Friday, December 3, 2010

The Challenge of Color - Blog Hop



I am participating in a challenge hosted by Erin Prais Hintz. It's called the Challenge of Color, and she assigned each of us a paint chip we had to design a piece around. I loved my paint chip, the colors are really up my alley.

But, boy did I struggle! I went from this pile of goodies.


To this pile of goodies 24 hours later.


I worked on assembling the pile into some finished pieces last weekend while I was on the studio tour, it gave me something to do when we had some downtime. I really struggled with a fixed color palette, normally I just pick out beads I like and they somehow fall together into a finished piece! This involved thought, and more thought. Then I second guessed myself, tore the bracelet apart and made another one.

The finished pieces have my own lampwork beads (of course!), moonstone, pearls, swarovski crystals, some polymer goddesses, my own ear findings and a quartz drop.

This is what I wound up with for finished pieces, a pendant, bracelet and earrings. I've named it Garden Urn after one of the colors in my paint chip.




I am really happy with the pendant and earrings, I may have to keep them for myself! The bracelet doesn't thrill me, the dangle seems out of place to me.

I'd definitely do this again, it really got me thinking in a bit more of a calculating type manner than I normally do. It pushed me to work in a set color palette. Next time I may request a color palette outside my normal favorites for a BIG challenge.

Please check out Erin's blog and the other challenge participants work. There are some very creative people participating in this!


21 comments:

steufel said...

Your lampwork-beads are adorable!

Yeli said...

Great Job! Fabulous pieces

Courtney Breul said...

I love your color combo! The earrings are wonderful!!

My Life Under the Bus said...

I am so glad to hear other peoples creative process and know I am not the only one who makes things then instantly rips them apart! Beautiful job!

TesoriTrovati said...

So fun to have you playing along! I love that you struggled... I know that sounds odd, but it really is true! It isn't always easy or simple to come up with combining pieces, especially if it is not in your usual pattern to do so. So thank you for sharing the real truth of the matter. The truth is that I struggled too. Some took me inordinate amounts of time. Others none at all. But it challenged me to think of colors in more meaningful ways and I am glad that worked for you! I love your lampwork. Another thing to lust after.
Thank you for sharing your color with the world. I look forward to having you hop with me again sometime!
Enjoy the day!
Erin

Unknown said...

The pendent and earrings are most certainly keepers! You really had fun with this and thanks for the eye candy!

stregata said...

Beautiful work, lovely!

Lisa Godfrey said...

Hello! Nice to see another BC girl here! I love all 3 pieces but the necklace is my fav. I'd love to see more of your lampwork beads! I'm a bit of a lampwork addict. ;-)

Brandi Hussey said...

I absolutely understand the second-guessing part. But I think the resulting beads work so well together!

Rebecca said...

Lovely!

rosebud101 said...

Nicole, you did a wonderful job with your colors! I love what you did. I even like the bracelet!

BooBeads said...

Beautiful job!

I like the dangle on the bracelet :)

EmandaJ said...

Hello Nicole,

I LOVE your color palette and what you did with it. Wasn't this challenge FUN? Thanks for stopping by my blog. Your comment enters you in my random giveaway!

Emanda
Artemisia's Studio

Pretty Things said...

Very cool -- I liked seeing the process! And I REALLY love those goddesses!

Kari Carrigan said...

Very cool! What a great idea for a challenge, and I love what you were able to do with it. Beautiful pieces.

Nicki said...

i love all three of them. you did a wonderful job in putting those together.

EB Bead and Metal Works, LLC said...

I love your lampwork beads and espeically the goddesses! Thank you for sharing your process!

Karyn said...

Wow your colours are spot on... I love your lampwork beads... gorgeous! Well done.

Karyn
Australia

N Valentine Studio said...

Thanks everyone, I love beadmaking LOVE it! I am very lucky to be able to make beads as much as I do. I really enjoyed this challenge, I may challenge myself once and a while. Pick out a random paint chip, live a little!

Jen Judd said...

I'm like you...things just seem to fall together so it's interesting when you're "forced" to think differently. Love the combos you came up with!

Cindy said...

Sorry to come so late to the party, Nicole. I DO love your work and I'm so happy to discover your blog through the color challenge. Your beads are so beautiful and your finished pieces are gorgeous!
Cindy