Just sanded them down afterwards a little bit again and then sealed them with two layers protective gloss. 


I also used a long piece for a necklace. Sadly I didn't manage to really get a great shot. I will try again but I have to think about how to take pictures from long necklaces, showing the overall design as well as the details. Here is even a little handmade lampwork bead included!


Now to the pieces for the "pink" challenge.


You may alredy get my preference for an organic and worn look. So I sanded down all metallic flower pieces! The black ones are wrapped with the beautiful pink silk and some tiny wee beads.

The pink soft leather pieces I also used for earrings.


I cut them in smaller pieces and made some tassels with wire. The beads I made with polymer clay. Can you see the tiny pink dots?


The bronze piece I curved to create a bracelet bar. With some czech glass beads (the light ones are real old ones and the bold english cut I got from Rebeccas Curious Bead Shop) as well as some indian pressed glass and the silk again, I think it looks lovely. And soooo girlish! ^^


I finally had the perfect opportunity to use the bead chain made with swrowski crystals I made some time ago (I showed them in my "chain ideas" log post). I also started to play with etching again since it starts to get warmer outside: I made a butterfly pendant. Combined with the silk and a lampwork head pin from Julie from uglibeads, it all came together quite easily.


The only difficult part is again: Take a fitting image! The lampwork is more prominent in real life, it sparkles more, shows more depth than I was able to capture in a photograph. *sighs*


And now for the piece I used my two favorite beads I got from Kathy. It also is my absolute favorite piece and I will keep it just for myself! Please bare with me, I know, there are already a lot of images but from this piece I just have to show you more than one... or two... or...


Okay, the first thing that comes to my mind describing it is: Mine! Mine! Mine! Now also imagine me with a big smile and not able to stop touching the beads!


Since the hole was relly big with the two green beads I glued bronze bead caps on both sides. I really like the shape the create together with me bead! The necklace is made with purple waxed linen (again from Rebeccas "The Curious Bead Shop") and finished with a small and recycled silver claps.


It just happened that I had so many beads at hand that all look like they just had to come together. You could make a "name the bead artist" challenge out of all of them. ^^ It is also special because there are the first art beads I ever bought included. The ones that made me addicted! 

Just to give you an idea: It was an orphan bad mix from Kimberly from Numinosity Beads! You may also find sea glass beads from Julie from uglibeads and really tiny lampwork beads from Michelle Bryant as well as cermaic bead from Karen from Starry Road Studio and from Teresa from Bu Hulley Beads and also some of my own polymer clay beads.


Comined with new czech glass beads, as well as recycled indian silver beads, african glass beads that are between 400 and 800 years old and last but not least some small roman glass beads that are maybe even two thousand years old.

What else can I say except: Mine! ;)


Here are the rest of the beads I still have to play with! I already prepared the other bronze flower piece to become a bracelet bar, some more painted butterfly pieces (two of them already with holes to be used as pendants), some wire ball pin attached to the humble bead (I just have to search for fitting beads) and I also painted two of the wodden beads with a chevron pattern. I think they look lovely but also still struggling with the design for them ;)

I didn't include the other metall pieces I still have, they are drying at the moment.


So... Kathy: Thank you very, very much! I loved your challenges and surprisingly, like it often is, your beads were my inspiration to create my most loved necklace! 

22 Kommentare:

  1. Your butterfly wings earrings are so pretty! All are beautiful. I first want to say that I am not a "pink" person so when your pink creations became my "favs" I was surprised. There is something about the color combo that speaks to me. The butterfly necklace is gorgeous but my absolute fav is the bracelet and the flower earrings. Very nice.

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  2. I love how you repurposed the butterfly and the pieces you created are so beautiful, also your pink pieces are amazing and I don't normally like pink! But the star for me has to be that last necklace, I love everything about it, the beads, the coulors, the pop of purple just amazing!!!!

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  3. Wow! What a hoot! I am stunned by what you did with what I sent you. You went well beyond the challenge of pink and the butterfly. You certainly put that butterfly and your patinas to work. I have made earrings from the long bronze bar and I have intended to make some bracelets with them, but I never got around to it. I knew that they could be made into bracelets. I love the pink tassel earrings that you made from leftover deer hide. The metallic flower pieces look great with the sari ribbon. The chevrons on the wood beads are awesome.

    I am so happy you love the necklace that was inspired by 2 vintage green beads. Enjoy it!

    I am thrilled you had just a creative time with this stash and I look forward to seeing more of it when you finish. Well done! Kathy

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  4. pretty pretty pretty pretty pretty pretty!!!!

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  5. I enjoy deconstructing pieces as well. You have so many more choices that way. Your final pieces are so earthy yet bright & inviting. I'm inspired to see your work!

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  6. Fabulous designs, Claire, and your last necklace is just gorgeous!

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  7. Never too many pictures! I just love all the designs but that last necklace is a stunner. I can see why 'Mine" comes to mind.

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  8. Claire - honey you went to TOWN! GORGEOUS pieces! I'm drooling over the pink pieces - especially the bracelet. I just LOVE it! AND I gotta say that I LOVE the pink earrings - with the black and silk....delicious! =)

    Linda
    http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com
    http://cherryOnTopDesign.co

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  9. I can see why you'll be keeping that last necklace. Yummy! Everything is fantastic. I love the way you scuffed up the metal to make it look worn. And all the beady fringe on the earrings is to die for. Gorgeousness.

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  10. Beautiful pieces! My favorite is the last necklace...all my favorite colors and a gorgeous rustic feel!

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  11. Your necklace is absolutely gorgeous! I can see why you claimed it for yourself! I love your use of colour (especially the orange painted butterfly parts) - very pretty!

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  12. Love all of your earring pieces! I saw them on the pinterest board first and was like - I need to go find that blog! The enameled ones(butterflies? I would love to see a before picture) are so interesting - and the pink ones! omg! I can't decide which set are my favorite!

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  13. Wow! So amazing! I always look forward to seeing what you come up with! The way you cut up the butterfly was so creative! I love how you took everything and made it your own!

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  14. fantastic pieces. I love the blue patina earrings and the pink ones wrapped in fabric. I would wear them in a heartbeat. I cant believe that you cut up the butterfly and made these pieces

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  15. What gorgeous designs i love each one of them, and your images are wonderful.

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  16. Ok, now I am just getting to read, and for the first time I noticed the headpin dangling from the beautiful (and pink!) butterfly necklace! I love that!! You know I don't have enough words for the final necklace you posted, so we'll leave it at that…

    But what I find most genius of all is the way you used that metal butterfly!! Those earrings are simply amazing and I'd never have guessed what those components had been in their former life.

    You are talented, Claire. Really, really talented. xoxo Julie

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  17. I love what you did with your soup. Cutting up the metal butterfly was brilliant. I would definitly keep that last necklace for myself. Love the beads

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  18. Love everything you did! Very nice work!

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  19. So many beautiful and diverse creations, each and every one with its own character! The eclectic necklace stole my heart but also the pieces were you used very creatively the pink silk!

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  20. absolutely brilliant idea to cut up the butterfly into pieces . i did recognise one piece as part of a wing . I love the added colour and shine to the pink(ed) earrings. your last necklace has beads from some of my fave bead artists. lucky you to own them .
    amazing work here. I'll be back for future visits.

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  21. You are courageous - I am not sure I would have dared to cut the butterfly; the results are beautiful, so it paid off! Love your style - and the last necklace is absolutely gorgeous, of course you'd keep it for yourself!

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  22. Hi Claire, I can see why you are keeping the last necklace for yourself. It is beautiful. My favorites are the pink set.The cut apart butterfly earrings are a very creative and pretty way to use the butterfly. Great job on your designs.

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