Challenge of Color Blog Hop TODAY!

Welcome to the Challenge of Color Blog Hop! This is a first ever for me, so I hope you enjoy it. It has been so much fun connecting with designers from all across the globe! I have made new friends and found some really awesome color palettes (I might have to go back and revisit some of these again!). This really goes to prove that inspiration is everywhere! Grab a cup of your favorite beverage (I know it is 5 o'clock somewhere!) and enjoy the ride around the world in living color. (Warning! This is a longer than normal post even for me!)

Here were the challenge rules in a nutshell:

• Select a color palette to be inspired by. This could be something you were comfortable in, something that was a challenge or a complete surprise. 
• I then sent a paint chip color palette to each participant (my apologies if you did get a duplicate - but I am sure that even if we all had the same palette our pieces would all be very different).
• Create a piece of jewelry that uses the color from the paint chip palette. Try to use all the colors! Feel free to add or subtract a color. The goal is to use color and have fun!
• Use of art beads is encouraged!
• Name the piece of jewelry from something on the paint chip palette.
• Have fun! Be inspired!

We have participants from across the globe and around the United States. Each participant will be entered into a drawing to win some awesome art beads from Jeannie Dukic, Faith Davis-Ferris or some from my personal stash including Juliana Cannon, Heather Powers, Christine Damm, Melanie Brooks, Pam Wynn (mother of the fabulous Heather Wynn of Swoondimples fame), and Jennifer Heynen.

I would conservatively put the value on each of these prize packages at $55. Winners will be chosen at random from all the participants in the list at the end of this post, two winners from the US and one winner from all the entries around the world.

There are a few people who didn't have blogs, so I will start with them first and then I will share my creations. {Click on any images to see them larger.}

Herbal Gleam - by Rita Parra

{Herbal Gleam - by Rita Parra}

Per Rita:

The colors I received were "copper gleam, herbal dash, imperfect pearl, hen house, and local flavor."  Or copper, avocado, off-white, breen and olive.  I didn't like them at first, but then I remembered a print on an Etsy treasury I liked and they were the same colors.  Then that combination began appearing everywhere. 

The name of the necklace is "Herbal Gleam."  The theme is leafing branches.  You can see that in the pearl leaf pattern, the blossoms of the pendant and the branch toggle.  The fun part was to make the green fully alive in what, without the white, was a somber group.  And to make variations of texture, color, size and translucency within repeating shapes.  The artist beads are from Elaine Ray, Sue Beads and Beatle Baby Glassworks.  Artist beads presented the challenge of showing their individuality while still being comprehensible as a group.  And a color group without a given theme made color become part of the theme.  It was a good challenge because it presented me with problems I wouldn't have posed to myself.

Lagoon - by Cory Tompkins

{Lagoon - by Cory Tompkins}

Per Cory:

I spotted the Challenge of Color and since I love a challenge I just had to join in. I sent Erin an email asking for green because I am drawn to green lately and I didn't want to make this a challenge I didn't want to complete. When I got my card in the mail I was so excited to find just the right color beads to design with.  The teardrops I used had such a perfect range of colors that I grabbed them up.  I already had the round faceted firepolished beads in my stash.  I actually used some that had more blue in them at first but I decided the greener ones went better with the focals and with the paint colors. I call these earrings "Lagoon."

This was really fun, I can't wait to see everyone else's designs.  I will definitely keep an eye out for your next challenge...thanks for inspiring me and letting me join in!

Grizzly Bear Sky - by Judy Campbell

{Grizzly Bear Sky - by Judy Campbell}

Per Judy:

Thanks for the chance to really try something new. Sorry I did not use any art beads but those that I ordered have not arrived and I was forced to use what I had with a couple of additions from the local bead shop. I really tend to work with monochromatic colours so this time I tried to use all 4 colours in the chip. Since the names of the colours and the actual colours on the image did not match I went with the image {Grizzly Brown, Desert Parched, Highlight White, Niabell Blue}. Hope it is close to the actual chip. I found chain that matched the chip and built from there.  I have used wood, semiprecious stones, glass, ceramic, mother of pearl as well as some metal beads. I am fairly pleased with the necklace but am concerned with the weight. I may have to convert it to a bracelet. Again, thanks for the push, I am really trying to understand colour and how to use it effectively. 

I call this "Grizzly Bear Sky." When I was in university I lived in the mountains during the summer. I had to be careful coming home at night to make sure there were no bears in the yard - one evening there was - A large grizzly against the blue sky as the sun was setting was "waiting" for me on my steps. Needless to say I waited for awhile before going inside. I have not thought about this for years --- thanks for helping me to retrieve the memory. 

Victoria Falls - by Alice Peterson

{Victoria Falls - by Alice Peterson}

Per Alice: 

My color palette is (from left to right) Victoria Falls, Linen Slipcover, Slouch Hat, and Silver Set. I have managed to use all colors if you count the sterling silver. This chunky piece includes Aquamarine stones, an abundance of lampwork beads, and sterling silver. I chose the name "Victoria Falls" because of the watery Aquamarine nuggets, and the lampwork beads remind me of pebbles one would find in a stream at the bottom of a waterfall. The lampwork beads are from TwinstarBeads on Etsy.

I wish I had the time to make a more elaborate piece, but really enjoyed the process of working with the colors you sent.  Thanks for hosting the challenge—I hope you do it again in the future!  

Your Hostess - Erin Prais-Hintz

I will admit. I used this challenge as a personal call to me to create new things. It is just a bonus that you all came along for the ride! Let's face it. Sometimes you need a swift kick in the pants to create something new, even if that foot is your own! Do not doubt that I can be an overachiever! I am just as surprised that I achieved my goal as anyone. The amount I made may seem daunting, but I had at least a month to work on this and mostly only this. I wanted to use 6 of the palettes that I hadn't assigned to anyone. Then as I was working I found one more so that made seven. And I wanted to do it entirely with what I had on hand. It was actually easy once I had the colors mapped out for myself and started pulling together little boxes of the beads that I had. It forced me to use what I have and to approach my beads with new eyes. And even if I didn't finish, I would have some ready-made inspiration for another time. I encourage you to keep little boxes of color palettes on hand for when your creative well is dry.

So here are my challenge pieces {most available today in my Etsy shop!}:

[Beautiful Knowledge - by Erin Prais-Hintz}

Beautiful Knowledge

"The peacock's feather in all ages has been considered as a sign of beauty and knowledge; beauty because it is beautiful, knowledge because it is in the form of an eye. It is by keen observation that man acquires knowledge. Knowledge without love is lifeless. So, with the flute, the crown of peacock's feathers makes the symbol complete."

I know that this name isn't the colors on the card {Barely Brown, The Alamo, Black Coal} but those names just didn't speak to me. So, I cheated. ;-)

This ceramic pendant is from my friend Lisa of LisaPetersArt.Etsy.com You just cannot go wrong with any of her one-of-a-kind pendants and beads. Raku rounds are from MaryAnn Carroll - MACarroll.Etsy.com Finished with brass and antique copper chain, czech glass bicones, resin carved beads, Swarovski crystals, and Vintaj brass.

 

{Green Oasis - by Erin Prais-Hintz}

Green Oasis

I started with this awesome pendant that I got from Mellisa of Chinook Jewelry. I have always loved her ceramics because they are so thin and look so delicate yet they are very strong. Her glazes are amazing and a perfect match for the colors Green Oasis and Just Olive from the card. To bring in the color Summer's Breath I went with white and green rice pearls wire wrapped links and some vintage czech cathedral glass beads - some of the last ones I have - from a trip to Yone Beads in San Francisco. And Vintaj brass pairs so well with these earthy tones, don't you think?

{Lavender Luck - by Erin Prais-Hintz}

Lavender Luck

It must have been pure luck for me to find that I had the PERFECT match of a bead in my stash... this custom made egg from KelleysBeads on Etsy. Over the summer I commissioned her to make me a baker's dozen of random eggs in colors that she hadn't done before.Don't you just love those speckles? I created a little wire nest for it next to a pewter flower and leaf toggle (I so wish I knew where I got that so long ago, this was my last one). For the Royal Liqueur color I found these wonderfully deep AB merlot colored glass beads picked up at Bead & Button, navy blue glass pearls and sterling silver rope spacers. A pretty sign that spring will come again. 

{Leatherbound Bloom - by Erin Prais-Hintz}

Leatherbound Bloom

This was the first one that I worked on. I think that I fell in love with this color combo first. That and the fact that I was so excited to finally have in my possession a ceramic flower pendant from Marsha Neal Studios. I have had my eye on this particular pendant forever. I just picked this up during the deals she had for the Beads of Clay open house in October. My colors for this palette were Seaworthy (blue), Leatherbound (brown) and Reynard(red). I selected beautiful banded agate rounds and knotted that on brown leather cord with wood rondelles as spacers. I added a length of brass chain and wire wrapped navy blue glass pearls inside the larger jump rings to bring the blue into the piece. And I finished with a pearl and agate dangle by the pendant. This is one of the most infinitely wearable ones that I made. 

Have you ever heard of My Mom Pattie? That is a fundraiser that Marsha created in honor of her mother Pattie who died from leukemia in 2009. I am donating this to the My Mom Pattie Shop

{Rustic Old Story - by Erin Prais-Hintz}

Rustic Old Story

There is something so romantic and nostalgic about everything that Lynn Davis creates. She creates what she calls "invented faux-tiques" - replicas of things that look as if they have a history. I am a consummate hoarder of everything I get from Lynn. I rarely part with them. This piece I bought over a year ago and is one of her resin pendants. It is time that it found a good home.

This pendant looks like snippets from an old newspaper preserved under resin with the words "old story". The colors are right up my alley, earthy with a touch of rich red pearls, creamy white jasper, and mysterious oval stones of an origin I have long forgotten. The colors on this palette are Sequoia Fog, Split Rock, Rustic and Creamy Coffee. 

Everyone has a story to tell. What is yours?

{Tidal Mist - by Erin Prais-Hintz}

Tidal Mist

Okay, this one started out life as a jumble of beads on my table. Those beaded rings were the muse by my friend Julianna Cannon of Julsbeads on Etsy. Not only is she one of the most gifted lampwork artists this side of the Mississippi, but she wrangles seed beads into submission in her spare time. I could find no end and no beginning to these charming rings she sent me. I think that magic might be involved. 

I worked at engineering this piece for two full nights. I wore it on Tuesday and got a lot of complements. There are creamy white pearls evoking color Florida Sand, the soft blues recall both colors of Tidal Mist and Happy Cloud. I decided to add in the peridot swarovski crystals and the peridot satin (a personal favorite) crystals. I built this on wire. I should know better. When I got home on Tuesday "Tidal Mist" promptly fell apart. Proof that I really don't know what I am doing ;-) I will fix it and learn from my mistakes and somehow make it even better.

{Lake Mist - by Erin Prais-Hintz}

Lake Mist

Last but not least, is "Lake Mist." This one came about as I was fooling around with some silk cord wrapped around some rings. I noticed that the colors perfectly matched the three on this paint chip palette - Blue Egg, Lake Mist and Beach Water.

This design features a stunning turquoise lampwork bead from Julsbeads on Etsy sandwiched between two ornate copper bead caps. I tied the silk cord from Marsha Neal Studio around a Vintaj ring and a copper leaf ring.Hanging from the bottom is a Vintaj brass leaf, swarovski crystals and an incredibly rich cold press clay leaf from Rafya on Etsy who is from Israel. I would highly recommend checking out Rafya for her unusual designs and awesome colors. The same goes for Juls. No wonder I found it easy to pair them together. And Juls' blog is at the top of my 'must read' list! If this one doesn't sell by Christmas, it will be mine, all mine!

Lucky Lanterns
ceramic melon beads from Earthenwood Studio, glass,
Swarovski crystals, sterling silver
$40 value - yours FREE for the price of a comment!

To thank you for reaching the end of this crazy long post.... how about a giveaway of this lovely pair of earrings to one random commenter? Just be sure that I have a way to get in touch with you (turn on your email address on your profile to get personal responses from me!). Anyone who leaves a comment is eligible to win this prize. Winner will be chosen at random from all comments and announced on Monday, December 6th.

A blog hop wouldn't be complete without some hopping!
Be sure to stop and hop over to the other participants on the list below. 

• Amy Freeland
• Beth McCord
• Brandi Hussey
• Cary Scholes
• Catherine Pruitt
• Cindy Wimmer
• Claire Maunsell
• Courtney Breul
• Cristi Clothier
• Cynthia Riggs
• Emanda Johnson
• Holly Westfall
• Janea McDonald
• Jeannie Dukic
• Jennifer Cameron
• Karyn White
• Keirsten Giles
• Kelly Morgan
• Kristie Roeder
• Kristin Stevens
• Lisa Godfrey
• Lisa Tracy
• Lori Anderson
• Mallory Hoffman
• Marie Voyer-Cramp
• Mary McGraw
• Nicole Keller
• Nicole Valentine
• Paige Maxim
• Patty Gasparino
• Rebecca Anderson
• Renate Stark-Krammer
• Sandy Richardson (Emanda's mom - bonus hopper!)
• Shannon Chomanczuk
• Sheila Summers
• Stefanie Teufel
• Yelisa Rojas

Don't forget to leave a comment here to be eligible to win those earrings! 
Would you be interested in future Challenge of Color blog hops? Any particular theme?

Take your time and enjoy the hop! 
Enjoy the day!