The Honey Do List: June 2016

This year, my husband Eric has decided to issue me a design challenge each month to get me out of my comfort zone and to help clear out my bead stash... we're calling it the Honey Do List.  I know that I'm not the only one who loves a good design challenge, so I'm inviting folks to play along!  

Here is this month's inspiration and what Eric had to say about it:  

I wanted to use a shot from our recent trip to Oregon for this month's challenge.  I took this picture at the Japanese Gardens in Portland, where I noticed the reflection of the ferns on the top of the rippling reflecting pool.  I waited several minutes, dodging small children, until a koi happened by--making the shot even more interesting.  Take inspiration from the color palette, the fish, the ferns, the water, the clouds--whatever strikes your fancy!  

First off, I have to say again how impressed I am with this photo that Eric took... and really, his growing photography skills in general.  I know he may not always pick one of his pictures to inspire us, but it sure is fun when he does!  I sometimes wonder if has an idea of what he thinks I might pick to work with for a given challenge... or what he hopes I will choose.  I think that may have happened a tiny bit this time with this first design.

The starting point for this necklace was a lampwork bead that I got at a local bead show a while back.  (Sadly, I'm not sure of the artist's name... I think it is from Potekglass but I'm not 100% sure.)  I remember at the time that we were both enamored with it because it reminded us of a koi pond!  Fast forward a few years and I'm finally using it paired with a ceramic bead from Golem Design Studio and some silver plated and pewter accents including a chain tassel to complete the pendant.  The turquoise is a little out there for the photo's color palette, but I do like how the orange and white are in there!  I added a couple of Czech glass beads along the chain to complete this long, summery look.

Next up, I moved my focus more to the idea of the fern reflection and WAY away from the color palette.  I used a fun fern focal from Round Rabbit that has a great combination of green and turquoise.  (I seriously love what she does with her glazes!).  I chose an assortment of green and turquoise blue Czech glass beads as well as a few prehinite rounds with brass findings.

I have a couple of koi themed pieces from Green Girl Studios in my hoard... one pendant I liked so much that I've bought it in both bronze and pewter!  I figured now was as good of time as any to use at least one of them.  I'm in love with the combination of turquoise or teal with orange and wanted to play with that a little more here.  I'm almost tempted to keep this one for myself, but knowing that I still have the (more expensive) bronze version, I may be able to hold off.  I think I'll end up making a variation on this theme for myself at a later date.

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