Hello again and welcome to the reveal for Lisa Lodge's Summer Carnival Blog Hop! Lisa is a wonderful jewelry artist over at A Grateful Artist. She hosts lots of Blog Hops throughout the year and I am always very excited to participate. So, several months ago when she announced the Summer Carnival I had to jump right in!
In this hop, Lisa told us that we would receive a kit full of wonderful beads that would include crystals and cultured sea glass and as she always does, her kit was overflowing with goodies; take a peek!
This is just a sample of some of the pretties I received. There were cultured sea glass beads in both a royal blue and more aqua blue color. There are flat and oval sea glass pieces as well. Also, in the kit were several types of crystals. Rondelles in both clear and a most fantastic aqua color. Rounding out the collection are larger clear oval crystals and some great metal spacer beads.
Now, you would think with all these wonderful beads I could just jump right in and design, right? Well yes, tons of ideas presented themselves when I sat at my workspace and focused on these beads. However, I really struggled on the Carnival theme. All the cultured sea glass and beautiful aqua beads just fed into my love of the sea and I kept tracking that way in my designs. So, I decided to step away from my beads and start focusing on the theme. What does a carnival mean? Rides? Cotton candy? All the tinny music? Those games you never win?
Finally, I started to focus on Lisa's inspiration photo for the hop. The Ferris Wheel, specifically. I am afraid of heights and have only been on kiddie Ferris Wheels, and even then I got those butterflies in my tummy. But there is one Ferris Wheel I really would ride on if I got the chance. Some day, no matter what, I will get to England...and when I do, I want to ride the London Eye. Can you imagine the views? That is if I keep my eyes open of course! So, I kindly asked a friend for an inspiration photo and my design just came to life!
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| photo credit D.F. |
While I know that isn't specifically a carnival, I do think the blue and clear crystals really worked well with the sky and the sea glass is a nice stand in for the Thames. Here is how my inspiration photo looks as a necklace.
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| Circle of Dreams |
I really wanted to carry the circle of the Ferris Wheel into this necklace. It was important to me that it be distinct and also allow for me to add the sea glass components. The necklace is designed so that the round wheel portion is worn where a broach would be worn.
From the kit, I used the blue and clear crystals to make the wheel design. From my own stash, I added these great wire beads. They remind me of the little cars you sit in when going around in a Ferris Wheel. The rest of the lower part of the necklace is made using the same blue and clear crystal rondelles, some metal spacers from my stash that I feel give the piece a very vintage feel. Finally, I added three of the aqua colored sea glass pieces. Little nods to the river flowing by past the London Eye. The chain, also from my personal stash, completes the circle theme. There is no clasp, because at 30 inches long, this necklace is easy to put on over your head.
If you know me, you know I can't design a necklace and not include earrings! So, here are a beautiful pair that focus on the beads used in the wheel portion of my necklace.
This time, I used the aqua crystals, the silver spacer beads that Lisa provided and added some small Swarovski crystal bicones and those great metal beads. There is actually a glass bead inside the wire and they add extra sparkle.
Wow what a hop! It arrived with a bag full of great goodies that I am still in love with and can't wait to design more pieces with the leftovers! I really enjoyed focusing on conceptual aspects of art and taking those concepts and ideas and bringing them into a beautiful statement piece. Making pieces like this for challenges like Lisa's is what makes me feel like a real artist. It makes my creative spirit sore!
Thank you again to Lisa for hosting us and since this is a blog hop, there are lots of wonderful other artists to visit and see what they created. Please spend some time visiting them from the links below. Thank you for stopping by!!!
Your hostess: Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist
Karin Grosset Grange, Ginkgo et Coquelicot
Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera
Kathleen Breeding, 99 Bottles of Beads on the Wall
Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation
Kathy Zeigler Lindemer, Bay Moon Design
Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations
Candida Elkins Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks
Catherine Yvonne King, Catherine's Musings
Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes
Shaiha Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings
Chris Eisenberg, Wanderware
Eleanor Burian Moore, The Charmed Life
Dee Alcalde, Agape Creations Jewelry
Marianne Baxter, Simply Seablime Jewelry
Carole Carlson, Bead Sophisticate
Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz
Christie Searle Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry
Dolores Raml, CraftyD's Creations
Kathleen Breeding, 99 Bottles of Beads on the Wall
Marci Allen Koziolek, Krafty Max Originals .png)
Great pieces! I love how you captured the feel of a Ferris wheel with them. The metal beads from your stash were perfect additions. Well done!
ReplyDeleteWhat a creative way to come at the challenge and really use the inspiration! I had been thinking of the London Eye during this challenge too, and you've really captured it. Well done!
ReplyDeleteWow, love your creative journey for the design. I found the theme a challenge until I thought of the carnival as more that just the rides and games of the midway.
ReplyDeleteNeat necklace, love how you implemented the Ferris wheel design into it too.
ReplyDeleteHi Marybeth, Your necklace does make me think of a ferris wheel. I like the metal beads that you added. Good job.
ReplyDeleteFun challenge & great job in capturing the Ferris wheel design :)
ReplyDeletelovely pieces :)
ReplyDeleteYour necklace is really impressive and really brings the Ferris Wheel to min.d. The earrings are lovely
ReplyDeleteLove your necklace and earrings, the metal beads in the earrings are awesome. You carried the theme so well. I'm afraid of heights too, and the ferris wheels are the worst for me :-)
ReplyDeleteYou carried the theme so well! I love the beads you included to look like the cage cars! Fabulous! Your set does make me think of the London Eye. It was a very interesting & beautiful view. Thanks for the reminder of memories! :)
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job, Marybeth! I love this set and would wear it all the time. I really see the spirit of the ferris wheel in it. Thanks for being in the hop!
ReplyDeleteA pretty set to wear with jeans or at the carnival.
ReplyDeleteI love that you were able to incorporate so many of your elements into your work and your abstract representation of the ferris wheel is just delightful. I love too how you can never resist adding a pair of earrings and they are so complimentary and lovely. I thought this was a difficult challenge and so really appreciate the thought and effort you put into your work.
ReplyDelete