Each month, one of the members of the Art Elements team comes up with and issues their monthly challenge theme. The challenge is open to any medium and any blogger who wants to participate. This month, Claire chose the theme of "White". And, I was instantly inspired.
While sticking with a single "color" might seem hard, white is, by definition, the combination of all colors. I immediately envisioned all the different shades of white that exist. I don't know if you've ever tried to pick out the perfect shade of white paint for your interior, but it can be near impossible. And pearls and beads, my word! They come in so many shades of white. And, that's what led me to my first submission for this challenge. Thinking on the shades of white beads I own, I recalled that my bead box contained a necklace design with a variety of white beads.
I made sure to jump right into that design and finish it up for today.
I'm smitten!
The original pendant was made in a stoke of inspiration some months ago but got pushed to the side for another day. When I pulled it out to go into the bead box, I realized that the metal needed something more added to it. Tiny beads in shades of white and brass were added haphazardly with wire to the front of the distressed tin. Admittedly, it kept slipping off, so I used a needle and thread to sew it more securely to the fabric.
It took me a while to decide on what to do for the chain, but once I hit on the idea of just using varying shades of white beads and buttons and darkened brass wire, I was sold on the design.
I think it was the perfect decision for the pendant made from a scrap of eco-dyed fabric, bright white lace, and antiqued white mother of pearl button - all in their own shades of white.
Once the necklace was complete, I wanted to get my hands messy! So, I knew a mixed media art piece would be my next project.
I pulled out anything I could find in my craft room that was white. I got paints, inks, sprays, paper tape, masking tape, lacy stickers, papers, and cheesecloth to name a few.
And, I created a pretty piece of art with them!
I documented my whole process in a video.
Take a peek at some of the close-ups.
The bottommost layers are magazine pages, paint, and book pages.
That was followed by layers of tape, inks, coffee filter, more paint, rub-ons, and stickers.
I also added cheesecloth and doilies for texture.
Hearts were cut freehand from paint swatches in shades of white.
The sentiment was a Tim Holtz sticker and brown accents were added with inks and a water-soluble pencil to age the edges and pull up some of the textures. I also added a few touches of brass and gold for shimmer.
It's not completely white but definitely shows off its many shades.
Now, hop over to see what the Guest Artists and the Art Elements Team also did with this month's white theme! I know I can't wait.
Thank you so much for stopping by!
I also linked this post up at the Beautifully Made Link Party and Talk of the Town.
Coincidentally, I have made a pearl necklace as well. I guess pearls are the first thing that come to our mind when we think of white. But your necklace is anything but a regular pearl necklace. The layered pendant has a strong narrative. I would like to hear about your thoughts/stories that you were thinking of when you made it.
ReplyDeleteTwo such different interpretations of white and both of them so beautiful in their own style!
ReplyDeleteThanks Cat! I had a lot more fun with this challenge than I thought I would have with a single color. I appreciate you hopping by!
DeleteI LOVE that pendant! Your necklace is stunning and definitely something I would choose to wear - I wear very little jewellery just a simple ring, wedding ring on the wrong finger! You look like you had fun with the mixed media piece ;)
ReplyDeleteLaney, Thank you! Yes, the simplicity of the necklace totally appeals to me too. Even with the variety of bead types in it, it doesn't get too flashy or busy. I'm glad you agree.
DeleteAnd, yes, I had a lot of fun with the "painting". It was my chance to really play with the inspiration theme with my hands. Thanks s much for swinging by!
Love the necklace and your heart piece is warm and has a lovely sentiment
ReplyDeleteJill
Thanks so much Jill!! I had a lot of fun with this challenge and was really surprised with how much White inspired me.
DeleteGorgeous necklace! You are so right about paint and the different shades of white you can get! Love your mixed media piece as well - looks like so much fun to create!
ReplyDeleteThat necklace! I'm totally smitten.
ReplyDeleteThe mixed media piece is lovely, I love all the different components that have gone into it and how they work so well together.
Anita, I'm so pleased that you're as smitten as I am with that necklace. I'm not sure that I could recreate it exactly if I tried, but it fell together perfectly. Thank you so much for taking a look!!
DeleteHope, I just love the way your necklace turned out. Smitten is the perfect word to decribe the feeling. Al.
ReplyDeleteAl, Thank you!! I'm so glad you agree. It was fun to pick out all the white beads and pull them together. I'm so glad it worked out for this challenge - even if I designed it months ago. I'm not sure I could have re-created it if I tried. Thanks again!
DeleteYour necklace is stunning, I'd definitely make that a keeper! Love the mixed media too. Going to come back and watch your video after the hop. Thanks for sharing the process :)
ReplyDeleteCaroline, Thank you!! I would definitely love to keep the necklace - it's so my style, but I've come to realize that I need to at least try to sell the things I love. Though, it will be hard to part with it should it sell. I appreciate you taking the time to hop by! Happy New Year!
DeleteThat necklace is spectacular. I love all the different textures as well as the shades of white. Your collage piece is lovely as well. It looks perfectly aged and distressed.
ReplyDeleteTammy,
DeleteThank you! I had so much fun digging through my stash of white beads to pick out ones for this necklace. I should have taken a picture of that drawer for this post! I'm glad you appreciate the collage also. It was made for pure fun! Thanks again :)
I love how you created the pendant on the necklace - that is awesome! I also loved watching your video on how you created the second piece for the white challenge. I can't believe how much goes into the creation of the mixed media - it was so interesting to watch! Thank you for sharing that process!
ReplyDeleteI really love your necklace. The shades of white beads and buttons in the necklace give it such a vintage feel. And your collage...just gorgeous! Well done with this month's theme.
ReplyDeleteCathy, Thank you! Like I said above, I had no idea white could be so inspiring until I started thinking about it. I'm so glad you like what I made and took the time to take a look. Thanks so much!
DeletePearls always make a beautiful necklace and yours is no exception. It's always fun pulling out beads from your stash.... Its the putting them back that is the hard bit!! I love your mixed media piece too.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful 😁
Elaine, I definitely included quite the array of glass pearls in that necklace. And yes, putting everything away is hard! Thank you for hopping by!
DeleteI love a good tone on tone piece and you really captured that here! Pearls really do come in so many different shades and I love mixing and matching them. The pendant is perfect with this -oh so boho, and you know how I love my boho! Really wonderful piece Hope!
ReplyDeleteHope - I love the vintage-y boho vibe that your necklace has and I can see that being worn a lot...and your mixed media collage is a lot of fun and great use of whites.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Lesley! I think you just nailed the description of the type of jewelry I like to make! I had fun creating both pieces, and am so glad that you like them. It means so much to me.
DeleteYour necklace is stunning. There are so many wonderful shades of white in it. I love the focal that you created for it. Well done!
ReplyDeleteKathy, Thank you so much!! I had so much fun digging through all my white beads for this one. I'm not sure that varying shades of other colors would work out as beautifully as the white does. I appreciate your kind words and your taking the time to come by. :)
DeleteThese pieces are so cool! I love the mixed media and pulling together a bunch of different beads in the necklace. :)
ReplyDeleteMarsha, Thanks so very much!! I had a lot of fun with this challenge. It means so much that you would take the time to hop by. Thank you.
DeleteHope - you rocked this challenge! I love the necklace - that pendant is cool!
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a chance to get messy! Thanks for joining us!
Aw, thank you Jenny! Like I said above (I think), I'm just surprised at how inspiring the simplicity of white was. I may have to play with it some more! Thanks so much for taking the time to hop by!!
DeleteI love everything about this necklace.
ReplyDeleteAnn, Thank you! I do too! ;)
DeleteThat pendant is so unique and the wire wrapped chain, interspersed with pearls and bits in different shades of white adds to the whimsy! The mixed media piece has such a rich texture and imagery!
ReplyDeleteSorry I'm hopping so very late! I love that necklace. It's such a great combination of beads in shades of white... and that pendant is awesome! Looks like you had a lot of fun with your mixed media piece too.
ReplyDeleteSarajo, No worries about hopping late. That's one of the things that makes the internet so great (and not so great sometimes) - it's ALWAYS here! I had a lot of fun with both of these pieces. I totally think there will be loads more all white creations from me in the future. I'm glad you like them so much. Thank you!! :D
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