October 27, 2013

Octoberfest 2013 Celebration of Autumn - Reveal and Blog Hop

  Today Rita of Toltec Jewels is hosting the Second Annual October fest:A Home & Hearth Blog Hop Celebrating Autumn's Splendor with Beads, Jewelry, Home Decor, Food, Friends & Family! 

  


  As you have probably noticed already, autumn colors are absolutely my favorites - I love all the different shades from yellow to orange and red!!! And how could I let go a challenge that celebrates these colors??!! No way!!! :-D

   I love the color of the leaves in autumn and I love the khaki fruit (persimmon) - it's one of my absolutely favorite food. I love the warm autumn temperatures, a little less the shortening of the days ...

  The first idea for my Octoberfest necklace was a big leaf pendant. I had no idea about the whole piece, I just knew I want to create a polymer clay leaf. I was playing a little bit with the clay, but my hands almost immediately had a pretty clear idea what they wanted to do, so I've let them do ...


   I usually like simple designs, so I was thinking about a simple beaded rope and I've taken out my seed beads, and put some different sequences on a beading wire to chose the one I like most. However, in my immagination the leaf had to be alive, on a tree playing in the wind, with some little branches around ... so I've used many more copper seed beads to build a net of branches.

 And this is the whole picture:


   I know you don't see the clasp ... it has to be added and then I'l show you the whole piece. I'm currently visiting my relatives and I've forgotten it home :-$
  I've played a little with some different backgrounds to show you how the colors of the pendant change ...  

The leaf pendant on dark wood ...

... on the green grass ..

... and on my hand. Well, I have to warn you, my hands are quite big so the dimensions are not the standard ones ;-)

If you have some time or if you'd like to see how the autumn inspires other artists, you're more than welcome to take a virtual trip and  hop to the following blogs:

Toltec Jewels (Rita, our hostess)  www.JewelSchoolFriends.com  
Caroline                                       http:// Carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com
Andrea Glick-Zenith                     http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/
Dolores Raml                               http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com/
Karla Morgan                               http://TexasPepperJams.blogspot.com
Susie Harris                                 http://jewelleryjunkie.blogspot.com/
Susan                                          http://libellulajewelry.com
Mischelle                                      http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com/
Billi                                               http://billi-rs-rothove.blogspot.com/
Kay Thomerson                           http://kayzkreationz.blogspot.com/
Jean Yates                                  http://prettykittydogmoonjewelry.blogspot.com/
Kelly Hosford Patterson               http://travelingsideshow.blogspot.com
Kathy Lindemer                           http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com
Liz E                                            http://beadcontagion.blogspot.com
Jasvanti Patel                              http://jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com
Christie Murrow                           www.charisdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com
Jodie Marshall                             http://marshalljodie.blogspot.com/
Andrea Trank                              http://heavenlanecreations.com/
Dini Bruinsma                              http://angazabychanges.blogspot.nl
Elsie Deliz Fonseca                     http://ladelizchica.blogspot.com/
Pepita                                         www.pepita-handmade.blogspot.com   <--You are HERE!
Karla Morgan                              http://texaspepperjams.blogspot.com/
Kathleen                                     http://99bobotw.blogspot.com/
Vera Lynn                                   http://veradesigns.blogspot.com/
Rana Wilson                               http://ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com/
Catherine King                           http://catherines-musings.blogspot.com/
Lily Vincent                                 http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.co.uk/
Janice Hidey (Janimar)               http://drawingthelinesomewhere.com/
Cory Tompkins                           http://TealwaterDesigns.blogspot.com
Candida Castleberry                  www.spunsugarbeadworks.blogspot.com
Cynthia Kent Machata                http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com/
Alicia Marinache                         http://www.allprettythings.ca
Linda Anderson                          http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com
Leah Curtis                                 http://beadyeyedbunny.blogspot.com/
Jennifer Reno (JenRen)              http://jenrenjewelry.blogspot.com/
Robin Reed                                 http://willowdragon.blogspot.com/
Tanty Sri Hartanti                        www.tjewellicious.blogspot.com
Lisa Lodge                                  http://gratefulartist.blogspot.com/
Ingrid A.                                      http://lilisgems.wordpress.com/
Judy Turner                                www.silver-rains.blogspot.com
Gina Hockett                               http://freestyleelements.blogspot.com/
Nelly May                                    www.smellynelly.blogspot.com
Tanya McGuire                           http://tanyamcguire.blogspot.com/
Ahowin                                        http://www.blog.ahowinjewelry.com
Sonya Stille                                 http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com
Pam                                            http://www.klassyjoolz.blogspot.com
Carol D.                                      http://dillmansdallies.blogspot.com/
Asri Wahyuningsih                      http://asribeadwork.blogspot.com/
Ginger Bishop                             http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com
Janine                                         http://www.esfera.me/travel/blog/travel-stories
Shaiha Williams                          http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/
Be happy,
Alenka 
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October 19, 2013

Swaps, Swaps, Swaps ...

  Huh, I'm not very active here lately, am I? In fact I'm not creating very much lately as well. Specially from when the school started again the days are just disappearing, have no idea how. 

  Fortunately, there are always some swaps and challenges that "force" me to find some moments for creating!!!

  In August Tonja Lenderman from the FB My Clay Fantasy Group hosted an inchie swap and I've decided to participate in 2 groups. That means I had to create 2 sets of 12 inchies (1in x 1in or approx. 2,5 cm x 2,5 cm tiles).

  These are the inchies I've created for the swap:

 For the first set I've recreated the pattern I've used for a pair of earrings some time ago - a dandelion.



For the second set I was playing with geometric shapes, pastels and liquid clay, shiny and matte finishes.


  Tonja organized the participants in groups of 12 people. Each participant received back one inchie of every member of the group (including my own).
 
  Do you want to know what have I received?

The first set I've received.

And this is the second set I've received.

I really hope the names are all right, because some of the inchies didn't have the card included. If no, please let me know and I'll change it. 

So many beauties, all so different. I'm really happy to have participated in this swap and already signed for another one ;-) It's also a great opportunity to receive some little pieces of art from other artists all around the world. 
So, be prepared to see more inchies on this blog.

~~~

 In the meantime I've signed up for more challenges and swaps:


Art Charm Exchange 2013
reveal: November 15


Jennifer Cameron of Glass Addictions is hosting the 2013 Art Charm Exchange benefiting Beads of Courage. I've participated last year and couldn't miss this year's event. My art charms were sent out this week and now are flying over the ocean to USA. Hope they arrive in time to Jen's place. I'll tell something more about this in a separate post.



Octoberfest Celebration of Autumn
reveal and blog hop: October 27 
 

Rita of Toltec Jewels is hosting the Second Annual October fest:A Home & Hearth Blog Hop Celebrating Autumn's Splendor with Beads, Jewelry, Home Decor, Food, Friends & Family! 



Inchies Swap Fall 2013
hosted by Jael Thorp

More inchies!!! I've signed for two groups, that means I have to make two sets of 12 inchies that have to be in Jael's hands by November 30.



Share the Love of Hearts Swap in 2014 
hosted by Kimberly Idalski

Each participant have to make 10 hearts per group and I've signed for two groups again. The hearts shouldn't be larger than 2 inches all ways, not smaller than an inch, not higher than 1 inch and could be dimensional. All the hearts have to be in Kimi's hands by February 28, 2014 (just on my birthday!!).
Be happy and keep following me!
There will be more, I'm sure!!

Alenka
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October 2, 2013

Autumn Design Challenge Reveal

   I was one of the 20 winners that were randomly chosen by Caroline of Blueberri Beads and Lesley of THEA Elements and received some of their beautiful components to participate in the Autumn Design Challenge.



   I was so excited when the package arrived and impatiently opened it to find these beauties:
 


  The metal pieces are made by Lesley and the ceramic beads are made by Caroline. 

  This was the first time I was using bigger metal components and handmade ceramic beads and I wanted to make them justice.  I have to say I spent a lot of time contemplating the components and thinking about the arrangements and additional beads and type of pieces  I want to make. It seems my inspiration got distracted too often and I kept changing my mind... 

  Finally, I have finished 3 different pieces: two bracelets and a brooch.

  For the first bracelet I've used Lesley's bracelet bar - I wanted to highlight the floral design on the bar and keep it simple, elegant at the same time. In my small seed-beads stash I've found some golden metallic cubes and decided to make a narrow brick stitch belt on both sides. To make the "back side" more interesting I've put some beads on the rings between the belt and the clasp.
  For the second bracelet I used all Caroline's ceramic beads and recreated similar beads in polymer clay in a brighter color for some contrast. A piece of cotton cord, a few knots and here it is:



  The only component left was the metallic leaf pendant. I wanted to make something different than usual with it and that's how this brooch came out. The flower is polymer clay with some acrylics, bronze patina and Inka golds. I'm still not happy with the result and I'll probably change or add something. 



 
  Thank you Lesley and Caroline for this opportunity to play and create with your components!!

  And now take a cup of coffee or tea and take a virtual trip to see the creations of the hostesses and the other participants of this fun challenge:




Be happy,
Alenka
 
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