Art Jewelry Element Component of the Month Theme Challenge - March 2015

This month over on the Art Jewelry Elements Blog, we decided to try something a bit different...a themed challenge that anyone can participate in!  For this first challenge, Jenny chose an iconic theme, prevalent in cultures all over the world - Hares.  You can read more about Hare symbolism in Jenny's initial post HERE, but today is the reveal when we all get to see what everyone's been creating all month.  We even have several guest artists, so make sure you click on all the links (at the bottom of the post).

A few days ago over on the AJE blog, I wrote about my lifelong love of rabbits, and showed a small collection of the drove of hares in my stash.  As I'm still struggling to make time for my beadwork with my (relatively new) job schedule, I decided to go back to an idea that I started several years ago.

A few years ago I stumbled across this carved bone rabbit head bead - I had instant inspiration to make a sculptural march hare piece, and bought the bead.  I made a wire and aluminum foil armature, covered it in polymer clay for a nice smooth base...and covered the whole thing in encrusting freeform beadwork!

And then I ran into an unforseen problem...once the beads were on the armature, the head was out of scale!  I forgot that seed beads, even as teeny as they are, add bulk...so my idea has been stagnant until now.  I'm so happy that I can now show you the whole thing!

I finally realized that I just needed to make a head that was in scale with the piece - so I broke out the Fimo and got to sculpting.

I used vintage glass cabochons for the eyes, and one of my boyfriend's leather tools for a hair-like texture.  Once I finished sculpting and fired the bead in the oven, I used a clear acrylic gloss and PearlEx powders to add luster and gleam, just like the beads in the body.  When I made the body, I left one of the main armature wires sticking out of the top, so to attach the head, all I had to do was to string it on to the wire, and create a slight kink in the end to hold it on.  I purposely used coppery colors on the head, so the wire wouldn't be so obvious.

I am not sure yet just how to present this guy!  I might attach him to a platform base and accessorize around him, or make a little shadowbox so I can present him as a piece of wall art.  I just love how he looks with these cherry blossoms from the tree outside...so I suspect a trip to the floral department of the craft store will soon be in my future!

And here's your beauty shot!  I am so pleased with how he turned out!

But, I'm not the only one in the apartment who's been busy creating this month - my boyfriend has gotten on board with the challenge this time - in his own realm of leatherwork!  He started out with this gorgeous wallet that he made for a friend:

 I swooned when I saw it!  But, because I just don't use a wallet like this, I begged and pleaded for him to make me a few cabochons instead...here is the progress:

These bunnies are still drying - once they're dry, he will bevel the edges for ease of use and dye them.  If people seem interested, I hope to offer a few of them for sale in my Etsy shop soon!  What do you think?  I just love his interpretation of the theme!

Don't forget to click on all the links below to see what everyone else has been creating this month!

AJE Team

Jenny

Caroline

Lesley

Linda

Niky

Melissa

Rebekah

Lindsay

Guests

Aural - Woodland Bay Native

Heather - Hidden Ridge Studio

Cindy Martin-Shaw

Karen Panthaki

Jackie Ryan

Karin Grosset Grange - Ginko et Coquelicot

Pamela Traub - Klassy Joolz

Paisley Lizard Designs

Keren at Ditsy Blue

Michelle McEnroe ( 4 pieces pinned on  the AJE Pinterest page)

Where, Oh Where Has March Gone?!?

Well...So...I am alive!  Actually, March has just been a crazy busy month - lots of coming and going, working, trying to find time to bead, etc.  My birthday was this month, so bead acquisition has been occurring as well!  And friends visiting from out of town...and trips to the zoo...and a trip over to Knoxville and Asheville (NC)!  All of this has been an attempt to have fun before I have surgery in less than two weeks.  So, please, tag along on my fun month via pictures!

Goodies from my fellow Art Jewelry Elements blogger, Caroline Dewison of Blue Berri Beads.

Custom orca cabs, a raven for my boyfriend, and many other goodies from another AJE blogger - Jenny Davies-Reazor.  I've been wanting interesting orca components since I watched Blackfish last year, and these are joyous and perfect!

Old tiny Japanese doll and brass escutcheon from the April flea market, vintage glass necklace (on 14k gold chain) from the thrift store, a ceramic bee charm and funky stone components from a local bead shop.

Cool dimpled glass buttons from a fabric shop, starling skull and beads from my buddies at White Fox Beads in Knoxville, and vintage green and red chick butttons from my PIB.

Lampwork beads and vessel from a friend, funky chain and HUGE vintage brass components both from a local bead shop.

Asheville has spectacular rock shops, a stellar bead shop, and super funky "Hippy" shops...I got two tie-dyed dresses, silk scarves, and this glass vessel at several of those shops.

And today we capped off the month with a trip to the March flea market - I added a few more skeleton and clock keys to my stash, along with three vintage glass necklaces.  I splurged on the green oval one, because the strand is super long, the color is unusual, and I love the little bubbles in the old glass!

There you have it folks!  What have you been up to this month?  I've still got a lot to do before my surgery, but I'm looking forward to some beading and blogging during recovery.  Maybe those Etsy listings I've been promising since before Christmas too...maybe.  Stay tuned on Tuesday for the Art Jewelry Elements Component of the Month Challenge blog hop...and the next day for an exciting announcement!  Until then, thanks for looking!