Thursday, July 25, 2013

Echo Creative Club Reveal


Welcome to my reveal for the Echo Creative Club July Blog Hop.  I was so excited when I opened the package from Jeannie Dukic (Jewelry by Jeannie) and saw this beautiful polymer clay sand dollar.


I recently moved to Maryland from Maine - when I lived in Maine I lived near the ocean - mostly just minutes away - and to say I miss it is an understatement.  I enjoyed walks along the beach scouting for sea glass, unique shells and of course sand dollars.  When I opened the package and saw this sand dollar I knew I wanted to create a piece of jewelry that spoke of all that - and was summery and light.  I played with beads and fibers, leather and wire and just about everything I had in my stash - and remembered some pretty aqua sea glass beads I had purchased last time I was in Maine.

I domed some small copper washers to use as bead caps and wrapped (using the "messy wrap which was a serious challenge for my OCD!) each of them in copper wire. I also had some pretty little faceted aquamarine rondelles which I paired with some crystal spacers (to mimic the shape of the sea glass beads), which I also wrapped in copper wire.


 I used some copper washers (which I etched with random shapes) in between each set of aquamarines.

 I wanted the sand dollar to shine as the star of the piece, but wanted to highlight it somehow, so I created a copper hanger for it.






A handcrafted copper clasp to finish it off.


A big thank you to Jeannie Dukic for the beautiful sand dollar and the chance to be part of the Echo Creative Club July Blog Hop. 

 Please check out the other blogs that are taking part in this blog hop:

Alicia Marinache  http://www.allprettythings.ca/
Charlie Jacka  http://clay-space.com/

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

OH, this is heaven, beach heaven. The detailed work in this piece is amazing. The domed copper washer and the beautiful etched washers, the clasp. And of the choice your perfect bead choice. I do appreciate all the thought and work you put into this.

P.S. I love the messy wire wrap look.

mrs beadsley said...

Jeannie - it means so much to me that you really like this piece. Your sand dollar really sparked the design of this necklace and I love it! Thank you again for making me part of your club!

Patti Vanderbloemen said...

I have the hardest time with messy wraps, too! Yours are perfect! Love all the detail work here, especially your etched washers! This is absolutely a perfect combination of lovely!!

Beti Horvath said...

I love the beachy look of this necklace! The colors work so well with the sand dollar...

EB Bead and Metal Works, LLC said...

Wow - I love your necklace! The copper and aquamarine work perfectly to showcase the sand dollar pendant! Love it - STUNNING!

Alicia said...

Oh, so beautiful! I love the asymmetry of the piece, the details on each part, the feel of beach and water - everything comes together in a perfect summery piece!

TesoriTrovati said...

Truly lovely! I can feel the heat of the sun on my shoulders and the smell of the salty air as I stroll along the craggy beach leaving fading footprints in the sand! All the details are wonderful. Thanks for sharing! Enjoy the day! Erin

Monique (A Half-Baked Notion) said...

What a wonderful design, Maureen... the copper and sea-blue beads are stunning additions to that pretty sand dollar!

Lola said...

This necklace is gorgeous Maureen! The beads and copper work so beautifully together, and you've definitely captured the joy of the ocean.

Unknown said...

Oh, my - I love this piece! Gorgeous!

Unknown said...

I admire your work with wire and this is so beautiful! I can see how hard it is to not be close to the ocean. I only get there maybe once a year but it breathes life in to me when I do.

Charlie said...

Love it! Simple and elegant.

Anonymous said...

How in the world do you make messy wraps that look so great? The sand dollar looks awesome on this necklace, and the color is perfect. It's stunning!