2011 Fall Challenge Blog Hop Reveal!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 1:00AM October snuck up on me in a big way, but with it comes a bunch of cool things. One of those cool things is Michelle Mach's Fall Challenge Blog Hop. And the reveal happens today!
If you arrived here through the Hop, thanks for visiting! As you read this, I'm most likely drooling over reveals on the many other happenin' blogs whose writers also put themselves up to the challenge.
So let's do this. My Very Vintage Fall Challenge design is . . . . probably one of the weirdest things I've ever conjured:
I actually wanted to do something outside of my usual comfort zone for this, and I knew I wouldn't have a huge amount of free time to experiment. Ultimately, I somehow got the idea for a dream catcher. It's an odd dream catcher, melding American Indian folklore with vintage style findings, beads, and velvet. But it was pretty fun to put together, and I taught myself a new technique: dream catcher web weaving. So I have no complaints. :)
The round frame is an old base metal bangle, wrapped with lovely, deep brown velvet ribbon from Beadaholique. I used brown C-Lon (and a beading awl, for help with tight spaces) to weave the web. Next, I painted the branch and bead cap with caramel colored Adirondack alcohol ink, sealed them with Mod Podge, and glued them to the frame with a little E6000.
Strung 15/0 glass seed beads bind the plastic leaves (which I also blotted with alcohol inks) and other accents to the frame. To create a lovely hammered texture on the Vintaj leaf blank, I used my trusty Old Ball Peen Hammer (and I love the way it turned out).
The bottom drop features a beautiful lampwork glass bead I've been holding onto for years (love the mix of fall colors). And I pierced the hole at the bottom tip of the branch using metal hole punch pliers (a tool you should not be living without).
As the for the bad dreams I hope my dream catcher will catch: anything left over from the trauma of watching Blair Witch on opening day. (Yeah, I'm still holding onto that.) }:-/
Now, be off to visit the other Fall Challenge reveals! Here are the blogs you need see:
The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Melinda Orr Metal & Clay Jewelry Designs
Thanks again to Michelle for organizing the Hop! Visit her blog often and watch for an announcement of the next challenge to learn how you can get involved.
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Reader Comments (15)
Very Cool! I would have never thought to go that route! I feel like I make a lot of necklaces with my beading challenge projects, you did a great job thinking outside the box!
Lovely dreamcatcher! The design is so nice and balanced: enough embellishments to add interest without being too crowded or heavy. Nice use of the drop as a bail.
II enojoy seeing that it's not only jewellery in this challenge. Very inspirational.
Thanks you guys! :)
This is sooo creative! Love it!
A dreamcatcher for Autumn dreams! I love it! Beautifully made and unique in design! Great job!
Wow. So cool. Really creative! I like it so much.
What a fun way to step out of the box! I LOVE your dream catcher!
Glad I revisited the list, or I might have missed your dreamcatcher. It is really cool - great job!!
Thanks everyone!
I felt terrible about posting late! My auto-pulishing feature malfunctioned, and I'm on the west coast so . . late, late, late.
This is so unusual and so beautiful....Great use of all of the elements. I love the colorization of the branch. Well done!
I love the acorn! What an unusual idea for this challenge. Great job!
What a great way to use the components! I love the idea of the dreamcatcher!
What a creative idea, I love it! Your web weaving is brilliant and just draws the eye straight to the centre.
lovely! it's so nice to see a non-traditional piece!
Wow - this is way cool!! So beautiful and what a lovely, lovely idea! Nice way to showcase everything, too!