Today I am very pleased to be hosting the AJE Component of the Month reveal which features my fossilised pebble pendants.
Needless to say I did my usual trick of forgetting to take a photo of my own pieces so I've had to crop them out of the bigger image. Since I had a couple of spares I decided to have a go at two designs and fortunately the two were sat next to each other.
I started with the stone coloured pebble and my original intention was to do something long and earthy using beaded macrame in some way. However, when I was rummaging for beads I came across a strand of ocean jasper nuggets which just seemed to match the pendant perfectly so I shifted focus to work with those.
I loved how the striations in the jasper matched the colour of the pendant whilst the soft green/blue hues added just enough colour to give depth and interest. I used graduated ebony rounds at the back of the necklace to pick up the dark brown of the fossil and interspersed them with brass spacer beads. A single offset copper spiral bead echoes the ammonite shape.
This is a very simple and traditional design that has a very natural, serene feel to it which I really like.
The longer, narrower shape of the blue pendant got me thinking of talismans or amulets and I wanted to try and do some sort of layered or stacked rustic design. I attached some waxed linen and started playing around with various beads until I realised that I had unintentionally created a goddess form. Well who am I to argue with the signs? If she wants to be a goddess then a fossil goddess she shall be! The blue polymer clay bead is by Staci Smith and the ceramic bar is by Marsha Neal.
I decided this one was definitely going to be a long necklace and pulled together a selection of small beads that would complement the stacked pendant: Sodalite, ebony, brass, shell and seed beads all combined randomly to give a lovely textured effect with an aged feel.
Again it's a very simple style of necklace but I'm pretty happy with how it came out.
Guests
Lesley
Both stunning designs... The little shell in the first necklace really makes it, and I love the chain on the second design. Thanks for a brilliant COM, I've really enjoyed joining you for the challenge!
ReplyDeleteGreat designs...I agree your first one looks very natural and calming. Something a sprite may wear in the forest...and your second one...WOW...I love it...has a very tribal feel to it! Excellent work!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous designs and I just love the fossilized pendants! I am so glad I got one, love it. Thank you for sharing your beautiful work with us!
ReplyDeleteI knew what you made would be awesome and they both are! I LOVE the goddess, and isn't it wonderful to have all the right beads? Thanks so much for providing the CoM this month, Lesley, it was a pleasure to work with! I love the ones you chose!
ReplyDeleteFirst: Thank you for hosting and having more for sale for us addicts :-)
ReplyDeleteSecond: WOW I love the ocean jasper, it is the perfect choice for that pendant and the blues of the second necklace are my favorite color and I would wear it everywhere! Lovely work, thank you again!
You can clearly see how much thought you have put into both designs Lesley and they work so very well! The ocean jasper nuggets pick out the colours in your pendent so beautifully and the copper spiral is just the perfect finishing touch and the goddess Wow! Again perfect selection of beads beautifully placed and such an unique amazing piece! Thank you I thoroughly enjoyed this months COM
ReplyDeleteTruly beautiful, Miss Leslie. The colors and the textures, everything about them is fresh and new and wonderfully made. I love everything everyone did with them. Thank you for sharing your talents with us! Enjoy the day! Erin
ReplyDeleteTotally in love with both pieces. The first is really soothing and one I would wear to work so I could absorb its calmness. The second necklace however has the feel of the Goddess running through the water. That is one I would wear to rituals.
ReplyDeleteLovely component and design! Well done!
ReplyDeleteAwesome!...and two such different pieces!
ReplyDeleteLove. Love. Love. The goddess pendant is fab and that bead soup in the necklace park is gorgeous. Great mix of colors and textures. Ocean jasper for the win. The pendants were so earthy organic they made designing with gemstone beads a piece of cake!
ReplyDelete