AJE February 2015 CoM Challenge Reveal ~ Winter Rose

It's reveal time! I can't believe just how long it's been since I've played along in the Art Jewelry Elements Component of the Month Challenges…it's so good to be back at it! Sorry I'm so late—I was still finishing my design late last night and… then had to wait on daylight and to get enough time to edit photos and write up my post today. Anyhoo… here I am at last!


For this month's challenge it was Melissa Meman's turn to be our hostess and component maker… she started by carving her own original design stamp and then shaped a beautiful assortment of components in copper clay. It's not often that I use copper in my designs, but a chance to try a brand new component is not something an art bead lover can pass up easily! I snatched up a pair of her stamped rectangle charms right away!

It was so hard to settle on one design idea… I went from my original plan to make earrings… to a bracelet… to finally a necklace! A necklace that is now one of my very favorites ever.

I love the dark lines of Melissa's design and the soft glow of the copper and really wanted to keep it the focal point of my design without any overly distracting colors or patterns, so I chose to go very neutral.

And I think I was maybe just a little inspired by all the snow that has fallen this winter—way too much if you ask me, but it's been lovely to look at! I've titled my necklace "Winter Rose". The palette reminds me of the melting snow, as the faded leaves of the forest floor start to peek through. It's beautiful out—colors of winter are so saturated with the wetness of the melting snow and it's one of the very best times to go walking… if you don't mind the cold!

I used Melissa's copper charms to frame one of my own hand-painted polymer roses—like little leaves on either side.

I chose some rectangular white agate to echo the shape of Melissa's charms. Almost all of these beads came from a recent bead swap with a wonderfully generous bead lover I met through Etsy. And what fun new beads I got!

She'd had the stash of beads for quite some time, so I'm not absolutely sure what they all are—czech glass for the rondelles and the creamy-white ones look like some kind of stone, maybe. Doesn't really matter to me—I just love how they all fit into my design so nicely!

My sister Bethanne was sorting the bead swap with me (I think she may have kept some for herself! ;-) and suggested I add a pop of color with the oxblood red faceted rounds. Yes! Of course—one of my very favorites! I also threw in a sprinkling of oxblood seed beads to match.

I realized with this necklace that I've actually never done a knotted necklace before! What?! Wow… I've always loved the look and so it was a lot of fun to finally give it a go. It gave the necklace the perfect drape—I had tried beading wire, but it was too stiff and didn't match the "flow" of the the linked section and made the whole necklace look very stiff and lopsided. Perhaps a different wire would have worked fine, but I didn't have any on hand—what better excuse to try something new! :-)

I didn't have enough of the same beads to go all the around the necklace and didn't want to add anything else to the design. So it took me practically forever to decide how to finish the back of the necklace, but in the end I went with the simplicity of hemp cord. I made beaded loops at the end of the beaded section and knotted the hemp cord to that—I like that it adds a bit more texture and rustic-ness to my design and that I can easily adjust the length.


And there you have it—my brand new favorite necklace! Thank you Melissa, for another most gorgeous and inspiring CoM! And thank you to all you readers for stopping by to visit!

Be sure to take a peek at what everyone else made…

15 comments:

  1. Goodness! I can tell why it would be your favorite necklace. I am absolutely smitten. Just love how you framed your rose.

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  2. Oh, Rebecca, that is just lovely. I love that you added your flower between the two pmc pieces. I adds more to the floral theme. And the addition of the oxblood is beautiful with the pmc copper. I can see what you mean about using waxed linen to get that fabulous drape. Love it!

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  3. Great design! I love the way you finished off the necklace. It really fits together well.

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  4. Beautiful! I love the chunky stone beads and the hemp cord tie at the back. Very boho in feeling.

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  5. Such a beautiful necklace, I love the pop of red with all the neutral tones and how you framed your flower with Melissa's components, such a great and unique design, I love it!

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  6. You have such a beautiful style Rebekah and this necklace proves the point. It's just stunning in a soft and subtle way with the little pops of deep red to make it stand out. Love it!

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  7. oh this is pure gorgeousness! love the style, the vibe with the fiber, the pop of oxblood and you sweet rose focal. really lovely and I can see why it is an instant favorite

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  8. Oh no, how sweet! I like this very much! <3

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  9. I LOVE this necklace! I'm not sure why you don't make jewelry more often, everything you make is so unique and amazing! You've shown off Melissa's charms perfectly! And I love your little polymer flower addition!

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  10. Beautiful Rebekah! I love the earthy palette and your polymer rose was made for those components!

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  11. I love it, Rebekah! A beautiful color and texture palette that you've created. Thank you for showing us how to stylishly use hemp cording!

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  12. I can SO see more knotting in your future - its a perfect fir with your earthy style. Love what you did. I can see it as a stunning bracelet too - with your floral bead b/w Melissa's charms.

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  13. The knotting and the beads are made for one another. I love the colors that your used. It is a great necklace. Well done!

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  14. Rebekah you chose the perfect accents to Melissa's components to showcase then beautifully.The red really makes the neutral pop.

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