25 March 2012

Echo Creative Club: Dragonfly Rising

Hello!

If you read my post on Facebook last night you will know that I spent 13 hours at the State Boys 8th Grade Basketball tournament. I got home around 10pm. Before I left in the morning I set out my Gin Blossom from Jeannie Dukic, because I realized that I need to create something for her Echo Creative Club that I signed up for. I love a good challenge, and despite the fact that it was after 11pm when I started to put it all together, it came together pretty easily because I left out the beads that I wanted to use in a bit of a configuration that mostly turned out as I had originally envisioned.


 Jeannie makes these wonderful polymer clay creations. Her creativity knows no limits! I am always loving each new thing that she makes. She sent me this beautiful Gin Blossom focal in a deep chocolate brown with turquoise accents. That is one of my favorite color combinations so I knew that I would have the right beads on hand for this challenge.


For the browns I pulled out my very favorite faceted oval rectangles in smoky quartz. I just love the color of this bead, and the cut and size on these are my favorite. In fact, I used up almost all that I had, so I will be looking for more like this because they are so versatile.


I had not yet found a use for the Amazing Mystic Blue Labradorite briolettes that I splurged on last year from Norah62 on Etsy. Until now. I love all the gems I have received from Norah. I love, LOVE labradorite with its secret flash of blue, but whatever they do to make it 'mystic' pumps it up about 100 notches. This is just such a pretty stone and my shoddy camera work at 1:30am leaves a lot to be desired. I thought it needed just one more color to make it come alive, and I found these pretty Czech pressed glass leaves in a frosty mint color. Mint is the perfect foil to the turquoise and the brown.

I knew that I wanted it to be a bit asymmetrical, so I put the briolettes off from each other. The trick to this being balanced is that I used the same amount of beads on each side, just configured them differently. It creates a bit of a triangle... your eye wants to travel from the pendant, to which I wired two copper leaves and a Vintaj brass dradonfly, to each of the little clusters. That is what makes it more interesting to look at than if I had made them at the same spot.

I knew I didn't have enough time to fully bead the necklace, plus I was running out of the smoky quartz, so I opted to finish it with three fiber strands: one silk cord from Marsha Neal, one satin gimp cord in ombre from Ornamentea and one aqua suede leather cord. I finished it off with a Vintaj leaf clasp and hook.


I call this 'Dragonfly Rising.' 

I am off to enjoy the remaining games of the basketball tournament. Please go to Jeannie's Blog to see the other participants in this month's Echo Creative Club and spread some love their direction!

26 comments:

Vintajia Adornments said...

Very lush Erin and my favourite - colours of the earth and colours of the sea.

JeannieK said...

Erin, you amaze me. I literally gasped when I saw the pendant. I'd have to pay back the compliment and say YOUR CREATIVE KNOWS NO LIMITS! Your eye for design and knowing just the right beads to use...WOW..your a mix master. Thank you for creating such beauty. I hope you get some rest.
The name is perfect!

steufel said...

Love that stone too - one of my favorites, so is your work, and that gorgeous piece is no exception!

Therese's Treasures said...

Erin,
Your creativity is amazing the necklace is gorgeous! I love all of the elements you put into this piece, and the pendant WOW!
Therese

Unknown said...

I knew you would blow me away and that is certainly true for this one. Jeannie is right your creativity knows no limits and to think you pulled this all together at the last possible minute. LOVE!

Patti Vanderbloemen said...

I did read your comment on FB last night and I am awestruck at the necklace that you created! This is just fabulous!

cw whitedogjewelry said...

It's beautiful, very creative and perfect blend of colors.
Chris

Dawn Doucette said...

Erin, you do know this piece should be under lock and key. I love the chocolate/turquoise combo. And those Labradorite gems... OH EM GEEEEE I'm drooling. I simply cannot believe you just whipped this up at 11:00 last night. Seriously, I think you're just pulling our leg.

But in the rare instance that you really did just happen to stumble into this design at said time... we all bow down because this piece is stunning!

LOVE IT! {Hugs!}

Heather Powers said...

I love how you clustered the pendants together to create such a striking focal. The mix if the watery glass with the dark stones is the perfect pop of color!

Angel Whisperer said...

Gorgeous combination of colors and elements !

Courtney Breul said...

You are amazing! Just whipped it up!!! I love the color combo and dragon fly/gin blossom pendant rocks. Like you, I love labradorite and can't even imagine what you got from norah62, her stuff is amazing!

Beautiful piece, truly something to be treasured.

Sarah Sequins said...

I love this piece, Erin! The color scheme is just perfect, and the dragon fly is adorable. :)

lunedreams said...

Absolutely fabulous! Lush is the word! Love your addition of mint to the turquoise/brown, I wouldn't have thought of that but it gives it a real freshness. Love the bright labs with the smoky quartz--who knew! Love how you used those big teardrops in clusters, they both balance and echo the focal, and give it an extra boost of luxuriousness.

Shannon Chomanczuk said...

well you always make the prettiest things and this is no different! Stunning work Erin.
Shannon

Torque Story said...

this is gorgeous. I can see why you love the smoky quartz ovals, and the blue-green accents really pop against it.

Cindy Cima said...

I am impressed that you created this beauty after 11pm - it is gorgeous!
I love the use of the smoky quartz and the mystic blue labradorite briolettes and I love how you combined the dragonfly and coppers leaves with the pendant!
Simply amazing necklace!

Lola said...

Swoon! That necklace is amazing! I love what you did with Jeannie's pendant ... and that smokey quartz? Magical! Love it!

SummersStudio said...

This is beautiful Erin. The focal you've created is just stunning and the colors are perfect.

beautifullybrokenme said...

Amazing - your artistic talent floors me every time I visit your blog. What an incredible design! The colors and textures you pulled together (and after 11pm, no less!) make me just want to reach out and touch each link and bead. I absolutely love this necklace! :)

Brandi Hussey said...

I have to say, my favorite part is the mystic blue labradorites! You're absolutely right, that extra pop of blue makes them look so fabulous!

sharon said...

Thanks for your kind words Erin, I really appreciate that! Your necklace in that color combo is really gorgeous and very striking. I am pulled right in with that killer of a focal, so much detail, so much going on! And I am for sure a big fan of asymmetrical......it's just stunning!
May I borrow it for work this week, or are you wearing it?!

Michael and Cherrie Fick said...

MIss Erin, You never cease to amaze me. You find and bring the most amazing components together. I had to run in and show Mike. He just went on and on about your composition and design. The fact that you pulled it together after a long day and then blogged about it when we all would of fallen into bed. You are just simply amazing.

Rachel said...

So very wow. My favorite color combo as well. If this is what you create at 11pm, I cannot wait to read your blog further and see what you create during normal hours. Kudos!

SueBeads said...

Completely beautiful and creative, as always!

Shai Williams said...

Oh I am in love! Cocoa and teal is my favorite combos and when included the dragonfly you hit a home run in my book.

indigo heart said...

erin, this is utterly gorgeous. sumptous, i would say. love, love, love.

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