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Fulgorine

~ My adventures with polymer clay

Fulgorine

Tag Archives: NOV ABS

Art Bead Scene – Hummingbird Surprise

26 Wed Nov 2014

Posted by fulgorine in 2014 Art Charm Swap, Art Bead Scene, Art Charm Swap, Challenge, My work

≈ 1 Comment

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

Orchid Necklace by Cate van Alphen

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

Hummingbird charmhummingbirdNext 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

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

Hummingbird Bracelet by Cate van Alphen

There we go – Hummingbird Surprise!

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ABS November Challenge – Apple Zing

19 Tue Nov 2013

Posted by fulgorine in Art Bead Scene, Challenge, My work

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

apple, art bead, beads, earring, green, handmade beads, handmade earrings, NOV ABS, Paul Cézanne, polymer clay, red, seed beads

The inspiration painting for this month’s Art Bead Scene challenge is “Basket of Apples” by Paul Cézanne.

Basket of apples painting

Basket of Apples by Paul Cézanne, 1893
Oil on canvas 65 cm × 80 cm (25.6 in × 31.5 in)

I made a pair of earrings using that delicious fruity orange/red and tiny, crunchy green seed beads. The focal (art) beads are polymer clay made by me.

red and green earrings

I think the halo of green seed beads suggests the fragrance and zing when you bite into a lovely ripe apple 😉

red and green bead earrings

Mmmmmm!

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Fulgor, n.
Dazzling brightness; splendor.
Fulgorine, n.
One who creates that which dazzles.

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