Change It Up! Blog Hop Reveal by Fine and Dandy Jewelry, and Sponsored by B'sue Boutiques

Change it Up! The final reveal is finally here!  I decided to create an autumn cornucopia brooch for my entry.  It fits right in with my new Autumn Garden line.  I used this raw brass stamping

from B'sue Boutiques.  It is raw brass, lead and nickel free, and American made from the original die machines.  Pretty, isn't it?  The goal for this challenge was to creatively manipulate the piece in a new way.  Colorize it, cut it, bend it, add patina or enamel, embellish--whatever you like.

My result is this: (click on photos to view them larger © Fine and Dandy Jewelry by Renee Hong)

Cornucopia Brooch for my Autumn Garden Line, fall 2015 by Fine and Dandy Jewelry.

I'm going to add better photos by Saturday.  I ran out of light.  I should know better, as a photographer; but these are better than nothing!

The filigree is rolled into a cornucopia.  I will try to show a different angle with more pics later.

In the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group on Facebook, we've been talking a lot lately about "caging," a technique involving "sewing" things onto a filigree backing with fine wire.  You can add beads, pearls, buttons, rhinestones, whatever you like.  This was a popular look in the legendary Miriam Haskell's jewelry line. I thought I'd give it a try.  I manipulated the filigree into the shape of a cornucopia...sort of.  I hope that's what you see.  I asked my 16 year old and my 9 year old what they thought it was...it took a bit of prompting ("thing Thanksgiving!"), but they guessed it!  What could be better to add to a cornucopia than these fun  Carmen Miranda fruit beads from B'sue Boutiques!

Yes, they are plastic.  But they make the cutest little dangles.  I made some fun Day of the Dead jewelry from the once; it sold immediately!

I added some of my favorite India glass leaves, just wired right around the attached bails and they added a pop of color and some weight, since the plastic beads are very light.  In addition, I used some absolutely gorgeous Czech glass flower button style beads.  You can get them here and also here. The India glass comes in different colors; translucent and opaque. I love the whole selection

There's a touch of re-purposed silk sari ribbon there, in pretty autumn colors. I find that adding just a small piece of ribbon or lace to an otherwise "hard" piece can give an aura of romance and prettiness that is the perfect finishing touch.  My cornucopia is now brimming with fruit, flowers, leaves and the pretty green/purple ribbon.  How did I get the nice fall colors on the brass, you ask?  I used alcohol inks, blending until they looked the way I wanted them to.  This stamping has a lot of texture, so a mix of colors works well.

I admit, there is one last step to complete this brooch.  Brooches are said to be the "in" thing this fall 2015.  I just sold a brooch today.  So, what I need to do to finish this is add the pin back.  I have one ready to go, it has 3 holes on the back. I tried wiring it on.  It just didn't happen to turn out the way I wanted yet, so that is going to be finished up soon.  I am moving next week, so it may have to wait just a bit.

I learned a lot making this brooch; this is the first time I really tried caging other than adding some pearls to a pendant once.  It isn't perfect, but it looks nice; the wire is very thin and blends perfectly with the tones of the "cornucopia" as it's copper. It was kinda relaxing.  I have some more projects in mind for later.

I am going to come back and add some other photos with better lighting later today, maybe Saturday. Time was running short on me with the upcoming move and LIFE. : )  I sure am thankful to be a part of this group that B'sue got together. It's like a cornucopia of blessings being associated with Brenda Sue and all the wonderful members of the Creative Group.  Please take a look at the other entries in this blog hop below.  I can't wait to get back from my morning appointments tomorrow and start hopping!  Thank you for visiting.  Please leave a comment if you'd like; I'd appreciate it!

FIRST UP, OUR SPONSOR:

Brenda Sue Lansdowne
Jewelry Making Outside the Box

the rest of the Change it Up! BLOG HOP PARTICIPANTS:

Mary Deis
The Rose Sword
http://theroseswordmdeis.blogspot.com/
Jann Tague
Clever Designs
https://janntague.wordpress.com/
Lori Beekman
B.Accessorized
https://baccessorized.wordpress.com/
Renee Hong
Fine and Dandy Jewelry
http://www.fineanddandyjewelry.blogspot.com/
Cynthia Wainscott
Exotic Peru Jewelry
http://exoticperujewelry.blogspot.com/
Dana Hickey
Magpie Approved
http://magpieapproved.blogspot.com/
Mary Beth Quigley-Spiker
Q Settings
https://qsettings.wordpress.com/
Karen Eaton
KJewelry Creations
http://kjewelrycreations1.blogspot.com/
Shari Gardner
SLG Jewelry Designs
https://slgdesigns.wordpress.com/
Alison Huie
Ally's Baubles
http://allysbaubles.blogspot.com/
Pamela Anger
Novegatti Designs
http://www.novegattidesigns.blogspot.com/
Carole Carlson
Beadsophisticate
https://beadsophisticate.wordpress.com/
Cindy Peterson
Howling Dog Jewelry
https://howlingdogjewelry.wordpress.com/
Marcia Tuzzolino
Aurora Designs
http://auroradesignsjewelryblog.me/
Charlotte Smothers
Sea Horse Ranch Life
http://seahorseranch.blogspot.com/
Catherine Shattuck
Victorian Rose Boutique
https://vrbrose.wordpress.com/
Kelly Wymer
Winged Wisdom Enchantments
https://wingedwisdomenchantments.wordpress.com/
Clare Wells Nemeth
Papercrafting Magic
http://papercraftingmagic.blogspot.com/
Erin Whitacre
Shattered Time
https://shatteredtimejewelry.wordpress.com/
Lynda O'Mara
Lomara Creative
http://www.lomaracreative.com/
Ginger Hammond
Lynn Leigh Designs
https://lynnleighdesigns.wordpress.com/
Ingrid Anderson
Lilis Gems Artisan Jewelry
https://lilisgems.wordpress.com/
Deb Beechy
Beetique
http://www.beetique56.blogspot.com
Harry Wood
Oscar Crow
http://oscarcrow.blogspot.com/
Delyssa Maxwell
Past Time Fancies
https://pasttimefancies.wordpress.com/
Paula Gaskill
Lovely Layla Bugs
http://lovelylaylabugjewels.weebly.com/blog
Irene Hoffman
Heart's Dezire by Irene
https://heartsdezirebyirene.wordpress.com/
Alexandra Sefton
Imaginary Jewelry and Altered Art
http://wilywolverine.blogspot.com/
Leslie Carver
Adorn Divine Designs
http://adorndivinedesigns.blogspot.com/