Dini Bruinsma from Angaza by Changes is hosting a design challenge on Bead Soup Cafe, a group I am part of on Facebook. It is a really friendly place where I have met many many like minded designers.
This is what the challenge is all about:
“The hostess will post an inspirational picture on BSC’s main page, along with a short blurb to get all artists inspired to create something. Once the deadline for entries passes, everyone (open to all, not just those who have entries) will have a chance to vote on the pics in the photo page for a final week.”
Dini posted this beautiful photo she took when travelling in Ethiopia featuring people of Turmi. (Its a town in South West Ethiopia.)
I saw the picture and thought of some lovely Jasper beads I have. Well I had 4 beads left from the strand. And the colours were shouting Copper and Silver. I do like combining the two so something had to be created that had both. The beautiful bangles and anklets people are wearing are very appealing too!
I have been playing with the wig jig and making flowers for a while now which have been used in my designs. So I made another flower… a bit of copper and a bit of silver joined together with twisted copper wire with the Jasper bead at its centre. it is quite a chunky flower and I think I will make more of these for future projects. Maybe in different colours… It will work best as a focal I think.
So I made the flowers. I did think of making a bracelet with all 4 I made but a single flower works better. And then my eyes were just drawn again and again to the silver rings in the picture and I had to use that look somehow. So I went back to a wire bead design from an amethyst necklace I made last year.
The picture below is my entry first for the challenge. I am hoping to make a necklace to match too before the 12 March deadline. Its competing with some absolutely brilliant designs so I have no idea where I will rank, but I have entered it and I am very proud of my new bracelet.
Another piece that might not make it out to the website or fairs as I will hide it in my personal jewellery box! But this is a style I know I can re-create if anyone wants one like it. I don’t have any more identical jasper beads in stock at the moment but I am sure I can get more. Or use any bead of your choice.