For this month's Art Elements Theme of the Month, Lesley Watt has given us an interesting prompt... repurposing! This is a really broad theme and I had super grand plans at the beginning of the month. I'm sure that some of you can relate to the fact that time has sort of gotten away from me this time!
I'm guessing that my contributions are not going to be as impressive or exciting as what many folks come up with, but meet the challenge where you're at, right??
I started out by making a necklace with another one of the vintage keys that a friend gifted me awhile back. I've still got quite a few keys left in my stash, so I'm guessing you'll see more key-filled designs from me in the future now that I've broken them out!
This one is long and can just be slipped over your head without any monkeying around with a clasp.
Next up, I played more with some of the vintage tin that I broke out for the Art Bead Scene Art Journey 2 challenge. This time I'm using some of the pieces from the edges of the containers lid (I'm so glad that I didn't toss them... Packrat for the win!!) I had really hoped to be able to cut a taller triangle, but I just didn't have the material to work with this time. I'll have to revisit my other idea later. After cutting the two trapezoids instead, I hammered the rolled edge of the lid flat and filed all the edges smooth. Because of the shape, I knew that I needed two connection points at the top for them to hang correctly... so then I had to decide what to put up above the tin pieces. The solution? My (very under-utilized) Now That's a Jig! Yay me! I whipped up two cute little connector pieces to fit perfectly and hammered them a bit for strength and texture.
Lastly, because I was needing to get ready for a little home jewelry party I'm doing at a friend's house this weekend, I started to make a new batch of my up-cycled beer can earrings. I had a lot of new beer can colors and patterns that I wanted to play with for the first time. Unfortunately, I didn't finish any of them... this is where things were at yesterday when I called it a day.
In the next couple of days I'll get them all put together but I always underestimate the amount of time it takes to complete these. There are so many steps... emboss the metal blanks that serve as a base, smooth the rough edges of the aluminum punch outs, punch holes in the centers of the flowers and the metal blanks, rivet, hammer in the dapping block, pick out beads, complete the bead links, attach earwires. Whew... tired just thinking about what I need to get done! Those aluminum circles at the top edge of my photo will hopefully become medallion style necklaces this week too. Fingers crossed!
This is a blog hop... Check out what everyone else created by repurposing this month! This should be a fun one!
Guests
Sarajo - You are here!
AE Team
Using the vintage key is a great idea, and I love your repurposed tin earrings! Have a great show!
ReplyDeleteLOVE all that you created for this challenge. It's the tin earrings that stand out the most to me though. (Does that surprise you at all? ;) ) I really like the way you were able to incorporate the rolled edge into the design. I've tried that a few times, but it doesn't always work for me. And, that tin design is lovely! Here's hoping you can finish up all the beer can earrings you need. Best of luck!
ReplyDeleteGood luck for the house party. Put some music on, channel your anger on pollution and you'll be able to hammer and sand your earrings in no time.
ReplyDeleteLove your key necklace. I'm always in awe of your bead matching and stringing ability to make it all come together seemingly :) .. Alysen
ReplyDeleteThat's a really lovely necklace, I love your tin designs too... hope the party's a success!
ReplyDeleteLove it! Not sore if my comment is coming through, but very clever ideas..
ReplyDeleteLovely designs - those earrings are so cute.
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking part in the challenge.
ReplyDelete1. Love the colors in the last pix, But my fav are the earrings. I love the color, and the shape is great.
ReplyDelete2. Also? Working with it is a pain! I tip my hat to you for your perseverance. It’s so thin, and I’ve seen too many people use it without treating the edges carefully. It takes work.!
ReplyDeleteWonderful creations! I love the combination of old metal and pink in your first necklace, and your tin earrings are fabulous, I love the shape and the edge, they are great!
ReplyDeleteI always under estimate the time it takes to do something too! You shouldn't say that you are not going to be as impressive as others (although I will admit to feeling the same about my work) I really admire your jewellery making skills I can make glass beads but the concept of putting it all together to wear is not a skill I have. Love the beer can flower ear rings hope the sale goes well ;)
ReplyDeleteLove all your pieces but those earrings!!! I love the colors and the design is just fabulous. Just the perfect shape and size.
ReplyDeleteAll of your repurposed jewelry is lovely! Those upcycled beer can pieces are Da Bomb though!
ReplyDeleteI always love a good vintage key! It turned out great and I love that there's not clasp to fiddle with. The tin earrings are SO CUTE!!! I would wear them all the time. Beer can earrings...the name just makes me laugh, but they look so cute so far! I always love to see what you come up with, and you didn't disappoint. Thanks for participating!
ReplyDeleteBoth the key necklace with all the added details and the mismatched can earrings are so very beautiful and well suit the theme! The last picture is like a little flower garden, I see so many lovely earrings there :)
ReplyDeleteThe Key-to-my-<3 necklace is really cute. The vintage tin earrings are charming - I love the trapezoid shape that the connectors still turn into a triangle(ish) finish! The beer can cutouts have so much potential, I'm sure they'll become wonderful jewelry items.
ReplyDeleteThe key necklace is charming. The tin earrings are super fun and all the earrings in-waiting look delightful.
ReplyDelete