Wednesday 15 August 2012

Brit Pack Beaders Reveal


So, it's the post you've all been waiting for - the Brit Pack Beaders Inaugural Reveal! If you are wondering who exactly the Brit Pack Beaders are, check out my post here for full details but as a quick reminder, here we all are:

From left to right, Lesley Watt, me, Claire Braunbarth, Jo Tinley and the camera-shy (Little) Bo Hulley

Jo is not able to take part this time around as she is off globe trotting for the summer, but she very kindly sent us all our stringing materials anyway. 

And without further ado, here are my finished pieces.

N.B. My pictures are NOT GOOD. It's been dark and rainy here today - you know, because it's MID AUGUST in Manchester. So if the weather improves tomorrow and our puppy guest will allow, I am going to try and get some more pictures. 

These challenges are just so brilliant - working to a brief, or to a specific inspiration point can really push you in new directions. I would never have worked with this colour scheme off my own bat, and the large patinated ring from MissFickleMedia was something I've had for ages and just never quite figured out what to do with. I love them (that's why I bought them after all!) but couldn't quite figure out what best to do with them. Hence my sending them out for this - I knew if I had to use it, I would! And I am so glad I did - it formed the perfect porthole, or net mouth, for this pendant.


 I had recently been sent a small bag of bead samples (don't you just love that?) with an order of czech glass, all in goldy-greeny-olively glimmering shades and I mixed these in with the lovely little bead soup which Bo had sent. The colours worked perfectly together! I love that Bo had included some pearls in her mix - perfect for the seascape, beachy theme.

Do you see the cool gold/turquoise fabric bead off to one side?
Well, that is actually made by Carolyn Saxby, who took our inspiration picture

I've had a set for a while - and again, couldn't quite figure out what to do with them. But I just knew I wanted to fit one into this project if I possibly could. 

When I finished the necklace, I knew it would be my central creation for this challenge, and I realised I had totally missed out Jo's stringing materials so far. So I took a small piece of silk ribbon and tied it next to carolyn's bead. A little added texture and movement, which I find very pleasing. 


The earrings use the two awesome wrapped rings that Claire sent (love these!), my left over ceramic beads from Bo, and the shell charms, also from Claire. I don't often make asymmetric earrings but I quite like these. What do you think? Do they work for you?

I had really hoped to add a third to the mix today, but after having a slight disaster with an upcoming magazine project, I ended up with a lot more to achieve today that initially planned, and that idea sadly went out the window. I still have some gorgeous bits and pieces from Claire and Jo, one of my focals, and a smattering from Bo, which I WILL turn into something lovely on the same theme.

Thank you to Lesley for organising this first round of the Brit Pack Beaders. It's my turn to organise next so watch this space for our October challenge.

Please check out the other Brit Packers here:

Lesley
Claire
Bo
Jo (not playing this time but still blogging about her Antipodean expolits!)


14 comments:

aneri_masi said...

Gorgeous!!! I love the pendant and the "denim" earrings.

Heidi Post said...

The asymmetrical earrings are great - they're perfectly balanced, which is all that counts. It's so strange to see a necklace you made that looks so different from your usual stuff. It's very pretty and totally captures the spirit of the inspiration photo - how cool that you could use her bead in this! I love that you're all doing this challenge. What a great idea, and a nice small hop that doesn't take hours to get through. Can't wait to see what you'll have up next!

Alice said...

Beautiful! I love the way you wire-wrapped the beads to the ring!

And thos earrings are darling. The dark blue is fabulous!

bo hulley said...

The pendant is just amazing and quite beautiful, must have taken forever to do. Wouldn't know where to start..love the earrings too!

SmittenBeads said...

Very nice! Rebecca, Love it all! You've thrown me completely I so thought you were going to do a bracelet! You're a beady genius, what can I say xx

Shai Williams said...

What lovely pieces! That necklace is truly stunning and the earrings look so fun to wear.

Lesley said...

Great interpretation rebecca - I see that necklace on a mermaid (I know I'm weird) and it made me think of a song called 'Under Here' by Ute Lemper. The earrings are fab an funky too, I love the pieces CLaire made for us all. Thanks for joining in with this.

Therese's Treasures said...

Hi Rebecca,
I love your necklace it is gorgeous, it fits right in with the inspiration photo. The earrings are awesome I love the design. Looking forward to what you come up with for y'all to do next month.
Therese

bo hulley said...

I've just had another lovely look! Carolyn's bead just matches the photo perfectly. I agree with Claire, I was expecting a bracelet! Could your bracelet allegiance be wavering just a teeny bit?

Anonymous said...

Rebecca.......lovely, lovely pieces. I have some of those large rings that I used for earrings and have been wanting to use as part of a necklace. Maybe once school is back insession I will get to create! The ideas are swirling!

Heather Powers said...

I love that you guys have paired together for a challenge! The necklace is stunning. I like the idea of dripping in beads.

Green Shoot Jewellery Designs said...

Gorgeous necklace, Rebecca! I love the porthole and wire wrapping, fabulous! I also like how you added in a bead by Carolyn Saxby.
Great work!
Deb x

CraftyHope said...

That necklace is really eye-catching. I adore your wire wrapping in the hoop. It forms a great pile of beads and wire that is positively unique. The whole piece is stunning! What a fun challenge. I'm off to hop the other blogs and look forward to what y'all have in store for the future!

Cilla said...

I love it all. I like the earrings the best!

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