Color Inspiration from Fusion Beads

"It is not the form that dictates the color, but the color that brings out the form." ~ Hans Hoffman

FusionBeads invited me to be part of their new Blog Partner program. 

For February they sent me a colorful mix of Swarovski crystals as part of their kick-off to the Pantone color forecast. 

The mix that I received is called Fruity*. The colors are blue zircon, chrysolite opal, Indian pink, sand opal and sunflower. Woah! These are bright and fruity and full of fun! But they are also way far out of my comfort zone. But that is okay, because sometimes I need a good kick in the pants with a colorful boot print and this is just the kick that I got.

{February Simple Truths Sampler Club limited edition - find out more about the club here}

When I first opened up the package I happened to have one remaining charm from the February Simple Truths Sampler Club left on my bead table (sometimes I can't count correctly when I make them ;-). This month was a lovely lotus blossom with a message from Rumi - "let the beauty we love be what we do." While each one was slightly different, this particular one had a soft blue background and a bright pink bloom. 

Humblebeads work magically with my 'simple truths' pendants. I was quite surprised to find that I had some of Heather's disk beads in blue, pink and yellow. From there the design came together quickly. I fished out some of my favorite chain of all time (I got this so long ago and can't even recall where, and these are almost the last links that I have!). I used some wire to wrap some of the links with the tiniest of the Swarovski crystals in 3mm. 

I also discovered that I had some silks in those same fruity colors, so I knotted them to the back of the piece to make it more comfortable. I used some Vintaj Flourish bead caps to hide the knots.

{Let the Beauty We Love available on Etsy}

But after I finished this one, I realized that I didn't use all the crystals that I was sent. I don't usually make crystals the star in a design. They are more like the best supporting actor role.

So I pulled out the blue zircon, chrysolite opal and the sand opal and noticed that they worked really well with a lovely pendant and charm set that I had from Marsha Neal.  I pulled out the blue wire from my Soft Flex Trio Egg Hunt. I wove the wire alternating various crystals through some chunky rings and some dottie rings that I had lying around. I finished the necklace with a few strands of brass chain studded with more of the crystals. To make it a set, I created some kicky earrings with a load of tiny 3mm crystals wire wrapped to some chain with the charms below. I think that I am jealous of all those about to embark on the Bead Cruise, so I called this "Island Escape."

{Island Escape available on Etsy}

And yet, I STILL have crystals left! FusionBeads was so very generous! So I decided on one more piece, a bracelet. I have been inspired by Kerry Bogert's book Totally Twisted (and she is working on her second one - can't wait!) so I thought I would make a piece that is a nod to her Bang Gals bracelets. 

I have had this lovely glass focal bead from KelleysBeads for far too long. I don't even know what possessed me to order it as pink is truly not a color that I embrace. Not only did I get this big focal bead, but I also bought a set of smaller spacers that coordinated. All I can say in my defense is that when I commit to buy I really get committed! I pulled out a few more things that went with this pink palette: dottie glass bead from JulsBeads, polymer clay bead from Jeannie Dukic, yellow ceramic bead from Splendid Loon Studio. I twisted some colorful wire in baby pink, peridot green and bright fuschia. But wait! Where are those crystals? I knotted and wrapped some sari silk and ribbons in coordinating colors and then overwrapped them with gold filled wire and some of the remaining crystals in pink and sunflower yellow. I call this bangle "Spring Fever" and I plan to donate it to a fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club coming up next month.

{Spring Fever}

Thanks for joining me on this first FusionBeads Blog Partner post! Looking forward to what goodies they will send me next month!

*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Fusion Beads were provided as a promotional gift for review or design purposes.

Be sure to come back on Wednesday, February 29th for the reveal of the Challenge of Music hop. I expect it will be quite a rockin' party!