ABS July Challenge

Still Life with Shells  1640

by

Balthasar van der Ast,  a Dutch Golden age Painter.

This 375 year old painting served as the inspiration 

for this months Art Bead Scene Challenge.

A muted color palate with pops of  yellows orange and reds.

Interested to learn more.... hop over the

 Art Bead Scene to read the full bio.

I stayed with the muted tones 

of the painting for my bracelet.

I did try adding the pops of color. 

Where it works in the composition of this painting.  

 It did not for me in this particular bracelet.

I went with the thinking

 "Just because you can doesn't mean you should."

The Art beads I used for this bracelet are:

Green Girl - pond button and Gaea's - ceramic bead.

My own handmade fish hook and a little wire wrapping.

Additional items used:

Sea Shells,
Carnelian round beads
 (remind me of the red berries in the painting), 

TierraCast conch charms, Lampwork beads,

Antique silver Bead caps and Misc beads.

Decided to do one more for the challenge.

Polymer Toggle by Me.
Misc .metal shell beads and  charms
with natural shells and glass pearls.
Similar toggles can be found in my Etsy Shop.

Pretty Palettes ~ July Inspiration

 Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis

Northern Lights served as this months inspiration

All the shimmering details can be found here.

AB finishes are a perfect go to for this challenge.

 I decided to use the Halcrat beads I had on hand 

as well as some others that seem to fit the theme.

59530 - Purple glass AB - 4mm round
I know the slider bead is also a Halcraft slider
bead but I have no item # on that one.

I made two bracelets to compliment one another
with that bead stash..

Here is what they look like separated.

I wanted the multistand to represent the 

expanse of the norther sky.

it can be quite mesmerizing and I get a feeling of calm 

looking at the Northern lights. 

Hence the "Serenity" word link.

 I went with the Teirracast tree of life button

 for no other reason 

than there was one in Frank's photo.

I had time to make one more bracelet...

Image by Mike Taylor - Taylor Photography

If you have time, check out his short video 

Here.

This time I used these
Purple acrylic druzy metal  links #94115

that I recently found at Michael's.

I paired them with
Purple Iris faceted rondelles 6x8 mm
and Blue Iris Czech 4mm beads.

Want to see what the others created 

click on this link here.

Earrings Everyday - July Challenge

This months inspiration comes from the 

Primitive quilt arts of the Siddi people.

To check out all the amazing details for this months challenge 

please click this LINK.

Words that I honed in on were

 Primitive and Discarded.

 So I have a box of

"To Be Discarded Beads." 

These blue beads are from that box.

I fashioned these "primitive" house shaped earrings.

Filled them with brick shaped beads which

 seem to echo some of the patch shapes in the quilt.

(Blue glass, Carnelian and Aventurine.)

I had also recently dismantled a necklace that 

I used the mesh wire ribbon.

Also of which was getting ready to be discarded. 

Which ended up providing a nice fiber accent. 

So that's how the materials were selected for this 

pair of earrings came to be.

I call these...Similar yet Different. 

 

This last minute pair also made from my 

"To be Discarded  Beads"

and left over bits of  Irish waxed linen cord.

If you want to see what the other participants 

came up with click on this link here.

OTTBS ~ July Challenge

July's challenge is

"On the Beach."

So what comes to your mind?

Family fun, Beach Umbrellas, or

 bright colored beach toys?

Sea glass, sea shells, sea weed?

Sand, pebbles, the various blues?

I went with the kiddie inflatable rings.

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/High-Quality-kids-swimming-ring-Float-baby-

inflatable-pool-float-circle-to-swim-children-2-colors/32319920011.html

 I was gifted the beads I used

  by my Mom and her friend Kay.

Both of them currently reside in Florida.

They don't match exactly...but are close enough.

Flipping them on their side seemed to 

solve that problem for me.

Thanks for visiting. At the end of the month I will 

add a link so you can see what the other

talented ladies came up with!