Friday, July 13, 2012

Simple Truths Celebration Challenge

I have been a fan of Erin Prais Hintz, from Treasures Found, for quite some time.  I love her sense of style and the jewelry she creates is amazing.

In addition to designing jewelry, Erin also makes a line of Simple Truth components.  These pendants are hand made by Erin and, trust me, each is a small work of art.  You can find Simple Truths and her jewelry in her etsy shop.

About a month ago, Erin asked us to join in a Simple Truths Celebration. Basically, Erin wanted us to create something wonderful with her Simple Truths.  hmm .. let me think .. of course, I wanted to play.

I was fortunate enough to win a 3 month membership to the Simple Truth sampler club and was taken by June's pendant.


The hummingbird is adorable an I can see her flying out of the pendant into the sky.

I knew right away I wanted to bead a flower or flowers for this cute little hummingbird.  As it happened, I had just purchased the Tarouk Blooms pattern from Heather Collin.  It seemed like a perfect match.


Heather's pattern was awesome and a blast to make.  I couldn't be happier with my funky bloom.  I also can't say enough good things about Heather's patterns.  You can check out all of them in her etsy shop.

I was trying to decide how to hang the pendant and flower when I had a chance conversation with Erin.  I had mentioned to Erin during the Bohemian Inspired Jewelry Blog Hop that I loved how all the artists in the hop took ideas from the book and put their own "spin" on them. 

Erin challenged me to do the same:  take one of the techniques in Bohemian Inspired Jewelry and incorporate it into a design.  I immediately agreed and couldn't think of a better project into which to incorporate this new challenge.

If you haven't picked up Lorelei Eurto's and Erin Siegel's book Bohemian Inspired Jewelry, I highly recommend it.  All of the projects are beautiful and they all incorporate all sorts of different ribbons, silks, leathers and fabrics.  I honestly want to try all the designs.

What follows is my interpretation of Lorelei's "The Beach House" necklace.

I started with some burgundy and yellow/green leather.


I made these kuchi beads to secure the leather.


I learned how to make these cute beads Debora Mauser in her Wild Woman Bangle class at Bead and Button.  You can see my finished bangles and my review of the class here.  (Spoiler:  the class was amazing and Debora was amazing.)

I used the loop in the leather and this button by C Koop Beads as my closure.


I strung peanut beads in the front of the necklace and added my pendant and the Tarouk bloom.


I took a kuchi bead and pulled it apart to make the bail for the bloom.


I like the way it wraps between the two strands of peanut beads.

And here is the finished necklace.


I love the way it looks when it is worn.  The bloom is a bit of a "statement," but sometimes, a girl needs to be heard.  :)

I'm still wavering, though, between loving the necklace and worrying that the bloom overpowers the pendant.    Any thoughts?

I owe a big "thanks" to Erin for hosting this challenge and for encouraging me to trust my instincts and to put my own spin on another design.  I also want to thank Lorelei for her inspiring design.

If you want to see how other people were able to use Erin's Simple Truths, check out the following list or hop on over to Erin's blog.

Erin Prais-Hintz
Sharon Misuraco
Tanya Goodwin
Alice Peterson
Melissa Trudinger
Lori Bowring Michaud
Rebecca Anderson
Chris White
Cherrie Fick
Rosanne Garvison
Shelley Turner
Marlene Cupo
Mary Harding
Lola Surwillo
Michelle Burnett
Kirsi Luostarinen
Paige Maxim
Kristen Fagan
Cynthia Riggs

20 comments:

  1. I think your necklace is gorgeous. I love the flower and pendant together. The double separated strand of peanut beads is so cools--look so stylish and exotic at once.

    ReplyDelete
  2. OKAY - WOW!!!!! This is literally one of the most beautiful pieces I have seen in a while. Of course Erin's pendants are so great to work with and pretty on their own. But YOWZA - I love everything you did with this. The flower is a PERFECT, I mean, PERFECT compliment to the pendant. And the necklace is blowing my mind. I thought that was a thick chain, but the peanut beads!!?? Awesome! The button closer with the leather - which all also compliment perfectly without being to 'matchy, matchy'!!! If you can't tell by now, I love it. I really love it. You must wear this and wear it frequently!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. DUDE. this is SUPER!! you are UBER talented my friend!!! I love everything about this piece!

    ReplyDelete
  4. WOW - Just WOW!!! The necklace is fantastic!!! I love how you incorporated all the different elements together - it is perfect!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love the way the kuchi and peanut beads add to the flavor of tbe Simple Truth piece! Really wonderful!
    Shelley Graham Turner
    www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a great piece, very unique and stylish. Well done!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Gorgeous! I love the Simple Truths charm you chose to use. All of the elements come together to make one very unique piece.

    ReplyDelete
  8. WOOHOO! That is one awesome design, Miss Tanya. And even though you say you were using other ideas as a jumping off point I would say that you really made this your own! You know my aversion to seed beads... but I am just awed by the way you made that flower, the kuchi beads (never heard of that!), the button closure, the colors that you chose... all of it is just incredible! Thank you so much for playing with me and for being such a great friend. Enjoy the day! Erin

    ReplyDelete
  9. I think it's stunning! Wouldn't change a thing!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow, that is one beautiful necklace, I would be very proudly wearing it if I were you! I think the different parts of it work very well together!

    ReplyDelete
  11. This necklace is amazing. It is so creative and the flower is magnificent. The twisted part and the shorter necklace I love it all. I agree it is stunning. You made that little hummingbird happy!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh, my goodness how gorgeous. I am in complete awe of anyone who works with teeny, tiny seed beads - my vision just isn't good enough. You hit this one out of the park!

    ReplyDelete
  13. This is quite stunning! Your choice of materials, design and composition all compliment the simple truths pendant beautifully!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I had to come back to take another look at this necklace. It is truly a work of art. The flower the button, all of the colors and textures are really beautiful. I say don't change a thing? Are those pearl colored peanut beads? I love them but I don't think I have seen that color.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Very pretty, I love all the different techniques you used and fused together so seamlessly. gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  16. This is a fantastic piece! Love integration of different techniques.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Gorgeous! That is a whole lotta awesomeness rolled into one necklace ... I love all the different components and techniques you used. You're so very talented Tanya!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Now that is really stunning! Even if the bloom moves a bit in front of the pendant from time to time, what better surprise than the hummingbird peeking out. I love how you have attached the bloom, really just beautiful

    ReplyDelete
  19. Your necklace is beautiful and you have created a magic with wow design.Amazing art work.

    ReplyDelete