Chained ...

A new parcel from FusionBeads arrived last week. Like an unexpected present :-). It was 4 different chains this time. Antiqued brass plated base metal. Chains ... how refreshing I thought ... I used to use chain in my jewelry all the time before, but lately over the last few months or so I have kind of gone away from it. You know how it can be, you are into certain things during different periods. So, yes, it was a little refreshing kick in my butt so to speak. Today I will present two pieces using two of the chains. I will come back and show you what I did with the other two in the coming week or so.

And hey, look at that one! The really chunky ball chain. 4mm each ball. You know what. I have never ever used ball chain. I have never ever bought it either. I have just never ever been keen on it before. But oooohhhh, this one, that's something different. I didn't know ball chain could come in this chunky-ness. I just had to start with this one. I played around putting together clusters of wire wrapped beads and art beads hanging from a larger ring sort of. Until ...

... until my eyes fell on this ceramic leaf that I have had in my stash for a good while now. By Tracee Dock of ClassicBead and ClassicElements. I adore this leaf, but have never known how make it justice, or how I would like to incorporate it in a jewelry piece. But look at this. Just hanging like that on a long chain. So simple, so perfect. The proportions work really well. A marriage made in heaven. :-) And now I am hooked on ball chain for the future. But I think, for me it has to be this chunky kind.

Next up, the 10 mm round links chain. Combined with a macrame knotted section with enameled beads by Barbara Lewis of PaintingWithFire. Waxed cotton cord and a magnetic ball clasp.

Finally I just thought I would share with you Charlie, my cat, who really likes to work as a prop when I take photos of my jewelry.

All my best,

Malin

The chains used in the pieces above were provided as part of the FusionBeads Blog Affiliate Program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.

ABS June Challenge Necklace - Somewhere Down The Crazy River

My contribution for the June Challenge at Art Bead Scene became a necklace. It has undergone a few transformations on it's journey to the final piece. Started off as a bracelet with Gaea's green button as the clasp and center piece. 7 strands of waxed linen cord strung with Delica beads size 11/0. But I couldn't make the clasp solution look good. Gave up after trying about 10 different ways. Moody about it of course. I really like all those strands.
One of the first things I picked out from my stash when starting on the challenge piece was the multi-holed pendant from RoundRabbit. Hey, look at that. I can combine them! I like!!!!

Also tried quite a few different solutions for the chain/ribbon part. Ended up simplifying it more and more. Now it's only a chain and a leather ribbon. And I kept shortening it too. I generally don't make necklaces as short as this one. But with a pendant like this you want it to sit higher. And you want the fringy bit to hang by the clevage.
Here's another pathetic try by me to take a photograph with myself as the model. This was the least bad one anyway. I might have a new solution to this "show the piece on" problem. Will see tomorrow how it works. Now I must add a note to this paragraph. I just realized this particular photo wasn't taken by myself at all. My 7 year old daughter took it for me. I guess she didn't keep her hand all that steady either ... Sorry for being unclear.

Below is the art piece by Odilon Redon we are supposed to be inspired by. It's a lovely lovely painting/pastel. And it was very easy to be inspired by it. I do have some more things simmering on my bead table for more contributions. We'll see if I finish any more of them off.Here on flickr you can see some more contributions from other jewelry artists. More will be added through until the end of the month. So keep coming back if you are the curious kind.

All my best!

Malin

3 Bats for Kata is almost ready!

I am very happy now!

Almost there!

Slowly but shurely!

Now we are in the middle of march. And it all started way back in the beginning of december. I knew then I wanted to do this necklace for my friend Kata. The 3 adorable bats are from Green Girl Studios. I ordered them from Fusion Beads just before X-mas, and they arrived at my home just after New Years'.

But I didn't have any idea at the time of how I would hang them. Upside down of course! But would they sit on a bulky chain, a thin chain, a beaded strand, a braided leather cord, a velvet ribbon or what? No, I wasn't pleased with any of those ideas. Too hard, too unbalanced, too robust and so on. And what colors?

And although I knew they would have the best place in the world just under Kata's neck pit I wanted them to have the perfect environment all in all. I wanted it to feel like the bats has it cosy where they are sitting, because they do look so content. And you have to believe that. Slowly but shurely the final design has taken form. The black Dupioni silk ribbon from Ornamentea arrived last week. And last night I sat for 2 hours trying many various ways to hang the bats so that they would sit the way I want. It wasn't the easiest considering the way they are constructed with a very big hole right through. How would I do to create a strong reliable connection to the silk, but yet it should seem the bats are actually kind of holding on to the ribbon with their feet. It musn't be lots of wire or string there to disturb the illusion. When I know what I am looking for expressionwise I do not want to give up on that idea. I think I have found it now!

Just a few more details left and it will all be finished! I have all the material I need at home, which is great.

Stuff that arrived in the post today

I bought these coloured chains and earhooks from www.beadsisters.co.uk.

I do not yet know what to do with them, but they are pretty and make me happy.