Wednesday, November 30, 2011

It's a Day of COLOR - 2nd annual Challenge of Color Blog Hop

Hello dear friends,

A week or so ago, I mentioned that I was going to be participating in a Challenge of Color Blog Hop, hosted by the lovely Erin from Treasures Found blog.
Erin has used 12 colour palettes in her own design challenge...take a look...they are stunning!

Just to re-cap what we did - all participants chose a color and were then allocated a colour palette by Erin which came from Jessica at Design Seeds. Jessica has some very unique colour palettes...take a peak; they are gorgeous.

I chose the colour Gray and was allocated "Paw Tones" It is just so soft and pretty...I love it.

"Paw Tones"

As soon as I saw the palette colours, I knew I had the perfect focal bead for it. My friend, Georgie, gave me this wonderful lampwork owl bead and I have been saving it for just the right piece - and this was it. 
The gorgeous greenish base of the focal bead is made with glass from CIM, called 'Kryptonite' which has been etched giving it that soft beachy-type of look.


Owl bead focal.

In the past (not that I have done many!) I have challenged myself by learning something new for each  design challenge. This time, I added a partial coil 'frame' to the bead to give it some weight for hanging purposes and to add additional depth and colour to the area. It also ties in with the use of copper throughout the necklace. Shaping the coil was a little tricky as you can see the bead is irregularly shaped. But I am happy with the result.
This is the first time I have made all my own copper elements from head pins to clasp, coil  and tag.... so I feel I have been true to my own design wishes.

"Owlet"

I added Peruvian Opals, glass daggers, Gray Quartz in light and dark gray, small, matt labradorite beads, tiny metal beads and gray Sari silk. (This is the first time I have used Sari silk ... I am loving it and know I will be using it again.)


This shows the interesting glass daggers that I bought recently...  they reminded me of feathers on the owl. The triangular design on them is silver. I love the variation in colour in the Peruvian Opal. One colour was a little darker than in the palette range, but I left it in as I felt it gave an added colour depth that was needed.

Sari silk and hand-made copper hook and eye clasp. All the copper was darkened with Liver of Sulphur.

I called my necklace "Owlet" as the little owl on the bead really reminded me of an owlet about to leave the nest. (I made a little copper "Fly" tag, too ... yes, a bit corny, I know, but: Oh well!

So that is the story of my palette challenge.

Below is the list of all participants .... have fun blog hopping.

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

Goodnight (yep, night-time in Australia)

Jenni

36 comments:

coffeeaddict said...

The owl pendant is incredible, I love the copper coil you used to surround it.
Also nice to see the lovely glass daggers in action :-)

Amy S. said...

Oh my goodness - you made perfect use of your palette - and I LOVE that owl focal. This piece is beautiful!

Courtney Breul said...

Your focal is perfect! I love the colors, wire work and texture. Such a great piece!

JeannieK said...

The opals really compliment the focal. Good job on the coiling, it's perfect

T... said...

beautiful creation, love the textures and your owl focal is stunning.....

Therese's Treasures said...

Jenni, Your necklace is gorgeous! You did the owlet( I agree with you it looks like a baby owl) pendant justice along with your color palet. When I saw the little fly charm I thought it appropriate for the necklace.
Therese

TesoriTrovati said...

Miss Jenni! I just knew that this was the perfect palette for you! I absolutely love what you did. From the stone choices, to the sari silk, to the pretty focal bead, it was meant to be! I am particularly delighted that you set out to challenge yourself to learn something new with each challenge you take up. That is right up my alley! Thank you so much for accepting the Challenge of Color and playing along with me. Enjoy the day!
Erin

Tanya said...

Truly stunning. I love the silk and all the beads you chose. It just took my breath away.

Maneki said...

Lovely necklace -- and cool owl! I like that you used darkened copper rather than silver to go with the soft palette, adds some depth and weight to the design. And nice touch with the silk, which goes so well with the overall softness of the colours you worked with.

Dawn Doucette said...

Jenni, I love your "owlet" - it's adorable! I love the touch of aqua with the grey. Great color palette!
{Hugs!}

Alice said...

I just love your beautiful necklace! The focal is gorgeous, as are all the lucious beads. Your handmade elements are fantastic!

My Life Under the Bus said...

OMG I have never put green and grey together this is stunning! So soft and romantic with the copper - this reminds me of a chilly November afternoon - like today here! Just beautiful - and I love the little owl - great job Jenni! XO

I LOVE color! said...

What a soothing palette. and I love it that you rea using copper. Nice design as well.
Be blessed to be blessed

Cynthia said...

ooooooh, that Owl bead is great! And the necklace is pretty cool too! Great job.

Georgie Field said...

Gorgeous considered work! Those daggers look fab with their little caps and all the stones and combinations are divine. So pleased for you that you did all the component work, it works very well together. Can't wait to see it IRL. Oh and I am also pleased, honored and gratified and tickled pink (or kryptonite) with the consideration and thought you showed in waiting for the right inspiration for the focal, and making me look good (lol), thanks :-)

Mary Lamoray said...

Marvelous!! And I really like the coiled edging... such an interesting piece and all the colors are perfect for the focal...which by the way, is very cool! Excellent job!!:)

Anonymous said...

Jenni! You nailed the challenge!! The necklace is beautiful and you did such a great job with the partial frame!! Love it!!

beautifullybrokenme said...

I love, love, love this necklace! From the color palette to the wirework, you absolutely nailed this challenge! The sari silk reminds me of owlet feathers, and the sea green focal owl is perfect. Beautiful work! :)

Shai Williams said...

This has to be my favorite necklace of the hop. It is one of those necklaces that is truly inspired.

KayzKreationz said...

I love it. All the copper components are great. And that focal is perfect with it. Plus the way you enhanced it with that coil is wonderful. Very nice.

Kathleen Lange Klik said...

Gorgeous design. I was expecting something delicate when I saw your color palette, but you really wowed me with your creativity! The patina added to the copper complements the soft hues beautifully. The wire work is really fun to. Nice work.

Bobbie said...

Oh, my, I love this necklace! The owlet is precious, but you did such a wonderful job of complementing and highlighting it. And you reflected the calm nature of the palette so beautifully. Yum.

Regina said...

Awww! how cute is this? Love the colors and the beads you have chosen. Great design!

Shirley said...

Totally impressed with all your wirework! The colors are wonderful, I love the soft flow of the piece. Great job!

SoulsFireDesigns said...

What an amazing necklace! So soft and beautiful, yet still manages to be completely striking! Love it!

Heidi Post said...

Must. Chew. Those. Paws!

I love your necklace, wow - beautiful palette, and such interesting beads you've picked. I'm a fiber fan too :) Really cool!

Starstruckbooks said...

So cute! Really captures the feel of the pallette. I am wowed by your wirework too, being a newbie to all this I know exactly how much work goes into every single little piece!

Mary K. McGraw said...

Absolutely love your design and love that whimsical owl focal. What a good idea to additionally challenge yourself by doing a new technique. The coiling is just what that bead needed.

EmandaJ said...

FABU! Gorgeous piece.

Anonymous said...

This necklace is so beautiful! Love everything about it, and the color palette is to die for! Great job.

Maria said...

Love this! The lampwork is perfect too!

Unknown said...

I think I will keep this palette in my stash for inspiration.

Lori Bowring Michaud said...

Just beautiful Jenni, I love it!

CraftyHope said...

Oh my! Your necklace is so very ...well, I can't seem to find the words for it. I can say that it gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling. The colors are just beautiful, but you made them shine! Wonderful.

Anonymous said...

I really like how you framed your focal. The necklace is so nice!

Ambra

SueBeads said...

Gorgeous work Jenni! I love the palette and the necklace is fantastic!

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