AJE Component of the Month Reveal Time...Crimson Huntress

So once again I was lucky enough to be selected as a guest participant in the Art Jewelry Elements Component of the Month Giveaway. If you are not familiar with the giveaway click here for information. It's extra special to me to participate this month because it's my birthday month! Our hostess for this month's component is Kristi Bowman. She makes many lovely components in copper, white copper and polymer clay...you can find her amazing work here.

Kristi made something new for this...she calls them Goddess Vessels. Mine immediately started talking to me...unfortunately I had a trade show going on when it arrived so it had to wait for a few days before I could answer it's call. I also must say as soon as I started putting my design together the name Crimson Huntress came to mind...did I mention this one practically made itself?

I have to say I love it when all my art bead friends play so well together...it makes for wonderful designs and finished pieces! The spiral headpins and clasp are handmade by me. The rest of the line up includes an awesome lampwork headpin by Genea Beads, lampwork beads by Bubby and McGurk and of course the beautiful goddess vessel by Kristi. Sari ribbon, Irish waxed linen, crystals, copper chain and red coral complete the design.

I will say when I bought this stunning headpin I had no clue how I would ever use it! I don't use a lot of red in my designs but it was just too stunning to pass up. So I bought it and figured it would be part of my ever growing "collection". This was the first element I chose when I received the goddess vessel...I knew it would be perfect!

Here's a closer shot of the lampwork beads and the crystal/coral fringe. The lampwork beads have red, cream, brownish red colors...a perfect compliment to bright red in the headpin and the rich brown/red of the copper.

I found a piece of sari ribbon in my "collection" that was a perfect dark chocolatey red with a bit of a sheen to it. I love using ribbon at the back of necklaces, very soft on the neck and adds a beautiful element instead of hiding beautiful beads back there. Plus I love the gypsy, bohemian feel it gives my designs.

One more close up so you can have a better look at those gorgeous lampwork beads :)

In case I didn't mention it...I'm keeping this one for myself! I've worn it once already and I LOVE IT! Happy birthday to me! Thank you Kristi for the opportunity to join in the fun! I always enjoy working with your components and this time was no exception!



This is a blog hop so I hope you will visit the links below to see everyone's beautiful creations!~Kari

Monthly Winners

SJ Designs Jewelry

Kari Asbury

Shirley Moore

AJE Team Members

Caroline Dewison

Diana Ptaszynski

Lesley Watt

Melissa Meman

Linda Landig

Kristen Stevens

Jenny Davies-Reazor
Sue Kennedy

Festival of Lights...Reveal...Better Late than Never!

A big apology to Andrew, our host and my fellow challenge participants for my late post. I hope you will all forgive me this time...it's been a crazy couple of weeks and turned out to be time with my mom and then time with my daughter later in the evening. Much fun was had but now here I am late, late, late!

I only have a couple of pieces completed this time...I ran into time crunches with a trade show and orders to fill after...but that's a good thing! :)

First up the earrings...I loved these two slightly mismatched, colorful beads. They were just meant to be earrings! They are finished off with a selection of beads from the kit and my handmade antique copper findings. Lots of color and movement in these adorable earrings!

Then there was the sunburst idea...I have to give total credit to my mom for the idea...I just executed her concept! It uses the wonderful mystery component from the kit along with a random assortment of beads from the premium blend and my handmade brass spiral headpins. This was supposed to be a complete necklace but this is where schedules got crazy and there was just no chance to get further. It sits on my desk, along with a few other ideas from this kit waiting to be finished. That's on next week's list now that show orders are shipped! 

I always try to design several things from Andrew's wonderful kits but this time a fell quite short of that goal...but sometimes that's ok, right?

Thanks for stopping by, below you will find a  list of links to the other participants for this hop. I do hope you will pop in and see what lovelies they created! ~Kari

Carole Carlson

Christina Porter

Karin Grosset Grange

Shaiha Williams

Christina Hickman

Kari Asbury

Ann Schroeder

Alice Peterson

Andrew Thornton, Alison Herrington, Laurel Ross, Cheryl Lee Tucker, Naama Eisenstein

Carolyn Lawson