"Whispers in the tree" - Necklace

If there is something I really should learn: Take pictures from necklaces... either showing only details or an overview where the details are lost, both not satisfying options. But still, here we go ;)

This is a mixture of czech glass beads, old pressed glass bead, not-at-all old metall findings with a rather really, really old mother-of-pearl-button, cotton cord, copper wire...

Some of the czech glass beads (the round ones) are from Rebeccas Curious Kit "Whispers". I also bought the other czech glass beads from her (here). She also showed on her blog a wee tutorial about creating the birds nest. Since she is selling these cute sprinkled egg-like looking beads, I had to make one on my own. I was already tempted to make one for a long time since last year this kind of nest/wrapped pendant was seen all over in a lot of variations (and also tutorials) but just these beads finally made me do it.

A little twig, a tiny wee bird, combined with the nest and the beads. It is a rather delicate design for me but I like it. The button is also the clasp. It even hangs good while worn. Yes.... that can be a problem with a design like this where both sides of the twig have to be balanced and since all the components are so small and lightweight, I was worried whether I was able to get it right. I added the chain to the bird for this.

"Hidden treasures" - Earrings

Slowly my stash of these old and worn silver beads gets smaller. One bracelet was all I had from them. I have seven beads of this size left. Seven... huh... But I try to use my precious stash (regardless if we talk about beads, fabric or something else). There is nothing special about hoarding your beloved and special items so that the only collect dust. They should be used and adored ^^ If someone buys earrings made with them, they should be loved! If fabric tears from use than also just because it was loved. If I used a found object that is completely unique than also my creation is unique. It took me a long time to let go of my precious stah.. and yes, some items are still hard to part with (parting as in using not as in giving away or even selling, that is another topic ^^) but I am getting better and better doing this. Why should I use "ordinary" things if I could use these special items? Quite often I kept things just for "the special project" not realizing that I could make every single project special just by using an item I fell in love with! 

I learned that the silver beads are actually real silver beads (seeing the patina and how they work during a gentle cleaning I already guessed). A thin layer of silver sheet is formed and filled inside with a kind of resin. I love there worn and torn (yes, had to use these words together!) look, there aged outside, the story they tell... Probably not every one can understand the beauty I can see in this beads especially because they show that they are old and used, because of every dent and scratch. I personally just completely adore them!

The glass beads are from the curiosity kit "Jacaranda" (from Rebeccas "The Curious Bead Shop"). It is a simple stacking of beads and this time also on one head pin (so no movement in between, just with the hook). It is a kind of colour gradient but also the shades of light and dark purple go well together with the aged silver. 

You see the colour now? I tried to capture the rich and lush purple. In the evening the flowers look dark nearly black but as soon as you got a little bit of sunlight the colour just shines :)

PS: I just had a last view over this blog entry before I want to set the time to publish it. Normally I take all my pictures at one day and then start editing my blog entries and if possible already set them in advance (put in "try" ^^). Honestly I am a little bit astonished how much I can write about a pair of earrings. I could even go on and on, why the colours speak to me, how I love the unusual but organic shape the combined beads have, why weight of beads is important for their movement... and on and on... But it also shows me why my own work is special to me. My work (with polymer clay, with jewelery, with other media...) evolved and developed over time. I can see how much let alone my earrings change from year to year (and still curious where I will go!). But especially for the last year (plus / minus), I know that in every single pair of earrings went a lot of thought. Nothing is "just combined" because of the colours or shapes or sizes but rather more had a story or an image for me that I wanted to show. Every single pieces shows a little bit of me and yeah, realizing this, that feels good :)

"Daisy mine" - Earrings

The little czech glass flowers and the tiny keys were part of the last curiosity kit "Jacaranda" (from Rebeccas "The Curious Bead Shop"). Even while I managed to integrate the name from the last kit in the names of the created earrings ("Whispers"), I have to admit I didn't find any way to do the same with "Jacaranda". 

I used a small leftover from waxed linen cord I had. This was used by Rebecca to hold some wire together... but it went so well with the turquoise and bronze, I tried to use it. It was really hard, I even had to tale a tweezer to make the knots. ^^After this I frayed the ends more that it got a worn and irregular look. 

"Tribal keepsakes" - Earrings

The ammonites are art beads made from polymer clay (some of mine ^^) combined with the beaded beads (yes, I like how that sounds, childish as that this might be!) made by Rebecca. I got them as well as the daggers as part of her curiosity kit (beads from "Jacaranda" and the daggers from "Whispers" - all the kits have names!). 

It seems that I always make batches of beads (could also be due to the fact that I am easily bored with repetitions...). Have a look here at the other polymer clay beads I made along with these ammonites. :)

"Cosmic whispers" - Necklace

Since I like to give the jewelery pieces I make names, I try to find suiting ones. Not always but more often than not recently. Since I made this necklace with beads from a surprise bead selection kit named "Whispers" this had to be incorporated in the name. Just that.... mh... the piece has a kind of steampunk feeling for me combined with... Saturn. The colour, the ring... the planet saturn just came into my mind. Since saturn and whispers is a not so perfect combination I tried to figure out what feeling the neacklace projects to me. Cosmic whispers fits for me into a Jules Verne idea of science fiction. A little bit whimsical, mechanical and last but not least, the necklace speaks to me like is has a story to tell.

You see the big bronze ring? I bought it in my sewing store in the city center of leipzig. It is normally meant for a belt (if you want to sew one). A nice and sturdy quality, already meant to be worn and not too expensive (not cheap either to be honest ^^). They have them in a lot of different sizes and colours.

The other pieces I made with the "Whispers" bead selection:

"Whispers and flowers" - Bracelet

"Whispers and flowers" - Earrings

"Urban whispers" - Earrings

"Urban whispers" - Earrings

Hammered wire, some wrapping, small beads... they have a tribal feeling for me and all the beads are again from the bead package "Whispers" (have look here for more details and here what else I made with these beads).

"Whispers and flowers" - earrings

I struggled to take pictures of the earrings. That you could see all beads, get an idea how they "dangle"... They would not lie flat on the table so I tried different versions hanging them. 

Fitting for the bracelet I made (have a look here) and all the beads as well as the little bit of waxed linen were also part of the bead package "Whispers". 

"Whispers and flowers" - bracelet

I got my first beads taking part in "The Curiosity Club". Rebecca started this club and sells it in her etsy shop "The Curious Bead Shop". In short: You get a monthly surprise package with beads, findings and other surprise supplies. She gives her selection a theme every month and this was: "Whispers". All the beads are from the kit and the bronze metal parts from my stash. It is a simple bracelet but I love how it turned out :)