 Available here in my etsy shop |
| I am part of a really exiting team of designers - the Allegory Gallery Design Team. Every month from February 2012 - January 2013, we're all going to be blogging about new pieces of jewellery we have designed using materials from Allegory Gallery. We are able to combine these materials with those from our own stashes (rather overflowing in my case :-)). Andrew Thornton sent each of us on the team an exciting package of goodies, from his new Gallery and Boutique in Legonier, Pennsylvania. (You can check them out on facebook too and why not like them whilst you're at it? For every 100 new likers they get before the 1st April, they will receive free advertising dollars!) |
I started work on my first piece this week. I knew I wanted to use the delicious ice tea lucite rounds that Andrew had selected for me - two sizes, one 12mm I think and the other 8mm - off the top of my head, I am very bad at sizing beads by eye! They are lovely and light, and have gorgeous swirls in them - each one slightly different. I believe they are vintage and I certainly haven't come across beads quite like these before. I have recently placed my first order from earthenwoodstudio.com and thought that this sweet oval key pendant would go perfectly with them. I then did my usual thing of sifting through my messy tiny portable table, covered in beads so that I can't actually work on it, looking for other bits and pieces that would add interest to my necklace. Fat, creamy freshwater pearls from precioussparklebeads.co.uk, fresh linen and hemp cord, some lovely tiny green Japanese rounds also from Allegory Gallery, and it seemed only fitting to use a Green Girl Studios clasp, from Andrew's family. (And by the way, if you are lucky enough to be in the area, I believe that Allegory carries both Earthenwood and Green Girl goodies, along with the ice tea and vibrant green beads I've used here.) I layered some co-ordinating green buttons and for the final finishing touch, I added a very special vintage button that I've been hoarding for the perfect piece....The beautiful rhinestone button was sent to me by fellow AGDT member, Sally Russick of The Studio Sublime, as part of a bead swap that we did last year. I have been holding onto this little beauty for a while and I'm glad it's found it's home here!
Here are some macro close ups:
I took these shots this morning, out on our tiny fire escape to nowhere (it's corrugated iron, tiny, but with no ladder or steps. Technically a balcony I suppose, but far too grand a term I think!). Here's the this morning view from the fire no-escape.
Brrrr! I don't like the cold!The light isn't great at the moment so I really struggled to get a decent shot of the entire necklace. 8 months on, I still haven't fully got the hang of my new camera! It's always reliable for macro shots though, so I am pretty pleased with this collage from Picnik.com. (Anyone else totally gutted that Picnik is closing by the way? It's such a useful tool :-() Hopefully you can see just how pretty all of the components are in these close up shots. Click the button below to see the other i heart macro entrants.
Do also check out the other Allegory Gallery Design Team members. Brenda posted here and Penny put up her post yesterday - others will follow throughout the month.
