Thrift store blog hop reveal!

Reveal day is here and I have one finished bracelet to show you.  I have plans for more but nothing else materialized in time.  Let’s go back to the top on this, Sarah Goode of Pookledo challenged us to make a piece of jewelry from a thrift store find for less than £1.  I told you about my find at $1.40 that just squeaked in, as a reminder here is what I started with



Since I work with polymer, my radar is always tuned to finding anything that will produce a texture so that was what initially drew me to this little link bracelet.  My first step was to use it whole to impress a stack of polymer (like a rubber stamp) to create a mokume gane effect.  I will have to share that with you another day as the resulting veneers of polymer haven’t been made into any finished form yet, just patiently waiting sheets of polymer. 

Let’s just skip to what I do have to share!



Pardon the lighting differences, I missed the best times of day for a great shot.  I created those diamond shaped blue beads by impressing the polymer with one single link and then squishing from all sides to concentrate the texture.  I then used tinted liquid polymer to create a glaze on the top surface.  The bracelet came together with some other polymer beads I had made a few years ago that just happened to have the right shade of blue.  Throw in a few Swarovski pearls, seed beads and some memory wire and voila!  In the end I didn’t use any of my starting piece in the bracelet, oops.  Here’s what I’m left with



If you are a real detective you would have seen the original is made of ten links and there are only nine above.  One is tied up on my worktable in a stage of being partial covered in polymer, but I haven’t decided yet if it is done.  That link alone above will stay on my worktable for future patterns and textures.  That leaves me the two with the clasp and the remaining string which I may or may not break up for some earrings, still pondering that.  One plan I had was to tint the metal itself with alcohol ink but it was a complete fail so I have to embrace this metal tone, a stretch for me.
Thanks for coming by for a visit, I hope you hop on to see what everyone came up with from their thrift store finds

Sarah - www.pookledo.blogspot.co.uk
Deb - http://greenshoot.blogspot.co.uk/
Kimberley - http://goddessesandbeads.blogspot.co.uk/
Skye - http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.co.uk/
Ambra - http://chicandfrog.wordpress.com/
Beti - http://stringingfool.blogspot.com/
Emma - www.apolymerpenchant.com <--- you are here, thank you!
Shelley - www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com
Tammie - http://ttedesigns.blogspot.co.uk/
Leah - http://beadyeyedbunny.blogspot.co.uk/
Denielle - www.somebeadsandotherthings.com
Keri Lee - http://www.pinklemonade.typepad.com
Rochelle - acreativechelle.blogspot.com
Pam - http://pamelas-studio.blogspot.com/
Ingetraud - http://ingetraud.wordpress.com/
Audrey - http://esperianterra.blogspot.com/
Julie Anne - www.thepeacefulbead.com
Sharyl - http://www.sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com
Micheladas - http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com
Lo - http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.co.uk/
Kala - http://maybejustperhaps.blogspot.co.uk
Jo - http://jobunkum.blogspot.co.uk/
edit to add Dyanne - http://deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.ca/
Oh I almost forgot, there was one other thing I brought home with me from the thrift store that day for a whole $2.80


It’s not great quality, and it’s in rough shape but I really like how the top lifts and the two side pieces flip open  - like so



I’m thinking that with a little TLC it could become a great display piece for my next show.  Any and all ideas welcome since it’s been a month and I haven’t touched it yet.

Ok now get hopping!

Third time’s the charm

With bead soup fixins needing attention I kicked it in to high gear to get my Art Bead Scene challenge pieces done – one whole day early!  I had hopes of getting it done right at the start, even had the groundwork going. True to my nature though, if I have the time, I take the time.
Let’s get down to it! Here is the inspiration



Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks an interesting choice to me.  In searching for a starting point I’m immediately drawn to the woman dressed in red.  I can’t quite decide if the body language is a relaxed enjoyment of keeping a good night going by one more stop. Or, if it’s more a case of “I thought we were going out dancing, what gives?”  Either way she looks finely dressed and could sure use some fantastic jewelry.
I hit up the library for some more inspiration to help with appropriate styling.  Forties Fashion by Jonathan Walford was a pretty comprehensive view of the era and helped me form some more ideas.  I decided to keep the palette simple black and red since she’s a red head in a red dress.  Lastly, with the poppies blooming in my yard that shape was stuck in my head too.

Here it is -- Hot Date



A little lava bead, onyx, horn, chain and fantastic button to set off my handmade polymer poppies.  These poppies took four separate curings to achieve the dimension and strength of all polymer connections – ie no glues.  I was torn about where to drill the holes knowing that the large front was going to want to obey gravity and tip forward if it were centre drilled I thought I’d just drill the top third. Then I decided part of the joy of poppies is the way they flow all over in any wind because they are exactly that, top heavy on a wispy stem. 



So leaning forward a bit, one will hang down.  Straighten up and it turns to the side.



Knowing that this would be a bit untamed I considered the back also, so you get one more poppy around the backside



She needed earrings, simple earrings.



Vintage, well 80s, aluminum chain links with polymer rounds attached by cotton cord.

Of course, I had more beads I made up before I had a design idea.  I thought they could come together with some leather for a funky modern bracelet.  But hammers and sleeping 2 year olds don’t mix the same way my modern bracelet idea doesn’t fit on this forties chick.



This will be taken apart, but there’s the start of an idea there… somewhere…

I’m happy I’ve been able to do the last three challenges after spending so long not joining in.  My new goal – finish out the year and do them all!