Necklace restring

Tags

handmade, macrame, necklace, polymer clay

A few years ago I gave my sister a necklace. At the time I was experimenting with silk ribbon. Unfortunately, although the colour matched fantastically well there were some structural issues. Firstly the beads were able to slip over the knots intended to separate them, secondly the larks head knot securing the pendant kept sliding to the back and flipping the pendant, and finally three years later the silk was not aging well.

Before – beads strung on silk ribbon.

Therefore I have just restrung it on some fine nylon cords. The colour is not as pretty as the jade ribbon, but I have included some macrame knots at the pendant which will hopefully ensure that it sits better.

After – beads on nylon cord with macrame bail.

Necklace by Cate van Alphen

If you are interested, there is a free tutorial here on my blog where I make this polymer clay pendant.

Another doughnut necklace

Tags

handmade, macrame, marsala, necklace, polymer clay

Here’s another doughnut and macramé necklace I made. This time the polymer clay components have a pattern of marsala coloured torn paper.

Torn paper necklace by Cate van Alphen

You can find it in my Etsy shop.

Marsala necklace by Cate van Alphen

Faux leopard jasper necklace

Tags

faux stone, jasper, macrame, necklace, polymer clay

I made this necklace earlier this year, just before we moved, so it ended up stuck in a box for a while. I have only just got round to listing it in my Etsy shop.

Faux jasper necklace by Cate van Alphen

I made the hollow pendant and beads from polymer clay. I think they look just like leopard jasper, but of course they are much lighter than stone would be. I also added a little bit of micro-macrame detail to the bail and lots of teeny-tiny purple seed beads between the knots.

Polymer clay and macrame necklace by Cate van Alphen

Enjoy 🙂

Magma bead necklace

Tags

art bead, bead, bead necklace, Cate van Alphen, handmade, macrame, magma, necklace, polymer clay, steampunk

I don’t usually find time to make much more than my weekly beads for the Spectrum Challenge, but I did manage to finish this micro macrame and chunky bead necklace.

Magma bead necklace by Cate van Alphen

It’s quite a relief to finally finish it as I bought the red accent beads to go with the polymer clay focal bead more than two years ago!

Magma focal bead necklace by Cate van Alphen

I also made a polymer clay and wire toggle clasp to complete the necklace.

Polymer clay toggle clasp by Cate van Alphen

I think it would look great with a steampunk corset dress. Although, sadly, I don’t have one to check ;).

Art Bead Scene – Hummingbird Surprise

Tags

art bead, Art Bead Scene, art charm, bracelet, hummingbird, macrame, necklace, NOV ABS, orchid, polymer clay

**Click here if you looking for the Art Charm Swap.**

This month’s Art Bead Scene Challenge inspired jewellery surprised me a little. Here is the inspiration painting:

“Cattelya Orchid and Three Hummingbirds” 1871 by Martin Johnson Heade
Oil on Mahogany Panel, 34.8 x 45.6 cm

Initially I focused on the orchid, and made some polymer clay focal beads/pendants inspired by it. I did string one of the orchids, but I figured it either needed something simple or something totally flamboyant. I went with simple since my supplies are still packed.

Orchid Necklace by Cate van Alphen

But then I thought the finished necklace was a bit too simple for a challenge piece.

Next I realised that the charm I received from Chris Eisenberg as part of the Art Charm Swap looked like a little hummingbird. I matched the beads and thread to the charm without reference to the painting. I made some polymer clay twist charms which are metallic green – they make me think of wings/leaves/petals. I added some AB coated beads and bright purple thread. The purple thread surprised me until I took another look at the painting and saw the throat of the hummingbird.

The charms are on a macrame cord with knots that twist forming a helix effect. I was thinking about the twist of the hummingbird’s wing as it hovers. I’ve been watching “The Life of Birds” on BBC catchup which has some wonderful slow motion footage of this (28:15).

Hummingbird Bracelet by Cate van Alphen

The bracelet is adjustable with the threads sliding through a central bead. I have left the ends quite long and added a little stack of beads to each so that they flit around the wrist like tiny hummingbirds around a flower.

Hummingbird Bracelet by Cate van Alphen

There we go – Hummingbird Surprise!

ABS Challenge August

Tags

abstract painting, art bead, beads, bracelet, handmade, handmade beads, macrame, polymer clay, purple, red, silk yarn, surface texture

For this month’s ABS challenge I have made a micro macrame wrap bracelet with a selection of my handmade beads. The muse took a slightly scenic route this time so hang in there…

Tres Personajes, (Three People) 1970
Rufino Tamayo
Oil on Canvas 51″ × 38″

First of all the inspiration painting: I loved the vivid red and purple colour combination and the rough surface texture that looked almost chalky.

I want to improve my cane building skills, so I have been thinking it’s time for me to practice building canes to a planned design. Thanks to my toddler I remembered the “scribble patterns” I used to make as a child (i.e. draw a scribble and colour in the shapes) and I thought this would be a good place to start.

I made a rough mockup on the computer to test my idea. Now I had an abstraction of an abstract painting which amused me but…

I didn’t like it so much multiplied out into a kaleidoscope pattern.

Going back to the earthy texture of the painting I was reminded of the Cosmic Ceramic tutorial I still haven’t been able to play with. So I decided to combine the ceramic tutorial with my cane design and make a toggle to use with Sherri Stokey’s micro macrame wrap bracelet tutorial.

Micro macrame wrap bracelet

Wrap bracelet unwrapped.

The result is pretty difficult to photograph!

I used silk yarn instead of nylon cord (I was too impatient to order it) so the knotting is finer than I had hoped. I had intended only to make the toggle and use existing beads for the bracelet, but I ended up making all the beads from scratch. It was a fun exercise to make a variety of beads using the same colours. I even ended up with an extra set of beads that I love but the pattern seemed too crisp in comparison to the painting so they will go to my Etsy shop.