Friday, November 30, 2012

3rd Annual Challenge of Color

A few years ago, Erin Prais-Hintz from Treasures Found hosted the first Challenge of Color.  For this challenge, Erin picked palettes from paint chips.  The challenge proved to be popular and, a year later, Erin hosted the 2nd Annual Challenge of Color, this time using palettes from Jessica Colaluca's Design Seeds.

I was able to join in the 2nd Annual Challenge of Color.  (You can find my entry here.)  I had so much fun that when Erin announced the 3rd Annual Challenge of Color, I jumped right in.

This time around, Erin teamed with Brandi Hussey from Brandi Girl.  Together, Erin and Brandi selected 40 images from the Earth as Art image gallery.  Brandi, talented as she is, created color palettes from those images.

The Earth as Art images were taken by Landsat 7, a satellite designed to collect information about the Earth.  The Landsat 7 does not capture images in the same way we would see them.  Instead, the satellite takes a multispectral image, which records data across an electromagnetic spectrum.  In other words, Landsat 7 looks at light and radiation to see a different picture of the Earth, a picture that helps scientists understand more about our environment.

I had never seen Earth as Art before this challenge and I found myself spending hours browsing the galleries.   I highly suggest you take a look as well.  (Or, you can just hop around to see some beautiful images and jewelry created by my fellow challengers.)

Erin sent each person two palette and allowed us to choose which one we would like.  I couldn't help it.  I loved both images and opted for both.

This is the first image Erin sent to me:


The image is Campeche, a Mexican state comprised of rain forests and a bit of savanna.  Campeche is also the home of a many Mayan ruins.

The lush vegetation of the rain forests appear red on the image.  The savanna (I think) appears brown.

I love the red and turqoise together with just a hint of brown and green.  This is not a palette I normally work with, but I loved the image and I wanted a challenge.  As luck would have it, while browsing on etsy, I found the perfect focal bead from Atlantis Glass Beads.


It looks awesome with these glass beads.


I had brown leather that matched the brown in the palette.


My bracelet is inspired by Mary Jane Dodd's "Awakening Lotus" bracelet, which can be found in Bohemian Inspired Jewelry by Lorelei Eurto and Erin Siegel.  (By the way, if you haven't picked up this book yet, put it on your Christmas list -- it's fabulous.)

Mary Jane used waxed linen in her bracelet.  I didn't have any on hand, so I used seed beads.  I created a small spiral rope on either side of the coordinating beads.


On the other side, a peyote spiral highlights leather cording.


Of course, the turquoise is missing from my bracelet.  While I'm sad to have left out such a gorgeous color (and one that brings such beauty to the image), I love the darker green and brown with the dark blue.

This is my second image:


This picture is an Iraqi emplacement, an area, that according to Sky Image Lab, is "a former wetland that is now a staging area for military exercises."

I was taken with this palette when I first saw it.  I love purple and green together (who doesn't?), but it would not have occurred to me to add blue to the mix.

While at the bead store, I found the perfect Czech glass beads.  They have the perfect shades of purple and green and even a shimmer of light blue.  I decided to pair these with Swarovski crystals and bronze pearls.


I wanted to make a pendant worthy of this palette.  I immediately thought of Sabine Lippert's Granada pendant.  Luckily, I had everything I needed in my stash and it only took a short time to find the right colors.


Sabine is a gifted designer and beader.  The Granada pendant is available in Sabine's book, Beaded Fantasies.  You can also find wonderful designs in her website or etsy shop.

A spiral chain was the perfect compliment (and a good amount of "bling").


I *love* the finished piece.


Erin and Brandi, thank you so much for a wonderful challenge.  I love playing with color and these palettes were fabulous.

If you have time, please take a look to see what the rest of the participants did with their palettes.

Rebecca Anderson    http://songbeads.blogspot.com
Chrizette Bayman    http://beadsoupmix.blogspot.com
Lori Bowring Michaud    http://artfullyornamental.blogspot.com
Courtney Breul    http://beadsbybreul.blogspot.com/
Stephanie Buss    http://maxandlucie.blogspot.com
Cece Cormier    http://thebeadingyogini.com
Janice Everett    http://JLynnJewels.blogspot.com
Cherrie Fick    http://designsinthelight.co
Denielle Hagerman    http://somebeadsandotherthings.com
Karla Hartzog    http://www.karlakrafts.com
Kim Hora    http://www.kimmykats.com
Brandi Hussey    http://brandigirlblog.com
Sue Kennedy    http://suebeads.blogspot.com
Ema Kilroy    http://emakaye.blogspot.com
Linda Landig    http://www.LindasBeadBlog.com
Kirsi Luostarinen    http://kirsiluokorut.blogspot.com
Alicia Marinache    http://www.allprettythings.ca
Mary K McGraw    http://mkaymac.blogspot.com/
Karen Mitchell    http://www.overthemoon-design.com
Kashmira Patel    http://sadafulee.blogspot.com
Bobbie Rafferty    http://beadsong.blogspot.com
Nicole Rennell    http://nicolerennell.com/blog
Sally Russick    http://thestudiosublime.com
Annie Scherz    http://www.studioluma.ca
Renetha Stanziano    http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com
Melissa Trudinger    http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com
Shelley Graham Turner    http://www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com
Rachel Van-Walsk    http://balancedcrafts.com/blog
Joan Williams    http://www.lilrubyjewelry.com

39 comments:

  1. I love BOTH pieces you made! The bracelet has such a bohemian feel to it and the necklace is so feminine. Great job with both palettes.

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  2. GORGEOUS Tanya!! These pieces are both spectacular!

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  3. beautifully done! both of them! what great palettes to work with, too.

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  4. Your bracelet is stunning. Love the peyote spiral rope part esp. Great job.

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  5. Your peyote spirals are incredible, Tanya! It's wonderful that you highlighted several of the colours, rather than felling obligated to make use of them all.

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  6. Stunning! I always love to see your beaded focals, and that second necklace is just drool worthy!

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  7. You've managed to create not one, but two gorgeous pieces that really do justice to these color palettes. I am awed.

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  8. Weren't the Challenge of Color palettes just beautiful? I was so happy with the ones I got. You made such gorgeous pieces with yours! You did a fantastic job on this challenge!

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  9. Every time I stop by, I say "That is my favorite piece of Tanya's!" Today is the same...they are both favorites! Everything you make is fantastic! I love the colors and vibe and natural feel of the bracelet. And I love the beauty of the necklace and the attention it commands. Gorgeous!

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  10. The red in the first palette is gorgeous and it's perfect with turquiose! Said that, your bracelet is so nice!

    Ambra

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  11. Wow - you made 2 beautiful pieces! love them both! Stunning!

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  12. I love that peyote spiral, and the star burst pendant is drool-worthy!

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  13. LOVE the first picture! Cannot imagine how pretty that place must be at ground level! All that red, wow!!!!

    And absolutely loved the bracelet...so many different techniques blended into one fab design. I recently made a bracelet based on one from that book too, nowhere near as nice as yours since I am scared of making bracelets!

    The bead choices in the necklace are pretty too!

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  14. I LOVE both of your pieces!

    The first because that color combo is just so striking together. I don't think I'd have added the aqua, either, as the red and greens and browns work so well on their own. I love the details, too - the touches of beadwork along the leather and on the side. Fabulous!

    And I'm just as taken with your second piece! That pendant is absolutely gorgeous, and those beads are perfect. What a fantastic stop on the blog hop - thank you for playing along!

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  15. Oh, nice. You certainly caught the colors in your pallets. I really love that red/green bead in the 1st one. (Etsy can be dangerous, yes? ~hee~)

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  16. You know, I think it was during last year's challenge of color that I found your blog! And as always, you have created some terrific pieces here -- I really like the beads you chose (I think I have some of those Czech beads you used in the necklace), and you know I'm a sucker for your beadweaving. Bravo!

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  17. AMAZING! Seriously amazing. Your second piece spoke to me. I just read Sabine's book last week and I liked Granada best too. & yesterday I finished Jill Wiseman's Beaded Ropes last night. I like what you did very much.

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  18. Wow! What gorgeous pieces! I am giggling because we both chose that red flower for the campeche pallet and am in awe that you found beads that are sooo spot on for the necklace. Beautiful!!

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  19. Oh, wow, Tanya - your pieces are both wonderful! I love your choice of colours and I love your designs too - they make for 2 stunning pieces.

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  20. I will never get over your talent! Your bead choice - and pattern by Mary Jane Dodd - for the bracelet is phenominal - I LOVE IT would wear it often! The focal on your necklace..swoon!!! Both are absolutely gorgeous!

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  21. Your bead work is amazing. Both of you creations are eye candy.

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  22. Tanya!! GORGEOUS work!!! I've got my face right up to the screen taking in all that beadweaving goodness!! Love what you created for both palettes and how in the first design you incorporated the beadweaving with the leather and chain to add such wonderful texture!!

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  23. This is so beautiful - I love everything about it. The spiral and the beads of the two strings in front goes so nicely together.

    Bead Soup Mix

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  24. Holy moly Miss Tanya! I love them both! I am very impressed that you put your own spin on Miss Mary Jane's design. That is truly one of the best books I have, and I would second your recommendation! I think that bracelet focal is perfect for this palette. I don't mind at all that you didn't include the bright turquoise. I wouldn't change a thing. And the second... well you now how amazed I am at they way you seed beaders wrangle those little devils! That pendant is stunning! Thank you so much for sharing the information you learned (all new to me!) and for playing along. Enjoy the day. Erin

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  25. Oh my gosh - both pieces are fabulous! I just love the colors in both pieces! The necklace is fantastic! You hit both of these color palettes out of the ball park!

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  26. Great pieces! My favorite is the necklace. I really love the focal and the spiral chain. Beautiful!

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  27. Both your pieces are so fabulous! Love, love, love the colors in the second palette as we both shared that one. The pendant/necklace is just beautiful! I am always amazed at all those beautiful little seed beads and how you can make them into such pretty designs.

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  28. Wow Tanya you are wildly talented!! I love these pieces, especially the Campeche bracelet...PERFECTION!

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  29. Beautiful pieces -- the color schemes are a dream to work with, aren't they.

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  30. Nice pieces. The beadwork for the necklace is stunning.

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  31. Breathtaking! Your have created gorgeous pieces.

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  32. these are really tremendous! I love how you worked from the palette to bring all these details to lovely cohesive pieces. That spiral is so yummy!

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  33. Both pieces are so great. I love the focal bead in the bracelet. And your focal in the necklace is amazing. You captured the colors and texture exquisitely in your pieces.

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  34. Your beadweaving is absolutely incredible! That medallion/pendant is the best I've ever seen! Count me as a follower!

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  35. Tonya, you really embraced this challenge and made STUNNING pieces! I love the bracelet. It's funky and organic with the perfect blend of feminine. Totally wearable and fun!

    And the pendant for your necklace.... it rocks! If only I could see it in person because I can imagine how it totally sparkles!

    Hope you have a fantastic day!
    {Hugs!}

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  36. You really did an amazing job with your color palettes, both designs are fantastic and the focal on that necklace is just perfect in design and color!!

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  37. I love everything about that first piece; the stunning glass bead, your beaded sprial, the rich colors of the beads and the dark leather. Your second piece is just as lovely and your beadwork is fabulous!!!

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  38. I've been so busy that I'm really LATE hopping through all of the participant blogs! I love your two pieces, they are so different (as are your palettes), but that second piece just blows me away, those colours in combination are divine!

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