Monday, November 2, 2009

Trick or Treat!

I've always loved the Hallowe'en color palette-- pumpkin orange, sleek kittykat black, tumbling autumn leaves in rust, gold, and crimson, big ochre Harvest moon, scudding gunmetal gray clouds over pale stars-- it's rich and mysterious all at the same time.

Since I've lately fallen deeply in love with beach stones and enameled beads, it seemed natural to me to use these two unique elements in a piece about the season. Barbara Lewis whipped out a custom order of her new Persian Lantern enameled beads for me and I found the perfect wave-tossed and tumbled beach stone Hallowe'en focal in the Etsy shop of Stone Me. Happiness is the perfect combination of orange, black and texture!

I paired the hammered copper washers from the auto parts store with the chunky wrapped links my friend Cindy Wimmer used in her bracelet featured on the cover of the latest special issue of Easy Wire. After making several tube beads out of black polymer clay, they were textured differently, cured and then were embellished with metallic powders and acrylic paints. I was going for a raku look and decided the banded one had the right weight and look. I just happened to have the copper seedbeads on hand and used them for little wirewrapped segments up one side of the necklace. The little swirly copper charm hanging from the focal is made with BronzClay, one of the pieces I did in Celie Fago's metal clay workshop last month. You'll be hearing about that more in upcoming posts and seeing more of the things I made there.

So here's your finished Treat, Gentle Readers! I hope you didn't think I'd abandoned you-- just a short hiatus to reflect, renew and refresh my ideas. I hope to share some insights into new directions I'm exploring. I think they're exciting and I believe you will too! Stay tuned!





10 comments:

  1. So you found the copper washer at an automotive store? I looked at Lowe's and Home Depot and did not find any so I was wondering where they came from. I love what you've done with the Halloween / fall colors. Beautiful!

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  2. Oh, man, Christine. My husband was standing over my shoulder and he was also admiring your necklace. It is so beautiful and rich with design. You're great advertising! Thanks for ordering my beads! xo

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  3. oooo...I love this necklace! All the colors I like...very pretty!

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  4. I love the variety of texture and the wonderful muted colours - a very beautiful piece!!!

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  5. That is AMAZING! I am in love with all of it...from the colors to the design... you are a very talented designer Christine! I just bought some of Barbara Lewis' enameled beads and they are oh so pretty. I need to plan something special, like this, for their debut. I have had trouble finding the copper washers as well even at an automotive store. I can buy like a few in a pack, but not a lot of them. I have seen them online, but shipping charges are outrageous.

    Thank you so much for sharing your beauty with the world, my friend!
    Enjoy the day!
    Erin

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  6. For the easiest way to get copper washers, let me recommend Fundametals.com, where Jeanette has a 110-piece assortment. I was just there and at checkout the shipping was only $1.73 for First Class. Check with her to be sure, but it seems to be a very affordable option!

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  7. I didn't have a clue where to purchase copper washers,,,thanks for sharing this information. What a great piece! Beautiful!

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  8. Christine,
    I am in awe!!!! It was well worth the wait to see this gorgeous necklace that you were dreaming up....It is the most beautiful Fall/Harvest inspired necklace that I've seen..really. You have incorporated soooo many elements in to eye-catching arrangement. My only complaint...I want to see even more pictures! I did enlarge it though so I can see all of the components - from Barbara's enamel beads to your tube bead...I am so impressed!!! You've outdone yourself (again!!).

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  9. Cindy, thanks for reminding me that I forgot to post the detail photos! I've corrected the omission.

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  10. Hi Christine
    Glad to see even more pictures of this beautiful necklace...came back today to admire it again!

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