So, I was lucky enough to be selected as one of the winners to participate in the Art Jewelry Elements Blog’s January Component of the Month Challenge! I was sent a secret handmade component by Caroline Dewison of BlueberriBeads. When it arrived in the mail, I was so excited about how lovely it was! The leaves are so crisp and pretty!
However, I was a bit concerned because it was so much bigger than the beads I usually work with…
I needed inspiration, so I went to visit my local bead stores. I knew I wanted to bezel the lentil, but didn’t want to cover up too much of the design with beads. Luckily, my friend Carole Ohl suggested using Tila beads to make an openwork frame. Bezel? Check!
I wanted to add some color somewhere, so I used the blue/gray Tila beads. I tried to incorporate that blue in the necklace to keep the piece from being too washed out. I decided on a spiral rope using blue/green iris hex beads, matte black drops, and seed beads in black, matte off-white, and reflective blue. I then finished it off with a black toggle set.
I am really happy with the finished result.
Thanks so much to the AJE team for letting me participate and thanks to Caroline Dewison in particular for sending me such a pretty piece! :D
Now for the “hop” part of this blog hop! Check out what everyone made in this glorious stash-busting event!
Wescott Jewelry 
Love this necklace! The color of the beads you choose really highlight the focal.
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Thanks, Shai! (beautiful name, btw)
And thank you! I don’t really like working with stark contrasts and warming up a black and white focal was tricky for me. The Tilas were a total whim and everything just clicked into place nicely from there!
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Beautiful piece, the bezel is such a great idea and the spiral is gorgeous.
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Thank you, Karin! I don’t usually make such large, loose, loopy spirals, but I am really happy with how this one turned out!
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Love this monochrome design – very striking and a great way to set off Caroline’s bead.
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Thanks! I wanted to avoid straight up black and white, but I tried really hard not to distract from the focal. Glad to hear I managed! :D
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I’m thrilled to see what you’ve done with my component Samantha, you did an amazing job. The bezel is really cleverly done and the rope is stunning! Thanks for playing along :)
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I’m so glad you like it! Thanks for sending me such a lovely piece!
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Hi Samantha, Your design is wonderful. You showed that focal to full advantage.
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Thanks, Becky! I really liked yours too – that wire coil centerpiece is super cool!
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Beautiful necklace! I took part too :D Christine http://christinesjewellerybox.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/aje-challenge-reveal.html
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Lovely! What an unexpected combination…love that tila bead capture too…I’ll have to give it a try. Thanks for playing!
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My friend Carole Ohl runs a bead store about an hour from me. She sells all sorts of lampwork and is always coming up with great ways to incorporate big focals with more delicate seed bead work. The bezel idea came straight from her. :D
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Wow that looks like alot of work! A really lovely piece and it must have taken so long to make, anyone who deals with such tiny seed beads and can make such beautiful pieces really is a wonder!
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You’d be surprised how quickly a spiral can work up. I loved your design too. The eclectic look is so cool.
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I love the bezel you made for your bead. It’s along time since I did any beadweaving, I haven’t seen lampwork beads be given this treatment – love it!
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Thanks, Yvette! I was stymied by the size of the focal, but I think the proportions worked out alright. Big lampwork focal = big seed bead spiral! :)
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Mesmerizing design. Bravo!
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Thanks! :D
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Wow this is gorgeous. Just everything about it!
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Spectacular! You framed that bead so perfectly! The rope is fantastic, the perfect showcase!
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Wow! That’s fantastic! I adore the framework for the bead and the rope is divine! Thanks for participating in the design challenge this month and for reading AJE!
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Thanks, Jennifer! I love AJE and was ecstatic to be able to participate. :D
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Crazy cool! That bezel is genius. As someone who is adept at bead embroidery but a novice at bead weaving… so inspiring. Im glad Caroline’s bead was a challenge and an inspiration! Thats the dynamic duo! Thanks for participating!
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What an amazing necklace you have created!!! The bezel is super cool and I’m so impressed with your spiral chain. I took a class to learn how to do that and I was just about tearing my hair out in frustration. You have my admiration!
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it looks great! such a clever solution. I love the beaded rope
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