Production

A few days ago, a blogger buddy contacted me about having a special piece made for his mom. We emailed back and forth about design ideas, and implements. We discussed color (s), a clasp, an accent bead. Eric really liked the look of an accent beads on the crochet ropes, so after we'd settled on a primary accent color, I quickly contacted my friend Teri to see if she had any red hearts in her existing bead stash.

See, most people don't realize this, but it can take up to two full days to complete a lampwork bead, depending on the finish, and how long you wish to anneal it, and how long you keep it in the kiln. Well, lucky me, she DID have some, but, she also had to finish filling an order for a local art gallery, so I wouldn't be able to get the bead until today. However, this would allow me quite a bit of time to complete the rope part of my design.

Wine red was the one color that was mentionned, and I just happenned to have two deep reds that I thought would work. So much so, that I mixed them both: black-lined transparent dark red, and silver-lined transparent dark red.

I remembered this deep silver-lined transparent 'root beer' brown 6/0s that I thought would look awesome, but then, I also remembered that they had been very unceremoniously dumped in a container together with some size 11/0 beads at some point, and that if I wanted to use them, I'd have to cull... So cull I did. Took me close to 45 minutes on that alone! LOL!

Once the beads were all mixed into a 'Soup', I thought there was still something missing to the mix. I thought of another 'amber-ish' color to add, but after spending about 20 minutes seperating THOSE from another pile, and mixing them in, I decided their silvery luster wasn't quite what I was looking for, they made the mixture look too 'cool', I wanted a 'warmer' effect , so I threw in a few transparent 'rose' beads, with a gold luster finish, and that just lightenned the piece right up.

I made two crocheted sections, that were to be connected by a large lampworked heart.


A large Teri Elliot heart, with silver foil lining, and two small accent rondelles. It was difficult to decided where I would insert the beads. Should I put one rondelle on each side of the heart? Should I keep them separate from the heart.... I opted for the latter, wanting the heart to stand out on its own. I used them to accent the clasp ends of the ropes.


The finished necklace, the heart is meant to be worn to the side.


This large sterling silver toggle was the third clasp I laid out, and I just fell in love with it as part of the necklace; gives it a more contemporary look. I like the clean lines.

I really hope that Eric's mom likes this piece. Actually, I hope she loves it. This was a very exciting experience actually, seeing as it's the very first time that a "Blogger" contacted me about ordering a piece. Bloggers Rule!

Peace.

Jewels



Comments

Not Ashley said…
it's gorgeous
Jodie said…
Beautiful!
Ace said…
Boy, I hope my Mom doesn't read your blog! :)

Personally, I think it's beautiful and she's going to love it. Full report post-holidays.

(Assuming, of course, I didn't just send money to a truck driver from Louisiana with a bunch of clip-art photos of beads and some little girl, and a penchant for con games.)

Word verification was "zions," and it's for a Jew. I guess that's a good omen.
Unknown said…
Oh gosh, Eric, I hadn't thought of that, LOL! Does your mom read YOUR blog? Do you think she'd link on here, if so, I'll just save this as a draft until she gets it!

Thank you M, and Jodie. Jodie, welcome. I LOVE your beads! fabulous work, especially those little corkscrews, they're awesome!
Ace said…
I wouldn't worry. She reads my blog sometimes, but usually doesn't wander off it. Heh. Scared ya, though!
Dino said…
what a great idea for a unique gift. I will have to keep that in mind
Unknown said…
Yes, yes you will..... ;)
She should love it - that was beautiful...
Unknown said…
Thanks Phos. I loved it too. It was difficult to let it go actually, LOL! So now, I'm making one for myself... just in different colors... ;)
Ace said…
Hey, I was gonna buy one off the rack. But no, you said custom! :P
Unknown said…
It doesn't matter how many pieces I make, I'll always encounter someone who'll want the exact same piece that is sitting on my table... "But, do you think you could make it in black, instead of red? And I'd like it just a bit longer..." LOL! Yeah, a piece just like that!

I welcome it though. Relish it, really. It gets my creative juices flowing, gets me all excited. :P (I KNOW Jin is relating at this very moment.)

K, expect yet another email from me, as I forgot to mention my guarantee. I'm so green....
Ace said…
It's here!

It's beautiful!

YAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Or, if you prefer, GOOGLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

It's everything I could have hoped for. And more. Except that when I hold it up, the heart goes the other way. How can you tell which side is the front? :)

(Please, God, let this only post once.)
Unknown said…
Oh, I'm so happy!!!

Okay, as for the heart, it'll sit flat once it's against her chest. (You're probably holding it in the air, right?), in any case, as you can see in the photos, it'll sit flat. And besides, only the wearer can decide which side will be the front or the back... ;)
LJ said…
Love it! The asymmetry makes the focal look even better.
Unknown said…
Thanks LJ, I was hoping it would turn out that way. ;)
Ace said…
For the record, my mother was absolutely delighted. Watch my blog for pix in the next few days!
Unknown said…
Yay! Delight is one of the main reasons I create jewelleries! ;)

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