AJE May 2014 CoM Challenge Reveal ~ Sweet Flower Dreams

To me, it feels like May just began yesterday—but obviously not—since here we are at the end of it today! It's a happy day though, as it's been a wonderful month for me in many ways… and of course, one of those highlights is getting to see some new jewelry today created for the AJE CoM reveal!

Our hostess this month is Sue Kennedy of Sue Beads and she provided us with a choice of beautiful glass cabochons or sweet sets of chicklet beads (pictured above). I went for the beads and believe it or not, I chose the pink and red set! Shocking, I know. Having learned a lot about myself and pink in the Bead Soup Party, I felt ready for another pink challenge!


And so, here's what I made…

I knew immediately when I saw Sue's little chicklets that I wanted to make a bracelet and use them with one of my new sleepy bunnies (another excellent reason to go pink!).

The pink chicklet bead was the starting point for me—it's such a nice soft dusty pink and really set the mood for the whole bracelet. I wanted to keep with the feel and theme of softness, going a little shabby chic with a bit of vintage, and so I chose to go without any wire. You know how much I love to work with wire so that was a challenge in and of itself to find other ways to connect the bracelet together, but in the end I managed and I have to say I love the way it turned out! I've titled my new bracelet "Sweet Flower Dreams".

I used soft pink seed beads on hemp to make a button and loop clasp. From there I added two czech glass beads, knotting between each one.

The chicklets have a nice large hole and worked perfectly with some vintage lace, which I also knotted.


As you might already know, my mom has been making these lovely fabric covered bead cords (now available in my shop—I'm so very excited about that! :-) and so I snatched up another one for myself and tied it into my bracelet.


One of my biggest challenges of making this bracelet, was actually the red chicklet bead! I wanted so much to use all three beads in one design, but the brightness of the red nearly had me designing a second jewelry piece. Finally, with a little rearranging I decided to separate the chicklets, putting this one at the clasp—that kept the design softer around the bunny and then the pop of bright red seemed just right at the end of the fabric covered bead cord—or at lease it makes sense in my mind! I love a little element of surprise in my designs—the ones that (hopefully) make people wonder at why I did it that way—because, believe me, I scrutinize every single element of every design!

This is my third time working with Sue's beads (see what I made before here and here) and just as before, I'm so very happy with what they bring to my jewelry—if you've never had the joy of creating with Sue's beads you must go grab up a few for yourself in her shop here! Thank you all for stopping by to see my latest creation! And a big thank you to Sue for another fabulous challenge!

And of course, don't miss out on all the lovely new creations made with Sue's glass lovelies! Check them out here…

Guest Artists:

The AJE Team:
Rebekah Payne <—You are here!




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13 comments:

  1. Another beautiful and unique design Rebekah - love it. Stroke of genius seperating the red bead and putting it where it just picks up the hints of red in the lovely fabric covered beads. Great work.

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  2. I love the beads with your little bunny, they go perfectly together! AND with your mom's fabric covered bead chain, perfect! I also like how you separated the red bead to be a pop of color at the end, it was a great design decision! Can't wait to see the tutorial of this - hint hint!!!! Thanks so much for playing along this month!

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  3. Where to start? I think the red accentuates the colors in the fabric/beaded cord, keeps it from going to subtle. The hare! Its as if you and Sue planned colors beforehand! Perfection. Even though pink isn't me per se - I would wear that in a heartbeat! So lovely!

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  4. This is so sweet! Love it! The fabric covered bead chain is so lovely with it.

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  5. This bracelet had me oohing and aahing! Darling, sweet, adorable...that sleepy bunny is just too much! Love how you put so much thought into each element.

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  6. I love it that you went with pink! You did so well with it in the BSBP that it was fun to see you work with it again. Your bracelet is wonderful! Shabby chic, fun and funky all in one.

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  7. Gorgeous Rebekah, I love how all the soft and hard elements come together to make a sweet sleepy bracelet. The rabbit is so cute and Susan's beads are perfect in your design. The cloth covered beads that your Mom makes are fabulous.
    Therese

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  8. That is just the sweetest piece! I love the fabric beads, and they go so well with the other beads and the sleepy rabbit.

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  9. Lovely! Everything just works so perfectly together to make a nice feminine design and I love the pop of red at the end.

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  10. Hi Rebekah, You bracelets has very soft feminine feel to is. I like it.

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  11. I love the antique feel to your design Rebekah, it's beautiful!

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  12. What an incredible, sweetly feminine bracelet! It would look perfect with a maxi dress in soft colors.

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  13. What a sweetly beautiful bracelet. LOVE it!

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