pinterest pin it

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Summer Carnival Blog Hop Reveal Day

It has been almost 6 months since I signed up for yet another of Lisa Lodge's blog hop challenges. I was sent a kit with a mix of crystals, sea glass and metal beads. The challenge create jewelry with a Summer Carnival theme.
Amazing selection of beads from Lisa
I had a plan for my project and everything was in a basket on my beading desk. The basket got moved and buried during the spring and early summer. As I was hopping for the Gemstone and Metal hop I saw the top image on a number of the other blogs and was reminded that I had signed up as well. So I had two weeks to make and photograph my project.

First my inspiration. Here is Toronto our big summer carnival is the Canadian National Exhibition (aka the CNE or the EX). Among my favourite parts of the EX is the International Building, to see products and crafts from around the world, and the Arts & Crafts Building, to see wonderful handcrafted products. I decided to make something inspired by a handcrafted necklace from another part of the world.

My inspiration necklace was a gift brought back from Ukraine by my friend and beading mentor, Maria Rypan. It uses to simple beaded bands and strands of strung beads.  This is made with various sized seed beads.

Inspiration layed out flat
Inspiration as it would be worn

For my version of this design I knew that I would have to use larger seed beads for the band. I used size 8 blue seed beads and size 6 silver tone metal beads. I beadwove 2 - 10 bands using diagonal weave. They are connected with 6 strands of beads from the kit and a mix of blue, yellow and silver tone beads.

Finished piece layed out flat

Finished piece as it would be worn
I like how my piece turned out. I did not use all the beads in my kit and will likely make some simple strung bracelets to go with the necklace.

Take some time to see was some of my fellow participates have created with their beads.

Our hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist
Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue
Karin Grosset Grange, Ginkgo et Coquelicot
Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera
Ann Schroeder, Bead Love
Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation
Kathy Zeigler Lindemer, Bay Moon Design
Heather Richter, Desert Jewelry Designs
Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations
Candida Elkins Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks
Catherine Yvonne King, Catherine's Musings
Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes
Shaiha Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings
Chris Eisenberg, Wanderware
Eleanor Burian Moore, The Charmed Life
 Marianne Baxter, Simply Seablime Jewelry
Carole Carlson, Bead Sophisticate
Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz
Christie Searle Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry
Dolores Raml, CraftyD's Creations 
Marianne Hurley, Reads and Beads
Marci Allen Koziolek, Krafty Max Originals

Happy Beading!

16 comments:

  1. You should do a blog about how to construct your necklace. It looks very complicated and probably requires math! Well done!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I like how your version turned out:) the bigger, lighter coloured beads really makes the design pop :) and you know, I've never been to the EX... I'll be forty this year and I've always lived within a two hour drive of Toronto... and yet, have never made it there for the CNE... of course, I don't do well is huge crowds like that, so... probably a good thing lol

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love the construction of your inspiration piece and then your necklace. I see so many people say (and I do as well) that they have trouble making multi-strand pieces fall right. This looks like a genius way to make that happen (if you know some bead weaving). Lovely necklace and well done!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love your adaptation of the Ukrainian piece, Jo-Ann :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Really neat design for your necklace.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a gorgeous necklace. I do have to say that I prefer your adaptation best. It really suits the lighter colors.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Jo-Ann, I think that your necklace is beautiful. I like it better than the original.

    ReplyDelete
  8. That is a stunning design! The way you linked the strands together is perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  9. love the multi strand necklace!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a great inspiration and gorgeous necklace you made. Amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I did the same thing, put the beads in a safe place and forgot all about them until the gemstone and metal hop. I love your necklace, it is so pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Great multistrand necklace, Jo-Ann! The design is really nice how everything falls into piece just right. Your brought back some memories for me of the CNE! I have been several times, and loved the international building. Thanks for being in the hop!

    ReplyDelete
  13. What a very pretty necklace. Nice that you found inspiration in something so personal to you.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Beautiful. reminds me if the costumes I saw at the Caribbean festival on Saturday. bead on sister

    ReplyDelete
  15. Your multistrand necklace reminds me of the multicolored lights strung above each carnival booth. The seaglass gives the piece the right pop of color.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Jo Ann, your multistrand necklaces are really pretty! I agree with Kathleen, they remind me of the lights that are strung at carnivals that light up the night. Your beadwork is fabulous & I like the way you connected the multistrands to the diagonal weave. :)

    ReplyDelete