ABS June 2012: Nighthawks' Missing Necklace

The Art Bead Scene Challenge for June 2012 features the work:

"Nighthawks" by Edward Hopper.

Hopper completed the painting in 1942. As noted on the ABS page,

"Nighthawks portrays people sitting in a downtown diner late at night. It is Hopper's most famous work and is one of the most recognizable paintings in American art."

* * * * * * * * * *

In designing my piece, 

I started from the notion that the woman in the painting was missing something.

She should be wearing a choker-style necklace 

with oversized beads

of a carnelian red color, ...

...but I also wanted to pick up the colors 

found throughout the painting, 

the dark greens and ivory-white in particular.

So I started with the red and worked my way from there!

Next to the red beads on each side are 2 creamy-white ones.

The first on each side is a large white with red specs, 

ceramic beads handmade by

Natalie Pappas

of NKP Designs.

Closer to the middle are fossil beads of a very similar color and look, but smaller.

Separating each bead are copper accent beads, 

and in the middle, 

a copper bail.

Next, is the pendant part of the necklace,...

comprised of another of Natalie's beads on top

and a brass sunflower focal on the bottom.  

I left the center of the sunflower the light green color 

that matched Natalie's bead,

but the outside edges were turning brown, 

so I sanded the outside part, 

applied a darker green Gilder's paste,

then sanded when dry 

to let the brass shine through again and sealed.  

I did the same with the back of the piece.

The remaining part of the necklace is textile.   

Two types of cotton fabric, 

one with a raku pattern, one plain, 

and another piece of sage green silk ribbon,  

all 3 wound and knotted together.   

The end pieces are contained with brass clamps.

The pieces uses snap clasps in 3 locations.   

This enables the necklace to be worn as a choker, 

as originally intended 

with the fabric wrapping twice around the back of neck 

and snapped in place)...

or worn extended with its own snap for a longer look.

The final creation.

The missing necklace

from Edward Hopper's "Nighthawks."

Presumptuous?  Yes, but I hope you enjoyed my interaction with the painting as I created this necklace!   

Sharyl ~ Sharyl's Jewelry

I heart macro: Fresh from the Garden

Here's what's blooming this week!

#18:  Orange--Summer "In" Color

Thanks for stopping by!  I'm anxious to see what's blooming and happening elsewhere, so I'm heading over to Lori Plyer's page at Studio Waterstone for "i heart macro!" 


Please join me there for a look at the other photos!   ~Sharyl

"i heart macro"

* * * * * * * * * *

4th of July sale at "Sharyl's Jewelry."

Look for "sale" tags on red/white/blue

jewelry items!

Wedding & special event jewelry still on sale too.

Both sales end July 8th!

* * * * * * * * * *

Chatting with Natalie Pappas

Do you recall this necklace from the March 2012 Art Bead Scene Challenge? If not, you can go to my blog entry for the March ABS Challenge to see a photo of the inspirational art piece, "Street Scene in Montmartre: Le Moulin a Poivre"by Vincent Van Gogh, read about the design process, and get a close-up look at the art beads created by Natalie Pappas.

I tell you this not to brag on my great necklace (ha!) but to brag on my great taste in beads!  :-)   Because the truth is.... 

...one of the bead styles I used in that necklace, made by Natalie, has just been published in a book released today, June 19th, called "Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry," by  Lorelei Hill Eurto and Erin Siegel!    

I'm sure the book will be selling elsewhere,  perhaps at jewelry stores near you, but it is on sale at Amazon starting today if you are looking for a copy to buy ASAP.   (Remember that many local libraries will it carry too.  If not, you can request they purchase a copy for their collections!)   

You can buy more of these fabulous (now famous) beads at Natalie's store, NKP Designs.

And while you are checking out "all things Natalie,"  if you drop by her blog, you'll find her interview with me!   It was great fun and a great honor to appear on her blog.  Hope you enjoy it too!   

Many thanks to Natalie for the interview and for continuing to deliver wonderfully creative beads for us all to use!   Continued best wishes!

Sharyl ~ Sharyl's Jewelry  

Tracy Bell's 40 Dots

I have an interesting story to share with you.  It's not mine, but comes from a friend of this blog, Tracy Bell.   Tracy has been featured here on a number of occasions, but I admit, it's been too long since the last time.   


Tracy is one of the most talented jewelry artists I know.  It seems that when she makes jewelry, every scrap of it is made by her own hands.  (I can actually say "scrap" because often what she begins with are scraps of copper that she turns into beautiful, unusual jewelry!)   


So lately, I've been following a story that she has been telling on her blog, "Copper, Glass and Recycled Trash," as it unfolds.    I found it so interesting, I wanted to share it with all of you!


Now, in singing the praises of Tracy's work with metals, I failed to mention that she makes lampwork beads for her creations too.   If you've never seen her work before, take a quick peak into her "TracyBell" shop on Etsy before we begin.  


Part I:  The 40 Dots Challenge


This particular story centers around a "40 Dots Only Bead Challenge" hosted by Heather Trimlett.  The basic idea was to chose 2 colors and make 40 different beads using only dots.

I'm thinking this sounds impossible already, but Tracy reports that she didn't think it would be that hard in the beginning, "but after the first 20 it got tough."   I'd like you to read Tracy's blog entry (Monday, April 23, 2012) to see how she managed to come up with 40 of these beauties!

It seems like these 40 beautiful beads finished would be the end of the story, but it's really only the beginning! Having finished, she learns that according to the rules of the challenge, the dots were to be melted in rather than raised! 

"Honestly I don't have any problems making all melted in dots. My problem lies with leaving all the dots up and the same size not half melted in and half still standing." So the challenge was still a valuable learning experience AND she ended up with this great string of beads! What to do next?...


Part II:

"What to do with 40 different dot beads?"  

"Once I had all my beads done I knew they could never be parted and I started to think of things I could incorporate them into that would keep them as a set that could be worn." In her blog entry  (Wed, June 6, 2012), she contemplates her choices. I hope you'll read the entry for the full story!

She makes 2 attempts at a necklace, both gorgeous, but this is the final design:

Made into three sections to accommodate all the beads and distribute the weight comfortably and in such a lovely way!   

Oh golly, if only I could ever misread project directions and end up with results like this!  I would be so very pleased with myself!   

As it is, I'm pleased as can be for Tracy and her beautiful beads and necklace!  And I thank her for letting me share her story and photos with you all today!   

Best wishes with all YOUR creations!

Sharyl

P.S.  I've been adding new items 

to the Studio in the last few days!   

Visit Sharyl's Jewelry 

to see the latest!    

I've also restocked the 

"On Sale Now" section.

The "Wedding and Special Events" jewelry 

continues to be on sale 

through the end of June!

* * * * * * * * * *

All photos used by permission of Tracy Bell.

i heart macro: This weeks blooms

There were two new things of interest blooming in my yard this week...

One of several varieties of hostas 

I have growing,

green most of the season, 

then for a short while 

they pop forth with color.

The white-bloomed ones come first.  

The purple will come later this summer.

#8 - "Patience"

And for the last two weeks, we've been patiently waiting for this to happen...and slowly, ever so slowly, it's happening.

The hydrangeas are in bloom again!

Please visit the other folks

and see what lovely things they are showing today at Studio Waterstone's

i heart macro!

Sharyl ~ Sharyl's Jewelry

"Gratitude Drawing" Winner Announced!

And the winner of my "Gratitude Drawing" is: 

Tumblestone Handmakery!

Congrats!  You win a "mini-shopping excursion" at "Sharyl's Jewelry!"

~I'll be in touch very soon with details!~

And while we have her in the spotlight,

I'd like to point out our winner's

Tumblstone Handmakery Blog

and Store!   Stop in a for a visit! 

Thank you all for sharing your great ideas, funny stories, and a bit of yourselves!  Please keep sharing and try again next time we have a drawing!


Sharyl ~ Sharyl's Jewelry

* * * * * * * * * * *

Shopping bag:  http://www.wpclipart.com/clothes/shopping/shopping_bag/.cache/Shopping_Bag_4.png

Gratitude Drawing!

Thanks again for helping me go from "double-75s" to 100 Facebook Likes and 80 Blog members in record time!   

+

As a "thank you," I'm holding a "gratitude drawing" worth $15 of free goods from "Sharyl's Jewelry" online.   The winner can either select something $15 or less, or may deduct $15 from a higher priced item.   (Like a gift certificate, without the certificate!)   The winner will just tell me what they want and I'll either remove it or mark it down for them.     If you click on the option to list the "lowest" priced items first, you can see there are several pages of items $15 and under.  

Now, to get your name in the hat, I'd like to hear the most helpful, effective, or funny thing you've ever tried in an attempt to sell something.   If you don't sell jewelry or anything else, then feel free to reverse the situation and tell us about how someone tried to sell you something in a way your found impressive or humorous.   


This doesn't have to be rocket science, just something that might spark an idea for one of us...or give us a chuckle!  (You can even include a pet peeve... What really turns you off during a sales interaction?)


Then tell me you'd like your name in the hat for the drawing.   That's it! 

 

Please enter prior to Saturday Jun 9, at 5:00pm Central time.  The drawing will take place Sat. after 5pm.


Final Note:   I'll ask that you do not leave a message that has both an email address and your story in the comments.  You are most welcome to leave 2 separate messages.  I'll post your story and just save the one with the email address in case you are the winner.   I try not to post people's email addresses on the blog unless they've given me permission to do so.  


As always, 


...thanks for all you've done,
...thanks for participating in the discussion and drawing,
...and very best wishes!


~Sharyl


**************************************


$10 bill:  http://www.wpclipart.com/money/US_Currency/.cache/US_10Dollar_front.png

$5 bill: http://www.wpclipart.com/money/US_Currency/.cache/US_5Dollar_front.png


Ticket:  http://www.wpclipart.com/recreation/entertainment/tickets/tickets_2/.cache/ticket_admit_one.png


Fun Stuff sign:  http://www.wpclipart.com/education/signs/worm_sign/.cache/fun_stuff__green_1.png


Space Rocket:  http://www.wpclipart.com/space/ships/spaceship_cartoons/.cache/cartoon_moon_rocket.png

Important Message:  http://www.wpclipart.com/signs_symbol/thumbtack_notes/.cache/thumbtack_note_important_1.png

**************************************

Psst!

Take a look over here!   100!


I'll be back in a day or two and announce a celebration plan!   


Thanks to all who helped us get here!   The same is true for blog members!   I appreciate each and every one of you!   


Sharyl ~ Sharyl's Jewelry

  * * * * * * 

Arrow:  http://www.wpclipart.com/signs_symbol/arrows/arrow_dotted/arrow_label_dotted_right_up_purple.jpg

What color is your Aqua?

I heard someone say yesterday that lime is a hot color this summer!   (As far as I'm concerned,  lime should be popular year around every year!)  

Before that, I heard that orange is the "it" color this season.  


Frankly, I adore aqua every summer, it reminds me of the ocean, ....which frankly, I just don't see enough of living in Kansas!

I know color trends are very important in jewelry design.   Many people follow those trends, buy clothing in the trend colors, and look for jewelry to complement their look.     So it's really important to keep up with the "limes" and the "oranges!"


But I suspect that most of us also have our "aquas."   Favorite colors that call out to us repeatedly.  Colors that we feel comfortable with or happy around.  That we always know we can design well with.   So today, I'm simply wondering....

"What color is your 'aqua?'"  

Any special reason you are fond of that color?

Please share your comments!

Have a great Saturday!  
Sharyl ~ Sharyl's Jewelry

* * * * * * * * * *

Image Credits:


Lime:  http://www.wpclipart.com/food/fruit/lime/.cache/lime_slices.png


Orange:  http://www.wpclipart.com/food/fruit/orange/.cache/oranges_mood.png


Aqua:   http://www.wpclipart.com/recreation/beach_pool/.cache/splash_light_blue.png


Beach Ball:  http://www.wpclipart.com/recreation/beach_pool/more_beach/.cache/beach_ball_01.png