Wednesday, 30 April 2014

AJE Component of the Month - April Reveal

This month's components for the AJE challenge were ceramic buttons made by yours truly which could be used alone or as clasps. I love button closures...it goes back to my childhood when my seamstress Grandmother used to make clothes for me that were invariably finished with the cutest fabric covered shank buttons with little brass hooks or embroidered loops. They've long been used for jewellery too and I started making them myself in metal clay early last year so, when I was looking for inspiration for this months COM, and came across my moulds I decided to make some up in clay.

The button I chose to use myself is a little round stoneware one with a shell imprint and one of my favourite rustic glazes in a lovely earthy cream with blue green marbling.



I also love ocean inspired jewellery and I knew I had some art beads that would work well with the clasp as well as a matching set of my own stoneware beads in the same glaze plus a lovely sea green. I've long been hoarding one of Karen's little whale beads and this was the perfect occasion to use it along with a cute lamp worked urchin bead from Caroline and a lamp worked soda bead from Jan Onipenco of Molten Mayhem. I also picked out some of my own bronze discs to add some texture and contrast.


I've made these up into a bracelet by simply stringing them on waxed Linen with seed bead spacers and finishing off with one of my bronze shell charms and a ceramic charm made with one of Caroline's tiny birds. I've named it 'Nantucket Sound' - I've never been there but from what I've read it just seemed appropriate.


I really like how this has come together and I think the button closure gives it a sense of continuity.




Please use the links below to see what the rest of the AJE team and our guests have created with the button closures they were given...




Guests
Johana Nunez
Leah Curtis
Perri Jackson


AJE Team
 Lesley Watt
Keirsten GIles
Caroline Dewison
Rebekah Payne
Jenny Davies-Reazor
Jen Cameron
Diana Ptaszynski
Kristen Stevens
Francesca Watson
Melissa Meman
Linda Landig
Sue Kennedy

Lesley





26 comments:

  1. In love. Green in my favorite color.

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  2. Beautiful design Lesley, there must have been something in the air with our inspiration! I've loved designing with your clasp, thank you for the beautiful component!

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  3. Love the colors and your process of choosing the perfect elements. I would LOVE to sit by and observe, whilst you organize your stash and audition the components til arriving at such perfection! I have so much trouble deciding and finding the right mix. BTW, need a winning lottery ticket: I WANT this bracelet LOL

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  4. Stunning Lesley! Really like your button clasps too! :)

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  5. Just gorgeous, Lesley! I adore the soft greens and the wonderful mix of beads.

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  6. What a fun bracelet Lesley! I'm really enjoying what everyone has created with your great clasps! You are such a great inspiration.

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  7. Beautiful piece, Lesley! Your clasps are awesome!

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  8. Girl!!!!!! Not only do you create amazing artbeads you can rock them too!!! I am in awe!

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  9. Very beautiful Miss Lesley...love button clasps too...

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  10. love the beads that you have used - so pleasing

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  11. Absolutely wonderful! I love all the pieces you pulled together to make this work, and your button clasp is just lovely. (I'm a huge fan of those colors too!)

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  12. This is just glorious Lesley! And I'm a fool for green. I love the bronze with it, the bumpy lampwork adds just the right splash of texture, and your little additions--birdie, whale and seashell--make it truly charming! (LOVE those big stoneware beads--yum!)

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  13. Gorgeous bracelet, love the clasp

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  14. I really like the color combination!! Everything is absolutely beautiful!

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  15. I adore the mix of beads with touches of whimsy. The color is absolutely gorgeous and the various textures create interest.

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  16. I love the whale and bird! The colors are great. You have a terrific bracelet.

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  17. Lesley, I want to thank you so much for the opportunity to use your beautiful understated clasp. I really so excited to use it - I adore the evocative shapes and textures.
    Your piece is a perfect, elegantly understated accessory. The touch of whimsy with the bird is absolutely charming.

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  18. Adorable! I love the yummy colors, so rich and so earthy. And that little whale bead is just too cute! Enjoy the day! Erin

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  19. Your bracelet is sooooooo cute! That's a piece I'd wear all summer! Thanks for hosting a fantastic COM!

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  20. Lesley I have admired your work for some time now. This bracelet is spectacular. You sure have an eye for color and good design.

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  21. What's not to love?!? Brilliant design and I love seeing my little whalie bead in there. :)

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  22. So pretty! I love the colors and all the elements! Thanks so much for such wonderful components to work with.

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  23. I love, love love this bracelet! The color palette is gorgeous and it was so many textures and materials in it. Wonderful design! Thank you so much for sharing your button components with us and for hosting this blog hop!

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  24. Love it! I wear a lot of greens and I would get so much use out of a bracelet like this.

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  25. FABulous soup! I especially LOVE all the bracelets!

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  26. Lesley, your bracelet is amazing as of course it would be! Thank you so much for providing the CoM in April, it was fun!

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