Thursday, February 7, 2013

Inspired by Winter challenge

Winter seems like a dreary season.  The days are shorter, the winds are colder and the skies are grayer.  Our inclination is to sit by a fire or nestle into a warm bed.

Instead, Sally Russick, of the Studio Sublime, decided to challenge us to find the beauty in winter and get our creativity flowing.

The challenge could not have come at a better time.  I had recently purchased this bracelet blank from Sharyl of Sharyl's Jewelry.


It reminded me of icicles glittering in the sun on winter's day.  You know those days .. inches of snow on the ground, a bit cold, but so sunny that you don't care.

(Please take some time to visit Sharyl's artfire shop.  In addition to wonderful components, Sharyl also sells gorgeous finished jewelry.)

I wanted to do something special with Sharyl's bracelet blank.  I tried a few things that didn't quite work out. Then it hit me.  I made a simple peyote band and added crystal ice drops to the edges.


Then, I started to have fun.  I made curled peyote strips on the edges of the band, sweeping onto the metal part.


I'll pretend that the beaded curls are snow and ice drifting along.

The metal blank is nestled in all the twists and turns of the peyote strips.


Of course, after I attached the oval toggle, I realized that a ruffled band coming from the edge of the bracelet would have made a great closure.  Oh, well.  There is always next time.

Sally, thank you for a wonderful challenge.

Please take a few minutes to see what the other participants made.  You won't be disappointed.

Sally  Russick (our host)

Tanya Goodwin  -  you are here
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20 comments:

  1. Patti VanderbloemenFebruary 7, 2013 at 4:52 AM

    Beautiful colors represented here - just beautiful! Until you mentioned it, I had not noticed that the ruffle could serve as the closure - I find it fascinating what you can do with seed beads! Such a thing of beauty!

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  2. AntiquityTravelersFebruary 7, 2013 at 6:59 AM

    I always love to see your seed beading - it never disappoints! This is beautiful Tanya! I love all the twists and turns you added to the pattern with the metal blank nestled in - really, really lovely piece

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  3. Christine AltmillerFebruary 7, 2013 at 7:01 AM

    your vision for this and how it turned out is really unique and beautiful! there are wonderful colors and landscape in this bracelet!

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  4. stacilouiseFebruary 7, 2013 at 7:04 AM

    pretty- that focal does look like icicles!!!!

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  5. lamplight craftsFebruary 7, 2013 at 7:38 AM

    I can definitely see piles of snow in your design. The colors you picked work great together. I love the ruffles.

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  6. Karin SlatonFebruary 7, 2013 at 8:45 AM

    Winter certainly won't be dreary with this wrapped around your wrist. It must have been so much fun to create with those colors - are those Pacific Opal crystals? Love the pop they give this piece!

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    Replies
    1. TanyaFebruary 7, 2013 at 9:18 PM

      I think they are pacific opal. I love the soft blue. :)

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  7. AnonymousFebruary 7, 2013 at 9:21 AM

    Beautiful bracelet! I love Sharyl's components!

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  8. Empty nester at lastFebruary 7, 2013 at 9:34 AM

    Those colors are fantastic! I sooo want to get into this type of beading. I think it is sooo cool! There is so much that can be done with beading....anyway, I can see the snow and ice moving along, and I love Sharyl's component! You have quite the eye for matching colors! Great Job

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  9. TesoriTrovatiFebruary 7, 2013 at 10:42 AM

    That is so lovely! That bracelet bar is the perfect embodiment of icy wonder. Thank you for sharing! Enjoy the day. Erin

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  10. Jess GreenFebruary 7, 2013 at 12:25 PM

    Wow, I'm always so jealous of people who can do such beautiful things with teeny tiny seed beads! I love the way your bracelet band embraces the focal whilst gently echoing its colours :)

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  11. Bits of LearningFebruary 7, 2013 at 1:19 PM

    OH TANYA!!! WOW!! The color palette for your bracelet is FANTASTIC!! The light blue and crisp white against the bronze gives the bracelet such a wonderful icy feel and the bracelet bar is perfect. Thank you for participating in the hop!
    Would you mind sharing with me how you did the ruffled peyote, I've never seen that stitch!

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  12. BobbieFebruary 7, 2013 at 2:53 PM

    Those are the prettiest snow drifts I've ever seen! Lovely, lovely, lovely, as your work always is.

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  13. Mary K. McGrawFebruary 7, 2013 at 3:29 PM

    What a gorgeous component you chose to work with. And your beadwork really set it off.

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  14. Therese's TreasuresFebruary 7, 2013 at 4:38 PM

    Oh Wow Tanya I love your bracelet it is gorgeous and compliments the bracelet band that you got from Sharyl. The bracelet looks like it represents a gray cold icy day in January Burrr!
    Therese

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  15. Mary LamorayFebruary 7, 2013 at 7:13 PM

    Wow! That's a lot of work...really nice!! Hats off to all those who can do this type of beautiful beaded works!

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  16. KarinFebruary 7, 2013 at 10:34 PM

    Beautiful work! Visiting all of the blogs is a little dangerous, as so many people, including yourself, have found the most fantastic art jewellery pieces to use!

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  17. JennyFebruary 10, 2013 at 5:02 PM

    The design on the blank even reminds me of icicles of snow drifts. Lovely seedbed WOW! and I think the rhinestone/crystals clasp is brilliant!

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  18. UnknownFebruary 11, 2013 at 2:52 PM

    Beautiful!!

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  19. ShelFebruary 12, 2013 at 5:41 PM

    Oh Wow Tanya!! Love the colors,..they're definitely reminiscent of winter and the ice/snow that comes with it! You really did a wonderful job show-casing Sharyl's bracelet blank. And, as I've said before, you guys and your seed beads just amaze me with what you do w/those tiny little stinkers!! This is really pretty. Oh, and I love the clasp as it is,...just sayin'!! ;-)

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