Beads of Clay Design Challenge

Welcome to the 'Beads of Clay' design challenge. As a Design Partner with the Beads of Clay Professional Artists Team I was delighted when I received the challenge to create some jewellery with this gorgeous collection of beads and exciting new fiber wire. Four of my team mates have the same beads and  I can't wait to see what everyone has done.

Initially  we were asked to make a pair of earrings and a necklace from the beads and wire but as I got into the process I decided I wasn't going to do them justice by trying to use them all together so, I bent the rules a little and made a bracelet too. The other thing that was going to be a challenge for me was of course the fiber wire. Regular readers will know I struggle with most types of fiber and for me the problem with working with something as new as this is that I tend to waste a heap of it trying to work out what to do! I didn't want to overwork it so once I settled on a design I had to commit to it.

While toying with the beads to try and get some inspiration two of the disc beads and one of the birds came together in a pleasing combination which became my starting point. I kept going back to the little ceramic charm with the number 3 on it to try and come up with some sort of relevance. A story from way back in my childhood came to mind. 'The Phoenix and the Carpet' by E Nesbit (one of the '5 children and it' series) tells of the adventures of a group of children after they find an egg in a carpet which hatches into a talking  Phoenix. The Phoenix explains that the carpet is a magical one and that it will grant them three wishes each day. So I had some relevance for 3, I didn't have a Phoenix but I did have a bird which is a flighted creature and I had fiber wire which is like (very lovely) carpet - well sort of. OK it's a tenuous link at best but it gave me some inspiration and that's why my first piece is called 'Magic Carpet'

With the pendant element in place I began to look for ways to incorporate the fiber wire and actually, once I got going it came fairly easily. I wrapped a large ring with the wire and then added some coordinating leather cord to provide a structure for wire to climb up. I've kept it fairy simple by twining the wire and interspersing it with the gorgeous round beads and finished it with a simple bead and loop closure. I'm quite please with this design, it's bright, colourful and fun but totally wearable, what do you think?

On to the earrings then...these were actually the first things I made the day I got my beads. I loved the turquoise tube beads and knew I wanted to have them centre stage so I teamed them with some purple rounds and a pair of my own bronze headpins. To pick up the colours of the beads I highlighted the pattern on the headpins with some Vintaj Ranger patina in the same colour as the tubes, finished them off with little leather ties that match the rounds and then hung them from hand forged bronze wires. This is the result...

So with two pieces down I still had a good handful of beads including a large focal that was crying our for some bracelet attention. Some simple stringing with colourful cotton cord and a wire toggle to convert the ceramic ring into a clasp and we're almost there. The addition of lots of ceramic, bronze and copper charms adds a final flourish which I think makes the bracelet, as well as helping to balance the heavier focal bead.

So there you have my offerings and I hope you think I've done the components justice. I had great fun making these pieces and would thoroughly recommend having a play with the fiber wire.

You can check out what the other design partners did with their components by visiting their blogs at the links below.

Cilla Watkins - www.tellyourgirlfriends.com
Kari Asbury - http://hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com
MaryLou Holvenstot - http://time2cre8.blogspot.com

Shannon - http://formysweetdaughter.blogspot.co.uk/

In my earlier post I mentioned that the items designed would be auctioned off for charity. This will not now happen but I will be listing these pieces in my Etsy shop on Monday and the proceeds from any sales of these items will go to Cancer Awareness. Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in anything.

Finally, many thanks to Marla James for organising the challenge and to the artists who very kindly donated such gorgeous beads:

Marla James
Karen Totten
Janel Goolsby
Julie McKee Rowe
Eleanor Thomas
Kristi Bowman-Gruel

Have a lovely wekend everyone.

Lesley