Just a Bit Wonky

“A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.” ~ Roald Dahl

won·ky

ˈwäNGkē/

adjective

 informal

adjective: wonky; comparative adjective: wonkier; superlative adjective: wonkiest

1. crooked; off-center; askew.
"You have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth."

2.

weird, whacked out, messed up, not working for no definable reason. Usually applied to technology.

"Dude, you have the wonkiest computer in the world. I walked through the room and it crashed."

3. crazy, loony, not quite right, out of sorts, a mix of bonkers and wacky.

 "That lady fondling the beads over is a bit wonky, don't you think?"

Miss Kristi Bowman makes lovely bits for your jewelry needs. I love her bronze clay creations in particular. So very tribal in feeling and rustic in look, they add a great touch to your designs. Miss Kristi was taking a little detour from metal clay to play with polymer clay and her results are not only magnificent but totally in keeping with her vibe. So when she announced a special sale on some of what she calls 'wonky beads' to the first to snap them up at a special deal with the promise of using them in a piece to show off what you can do, I jumped at the chance. You know I can't pass up a good challenge.  

Of course, I wrote it on the calendar for Monday, September 16th. I wrote that date on the bag. I put them in my tray in order of what deadline was the closest. And wouldn't you know it? I messed up. I thought I had another day, like the 16th was a Tuesday in my world. But I did have them started, and I had sketched out designs, I just needed to finish them.

I did finish them late, late, late last night (while also getting started on the pieces I need to complete for tomorrow for the Baubles and Beads reveal!), but the lighting was not working in my favor. So I wore them all to work today to use my favorite moss covered cement wall as a photo backdrop. I think this styling suits their rustic quality.

The first idea I had was a lariat with multiple strands of something cord-like to the back. Long. With dangles that you can fidget with to your hearts' content. Tribal looking, like some long ago amulet with magical powers. What I forget is that I don't really have much in the way of cord, and I am horrible at knowing how much to use. I thought I was doubling the amount I would need for this, when in fact I came up a bit short. This necklace is about 28" with a 4" drop, but I wanted it longer. Still, I like the look and it is very light. I give you Wonky Lariat.

Blue and brown dottie bead and drop - Kristi Bowman Designs
Carved bone beads - Rings & Things
Butterscotch and Teal waxed linen cord
Silver cornerless cubes - Rex's African Beads

Okay. So I only used of the six beads in the set. But I did also purchase those fun little drops, like the one on the end, so I think that counts. I like to spread the art bead love around and see how they play with others. And Miss Kristi's beads played nicely!

After I completed the lariat, the rest were just lying there waiting to be loved. I noticed that they were next to some other beads, little orphans from other projects and some newer beads I hadn't even busted into yet. And it all clicked. Next up is Wonky Necklace.

Flower bead - Kristi Bowman Designs
Glass beads - JulsBeads
Polymer clay tiny disk bead - Humblebeads
African brass leaf bead
Glass daggers - Unicorne Beads
Spiral shell bead - pewter hand patinaed by me ;-)

Will you just look at the detail on that little flower bead? Makes me squee all over the place! ;-) Love the color, the texture, the shape. If the definition of 'wonky' is quirky and just a bit off, that is what this necklace embodies for me. I pulled quite an eclectic bunch of bits and bobs for this. I can see doing this in all sorts of styles and colors with a lot of different beads. You will notice that I actually did repeat some shapes, three of each to be exact.

{Shhh...that is my best tip for successful asymmetric designs. Use the number three and repeat elements, preferably three times. Don't tell anyone. It will be our little secret. ;-}

 

I think that I will make more of this style for my upcoming show and use up all those art beads (not to forget all the other beads) I am hoarding...er...displaying. They actually look really great stacked together, like I am wearing them now.

So you will notice that now I have used two of the six beads in the set. I thought that it was a good idea to use at least one more (the others will wait for inspiration to strike). And this flat disk was calling to me. It looks like stone. I love the texture and the color. And the tiny burgundy droplet from Pinocean jumped right to it. I wanted to be able to see the texture and originally thought of a pendant on a simple chain. But then I spied some little ring blanks. They were too small for me to know what to do with their base, but I don't throw anything away. Good thing! I whipped out the epoxy jewelry clay and kneaded a little pea sized bit to act as the glue to hold it all together. I threaded a rhinestone studded headpin with the Pinocean bead and then played around with some other copper bits until it felt right then just secured it all with a bit of the clay to dry overnight. Et voila! Wonky Ring!

Polymer clay disk bead - Kristi Bowman Designs
Glass bead - Pinocean
Copper ring shank and bead caps
Rhinestone head pin

I think that this little ring might end up being the prototype of some more rings like this. Easy-peasy to make and a fun little fashion statement for your hand. 

Thank you Miss Kristi, for issuing this fun and unique challenge!

P.S. I don't know why Blogger looks and acts funny to me today. Must be a bit wonky! ;-P Check back tomorrow to see what I do with the Baubles and Beads supplies!