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Be Happy!
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Tuesday 29 November 2011

The Challenge of Colour was a Challenge Indeed!


Phew! This was a HUGE challenge for me, mainly because this is really my firat attempt at making an actual piece of jewellery! (I'm not sure if I actually specified that to the lovely Miss Erin, because I was a wee bit worried that I wouldn't be able to play!) Therefore you have to please forgive me some technnical fumblings and less than professional finishings as I figured out how to do most of this as I went along (making jump rings for the first time people, was my learning curve steep or what?!) However I am pleased as punch with the outcome, my first necklace!


The second major challenge in all this was the fact that my pallette came with PINK in it. Now, this may not seem like a big thing to anyone out there but I am the original anti-pink girl. So much so that I once raised hundreds of pounds for Scottish Mountain Rescue by wearing pink for an entire day, my friends have SO many photos!) I thought I was stepping out of my comfort zone with green (I normally hide in purples and reds) but pink...hmm...
This is the pallette that the lovely Miss Erin picked for me...gorgeous isn't it?


See the lovely original pallette post on Miss Jessica Colaluca's Design Seeds blog here.

I did as Miss Erin said and printed it out...and contemplated it...and stared at it some more...then I think I ran away and hid because it was scary pink AND green! However, I am not such a wuss as that makes me sound so I armed myself with some 'orange-juice' and started brainstorming. Naturally, as a bookbinder, that gorgeous rose suggested layers of petals made of paper and my thoughts turned to books... What about a focal that was a book, made of layers of all the colours from the pallette, layered up like the rose? Now there's an idea, hmm... To work!


(please excuse the photos, I have just finished and taken photos and as it is 1am here there is no natural light to take adventage of! If I miraculously manage to surface early enough to prepare for my 9am meeting with the boss's boss and have coffee, I will try and get some better shots. Not sure that these show it but the centre layer is a glowing burnished gold with a partial layer of green handmade tissue paper with actual grass in it on top. I am using my pallette, all of it!)



I love the result (although I feel that I could have made a much better clasp, the ribbons are too over-powering although they do look fun on) and I hope you do too. I think I may have to turn my hand to this wonderful jewellery-making business again in the near future (all I can say now is that I need new tools, the pliers I have are up-cycled from some other use and are actually slightly rusty! Please don't faint in horror!) :)



Please check out all the other wonderful people taking part in this brilliant challenge, I can't wait to see what they have all created. I bet I will have half a notepad full of ideas when I have been through all these...
go look and be inspired!
Last, but very definitely not least, thank you so much to Miss Erin of TesoriTrovati for hosting this challenge and encouraging us to dip at least a toe in some unfamilliar waters. She never fails to inspire me with some tiny (or large) gem in her blog.

18 Tari Kahrs ~ Orange ~ Citrus Tones
35 CJ Bauschka ~ Teal ~ Teal Air
41 Jenni Connolly ~ Gray ~ Paw Tones

27 comments:

  1. This is just beautiful. I love the colours you had to work with and what wonderful elements you've used. Great take on the challenge

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  2. Very pretty...and it really looks lovely..even with pink in it! I am glad you joined in and made a necklace...hopefully the first of many to come. Beautiful job.
    jenni

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  3. How wonderful that you dipped more than a toe in unfamiliar waters, Miss Lizzie! I had no idea that pink wasn't your thing, so maybe I pushed you in the deep end with this palette, but I am so glad you persisted! Your sweet comments are making me blush. I love the idea of books as pendants and think that you should definitely explore more of that concept. Did you know that I used to be an English teacher? Books are very special to me. This is a perfect first foray into jewelry making, Miss Lizzie. Let's see how else you can be inspired!
    Enjoy the day!
    Erin

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  4. I'm an anti-pink girl myself and was surprised to find pink w/my chosen BLUE. You did awesomely for your first piece! It's so romantic and simply wonderful. Keep it up!

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  5. Lizzie, you amaze me! Never created jewelry before... right. :o) I love your spin on this beautiful color palette! You even interpreted the petals in the layered focal on your necklace. Beautiful!

    I hope this inspires you to keep creating! Have a wonderful day!
    {Hugs!}

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  6. Just beautiful. I love the book you made for the focal. The layering is wonderful.

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  7. I love the piece :) the book centerpiece you made is fabulous!

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  8. I love that you used your book making abilities, and applied them to making this necklace. You should be very pleased. It turned out great.

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  9. Your palette remindes me of cabbage roses. I really loke what you did
    Be blessed to be a blessing

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  10. I love how you embraced a color you don't really care for. Your necklace is just beautiful an so unique!

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  11. This piece is just too adorable! I love that you tried a color that isn't your normal color, but also that you tried jewelry too! ;) Congrats on really capturing your palette perfectly!

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  12. I love your piece! I would never have known that you weren't a jewelry designer - you did such a great job! Beautiful!

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  13. If you had not told us you were a beginner, I would never have guessed it. What a unique design, very pretty, very pink and very lovely. Looks like we have budding jewelry designer in the making... beautiful job.

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  14. That focal is absolutely gorgeous. I would not have been able to tell that you don't really do jewelry. A very pretty, feminine piece. I love it.

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  15. What a sweet & delicate piece. So unlike anything else I've seen today - or ever really. I really like it, and you've matched your palette and the photo in it perfectly :)

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  16. Be proud! It's a delightful piece! I am almost to the end of the hop and find your piece wonderful and refreshing and just so pretty! Yay you! :) Thank you so much for sharing it with us!

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  17. What a gorgeous first attempt at jewelry making -- but book craft is a great cross-over -- please do consider making small book pendants and adding them to your Etsy shop (which I already LOVE).

    (I have a soft spot in my heart for your part of the world and celebrated St. Andrew's Day yesterday)

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  18. What a beautiful, romantic necklace! Book lover as I am, I just adore this one. The ribbon wrapped clasp is cute and creative. Great work!

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  19. The center focal (paper?) really resembles the flower petals, spot on!

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  20. Well, I certainly hope you decide to continue making jewelry, cause I just adore that book! Check out Diane Cook's blog, she uses things like that all the time. I checked out your Etsy shop and faved it, so I can come back and find something for me! You make some beautiful books. Your talent and passion is evident in those lovely pieces!

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  21. Looking at this beautiful piece, I can't believe you are a beginner. Kudos for tackling a color that is scary for you - you rocked it!

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  22. Love your color palette and what you did with itYyou took your book arts skills and turned them into a gorgeous necklace.

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  23. I love that you used my leaf!!!! Beautiful Lizzie, and in pink! So proud xx

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  24. Your books are amazing and this necklace is a true work of art! LOVE!

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  25. What a delicate piece. It's unique and the book is great. You should be proud of the result.

    Ambra

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  26. Your design is so creative-I love it! Really beautiful. I also like the addition of the leaf. Well done!

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  27. Beautiful! I love the book, and it really does look like a work of art!

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