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
