Late Bloomer :: Art Jewelry Elements Component of the Month Reveal

I am coming off an ArtBliss high.

I spent three days in Washington, DC convening with bead peeps. It has been a blast. I actually got to meet up with several of the Art Jewelry Elements team members in person: Jenny Davies-Reazor, Melissa Meman, Susan Kennedy, Karen Totten and Diana Ptaszynski. What a treat! I was very honored to be selected to join the monthly component hop because I am a BIG fan of Lesley Watt's colored bronze clay pieces.

When I left for ArtBliss I grabbed the bead cap so that I could make something, and I had a hank of these beautiful bubble drop beads. But, of course, in my panicked last minute packing, I didn't grab the beads that I wanted. So late, late into the night last night when I finally had time alone with my tools, I had to make it work! I apologize for not having any more than this one picture, and the necklace is not complete because I didn't measure but eye-balled the beading wire and one side is shorter than the other so I didn't put the other part of the clasp on. But you can see what I did and where I am going.

Here is the component that we were sent to play with. Just look at that soft sheen and those juicy colors! I know you want one. Be sure to check out Lesley Watt's Etsy shop so you can get one of your  own!

I made a link with some merlot colored leather that I bought from Erin Siegel and Ornamentea at the vendor night. I created a leather link with one half of a flowered hook clasp to hang the pendant. I used that same leather cord in little groups of knots to hide the crimp tubes because I didn't have any other material to cover those unsightly bits. I used some pretty wine colored Czech faceted glass rondelles (from Joann's Fabric) and some of the silver plated charlottes (again, from Ornamentea) to lead up to some salmon colored piggy-back beads. Love these! I got them at Bead & Button from Nirvana beads. The color has a lovely lustre to it. Tracy Statler was selling these really cool pointed spacers (I need more of those, Miss Tracy!) and I used that to build up the suspense leading to the polymer clay disk beads from Humblebeads in a really great deep fall palette. At the back is a strand of frosted jade beads that have a very soft green color.

I am calling this Late Bloomer ;-)

Sorry for the poor photo. If I have time later this week, I will take some more glamor shots and closeups. There is only so much you can do with a cell phone camera and a tile in your hotel bathroom. ;-)

I am flying back today. So I will save my hopping for later this week. Here are the rest of the participants. Thank you Miss Lesley for the opportunity to work with your amazing creations!

Guest designers:
Erin Prais-Hintz - Tesori Trovati

Cate - Fulgorine

Claire Lockwood - Something To Do With Your Hands

AJE team

Jennifer Cameron

Kristen Stevens

Jenny Davies-Reazor

Francesca Watson

Melissa Meman

Linda Landig

Susan Kennedy

Rebekah Payne

Caroline Dewison

Lesley Watt