About Me

Lindsay M Starr is a beadwork and mixed media artist currently based in Nashville, TN. She spent her early childhood in Alaska, and her school age and college years in Oregon. Lindsay has a great appreciation for history, science, and nature and is consistently inspired by insects, sea life, color, and the significance of beads and beadwork throughout human history. She spends her days beading, walking at the zoo, and practicing yoga. Lindsay loves to share her knowledge and passion for beads and beadwork to hobbyists of all skill levels.

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

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

Guests
Karin Grosset Grange - Ginko et Coquelicot
Michelle McEnroe ( 4 pieces pinned on  the AJE Pinterest page)

16 comments:

  1. Hi Lindsay, I think your beaded Hare is amazing, so different from anything I have seen around. You certainly have a very talented boy friend, the wallet is stunning and those cabochons are lovely great interpretation!
    Jackie

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  2. that is one cool bunny Hare, and amazing....cool your boyfriend jumped in too
    Woodlandbaynative.com
    Pamm

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  3. He's amazing Lindsay so full of character! And your boyfriends work is gorgeous... I would love to see his work for sale :)

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  4. Wow, I love your hare sculpture, it is so unique and fun. And the leather cabs are such a great idea!

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  5. Love your beaded hare Lyndsey...he's very handsome with just a touch of march madness around those eyes....and Keven's leather work is fantastic....could be onto a winner with tooled leather bead supplies!

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  6. That is quite the beaded sculpture. I would not have looked at the initial bead and come up with an idea like that. It's whimsical and a little primitive at the same time. And your bf has done a great interpretation of the theme as well.

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  7. I love your hare sculpture, so full of expression...and your boyfriends work is amazing too :)

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  8. Very interesting sculptural piece! I love the leather cabs - I think they will be a hit!

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  9. Oh heavens! Your hare dude has character! I think its a he; he needs a scary a la Mr. Tumnus. Very cool, very unusual. And I can't wait to see what you do with K's cabs. Wow. The wallet is a stunner. He is doing really interesting stuff, all his own designs, I know. Lets hope he joins us for the other theme challenges too!

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  10. I can only imagine the amount of time and patience that has gone into making your hare, that is some seriously talented bead work and his head is amazing! Love that your boyfriend joined in too, I would love to see those pieces dyed!

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  11. Your rabbit sculpture is amazing.....I cannot imagine the time involved. Love, love, love the leather!!!

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  12. I was so excited to see the rest of your hare!...omg, it's amazing! Such detail! Your boyfriend's work is brilliant, too...the receiver of the wallet must be totally thrilled!..I know I would be! The carvings are beautiful.

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  13. Your bunny is amazing! It is so sweet.

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  14. I am blown away by your bunny!! What talent - to be able to bead AND sculpt the head like that. Once again, I am in awe. Oh, and Keven's pretty handy, too :)

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  15. Wow - what a hare, that is a lot of work, amazing. I can see that is going to be a great conversation piece in the future.

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  16. Oh wow, what a wonderful project! I love the piece that you bought, but the fact that you were able to create one from clay when that didn't fit with the gorgeous body you created has blown me away! Wonderful. I also love your boyfriend's creations. I don't do any bead weaving, but I do love his work. I would very much love to see some of it in your shop - my leather punch is ready. I see pendants and bracelet bars!

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