Saturday, May 31, 2014

AJE Component of the Month for May 2014

The gorgeous components this month are created by the talented Sue Kennedy of SueBeads.  She gave us the choice of one of her amazing pressed glass cabochons and several of her new pressed bead design...chiclet beads!  It was a really hard choice, but I chose a cabochon and received a gorgeous purple one!




I first thought that I would practice my soldered bezel setting skills, but kept trying to think of something different.  I settled on creating a woven wire "lace" bezel against a copper flower back plate.



I wanted to keep the necklace simple, but wanted to incorporate some different color than the copper and purple of the cab.  I remembered these sweet little Czech glass "twin" beads I bought a while back.  Not sure what I was thinking...am not a seed beader!  I devised a way to wire-wrap them into a chain though and they work perfectly with the purple cab.  I added a second strand of copper "hammered bar" chain I had in my chain stash.

Wanted to add a dangle beneath the flower, but couldn't figure out what.  I remembered some Czech glass teardrops I had bought and they really complemented the purple cab and the Czech glass in the chain. I oxidized everything with LOS and let it tumble for an hour or so.




This was such a fun piece to make and you all know by now that I am a sucker for Sue's lampwork!  In fact, I purchased one of the 1st pairs of chiclet beads she posted, and just last week, swooped in for 2 more pairs!



Thanks for stopping by!  Go show some love to our guest designers and the AJE team!

Guests


AJE Members





22 comments:

  1. WOW, Melissa! The bezel you created for the cab is amazing, I love the wire lace around the cab! And the chain with the twins is pretty amazing too - your hands much hurt from making that much chain! It's gorgeous! Thanks so much for playing this month and making such an awesome necklace! Can't wait to see what else you make!

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  2. oh my goodness! I love that bezel and the flower and the colorful necklace!

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  3. Stunning necklace, I really love how you wired in the cab to your flower, awesome chain too.

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  4. I love how you made the wire look like lace around the cab and then put it in the flower. It looks like it's blooming. Your necklace is gorgeous! It was fun to see what someone did with one of the cabs.

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  5. Stunning! I love how you did the wire wrapped bezel!!!

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  6. OH OH OH OH OH!!!!! I love this!!! The Twins with wire are amazing and that bezel is to die for!!!!!!!!

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  7. My goodness...you are so darn creative - that lace around the cab is fantastic - LOVE I! And the chain...holy cow I so love this! Beautiful!

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  8. Anonymous10:34 AM

    Your flower focal is stunning...love the copper with the purple! Your creative solution to using the twins in the wire chain adds even more interest to this beautiful piece of jewelry.

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  9. Gorgeous necklace Melissa, the pendant is amazing and a perfect showcase for Susan's beautiful cab. I am a seed beader and never would have though to use wire with the super duo's awesome job with the chain.
    Therese

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  10. This is just fabulous Melissa - so but detail and texture and I just have love that bezel...it's completely enchanting.

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  11. Awesome design with the bead - the lacey look of the wire and that flower copper back is genius. And the handmade chains and your clasp. Everything - stunning. You and Kiersten just have a way of working magic with creating copper elements and perfecting incorporating them with your beads.

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  12. Stunning! Would love to see the piece on you or in entirety! Love the woven bezel and the beaded chain!!! Gorgeous!

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  13. Oh wow what a fabulous piece! I love all the different colors and elements. A statement piece for sure!

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  14. Are you going to do a tut for this? Are you? Huh? Please.
    Thats wicked cool. I love it all. I am drawn especially to the spiral detail on the drop dangle. A tiny details, but so thoughtful.

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  15. Love how you used the cab! What a unique way to use the double hole beads for chain...I always look at them, wanting to buy some but wasn't sure how I'd use them...you've inspired me :)

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  16. This is absolutely stunning! there are so many little elements to love in your focal--that flower is fabulous, the petals are just like a hibiscus! LOVE the texturing. Also, your woven bezel is really lovely, so delicate and elegant (I'm dying to see the back--how you do that?) The little rosettes at the attachment points give it such a rich, finished look (afraid I might have to borrow that from you...but i promise to give you the glory!) I'd love to see it modeled.

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  17. Love this pretty and unique design, Melissa... I envy your sizable skills with metal :) Also I'm always looking for novel ways with seed beads, since I like using them but not for beadweaving :)

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  18. Hi Melissa, your necklace is wonderful. The wire bezel is creative and unique. Good job.

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  19. Gorgeous Melissa, I love the wire wrapped bezel, really beautiful and clever!

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  20. What a beautiful setting and I am a sucker for a hand made wire wrapped chain. Great job!

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  21. I really like how the size, shape, and texture of your flower suits Sue's bead. The purple with copper is lovely and your "netting" accents that color combo. I'm also impressed but the wrap you came up with for those twin beads--love chain with tiny color accents, but that's ingenious!

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  22. Oh my gosh! Absolutely gorgeous! How fabulous - I'd wear that ALL the time! Your creativity and ingenuity continually astounds Melissa!

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