Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Fall Challenge Completed!

I love fall. I love fall colors. And I love the beads from Michelle Mach for her Very Vintage Fall Challenge.


This photo is from her blog. I was so excited to get started on my project that I did not take any snaps of my beads in their loose and free state.

So this is how it happened. My beads arrived in early September. Of course September is the busiest month ever (aren't they all?) and I kept saying to myself "I have GOT to get started on that blog challenge." Then a week would pass and again, "I HAVE got to get started on that blog challenge" (different emphasis, same desperation.)

Finally two days ago I got started.

I have had cuffs on the mind lately. Pretty colored leather cuffs. Embellished with a decadent array of all sorts of pretty things. I wish I had...one...of...those...to...WAIT!

(This idea came to me around 2:30 AM on Sunday morning.) I realized in a flash that I had the power to make it happen. I had a stash of leather and leather findings that I bought last year when I was going through my first session of cuff yearning. Somehow I would figure out how to get all of my pretty things from the challenge to stick to the leather. I wasn't so worried how I would do that. I was just comforted by the fact that one of my impulse purchases would actually get used in a project. Then I tried to get back to sleep. Tried being the operative word.

 After a Sunday evening spent arranging, stitching, embellishing, and delightedly trying on and posing in front of the mirror I ended up with a piece that I really, really love.

Click on the photos to enlarge.

There she is in all of her festive fall glory. My new Embellished Leather Cuff. Each component is stitched to the leather using Nymo nylon thread and a size 12 (tiny eye...REALLY tiny eye on that thing) needle. I used everything that was in the kit with the exception of the two lovely Lucite components. I am saving those for another project that I will share later. I added a few beads to the mix from my stash.


I used leather snaps and a decorative crystal rivet on the closure and as a special touch of whimsy (like this thing isn't whimsical enough) I made a tiny felted acorn to fit into the acorn cap component. I also made three little felted discs that I stitched on as flowers in the main design.





This piece is really starting my fall wardrobe off right! Thanks, Michelle for hosting this great challenge. It was a journey in creativity and I made a piece of jewelry that I really love.

Don't forget to visit more splendid fall creations. Here is a list of all the participating designers. I can't wait to see what everyone else made. Michelle is announcing her next challenge in her newsletter. Sign up to be in the loop for next time.

Andrew
The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Cat
Boo Beads
Chris
beadjewelry.net
Cilla
Tell Your Girlfriends
Cyndi
Beading Arts
Cynthia
Cynth's Blog
Dawn
Morning Glory Beading
Donetta
Simply Gorgeous
Heather
As I Bead It
Holly
SilverRose Designs
Kate (that's me)
We Can Make That at Home
Kristina
Wild Roses and Blackberries
Lauren
Laurel Moon Jewelry & Beads
Linda
Lutka & Co
Lisa
Lucid Mood Studio
Lola
Bead Lola Bead
Mary
MLH Jewelry
Melinda
Melinda Orr Metal & Clay Jewelry Designs
Michelle H.
Firefly Visions
Michelle M.
Beads & Books
Salla
Blog by Salla
Shannon
Falling into the Sky
Shay
Shaiha's Ramblings
Shel
MiShel Designs
Shirley
Beads and Bread
Stephanie
Pixybug Designs
Tari
Pearl and Pebbles
Terry
Pink Chapeau Vintage Jewelry
Tracy
The Bead Junkie
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21 comments:

  1. bwheatherOctober 4, 2011 at 5:54 AM

    Wow, I just adore all these on the purple background. Looks fabulous. ;-)

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  2. ShirleyOctober 4, 2011 at 5:59 AM

    Ok, I'm not even a cuff person, and I love this! Serious envy over those little felted flowers and the acorn!!!! I really, really like the way you attached that oval drop to the cuff, it sets it off beautifully. This is such a great piece.

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  3. CillawOctober 4, 2011 at 6:33 AM

    What a great idea! I love how the leaves pop and the dangle acorn is so sweet!

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  4. ShelOctober 4, 2011 at 6:54 AM

    Wow - this is amazing! Your designs are always so incredible and this one is at the 'top of the pack'! Cool acorn. I just love this!

    I too forgot to post some 'kit' pics of the components that I received,....I think many of us have admitted to that! :)

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  5. TesoriTrovatiOctober 4, 2011 at 7:03 AM

    I have never made a cuff. I love this! There is a lot happening but it is put together in such a harmonious way. I love when those flashes of brilliance come to you. Well done!
    Enjoy the day! Erin

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  6. Pearl and PebbleOctober 4, 2011 at 7:16 AM

    Absolutely FABULOUS!! What a terric idea!

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  7. ManekiOctober 4, 2011 at 7:54 AM

    What a fab cuff! Love it! The components look great against the leather and you've created such a pretty beaded motif. Nice touch with the dangling acorn.

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  8. sallaOctober 4, 2011 at 8:04 AM

    awesome cuff!

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  9. Firefly VisionsOctober 4, 2011 at 8:32 AM

    Oh wow! In awe! Amazing work. The cuff is beautiful. I love that you used felt to create the acorn rather than a bead. The different textures in the design give something new to look at each and every time.

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  10. Cyndi LOctober 4, 2011 at 8:56 AM

    I *love* making cuffs...that's what I made the last time! Yours is just beautiful :-)

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  11. Lutka And Co.October 4, 2011 at 9:09 AM

    Wow! Love what you did with the kit! Just gorgeous!

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  12. ChrisOctober 4, 2011 at 9:23 AM

    Oh, this is so much my style! (Darn it... I should have thought of doing a cuff!) ;)

    Thanks so much for sharing it!

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  13. LolaOctober 4, 2011 at 10:10 AM

    THIS! IS! AWESOME!!! I wish I could say something more intelligent, but I am too in love with this piece to speak! Swoon . . . beautiful!

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  14. UnknownOctober 4, 2011 at 10:13 AM

    Love, love, love the cuff, the purple and the way you arranged the pieces like found objects on an Autumn walk through the park! thanks for sharing your lovely piece!

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  15. CynthiaOctober 4, 2011 at 10:13 AM

    That cuff is ridiculous - in the good way! I have never made one, but now I really want to. I love how you arranged everything, and how everything is stitched on with little flourishes and details. The felt flowers and acorn are so cool!

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  16. laurelmoonOctober 4, 2011 at 12:22 PM

    Wow, such a great idea! I never would have thought of it at all. Such a neat design, and the colors are so lusciously fall together!

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  17. AnonymousOctober 4, 2011 at 1:32 PM

    I love it! The lucite teardrop looks stunning here. And the felt pieces are adorable....looks like something else for me to investigate! Your piece is beautiful-I know you will enjoy wearing it!

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  18. MaryOctober 4, 2011 at 1:52 PM

    That is awesome, love the cuff, what a cool way to embellish it, it just works really well and i bet it looks great on!

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  19. HollyOctober 4, 2011 at 2:05 PM

    What an awesome idea, to make a cuff for this challenge! I love how it turned out, and it looks extremely wearable! Wasn't this a fun challenge?

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  20. Michelle MachOctober 4, 2011 at 4:29 PM

    This is amazing! That sound you hear is my jaw dropping! :)

    I love how carefully you designed the layout, the little seed bead stitching, the adorable felted acorn. It's so artistic, but at the same time, totally wearable!

    Hope to see you in a future challenge!

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  21. TracyOctober 4, 2011 at 5:36 PM

    What a fabulous piece of wearable art - I just love it! The felted acorn was a nice touch too.

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